Trends with Truth In Churches of Christ

Heritage Christian University | The Jenkins Institute | Ministry League Network
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Christianity
  • Weekly

Trends with Truth is a podcast exploring the realities, challenges, and opportunities facing Churches of Christ today. Hosted by Dale Jenkins of The Jenkins Institute and Dr. Michael Jackson, President of Heritage Christian University, each episode examines research, surveys, church trends, leadership issues, ministry opportunities, and cultural shifts impacting congregations. Trends with Truth seeks to replace assumptions with understanding, helping church leaders and members make informed decisions for the future. Real trends. Real conversations. Real truth.

  1. 1d ago

    The Pulpit Problem Nobody Talks About | Trends with Truth

    Sunday is coming. Do you know what you’re going to preach? Dale and Jeff Jenkins discuss the weekly pressure of sermon preparation—and how planning your preaching ahead of time can make a difference. A survey discussed in this episode found that 37% of preachers knew what they would preach only a week or less in advance. Jeff shares how a challenge from Dr. Billy Smith led him to begin planning a year of sermons at a time, a practice he has continued through annual preaching retreats since 1981. Together, they explore building a preaching calendar, collecting sermon material throughout the year, developing sermon series, and helping church leaders understand where your preaching is headed. They also explain why a good plan needs room to change when tragedy or unexpected needs affect your congregation. Whether you’re a young preacher wondering where the next sermon will come from or an experienced minister looking for a better rhythm, this conversation offers practical encouragement. You’ll also hear about spiritual renewal and sermon planning retreats through the Jenkins Institute. Recorded at Heritage Christian University. How far ahead do you plan your preaching? Share what works for you in the comments, and subscribe for more Trends with Truth conversations about ministry in Churches of Christ. CHAPTERS00:00 What should I preach next Sunday?00:52 Welcome with Dale and Jeff Jenkins03:39 The weekly pressure of finding sermon ideas05:27 Survey: How far ahead do preachers plan?07:34 How Jeff began planning a year of sermons09:39 Reducing the stress of sermon preparation10:20 Building a preaching calendar and collecting material11:34 Family sermon series and devotional resources13:15 Planning with church leadership and congregational needs14:35 Knowing when to change your sermon plan16:32 Start by planning three months ahead17:52 Spiritual renewal and sermon planning retreats #SermonPlanning #ChurchesOfChrist #TrendsWithTruth

    The Pulpit Problem Nobody Talks About | Trends with Truth

  2. Oct 28

    Is the Next Generation of Preachers Really Coming? The Truth Behind the Numbers

    Are we seeing a decline in future preachers? Join Dale Jenkins and Dr. Michael Jackson for a data-driven look at the pulpit.In this episode of Trends with Truth, we examine the current state of church leadership. By looking past assumptions and focusing on real numbers, we analyze how the age of preachers affects local congregations and the future of ministry.This discussion provides a perspective on the generational shifts currently impacting the body of Christ. Whether you are a church leader or a member interested in ministry research, this conversation offers a clear look at the challenges facing the next generation of preachers. We explore how these changing church trends influence the call to service and the growth of our local communities.Subscribe for more weekly ministry insights and let us know in the comments how your congregation is adapting to these changing times.0:00 The Pulpit Age Debate1:07 Why We Survey Preachers2:46 Surprising Survey Results5:34 The Ideal Preacher Profile10:45 Mentorship for Every Generation17:29 The Value of Time-Tested Ministry

