Rainer on Leadership

Thom Rainer•churchanswers.com

Religion & Spirituality

Christianity

Your online home for leadership lessons for both the church and the workplace.

Last refreshed: July 2nd, 2025 at 8:38 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Why the Exterior of Your Church Facility Is Important for Growth With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group

Hundreds, if not thousands, of cars pass your church every day. What is their first impression of your facilities when they see them only from the outside? Thom discusses this issue with Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” The post Why the Exterior of Your Church Facility Is Important for Growth With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group appeared first on Church Answers ....

Jun 28, 2024•25 min

A Thirty-Year Look-Back at the Biggest Changes in the American Church

In this week's episode, Sam asks Thom about some of the biggest shifts in the American church in the last thirty years. They discuss what has changed and why the shifts occurred. Some things changed for the better, and others changed for the worse. The post A Thirty-Year Look-Back at the Biggest Changes in the American Church appeared first on Church Answers ....

Jun 25, 2024•29 min

The Burge Report: Retention Rates in Churches Are Not What They Used to Be (Here’s Why)

How many people are really leaving their childhood faith? Ryan Burge joins Thom and Sam on this special episode to unpack important data for churches. Retention rates are a good indicator of how well a church disciples people. Keeping people is a major part of church health. The hosts discuss the data concerning national trends with church retention. The post The Burge Report: Retention Rates in Churches Are Not What They Used to Be (Here’s Why) appeared first on Church Answers ....

Jun 21, 2024•28 min

Walking Back a Decision After You Realize It’s Not God’s Will

Even with the best of motives, we all make decisions we later realize are not God's will. What should a pastor do when facing this dilemma? Thom and Sam discuss some strategies for unwinding bad decisions. They offer some helpful tips on the best approaches to guide a church back to the starting line. The post Walking Back a Decision After You Realize It’s Not God’s Will appeared first on Church Answers ....

Jun 18, 2024•23 min

Finding Another Church to Pastor (When You Know It’s Time)

Long tenure is usually better for churches and their pastors. But there are occasions when you know it's time to make a transition. For example, many pastors are ready for something new when the nest is empty. Thom and Sam discuss what you can do when you are certain about a transition. The post Finding Another Church to Pastor (When You Know It’s Time) appeared first on Church Answers ....

Jun 11, 2024•26 min

Why Location Matters for the Fastest-Growing Churches

The fastest-growing churches are often located in prime areas for growth. In a recent Church Answers Research article, Ryan Burge took a deep dive into how churches located in growing communities generally find it easier to add new members. Thom and Sam discuss the implications of these findings. The post Why Location Matters for the Fastest-Growing Churches appeared first on Church Answers ....

Jun 04, 2024•26 min

Are Our Church Members Too Old?

Based on a recent article Thom wrote, Sam and Thom dig deeper into the issue of church members' ages. Their thoughts might surprise you. The post Are Our Church Members Too Old? appeared first on Church Answers .

May 28, 2024•24 min

Five Reasons Your Worship Music May Not Be Clicking

Church Answers does two major types of evaluation of music in church worship services. The first approach uses a secret guest to get their first impressions. In the second approach, Church Answers uses a trained and highly competent church musician to evaluate the music from both a philosophical and technical aspect. Sam and Thom look at five common issues in these technical evaluations. The post Five Reasons Your Worship Music May Not Be Clicking appeared first on Church Answers ....

May 21, 2024•23 min

The Burge Report: Are There Too Many Churches in the United States?

There are between 350,000 and 400,000 churches in the United States. Is there really a church on every street corner? Ryan Burge joins Thom and Sam on this special episode to discuss the optimal number of churches in a community. The answer will likely surprise you. The post The Burge Report: Are There Too Many Churches in the United States? appeared first on Church Answers ....

May 17, 2024•25 min

Rebuilding Your Reputation after a Church Scandal

Proverbs 22:1 makes clear, "Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold." (NLT) How can a church recover after a scandal? What are some ways a congregation can begin to rebuild a reputation? Thom and Sam discuss some steps forward for these churches. The post Rebuilding Your Reputation after a Church Scandal appeared first on Church Answers ....

May 14, 2024•24 min

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