Rainer on Leadership

Thom Rainer

4.8 (462)
CHRISTIANITY
UPDATED WEEKLY

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

2D AGO

Should Churches Acknowledge Super Bowl Sunday?

Josh and Sam discuss the best way to handle Super Bowl Sunday. Should churches say anything about it? Play into the day with gimmicks to increase attendance? What's the best approach? The post Should Churches Acknowledge Super Bowl Sunday? appeared first on Church Answers.

22 min
5D AGO

The Church Number: 60% The Power of a Personal Invitation

A surprisingly high number of churchgoers attend because someone simply invited them. In this episode, Sam and Thom unpack why 60% might be the most overlooked and powerful number in church outreach today. This statistic comes from Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts, which recently asked more than 1,000 American evangelical Protestants about their church experiences. The post The Church Number: 60% The Power of a Personal Invitation appeared first on Church Answers.

24 min
JAN 29

The Best Ways to Encourage a Discouraged Church (Your Next Three Steps)

In this episode, Josh and Sam explore what happens when a church becomes discouraged and how God restores hope in a congregation that feels stuck, tired, or overwhelmed. Discouragement drains energy, distorts reality, and slowly turns a church inward. Encouragement is both spiritual and strategic. It starts with leaders who refuse to catastrophize and instead cast vision. Pessimists predict failure. Realists describe what is. But optimistic, faith-filled leaders show what could be. The post The Best Ways to Encourage a Discouraged Church (Your Next Three Steps) appeared first on Church Answers.

24 min
JAN 26

Revisiting Simple Church: What Worked, What Didn’t

In 2006, "Simple Church" encouraged churches to streamline programming, clarify discipleship pathways, and focus on moving people toward spiritual maturity rather than filling calendars with activities. The book had a significant impact, shaping how thousands of pastors thought about ministry systems and structure. Nearly two decades later, Thom and Sam take a fresh look: What principles stood the test of time? What challenges emerged in practice? And how should churches apply "Simple Church" today in a ministry landscape that’s more complex, digital, and post-pandemic than ever? The post Revisiting Simple Church: What Worked, What Didn’t appeared first on Church Answers.

24 min
JAN 22

How Do You Fire a Church Employee?

Letting a staff member go is one of the hardest leadership moments a pastor will ever face. Churches are relational environments, and employment decisions are deeply personal. But there are times when releasing someone is the most loving, wise, and responsible step—for the staff member, for the team, and for the health of the church. In this episode, Josh and Sam talk through how to navigate this complex process with clarity, compassion, and integrity. The post How Do You Fire a Church Employee? appeared first on Church Answers.

29 min
JAN 19

The Burge Report: The Democrats Have a Religion Problem (Does It Matter?)

In this episode, we look at Ryan Burge’s latest analysis showing how the modern Democratic coalition is being pulled apart by widening religious divides. While Republicans continue to draw support from a largely Christian voter base, Democrats now include two groups with opposite religious profiles: highly secular white voters and deeply religious voters of color. This creates major messaging and policy tensions within the party, tensions that didn’t exist at the same scale in earlier decades. The post The Burge Report: The Democrats Have a Religion Problem (Does It Matter?) appeared first on Church Answers.

26 min
JAN 15

When Should a Church Hire an Executive Pastor?

As churches grow, leaders often reach a tipping point where the senior pastor can no longer carry the full weight of vision, preaching, pastoral care, administration, staff oversight, and organizational leadership. That’s when the question arises: Is it time to hire an Executive Pastor? In this episode, Josh and Sam unpack what an Executive Pastor actually does, why this role has become more common across church sizes, and how to know whether your church is ready for one. The post When Should a Church Hire an Executive Pastor? appeared first on Church Answers.

23 min
JAN 12

Digital Worship Fatigue: Why Online Church Can’t Replace the In-Person Gathering

Many are tired of online worship. What happened? When the pandemic forced churches online, digital worship seemed like the future. Congregations grew virtually, and pastors reached audiences they never imagined. But five years later, that momentum has faded. The church is discovering what technology can—and cannot—do for worship. On this episode, Thom and Sam explore why online engagement has declined and how churches can find balance between digital convenience and in-person community. The post Digital Worship Fatigue: Why Online Church Can’t Replace the In-Person Gathering appeared first on Church Answers.

23 min

See All (101)

Thom Rainer

Host

4.8

out of 5

462 Ratings

Helpful topics…

02/06/2022

EdEarnest

My ministry has benefited greatly from these podcasts. The topics are quite helpful- many “real life” kind of scenarios…things I really face (or might face in the future). This is a great equipping resource. And as for personal preference, the length is perfect. I enjoy the bullet points kind out outline with a conversational tone. This makes this podcast very easy to listen to for me. I don’t miss very many episodes. Thanks guys!
Rainers bilk Christians

04/30/2025

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Just another Rainer family money-grab to keep the Rainer kids flush with cash donations from poor Southern retirees. Tom, you are bright but have failed to help the Church with its #1 most obvious problem--and Tom won't even say the name because he knows it's the cancer invading our congregations. Speak truth or the Church will continue to shrink 5%+ every year.
Poor audio

12/18/2023

rm@c973

Unable to listen because some speakers are loud while others can hardly be heard. Great content though!
Becoming more of an infomercial

11/10/2022

RDL79

Have been listening to this podcast for a while and really enjoyed it at the beginning, but the longer it goes, the more I feel like I’m listening to an infomercial and them promote their sponsors