    Is the Next Generation of Preachers Really Coming? The Truth Behind the Numbers

  3. Oct 21

    Textual vs Topical Preaching: We Asked Preachers and They Split

    Are you a textual preacher or a topical preacher? We asked preachers to describe their preaching in one phrase, and the answers split almost exactly down the middle: "Let's see what this text says" vs. "Let's explore this important topic." On this episode of Trends with Truth in Churches of Christ, Dale Jenkins (The Jenkins Institute) and Dr. Michael Jackson (President, Heritage Christian University) dig into preaching styles: where the survey came from, the generational trend behind the split (older preachers leaning topical, younger preachers leaning textual and expository), and why Fred Craddock said "the worst kind of preaching is the same kind of preaching." They also cover: How mentors and favorite preachers shape your style How topical preachers can keep every verse in context Why "creating content" can pull a sermon away from the text How to keep growing as a preacher, at any age The feedback that energizes preachers most, and the danger hiding in it Whether you preach every Sunday, teach a Bible class, or serve as an elder, this conversation will help you think about how you handle God's Word, and how your hearers receive it. 📧 Send us your feedback, questions, and topic ideas: trendswithtruth@gmail.com (and ask for your sticker!) 👍 Like, share, and subscribe for new episodes. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Textual or topical? 1:00 Welcome to Trends with Truth 1:44 Where the preaching survey came from 3:22 Finding your preaching voice 5:56 Describe your preaching in one phrase: a 50/50 split 6:46 The generational trend: topical vs. textual 9:41 "The worst kind of preaching is the same kind of preaching" 11:41 Balancing your style with the congregation's needs 13:21 How mentors shape your preaching style 15:01 Keeping context in topical sermons 16:39 Don't just "create content" 18:54 How preachers keep getting better 19:48 The feedback that energizes preachers 21:30 Closing thoughts Trends with Truth in Churches of Christ is a production of The Jenkins Institute and Heritage Christian University. #TrendsWithTruth #Preaching #churchesofchrist Tags / keywords expository preaching, topical preaching, textual preaching, textual vs topical preaching, expository vs topical preaching, preaching styles, how to preach, preaching, sermon preparation, how to prepare a sermon, preaching tips, homiletics, biblical preaching, biblical teaching, church of christ, churches of christ, church of christ preaching, trends with truth, dale jenkins, michael jackson heritage christian university, heritage christian university, the jenkins institute, fred craddock, nashville school of preaching, preacher podcast, ministry podcast, christian podcast Hashtags #TrendsWithTruth #Preaching #ChurchesOfChrist #ExpositoryPreaching #Sermon

    Textual vs Topical Preaching: We Asked Preachers and They Split

  4. Oct 14

    Should Christians Post That? Social Media, Politics & the Church

    What should a Christian post online—and when does a “personal” opinion start reflecting on the church? From politics and public disagreements to preachers, elders, and church Facebook pages, social media has created questions churches can’t afford to ignore. In this episode of Trends with Truth in Churches of Christ, Dr. Michael D. Jackson and Dale Jenkins look at new survey data surrounding social media use and policies in congregations. One statistic immediately stands out: 92% of responding churches said they have no social media policy at all. But does a church actually need one? Michael and Dale discuss the line between personal expression and Christian influence, why a preacher’s personal social media rarely feels completely “personal,” how political posts can affect relationships within a congregation, and what happens when online disagreements spill over into church life. They also tackle questions like: • Should preachers and elders be held to different standards online? • Does what a minister posts reflect on the congregation? • When should elders become involved in a member’s social media behavior? • Are political posts changing minds—or creating more division? • How should churches handle conflict that begins online? • Who should control and monitor an official church social media account? • Would simple guidelines prevent problems before they happen? The goal isn’t to police every Facebook post. It’s to ask a more important question: Is what we’re posting helping people see Christ—or getting in the way? CHAPTERS: 00:00 Should Churches Have Social Media Policies? 01:12 Celebrating Episode 16 02:22 Why Talk About Social Media Now? 03:24 92% of Churches Have No Policy 04:16 Should Churches Review a Preacher’s Social Media? 05:10 Is a Preacher’s Personal Page Really Personal? 05:48 Politics, Opinions & Online Division 06:40 Do Elders and Ministers Have Clear Expectations? 08:28 What Does “Use Good Judgment” Actually Mean? 09:30 Should Elders Be Held to a Higher Standard? 10:49 Has Social Media Caused Church Conflict? 11:54 Why Online Conflict Is Hard to Resolve 13:00 When Public Disagreements Get Bigger 14:14 What Should a Church Social Media Policy Include? 15:28 Clear Rules That Actually Worked 16:25 Harmful Posts vs. Unpopular Opinions 17:42 Rules for Official Church Social Media Accounts 18:50 Moderation, Messages & Missed Opportunities 19:19 Final Thoughts Trends with Truth looks beyond assumptions and opinions to examine the real trends affecting churches of Christ today. Like the video, subscribe, and share this episode with elders, ministers, deacons, and church leaders. Comment below: Should congregations have written social media guidelines? Want a Trends with Truth sticker? Email trendswithtruth@gmail.com KEYWORDS church social media, Christian social media, Christians and social media, church social media policy, churches of Christ, Church of Christ, Christian politics, Christians and politics, social media and the church, preacher social media, minister social media, elders and social media, church leadership, Christian online behavior, church conflict, social media conflict, church communications, Christian witness, Trends with Truth, Heritage Christian University, Dale Jenkins, Michael Jackson HCU #churchesofchrist #ChristianSocialMedia #ChurchLeadership #SocialMedia #ChristianLiving #Ministry #ChurchOfChrist #TrendsWithTruth #HeritageChristianUniversity

