Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 15

The Value of Video Venue Preaching: What are the Pros and Cons?

With the explosion of multi-site churches, the implementation of video venue preaching is not a surprising development. Though estimates vary, there are likely around 10,000 multi-site churches in the United States. Millions of people attend them weekly. Over half of multi-site churches have video venues. Some of the most popular pastors in the nation utilize video venues to broadcast their preaching.

What is a video venue? These venues come in many forms, but they all have one thing in common: A screen projecting the preaching or teaching pastor. The screen may or may not be a live feed. The venue may be its own campus or a location on the main campus (like a coffee shop). Most video venues have live worship, but the styles can vary.

Strong opinions exist about video venues. Some issue the blanket accusation of “McChurch.” While I get the sentiment, such criticism is too harsh.

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Eight Key Decisions You Must Make About Groups in Your Church

I spent many years in a church tradition that viewed Sunday school as the only legitimate group model. That tradition put significant efforts into maintaining the Sunday school organization. Most of their groups were ongoing (sometimes called “open”). All the classes met on Sunday morning at the church site. Their denomination provided the weekly curriculum.

Many of the members of these churches viewed “groups” or “small groups” as the off-campus, less-structured system. For the Sunday-school-based churches, you weren’t really involved in the church unless you were in a Sunday school class.

The Importance of Groups

Sunday school, however, is one form of groups. There are many other types of groups in churches. When we work with churches, we encourage the leaders to emphasize moving their members to groups. Why is that emphasis so important?

Groups provide relational connectivity that is key to assimilation.Group members give significantly more to the church than those who attend worship services only.Group members tend to minister to one another. Moving members to groups is key to equipping them to do the work of ministry.Group members tend to attend church more than two times a month. We have noted on several occasions how the declining frequency of attendance is the number one reason for the overall decline in most churches.Group members tend to be more unified in the church since they are more likely to focus on the needs of others rather than their own preferences.

Do Something 

Our initial encouragement to church leaders is thus to make groups a priority. They might not be as tightly organized as you would like. They might not all look alike. They might seem too messy for your comfort. 

I get it. I prefer organization over chaos. But don’t let your desire to organize your groups slow down your emphasis. In most cases, messy groups are better than no groups. 

Eight Choices About Groups 

Church leaders will make several decisions about groups, whether the decisions are intentional or not. The decisions might be for the overall group structure, or they could be made every time the church creates a new group.

On-campus versus off-campus? We know that on-campus groups tend to have higher participation rates, especially if they follow or precede a worship service. But, many churches do not have the classroom capacity for all on-campus groups. And some members prefer an off-campus setting to a classroom setting on campus. Short-term or long-term? Typically, a group has to meet for more than six weeks for the members to develop relationships, but there are countless choices of lengths of groups. The Sunday school model was typically an ongoing weekly meeting time. Some groups take extended breaks. Some groups discontinue after a defined season. Curriculum directed or group choice? Does the leadership of the church direct the curriculum (or studies with no formal curriculum) of the groups, or do they choose their own with no guidance? At the very least, we recommend that leadership approve the curriculum or studies. In-personal or virtual? For a variety of reasons, a church may elect to have one or more of its groups meet virtually. But in-person groups tend to have much better assimilation rates. We believe in-person groups should be the default, and virtual groups should be the exception. Organized versus unorganized? The group strategy in a church does not have to be meticulously organized, but some level of organization is necessary. We encourage church leaders to track attendance by group and individual attendees at the very least. Discipleship pathway versus standalone? In many churches, groups stand alone as their own organization. In some churches, groups are part of an overall discipleship strategy, sometimes called a discipleship pathway. We have seen an increase in the latter and expect the discipleship pathway structure to grow. Large or small group size? While there is no ideal group size, groups of more than 20 tend to lose their connectivity and effectiveness. Reproducing or not? We encourage churches to organize groups toward an outward focus. This process can take place by intentionally starting new groups or by groups going through evangelistic emphases like The Hope Initiative.

Groups are vital to the health of a church. While leaders can use the questions above as a guide, they should, at the very least, make groups a priority in the church. 

Check out this great resource, How To Lead A Healthy Small Group.

