https://youtu.be/6sPYwNZSWvQ

Every believer is called to Christlikeness. Pastors, however, have a calling to be above reproach. What does this calling mean? On this episode, Sam interviews Matt McCraw. Together, they cover the universal standards for all pastors and what special burdens they carry.

 	

 	What does "above reproach" mean in a practical sense?




 	

 	How can pastors lead "the Jesus way"?




 	

 	How should a church hold pastors accountable to biblical standards?




 	

 	Does every pastor have the same standards?




 	

 	Should a pastor be restored after failing?




 	

 	How do you remain above reproach? And what tips would you give other pastors?



Resources:

 	* California Baptist University Pre-College Credit


 	Tyndale Find a Bible (NLT Filament)


 	“Leading the Jesus Way: Learning to Lead from the Master” by Matt McCraw


 	* Matt McCraw


 	* Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector


 	* Check out the Church Answers Christian bookstore! Shop curated, trusted resources for Christian life and ministry.

Episode Sponsor:

Eligible high schoolers can earn college credit online, the first class is free (not including books and course materials), and they get a significant discount ($166 per credit vs. $613 per credit) for every subsequent class. They can choose from more than 30 available courses. Here are just a few additional details not included on the flier:

 	

 	This program is open to third-culture kids, homeschool students, private and public school students, etc.
 	Students can start during any eight-week session – summer, fall, spring, each semester has two sessions as indicated on the flier
 	The first-class free offer is limited. I do not yet know for how long, but we should market it as temporary for now.
 	Many students have successfully completed courses during their normal school year. Classes are asynchronous, so they can access course materials at their convenience.
 	Sometimes universities have similar programs and they make classes specific for high school students – HS students sitting with other HS students. In our program, participants sit in on real college courses, with actual college student peers. They get the real deal through our experience.




What Does It Really Mean for Pastors to Be Above Reproach: An Interview with Matt McCraw

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https://youtu.be/41k-7fpRFb0

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.

 	

 	“Churches Near Me” is the new way people find you. Few people pay attention to your sign anymore.




 	

 	You are invisible to your community without an outward focus.




 	

 	Distribution of churches is key: There are 356,000 religious congregations. That’s about 113 per county. There’s about 1 congregation for every 1000 Americans. For reference, there are 13,400 McDonalds and about 16,000 Starbucks.




 	

 	Geography is key: Houses of worship are not tracking with population growth in certain areas of the country.




 	

 	The counties that grew the fastest over the last ten years are the most likely to have a very high ratio of churches to people. In other words, they need more churches planted there.




 	

 	A church on every street corner is a kingdom outpost for the gospel!



Resources:

 	Tithe.ly


 	2023 State of Church Giving


 	* “How Many Religious Congregations Are in Your County?” by Ryan Burge


 	Ryan Burge


 	“From Bible Belt to Sunbelt: Plain-Folk Religion, Grassroots Politics, and the Rise of Evangelical Conservatism” by Darren Dochuk (affiliate link)


 	* “How Much of Church Growth Is Based on Demographics? The Data Provides a Compelling and Clear Answer” by Ryan Burge


 	* The Everything Church Resource Directory


 	* The Hope Initiative


 	* Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector

Episode Sponsors:

Tithely provides churches around the world with software tools to help them and their ministries thrive.

Nearly 40,000 churches use Tithely for online and text giving, managing their people’s information, volunteer management, child check in, church apps and websites, and communicating through email and text messaging.

Made up of a team of ministry-minded people, Tithely’s heart is to see the local church empowered with the tools to fulfill their mission.

You can sign up for free at Tithely.com - yes that's right, it's free! Tithely's giving platform comes with no monthly fees and no contracts. Get started taking donations in just 5 minutes at Tithely.com.

Also, right now Tithely is offering a free report called “2023 State of Church Giving Report.” You can access that report free by clicking on the link in the show notes.

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

https://youtu.be/2fyq2UV2WK8

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.

 	

 	If the scandal is rooted in sin, the church must publicly repent as a first step.




 	

 	If the scandal is derived from a stance on truth, the church must stand firm.




 	

 	The scandal's size and impact of the scandal should determine your response.




 	

 	Quickly remove church leaders from their positions of authority if necessary.




 	

 	Humility and service to the community over time will reduce the impact of the scandal.




 	

 	* When there are victims, seek fair restitution proactively.




 	

 	Do not sue others as a way to save face or retaliate.




 	

 	Put Christ in the middle of your response and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance through prayer.



Resources:

 	* Upward Sports


 	* California Baptist University


 	Church Answers Central


 	Know Your Beliefs


 	“It Is Time to Stop Celebrating Church Transfer Growth” by Thom S. Rainer


 	The Everything Church Resource Directory


 	* The Hope Initiative


 	* Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector

Episode Sponsors:

Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings.

At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel.  Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers.

**As a partner of Rainer or Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE!


 	

 	Did you know that fewer than 20% of Southern Baptist pastors have a bachelor’s degree? That is according to a past Pew Research study. How can this be combated and how can we prepare our churches for the future? California Baptist University has a solution. CBU offers a full breadth of courses through its online degree programs.
 	Whether you’re looking to start your degree, finish your degree, or prepare leaders in your church for advancement opportunities,

Rebuilding Your Reputation after a Church Scandal

https://youtu.be/JQuoh_gle1k

There are good examples of growing churches reaching young families. What are they doing differently than others? Thom and Sam answer this question. There is more to this issue than being a large church in a growing suburb. Churches reaching young families come in a variety of sizes and locations.

 	

 	The demographic reality of an aging population in the United States.




 	

 	Millennials (and soon Gen Z) are starting families at an older age than previous generations.




 	

 	The growing family church understands the worship "show" is less important than rhythms of discipleship and consistent programming.