    Should Christians Post That? Social Media, Politics & the Church

  5. Oct 6

    Do Preachers’ Kids Really Leave the Faith? The Numbers May Surprise You

    We’ve all heard it: “Preachers’ kids leave the church.” But does the data actually support that belief?In this episode of Trends with Truth in Churches of Christ, Dr. Michael Jackson, President of Heritage Christian University, and Dale Jenkins of The Jenkins Institute examine survey data about the adult children of preachers—and some of the results may surprise you.The survey included 119 ministry families representing 273 adult children, and the findings challenge several common assumptions about growing up in a preacher’s home.Among the questions Michael and Dale discuss:• How many preacher’s kids remain faithful as adults?• Does moving from congregation to congregation hurt a minister’s children?• Does working long ministry hours cause children to leave the church?• Why might staying at one congregation longer matter?• Are preacher’s kids in small churches at a disadvantage?• What can ministers and churches do to help ministry families thrive?• Are we raising children simply to attend church—or preparing them for lifelong faithfulness?One of the strongest trends in the survey was especially striking: the longer a preacher remained with a congregation, the more likely his adult children were to remain faithful.But the conversation goes deeper than statistics.Michael and Dale discuss stability, relationships with other Christians, ministry expectations, quality family time, small-church challenges, and what young ministers should consider when raising children while serving the church.The goal isn’t to create fear for ministry families. It’s to replace assumptions with truth—and to learn what churches and Christian families can do better.Trends with Truth examines the real trends affecting churches of Christ using surveys, research, experience, and honest conversation.Hosted by Dr. Michael Jackson and Dale Jenkins.Subscribe for more conversations about ministry, congregational life, evangelism, leadership, preaching, and the future of churches of Christ. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Do Preachers’ Kids Leave the Church? 02:03 Why Study Preachers’ Kids? 03:43 What the Survey Found 05:00 The Biggest Predictor of Adult Faithfulness 05:28 Does Staying at One Church Matter? 06:21 Why Congregational Stability May Matter 08:28 Does Moving Churches Hurt Your Kids? 09:59 Do Long Ministry Hours Damage Families? 11:37 Are Small Churches Harder for Preachers’ Kids? 12:48 Helping Kids Build Christian Connections 14:41 Gender, Birth Order & Other Factors 15:46 Parenting Doesn’t End at 18 17:02 Advice for Young Preachers 17:51 Family Time vs. Ministry Responsibility 19:01 Raising Faithful Adults, Not Just Church Kids 20:27 Hope for Ministry Families KEYWORDS:preachers kids, preacher's kids, PKs, preacher kids church, preachers kids leaving church, ministry families, preacher family, ministers families, churches of Christ, church of Christ, Trends with Truth, Trends with Truth podcast, Michael Jackson Heritage Christian University, Dr Michael Jackson HCU, Dale Jenkins, Jenkins Institute, preacher survey, church survey, ministry statistics, church statistics, Christian parenting, raising faithful children, raising Christian children, adult children faithfulness, children leaving church, why kids leave church, church attendance, Christian family, minister burnout, preacher burnout, ministry and family, ministry family balance, preacher tenure, church stability, small church ministry, small churches, youth ministry, Christian teenagers, ministry children, church leadership, congregational health, Heritage Christian University, HCU, churches of Christ podcast, church of Christ podcast, Christian podcast, preacher podcast, ministry podcast HASHTAGS#PreachersKids #ChurchesOfChrist #TrendsWithTruth #ChristianParenting #MinistryFamily #Preaching #ChurchLeadership #ChristianFaith #DaleJenkins #HeritageChristianUniversity