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A Simple and Quick Checklist Before Preaching Every Sermon

Every preacher prepares differently. You likely already have a personal method of sermon preparation or will create one as you develop and gain more experience. This checklist is not meant to be a comprehensive guide, but I hope you find it useful in the sermon writing process.

Read the text. Multiple times, over and over. Memorize portions of it. Read in various translations. What do you observe? What does the passage say?

Pray the text. Do not neglect this step! You should pray as much as you read. When you encounter a word or phrase that stands out, perhaps the Holy Spirit is guiding you to something.

Write the main point of the text. What is the intended meaning of the text? The main point should be one or two sentences. These sentences will drive the rest of your sermon.

Consider the following questions before writing the main point of the text:

What genre of literature is the text?What is the occasion of the writing?Who is the author?In what context is the passage written?

Corroborate with respected commentaries. Some may prefer to do this step after writing an outline, but a particularly challenging text may warrant more research in commentaries before writing.

Consider these questions before writing an outline or manuscript:

Do the top scholars agree with your main point?Do these scholars agree with each other?Where are the differences?What might you have missed?

Outline the sermon around the main point. Once you know the intended meaning of the text, then you can apply the text.

Consider the following questions as you outline the structure of your sermon:

How does this text apply to my church?What does the passage require of believers?How does this text point to Christ?

It is common for preachers to have three to five subpoints in each sermon. A good target is to preach for 25 to 35 minutes. Be sure to structure your sermon with the time constraints in mind. 

Listen to other respected preachers. First, a word of caution: Do not preach someone else’s sermon. Cite your sources and limit your quotations. This step may not be necessary for every sermon you preach, but hearing someone else preach may spark ideas and help your sermon gel.  

Write and revise the sermon. Most preachers use digital methods to write sermons. Many preachers use electronic devices (like tablets) to display their notes while they preach. Just in case something happens, you should always have a hard copy of the Bible and a print version of your notes available. Batteries die, and software can glitch.

Illustrate the sermon. An illustration may come to mind at any point in the sermon writing process, but incorporating these illustrations is usually the last step.

Where might you find illustrations for your sermons?

Real life: It’s good for your guests and new members to hear a little about who you are and what’s happening in your life. Additionally, your members are more likely to relate to you if you open up about your own life.History: These illustrations help teach church history, historical theology, and local history. More importantly, history can connect generations.Current news: Everyone is watching it, so you have to go there. Otherwise, you’ll appear out-of-touch and detached. But be careful here—not every news story is worthy of sermon time.Pop culture: Don’t dismiss this one. While the latest fad, gadget, or hit music may not appeal to you, they apply to the younger generations. It’s popular in the culture for a reason.Biblical examples: Often, the best illustrations are found in the Bible. Biblical illustrations help your listeners connect the dots between stories in the Bible and also between the many different genres of Scripture.

Check this out! Church Answers just released a brand-new Certification in Expository Preaching. Dr. Chuck Lawless, Dr. Matt McCraw, and I team up to bring you comprehensive and in-depth training to become a better expository preacher.

This certification will equip you to be a better expositor of God’s Word. Whether you are beginning to preach or have many years of experience, this training will give you a greater passion and a deeper understanding of the best preaching techniques, methods of preparation, and sermon delivery.

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The American Church Has a Race Problem

There’s a constant refrain among statisticians who focus on the overall population–demographics are destiny. If you want to see what the future looks like, it’s always helpful to look at the current trend lines and then project them out ten or twenty years in the future. That will give you a reasonable picture of how things will stand in the intermediate future. For instance, China had a roaring economy for the last several decades. They built some of the most extensive manufacturing facilities the world has ever seen and made products for some of the most well-known brands in the United States. Now, their economy is starting to cool. One simple reason exists for this cooling. Their birth rate plummeted. In the 1960s, the average Chinese woman gave birth to 6 or 7 children. Today, the Chinese birth rate is 1.16, which puts it lower than that of Japan. It’s

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The Wisest Thing I Ever Heard a 71-Year-Old Student Say

I was overseeing the doctoral program, and the potential student calling my office landline had a fundamental question for me: “Do you allow 71-year-old retirees to apply for your program?” I jokingly told him, “Yes, as long as you pay the full tuition up front” (and, how I was grateful he had a good sense of humor!). Within months, in fact, he was a student in our program. 

