The One Thing

Reach Australia

4.3 (9)
CHRISTIANITY
UPDATED WEEKLY

One solid, practical tip for gospel-centred ministry every week. Reach Australia is a network of churches - working together to seeing thousands of healthy, evangelistic, multiplying churches across Australia.

3D AGO

438 You might be discipling a future planter

There might be someone in your Bible study who keeps asking uncomfortable questions about church. - Why aren’t more people being reached?- Why do we keep doing church this way? And you might be tempted to shut them down. In this episode, Scott Sanders and Derek Hanna talk about the early signs of future church planters — including a holy dissatisfaction with church as usual and a deep conviction that the gospel should be reaching more people than it is. They’re often the ones who unsettle leaders, question systems, and refuse to be satisfied with maintenance ministry. They might be mistaken as difficult. They might be future planters. A sharp listen for pastors and leaders who want to discern the difference — for the sake of more people hearing about Jesus. Toolbox: Church Planter Questionnaire Serving Others Ebook Credits: This episode was brought to you by Reach Australia National Conference The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ Support Reach Australia's online library

20 min
FEB 2

437 Getting Church Teams Started for the Year

The first meeting of the year does more than set rosters. It shapes how a team understands why they serve. Scott Sanders and Derek Hanna walk through what to do when a volunteer team gathers for the first time: reconnect people, set the church’s gospel direction in front of them again, and show how this team helps that happen. They also cover what not to do. A practical listen for anyone leading volunteer teams or kicking off a staff year, so we start together around the gospel. Toolbox: Ep 387 How to Run a Meeting Credits: This episode was brought to you by Lending Hands Mortgage Brokers The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ Support Reach Australia's online library

20 min
JAN 26

436 Are rallies dead or will they reach Gen Z?

Rallies feel outdated to some, but Dave Jensen thinks the problem was never the rally itself. With Gen Z more open than expected, he’s convinced large, clear gospel events might be overdue for a rethink. Why rallies may be working again, and why bad execution killed them last timeTargeting people closest to belief, not starting with the hardest casesHow the Alive rallies are structured, music, preaching, response, follow-upThe role of local churches before and after the eventWhat preparation actually matters if you want conversions, not just crowds Toolbox: Alive Movement Connections: ⁠Made Alive Website⁠⁠Alive Movement Youtube Channel⁠⁠Alivemvment Instagram⁠⁠Fire Up! Podcast⁠Recommended Books: ⁠Mission ebook ⁠by Dave Jensen⁠Discover⁠ by Dave Jensen ⁠What is a Christian?⁠ By Dave Jensen Credits: This episode was brought to you by ⁠Safe Ministry Check⁠ The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

27 min
JAN 19

435 When someone decides to leave your church (exit interviews for members)

Church members leave for all sorts of reasons, and how you respond can shape both their next steps and your church community. This episode explores what a thoughtful exit process looks like, even when departures are hard or messy. Key Why churches often don’t track why members leave and how to start doing itHandling departures that feel personal or painful without taking it on yourselfConducting exit interviews that care for people while gathering useful insightsSupporting those who stay behind and preventing gossip or resentmentCelebrating departures when people leave for positive reasons, like mission or relocationBuilding a church culture where sending people out is expected, celebrated, and healthy TOOLBOX: Gaining by Losing by J.D. Greear The Leader’s Journey by Jim Herrington, Trisha Taylor, and R. Robert Creech CREDITS: This episode was brought to you by Lending Hands Mortgage Brokers The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ Support Reach Australia's online library

25 min
JAN 12

434 The spots in church life we think are fine … but are falling apart underneath

Every church has a pathway.It might not be written down or planned, but it’s shaping how people move through our churches. Derek Hanna and Scott Sanders talk about how to identify the weak spots in your church’s pathway — where people are getting stuck, and how leaders can bring clarity without turning ministry into mechanics. In this episode, you’ll hear about: What we mean by a “pathway” in church life Common blockages: front door, conversion, membership, and serving Why pathways are about people before they’re about programs How to decide where to start — and what not to fix first Who should own pathway thinking in your church A short listen for teams who want fewer people falling through the cracks, so more people grow to know and follow Jesus. TOOLBOX: Framework ebook Reach Australia Podcast 5.2 Re-Work Your Discipleship Pathway with Scott Sanders Greg Lee talk: Mission driving the ecosystem Reach Australia’s National Conference 2026 CREDITS: This episode was brought to you by Exdia The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ Support Reach Australia's online library