    Do Preachers’ Kids Really Leave the Faith? The Numbers May Surprise You

  6. Sep 30

    What Makes a Man of God? The Survey Results May Surprise You

    What truly defines a man of God? The Jenkins Institute asked men to rank the characteristics they believe matter most in the life of a godly man and minister—and the results reveal some encouraging priorities along with one significant concern. In this episode of Trends with Truth in Churches of Christ, Jeff Jenkins and Dale Jenkins are joined by Dr. Michael D. Jackson, President of Heritage Christian University, to examine the survey results and discuss what they mean for ministers, elders, ministry students, and congregations today. The results placed being a student of the Word of God at the top, followed closely by a strong personal spiritual life and biblical preaching and teaching. But then the numbers changed dramatically. While preaching ranked near the top, ministry to people fell significantly lower—raising an important question: Have we become better at preparing men to preach than preparing them to minister? The conversation explores: - Why Bible study must remain foundational to ministry - Why personal spiritual formation cannot simply be assumed - The relationship between preaching and actually loving people - Why congregations often remember ministry more than individual sermons - The growing need for relational and interpersonal ministry skills - How internships and supervised ministry can better prepare future ministers - Why every minister could benefit from an experienced mentor - How administration can quietly crowd out the most important parts of ministry If you preach, serve as an elder, train ministers, attend a Christian university, or simply want to become a stronger man of God, this conversation offers some important questions worth considering. What characteristic do you believe is most important in a man of God? Tell us in the comments. Subscribe for more episodes of Trends with Truth, where we examine real data and trends affecting Churches of Christ and ministry today—seeking facts, not assumptions. Chapters: 00:00 What Defines a Man of God? 00:59 How Often Does “Man of God” Appear in the Bible? 02:19 The Jenkins Institute Survey 02:49 #1 — A Student of the Word of God 04:18 Everything Must Lead Back to Scripture 05:37 #2 — A Strong Personal Spiritual Life 07:05 Bible Knowledge vs. Spiritual Formation 08:42 #3 Biblical Preaching & #4 Ministry to People 10:47 The Surprising Drop in Ministry 12:09 What Congregations Actually Remember 12:57 Are We Training Preachers or Ministers? 14:51 The Growing Soft-Skills Challenge 17:34 How Christian Universities Can Better Train Ministers 19:17 Why Ministers Need Mentors 21:04 Administration Ranked Last 22:16 Seeking Facts, Not Assumptions Keywords Use these in the keyword/tag field rather than awkwardly stuffing them into the description: man of God, what is a man of God, characteristics of a man of God, godly man, biblical manhood, Christian manhood, qualities of a godly man, Christian ministry, ministry leadership, preacher training, preacher ministry, biblical preaching, Bible study, spiritual formation, personal spiritual life, ministry to people, church leadership, minister mentoring, preacher mentoring, ministry education, Heritage Christian University, Jenkins Institute, Jeff Jenkins, Dale Jenkins, Michael D Jackson, Churches of Christ, church of Christ, Trends with Truth, Trends with Truth Churches of Christ, Christian leadership, ministry survey Hashtags: #ManOfGod #ChristianMinistry #ChurchLeadership #ChurchesOfChrist #TrendsWithTruth