It was one of the few times that one of my students was old enough to be my dad. I recall the looks of my much younger students when they entered the classroom and saw an older man in a suit coat and tie. I suspect they assumed that he was a guest speaker for the day. He was, after all, the oldest guy in the room. 

It didn’t take long, though, for the young doctoral students to gravitate toward this older brother in Christ. They grew to want to hear his thinking—and I shared that desire even though I was the professor in charge of the class. It’s that background that has led to my still remembering some of this brother’s more powerful statements within the classroom. 

On this particular day, we were discussing the unhealthiness of local churches, often guided by unhealthy leaders. Our brother leaned back in his chair and quietly and humbly said to the class, “Gentlemen, here’s one of the primary problems I see with many pastors. . . .”  He paused, and all of us waited with anticipation to learn from his experience. 

“One of the problems I see with many pastors,” he said, “is that they’re actually pastoring three churches: the one they never got over because they either (a) remember only the glory days or (b) bear the scars of a tough experience; the one they’re currently pastoring that should be their primary focus but sometimes isn’t; and the one they’d like to be pastoring—usually a ‘bigger and better church.’” 

“Brothers,” he continued, “you can’t be the best pastor you can be when your eyes are on more than one congregation.” 

For young pastors in the class who aspired for more recognition, the words challenged them at a heart level. For the few of us in the room who had already tried to navigate more than one congregation in our minds, our brother had put into words a problem we had never been able to articulate. So much did his words challenge me that I still remember them decades later. They were, and still are, the wisest thing I have ever heard from a 71-year-old student. 

Perhaps his words spoken so many years ago still speak to your heart today. If so, let us know in the comments section how we might pray for you and your work.

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Six Quick Tips for the Upcoming Church Budget Season

Most churches budget on a calendar year, meaning the spreadsheets come out in full force about the same time as pumpkin spice lattes. Budget season is just around the corner.

Creating a church budget is a laborious—and somewhat thankless—task. It can take several weeks to finalize an annual budget.

Every line item matters. God brought this point to my mind a few years ago during the budget process at my church. As we poured over pages of documents, a mundane expense stood out to me: $1,500 for Bibles. It’s a small amount in our overall budget and easily overlooked. Then, I thought about all the stories tied to that budget line item.

We give away Bibles. We ask our members to take Bibles and give them to others. I’ve heard countless stories from my church about these Bibles. Stories of people coming to Christ. Stories of people weeping over receiving a copy of God’s Word. Stories of family members, coworkers, and friends who were reached because someone took them a Bible. God works miracles in the ordinary. Every line in the budget matters because every person matters to Jesus.

The process of creating the church budget is important. In many ways, it’s a ministry roadmap for the upcoming year. As you walk through this budget season, here are six quick tips to consider.

Start by projecting revenue first. Too many churches start by projecting expenses. It’s an understandable mistake because expenses represent how funds are spent on ministry. The problem is you can’t spend the funds unless they are first given. Dreaming about big-ticket ministry efforts may be fun, but it’s not wise to dream up a budget. When you start with what you expect to take in, you can better prioritize your expenses.Include deferred maintenance in your operating budget. Deferred maintenance is what happens when you postpone needed repairs to save money. The problem with deferring these repairs is that they become more expensive the longer you delay them. Repairing a leaky roof doesn’t get any cheaper with time. Put a deferred maintenance line item in your budget to take care of delayed repairs. Some churches have decades of delayed deferred maintenance projects. Start working on them this year.Include a contingency fund in your operating budget. Many churches do not have a contingency fund for unforeseen expenses. A church should have about three months of expenses set aside for emergencies. Start building this fund through your operating budget. In essence, you pay yourself with this tactic. As funds come into the operating budget, a portion is set aside for the contingency fund.Keep personnel costs between 45% and 55% of the total budget. Personnel costs include the salaries and benefits of all employees, part-time and full-time. A church with limited or no debt can be on the higher end of this range. A church with substantial debt will need to be on the lower end of this range, if not lower.Create a priority list for any year-end surplus ahead of time. Whatever group makes the financial decisions for the church should have a good idea of how any surpluses will be allocated. Don’t wait until the surplus exists. It’s more challenging to prioritize projects after a surplus exists than before a surplus exists. People tend to fight harder for their own agenda when money is in the bank. Negotiate ahead of time and save yourself a headache.Pray through every line item. We should not expect God to work through the budget unless it gets special attention through prayer.