 	

 	The growing family church understands you have to focus on children to reach young families, which means investing in staff, facilities, and programs.




 	

 	The growing family church understands the family unit is more diverse now than ever before.




 	

 	* The growing family church understands the reality of single parenting.




 	

 	The growing family church has older generations willing to sacrifice their preferences for the sake of reaching children.



Resources:

 	* California Baptist University


 	* Upward Sports


 	Brown Church Development Group


 	Ryan Burge


 	“The Bridger Generation” by Thom S. Rainer (affiliate link)


 	The Everything Church Resource Directory


 	* The Hope Initiative


 	* Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector

Episode Sponsors:


 	

 	Did you know that fewer than 20% of Southern Baptist pastors have a bachelor’s degree? That is according to a past Pew Research study. How can this be combated and how can we prepare our churches for the future? California Baptist University has a solution. CBU offers a full breadth of courses through its online degree programs.
 	Whether you’re looking to start your degree, finish your degree, or prepare leaders in your church for advancement opportunities, CBU’s degree programs provide a flexible, online learning environment. Classes start every eight weeks, so you can begin any time.
 	An online degree can:

 	Help you gain a better understanding of your life’s purpose;
 	Symbolize competence and integrity in your career; and
 	Provide you with the skills and knowledge to make a difference in the lives of others.


 	Your team may benefit from a degree in business, leadership, finance, communications or Christian studies. There are dozens of online degrees available to you! The online Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries develops servant leaders with the tools for understanding and communicating biblical truths. This degree prepares students for active leadership roles in the church, parachurch and Christian organizations.
 	Financial aid is available, and thanks to CBU donors, online undergraduate degrees in Christian Ministries and Christian Studies may qualify for additional scholarship,

How Do Growing Churches Reach Young Families?

https://youtu.be/flFFzgwYsus

One of the signs of a healthy church is people asking tough questions. These questions may be theological, or they may involve life issues. When people are comfortable asking about difficult subjects, it shows trust in leadership. Thom and Sam discuss the importance of having a church culture that encourages asking hard questions.

 	

 	People don't ask tough questions when they don't trust you.




 	

 	People don't ask tough questions when they don't know you.




 	

 	People don't ask tough questions when they don't understand you.




 	

 	People don't ask tough questions when they expect you to ignore them.




 	

 	People don't ask tough questions when they expect you to dodge them.




 	

 	People don't ask tough questions when they expect you to judge them.



Resources:

 	“Every Woman’s Bible” (Discover This Bible)


 	* “Every Woman’s Bible” (Bulk Purchasing)


 	* Tyndale House Publishers


 	* Upward Sports


 	Get your FREE eBook, Deferred Maintenance


 	The Everything Church Resource Directory


 	* The Hope Initiative


 	* Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector

Episode Sponsors:

Discover your story in God’s story and find a life of extraordinary purpose.

Every woman brings her own questions to the Bible: If I’m God’s child, why does my life sometimes feel ordinary or even disappointing? Why does the Bible say such hard and confusing things about and to women? How can I understand God and my own identity and place in God’s story?

Every Woman’s Bible doesn’t shy away from the questions women ask. In these pages, active and impactful women of yesterday and today share age-old truths with modern relevance. Contributions from more than 100 women around the world—from every continent—explore the heartfelt needs, gritty challenges, and uncommon faithfulness of women of the Bible, throughout history, and today. Serious study and deep reflection will help you clarify your calling through personal stories, insights, inspiration, and study notes that dig into personal needs during your Bible reading—all created by women, for women.

You’ll find . . .

 	

 	Insight and transformation through deep study
 	Personal growth through reflective content
 	Connection to a global community of women
 	Powerful learning through access to additional study and devotional resources in the Filament Bible App
 	Greater understanding of God through digging into passages that are often difficult for women
 	Challenge through learning from a diverse group of women from many walks of life



This beautiful Bible is created in community across socio-economic lines and international borders,

Why People Don’t Ask Tough Questions in Church

https://youtu.be/590nmINYH78

Thom and Sam are delighted to welcome Brady Shearer to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Brady is the CEO of Pro Church Tools. His work helps churches navigate what he calls "the single biggest communication shift we've seen in the last 500 years." Here are some questions they will discuss:

 	

 	Why is Gen Z really different from previous generations?




 	

 	Can smaller churches be a positive development?




 	

 	What has taken place to cause such a dramatic shift in communications?



Resources:

 	Upward Sports


 	“Every Woman’s Bible” (Discover This Bible)


 	* “Every Woman’s Bible” (Bulk Purchasing)


 	* Tyndale House Publishers


 	* Pro Church Tools


 	The Pro Church Tools Show


 	* Nucleus


 	Social Sermons


 	* “Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up” by Abigail Shrier (affiliate link)


 	* Ryan Burge


 	The Everything Church Resource Directory


 	* The Hope Initiative


 	* Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector

Episode Sponsors:

Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings.

At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel.  Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers.

**As a partner of Rainer or Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE!

Discover your story in God’s story and find a life of extraordinary purpose.

Every woman brings her own questions to the Bible: If I’m God’s child, why does my life sometimes feel ordinary or even disappointing? Why does the Bible say such hard and confusing things about and to women? How can I understand God and my own identity and place in God’s story?

Every Woman’s Bible doesn’t shy away from the questions women ask. In these pages, active and impactful women of yesterday and today share age-old truths with modern relevance. Contributions from more than 100 women around the world—from every continent—explore the heartfelt needs, gritty challenges,

Three Major Future Shifts for Churches You May Not Expect: An Interview with Brady Shearer

Rainer on Leadership

What Does It Really Mean for Pastors to Be Above Reproach: An Interview with Matt McCraw

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