    What Makes a Man of God? The Survey Results May Surprise You

  7. Sep 23

    Fixing VBS: 97 Churches Reveal What We’re Missing

    Vacation Bible School may still be one of the greatest outreach opportunities available to a local church. But what happens after families walk through the door? In this episode of Trends with Truth in Churches of Christ, Dr. Michael D. Jackson sits down in the studio with Dale Jenkins and Jeff Jenkins to examine the results of a survey of 97 congregations about Vacation Bible School, outreach, volunteers, visitors, follow-up, and the challenges churches face trying to make VBS work. The numbers reveal something encouraging: churches still believe deeply in VBS. They also raise some important questions. About two-thirds of surveyed congregations described their VBS as serving both outreach and edification. Churches reported significant participation from people outside their congregation, and some congregations making outreach a primary emphasis reported exceptionally high non-member participation. But another statistic deserves attention: When churches were asked about their greatest VBS challenges, 40 responses mentioned people, teachers, workers, or volunteers—while only 3 mentioned follow-up. If VBS is outreach, what should happen after VBS is over? Michael, Dale, and Jeff discuss: • Why VBS remains such a unique opportunity to reach families • Why visitors may come to VBS when they won't attend other church events • The challenge of recruiting enough teachers and volunteers • How churches can avoid exhausting the same people every year • Why smaller churches shouldn't assume they can't have VBS • Simple ways to follow up with visiting families • Personal video invitations, phone calls, visits, and follow-up events • Why the person who invited a family may be the best person to reconnect with them • Churches experiencing the opposite problem—more children than they have room for • What church leaders and elders can do to encourage outreach • Why successful VBS programs should keep children at the center • Real stories of people whose first connection to the church came through Vacation Bible School One of the most important ideas from this conversation is simple: VBS shouldn't merely be an event families attend. It can become the beginning of a relationship. If your congregation hosts a Vacation Bible School, ask yourself: What happens to the visiting family after the decorations come down? That answer may matter more than almost anything you do during VBS week itself. 👍 Like this episode 💬 Tell us what your congregation is doing with VBS 🔔 Subscribe for future episodes of Trends with Truth in Churches of Christ 📤 Share this episode with your elders, ministers, children's ministry leaders, VBS directors, and church leadership teams. CHAPTERS: 00:00 What Does the VBS Survey Reveal? 00:57 Welcome to Trends with Truth 02:00 VBS and Gospel Meetings Still Matter 03:16 Why Talk About Vacation Bible School? 04:27 Is VBS Still One of Our Best Outreach Opportunities? 05:43 Outreach AND Edification 07:41 How Many VBS Visitors Aren't Members? 08:28 What Happens When Outreach Becomes the Priority? 09:11 The Biggest VBS Challenge: Volunteers 11:08 The Surprising History of VBS 11:30 The Follow-Up Problem 12:36 Practical Ways to Follow Up After VBS 14:14 Let the Person Who Invited Them Follow Up 14:40 A Simple 30-Second Video Could Make a Difference 15:02 How Do We Prevent Volunteer Burnout? 16:43 “We Don't Have Enough People” 17:43 When VBS Gets TOO Big 18:29 What Successful Churches Are Doing Right 19:33 Remember Who VBS Is For 20:29 When Church Leadership Becomes the Obstacle 22:46 Is It Really a Leadership Problem? 23:06 One Invitation That Changed a Life 24:15 More Lives Changed Through VBS 24:40 Final Thoughts KEYWORDS / SEARCH TERMS: Vacation Bible School, VBS, VBS outreach, church children's ministry, evangelism ideas, church outreach ideas, Churches of Christ, Heritage Christian University, Jenkins Institute, The Jenkins Institute, Trends with Truth, Trends with Truth in Churches of Christ,