Crafting a budget is not the most exciting ministry, but it’s critical to the health of the church. A carefully planned budget will facilitate more efficient ministry and encourage generous people to give. God rewards a church that honors Him through good financial practices.

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Dig Deep, Disciple Well: A Guide for Women Bible Teachers

Imagine a woman, gifted in teaching, yearning to share God’s word, but stifled by two extremes. The conversation around women and teaching in the church feels like a rocket aiming for the moon but stuck on the launchpad. On one hand, endless debates trap women’s gifts in a theological tug-of-war. On the other, the “rockstar teacher” model prioritizes platforms and personalities with cute outfits and instant followers over the biblical truths and message they came to share. Both approaches miss the mark.

The Bible is filled with women who boldly used their gifts to teach and inspire. Deborah, a judge and prophetess, led Israel militarily and spiritually. Priscilla, alongside her husband Aquila, instructed Apollos, a renowned teacher, in the way of God. Even Philip’s daughters prophesied, demonstrating the Holy Spirit’s work through women. These are just a few examples of how God has used women throughout history and continues to use them today, to share His message and equip believers.

God desires to transform lives through His Word, not through limitations or chasing clicks. He wants his Spirit to move freely, in coffee shops just as much as during big conferences. So, how do we reignite the passion for women teachers and equip those questioning their calling? Let’s refocus on the real mission: equipping women to faithfully study and share God’s Word and nurture disciples, as they confidently walk out their callings for the local church.

Fuel Your Passion: Learn for Love, Not Likes. In today’s social media frenzy, it’s easy to fall into the trap of learning for validation. We approach the Bible seeking content for catchy posts, neglecting its true power. Yet, God’s ultimate desire is to draw us closer to Him. When we study with a heart of love, seeking answers, connections, and personal transformation, He reveals Himself in profound ways. This genuine love becomes the fuel that ignites your teaching and inspires others. This is a daily practice that we all have to come back to. Many leaders and teachers have lost their love for God, because they approach the Bible as a turn-key transaction, instead of a life-sustaining well. Read and study without posting about it.

Unveiling the Grand Narrative: Read Chronologically. Learning Bible stories in isolation can leave us with a fragmented understanding. Reading chronologically paints the grand picture of redemption, revealing how seemingly unconnected stories from childhood Bible school days weave together into a beautiful tapestry of God’s faithfulness. This practice not only fosters deeper understanding but also strengthens your discipline in daily Bible intake. As a Bible teacher, I’m constantly amazed by the richness of Scripture. Connecting new characters with old truths or tracing themes from Genesis to Revelation unveils layer upon layer of meaning, like peeling back the petals of a rose. My understanding of the text deepens with every study session, a reminder of the Bible’s inexhaustible wisdom. Check out this great resource from Tyndale, NLT One Year Chronological Study Bible.

Invest in Expertise: Seek Continuous Learning. While starting small is crucial, consider ongoing formal education. Every spiritual gift needs to be stewarded and stewarding means doing the work. The gift of teaching is not a charismatic personality and stage presence, but instead is the ability to take the truths of Scripture and communicate them with truth and grace. Many seminaries and organizations offer affordable online certificates or courses. These resources can equip you with in-depth knowledge of Old Testament themes, church history, core doctrines, and even ancient Near Eastern culture. A great resource to check out is our Church Answers University certifications which are accessible and affordable. Continuous learning keeps your teaching fresh and relevant and helps to keep you in a humble posture of learning and listening. Check out Church Answers University.