25 min
JAN 5

Replay: 388 Welcoming - where churches go wrong

This is a replay of one of your favourite episodes: one you have to get right as we begin the new year. First impressions matter, and churches often underestimate how much. Peter Blanch and Scott Sanders discuss how small changes can make a big impact in helping people feel seen, valued, and truly at home. The theological foundation for welcomingMistakes from not even thinking about it to overvaluing the newcomerMistakes of not thinking about what a new person needs to connect to churchMistakes of not thinking about the whole experience of welcomingWelcoming has an important two-way relationship with the rest of the church ecosystem, especially with the mission teamThinking through the building and how it worksThinking through the team and what you need0:00 – Introduction1:23 – Where churches get it wrong2:04 – Why Welcome People to Church4:18 – Where Do Churches Get Welcoming Wrong?6:01 – The danger of satisfactory15:05 – Not having a big enough team17:21 – Fixing the problem20:11 – Tool Box Secret shopper checklist Gospel Growth and Christian Community ebook Reach Australia Digital (Helping you with branding and website) Community and Integration Workshop Part 1 Community and Integration Workshop Part 2 This episode was brought to you by Kidswise The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠. For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. What We DiscussTool BoxCredits

22 min
12/29/2025

Replay: 378 What Should Your Church be Tracking?

A replay from one of your favourite episodes. One you need to think about as we head into the new year. Data is just a tool, but it’s an important tool. Its real purpose? Loving and serving your people better. A snapshot of data can give you an idea of your church health. What we discuss Average Attendance: Are people showing up consistently?Growth Rate: Are you growing each year? What’s a healthy growth rate?Conversion Growth: How many new believers are you seeing? What’s a good target?Community Reflection: Does your congregation reflect the diversity of your local area?Secondary Giving: Beyond general giving, how generous are people with time, talent, and resources?Newcomer System: Are first-time guests sticking around? If not, what’s falling through the cracks?Staff-to-Attendee Ratio: Do you have enough leaders? What’s a good ratio? TOOLBOX: Church Health Consults Knowing What to Measure and Why Seminar Measure What Matters Book CREDITS: This episode was brought to you by Church Suite The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠. For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

23 min
12/22/2025

Replay: 310 How Do I Rest? Seven Types of Rest

A replay from your favourite episodes and coming at a timely part of the year: Derek and Scott look at the work of Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith on different types of rest. 1. Physical Rest Giving your body a rest. 2. Mental Rest It could be that you need to give your mind a rest. 3. Emotional Rest We can get emotionally tired when we are not paying attention to our emotions. 4. Spiritual Rest Reconnecting with God 5. Social Rest Different relationships can ones that build us up or drain us. 6. Sensory Rest Especially with screens. 7. Creative Rest Creative rest is not about putting a demand on your creative ability; that’s not rest, that’s work. It is the opposite. It’s allowing white space in your life and giving room for your creativity to show up. Creative rest lets you focus on your basic need for wonder. You can enjoy fulfilling that basic need in ways that don’t put any pressure on your being creative. Yes, creativity may bloom from the seeds planted, but creativity is not the objective, only rest. Summary Don’t have to do all of these every day, or every week. But it is helpful to be aware that there are different ways to rest and different people will rest in different ways TOOLBOX: ⁠⁠Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity⁠⁠⁠ by Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith ⁠ TED Notes from Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith ⁠ TED Talk from Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith ⁠ Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less⁠ Alex Soojung-Kim Pang ⁠Atomic Habits⁠ by James Clear. CREDITS: The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠ To support the Reach Australia Online Library head ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

21 min

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02/06/2025

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1 min

4.3

out of 5

9 Ratings

Great Format, Great Hosts, Great Podcast

06/28/2018

Yellowneedsmorelevels

These guys obviously love the Lord, the local church, and each other. You will always walk away with At least one thing I am practical next steps.
Helpful new podcast!

06/20/2018

gz11881

This is a helpful new podcast that's super easy to throw on for 15 mins.

One solid, practical tip for gospel-centred ministry every week. Reach Australia is a network of churches - working together to seeing thousands of healthy, evangelistic, multiplying churches across Australia.