    Fixing VBS: 97 Churches Reveal What We’re Missing

  8. Sep 16

    Are Churches Paying Ministers Fairly? The Salary Survey Review

    Are Churches of Christ paying preachers and youth ministers fairly? In this special bonus episode of Trends with Truth in Churches of Christ, Dr. Michael Jackson and Dale Jenkins review the findings from the previous Churches of Christ salary survey—and explain what those numbers reveal about ministry compensation, church priorities, small congregations, bi-vocational preaching, and the future of youth ministry. The newest salary survey is now open, and your participation will help provide better information for churches, elders, ministers, and ministry families. 📊 TAKE THE NEW SALARY SURVEY: https://www.thejenkinsinstitute.com/salarysurvey The more ministers and churches participate, the more useful the data becomes. In this episode, we discuss: • What the previous salary survey revealed • How ministry compensation changed from 2019 to 2024 • Why preacher salaries have increased • The significant pay gap between small and large congregations • Whether smaller churches can realistically afford full-time ministers • The growing importance of bi-vocational ministry • Why youth ministry compensation has risen • The importance of retaining qualified youth ministers • What elders should learn from salary data • What ministers should consider when discussing compensation • Why church members should take ministry compensation seriously • How fair pay helps ministers support their families and serve effectively This episode does not present the results of the newest survey. Instead, it reviews the previous survey and invites you to participate in the new one now available through The Jenkins Institute. The survey is about more than money. It is about how churches value ministry, support ministers, care for their families, and prepare for the future. If you are an elder, preacher, youth minister, church member, or ministry student, this is a conversation you need to hear—and the new survey is one you should take. Subscribe to Trends with Truth in Churches of Christ for thoughtful conversations about ministry, church life, leadership, culture, and the future of the church. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Every number has a name 00:52 Welcome to Trends with Truth 01:28 Why the salary survey was created 03:26 This is about more than money 04:22 Dale’s first ministry salary 06:16 The newest salary survey is now open 07:20 How the ChurchPay tool works 08:00 What the previous survey revealed 10:02 Are churches supporting ministers better? 12:41 The pay gap between small and large churches 14:14 What small churches should consider 15:15 The future of bi-vocational ministry 16:37 Youth ministry compensation 18:40 The importance of retaining youth ministers 20:01 What elders should learn 20:51 What youth ministers should learn 21:48 What church members should understand 23:03 Supporting ministers and their families 23:25 Take the new survey KEYWORDS: Churches of Christ salary survey, new preacher salary survey, preacher salary, minister salary, youth minister salary, church salary survey, how much should a preacher make, preacher compensation, ministry compensation, church finances, church leadership, elders and ministers, bi-vocational preacher, small church ministry, youth ministry Churches of Christ, preacher pay, minister benefits, church staff compensation, Trends with Truth, The Jenkins Institute, Dale Jenkins, Michael Jackson, Churches of Christ ministry HASHTAGS: #ChurchesOfChrist #PreacherSalary #MinistryCompensation #YouthMinistry #TrendsWithTruth

    Are Churches Paying Ministers Fairly? The Salary Survey Review
See All (18)

Ratings & Reviews

About

Trends with Truth is a podcast exploring the realities, challenges, and opportunities facing Churches of Christ today. Hosted by Dale Jenkins of The Jenkins Institute and Dr. Michael Jackson, President of Heritage Christian University, each episode examines research, surveys, church trends, leadership issues, ministry opportunities, and cultural shifts impacting congregations. Trends with Truth seeks to replace assumptions with understanding, helping church leaders and members make informed decisions for the future. Real trends. Real conversations. Real truth.

Information

  • Creator
    Heritage Christian University | The Jenkins Institute | Ministry League Network
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Heritage Christian University | The Jenkins Institute | Ministry League Network
  • Show Website
    Trends with Truth In Churches of Christ

You Might Also Like