Start Small, Impact Deeply: Focus on Discipleship, Not Display. Coffee shops, dining tables, and kitchen counters – these are the training grounds for your ministry. Before broadcasting to the internet, pour your gifts into a smaller group. This allows you to understand their struggles, tailor your lessons, and learn from their questions. You’ll witness firsthand the impact of your teaching, fostering deeper connections and ensuring your message resonates with hearts, not just screens or conference attendees. Your local church, neighborhood, and workplace are where God desires you to leverage your gifts. Look for the people in front of you and invite them into what God is teaching you. 

The world needs women who teach God’s word with both depth and passion. Let’s rise above the limitations and noise. Let’s embrace lifelong learning, cultivate a heart for discipleship, and ignite a fire in ourselves and others for the transformative power of Scripture. As we faithfully share God’s message, we become instruments of His love, leaving a legacy of transformed hearts and seeds of faith sown for generations to come.

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Where Is the Bible Belt: Alabama or Washington State? A Church Answers Research Report

If you hear the name “Bible Belt,” you likely think of the deep South and cities like Birmingham, Nashville, or Jackson, Mississippi. For sure, those places have historically had more churches and more church members. Even today, you will likely see several churches when you take a short drive.

I am a native of the Bible Belt. I’ve spent most of my life in deep South states. Ironically, I was an unchurched teenager during some of my most formative years. And, yes, I can attest that the cliché, “a church on every corner,” is not too far from reality.

But the Bible Belt is changing dramatically. Its religious demographics are shifting toward secularism and nominal Christianity. To demonstrate that reality, I chose two counties with similar populations, one in Alabama and one in Washington State, and compared their religious demographics over ten years.

A Tale of Two Counties

I began

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Should Churches Celebrate July 4th? (And How Much)

Independence Day is a unique holiday for the American church. An overt Christian connection does not exist like with Christmas or Easter. July 4th is also specific to the United States, so churches outside of our country—as expected—would not recognize the holiday.

Four predominant views exist concerning whether American churches should recognize the holiday in a worship service. These views are on a spectrum, and godly people can have widely differing perspectives.

Display of patriotism. Churches should embrace the Independence Day holiday and celebrate it with much fanfare in worship services. Leaders should encourage activities in worship like the Pledge of Allegiance, singing the Star-Spangled Banner, and recognizing politicians in the service. America is a Christian nation, and churches are essential to preserving this vital part of our identity.Draw for the community. Churches should use the holiday to invite people to church. The celebration becomes an outreach tool. Some patriotic elements will be in the service, but the greater focus is using an after-church activity like a block party or kids’ event to encourage guests to be on your campus.Distraction from the purpose of worship. Churches should avoid celebrating July 4th because it confuses people and wrongly conflates God’s mission with patriotism. Christ should be central in all aspects of worship, not America. The priority is not loyalty to country but rather God’s glory. While a church may acknowledge the holiday, no part of the worship experience should be patriotic.Distortion of the gospel. Churches should condemn the use of patriotic elements in a worship service. Mixing patriotism with Christianity creates a false religion, and worship that includes elements of July 4th is likely idolatrous. America is not a Christian nation, and the church has no allegiance to any country.

Personally, I fall into the second category, and I believe the July 4th holiday is an excellent outreach opportunity to draw the community to your church campus. What are some ways to maintain balance with the holiday celebration?

Recognize context while keeping Jesus central. If I’m in another country, I expect the churches in those contexts to reflect elements of the culture. The local language, dress, customs, and celebrations will be present in the church. The American church can be contextual without losing the centrality of Christ. As a holiday, Independence Day is often ranked third by Americans as their favorite, behind Christmas and Thanksgiving. You are missing an opportunity if you ignore July 4th.

Minimize politics while acknowledging themes of loyalty and freedom. I never mention individual politicians from the pulpit, so I don’t like the idea of recognizing in worship a “special guest” who happens to be a local politician up for re-election. However, there are some excellent biblical themes to pull from the principles of July 4th, like freedom and loyalty. In the same way historical illustrations can complement biblical texts in sermons, the backdrop of Independence Day can highlight God’s truth.

Introduce elements of patriotism without changing the normal rhythm of worship. The ideal is to keep patriotism contextual without it veering into idolatry. I admit this balance is difficult. For those who believe patriotic displays in church are dangerously close to idolatry, I acknowledge the slippery slope exists. However, an entrenchment mentality is just as dangerous and, in my view, more likely to cause churches to neglect the Great Commission.

One way to maintain balance is to avoid special patriotic worship services and instead add a few patriotic elements to your normal flow of worship. Many churches already have this strategy for holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. The same approach can work for a July 4th worship service.

Hold any special activities after the worship service. A few years ago, our leadership team strategically decided to utilize the Sunday closest to Independence Day as an opportunity for outreach. Historically, the Sunday around July 4th was one of our lowest attended of the year. Rather than give up and write off the Sunday, we strategically invested in it by holding a big block party event on our campus after worship. We encourage our members to invite their friends. The Sunday is now our highest attended of the summer.

How much churches should celebrate July 4th is a controversial subject. I’ve given my perspective, but I would enjoy reading your take in the comments.

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How to Hold Church Staff Accountable in a Hybrid Work-from-Home Arrangement

I’ve written previously about why required office hours may not be the best arrangement for church staff. Jesus didn’t say, “Stay in the church building.” He said, “Go.” It is much harder to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission from a desk.

Additionally, I have cautioned about the pendulum swinging too far the other way. For example, it would be unwise if every church staff person worked from home and rarely came into the office. A couple of office days are essential. For my church team, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are when almost everyone is onsite.

Where is the balance? How do you hold staff accountable without being too rigid with required office hours?

First, you need at least one support person (paid or volunteer) at the church for regular office hours. Someone should be at the church during the week. Second, if your accountability system is limited to the church building, you need a new one. Just because people are onsite and in an office does not mean good work is occurring. Third, a hybrid arrangement will be best for most churches.

What’s expected in today’s hybrid work environment? Among hybrid workers, a majority (63%) report that their employers mandate in-office presence for a specified number of days per week or month. Furthermore, approximately 59% of these hybrid workers indicate that they work from home for three or more days during a typical week. Conversely, 41% of hybrid employees work two days or fewer from home each week.

So, asking your church staff to be onsite two or three days a week is reasonable. What’s best for you? Every church is different. Every context is different. And there are many different ways to staff a church. I will give general guidelines on accountability because it’s impossible to create universal metrics for staff accountability.

When holding staff accountable, start by considering the following three concepts:

Scope of the job. Scope includes the number of job responsibilities. For instance, someone overseeing technology may have a large job scope—lots of tasks to complete every week to keep church operations running smoothly. A teaching pastor with the single responsibility of delivering a weekend message has a small job scope.Footprint in church. Footprint includes the number of people managed. The children’s minister typically has one of the largest footprints in the church—a fact often unnoticed by top leaders in the church. Both small group ministry and children’s ministry often have the most significant footprint in the church—lots of people to manage on an ongoing basis.Visibility to the church. Does the job require the staff member to connect regularly with a large portion of the church? Teaching pastors and worship pastors have high visibility positions, and there is a certain pressure that comes with these positions unlike other positions in the church.

After considering scope, footprint, and visibility, then create a system of accountability specific to the staff person:

If the staff person has a large ministry scope, then he or she needs task-oriented accountability. This person must be efficient and quick. Unlike someone with a large footprint or high visibility, this person’s personality and demeanor are less important. What is more important is the ability to multi-task with excellence. Hold them accountable for tasks, efficiency, and excellence.If the staff person has a large ministry footprint, then a high EQ and managerial skills are essential. Unlike someone with high visibility, stage presence is less important. However, the ability to mobilize people is crucial with a large ministry footprint. Hold them accountable for building relationships and having managerial aptitude.If the staff person has high visibility, then he or she needs to command a large audience and endear themselves to people. In short, they need to be likable. They also need to maintain a high energy level. They may not have as many tasks as the person with a large scope, and they may not have as much managerial oversight as the person with a large footprint, but the entire church will likely know them. Hold this person accountable for creating a compelling vision and the ability to inspire others.

If required office hours are the way you create a system of accountability, then you will not likely draw or keep staff with abilities of scope, footprint, or visibility. In fact, required office hours are the way to kill all three. Like many other work environments, however, churches likely need at least a couple of assigned days per week where everyone is in the office together.

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