Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 22

The Deacons Every Pastor (Should) Love

In a lot of churches, deacons get a bad rap. If they do too much, people believe they’re trying to take over the church. If they do too little, then people call them lazy.  

I hear and read a lot about controlling deacons and apathetic deacons. The reality is most deacons in most churches do good work. While churches and denominations have varying viewpoints on the role of deacons due to polity differences, what should be universal is how pastors place a high value on deacons who serve well.

The deacon body at West Bradenton is among the best. They serve. They sacrifice. They give. They have the backs of the pastors. And when called upon at VBS, they get slimed.

Pastors, cherish your supportive deacons. Encourage them. Brag on them. I don’t often come across posts from pastors praising their deacons. That’s why I’m writing this one. My deacons are not just the “other office of the church;” they are people with whom I entrust the most sensitive and critical parts of ministry within our congregation. Here are some of the deacons every pastor should love.

Friend. Pastors need friends, not only other pastor peers from outside the church but also friends within the church. Since pastors and deacons serve closely together, at least a few deacons should be close friends with pastors. A while back, I had one deacon sit down in my office unannounced. He knew I was in the middle of a problematic situation involving church discipline. He said, “Let’s talk baseball.” It was much needed.

Prayer warrior. You don’t always know who the pray-ers are in your church. Often, they pray alone because they don’t want to be known. A special bond is formed when a deacon is a prayer warrior for a pastor. Praying deacons are one of the biggest reasons why pastors stay within God’s will. The spiritual battle waging around prayer warriors is silent but intense. Many deacons are on the front lines.

Accountability partner. Any deacon at West Bradenton has the right to ask me about any part of my life at any time. Why? I want every area of my life to be above reproach.

Confidant. A couple of deacons are not only my friends but also my confidants. I share with them ministry burdens I may not even share with my wife. I understand the high level of trust that must be in place for this kind of relationship. I wish more pastors and deacons were confidants.

Mentor. We have some valiant older men who serve on our deacon body. They move more slowly now, but their mindset is still fierce. They can wield power with one short sentence—not because of manipulation but rather because of wisdom. When they speak, an entire room shuts up. These are the men I seek out to be my mentors. The deacon who has served for sixty years and not stopped, the deacon who has remained married for sixty years and not fallen, the deacon who has served with multiple pastors but stuck with one church—that is the man I want as a mentor.

The deacons every pastor should love are the friend, the prayer warrior, the accountability partner, the confidant, and the mentor.

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An Update on Rooted: One of the Best Discipleship Resources I’ve Ever Seen

In January of 2022, I wrote an article on one of the best church resources I’ve ever seen. At that time, I shared about Rooted and how it offers a clear, transformational pathway for a disciple to become more like Jesus and make an impact in their church and community. 

In the two years since I reviewed the Rooted resource, the Rooted Network has grown dramatically, expanding not only in the number of churches using Rooted, but also in the number of discipleship resources they offer. 

I’m hearing from more and more pastors, across different denominations and church sizes, that Rooted has been instrumental in the growth of their discipleship groups and increased volunteer engagement, while significantly impacting the generosity of their people.  

7 Rhythms of a Disciple

Grounded in Acts 2, the 7 rhythms are foundational to Rooted Network discipleship resources. When churches commit to practicing these disciplines together, they see growth and transformation in both individuals and their communities.

Daily Devotion (Acts 2:42, 46)Prayer (Acts 2:42)Repentance (Acts 2:37-39)Sacrificial Generosity (Acts 2:44-45)Serve the Community (Acts 2:44-45)Share Your Story (Acts 2:14-36)Worship (Acts 2:26-28, 46-47)New Studies from Rooted Network

On the Table answers big questions our culture is asking about Christianity. It helps you lead your church with grace and truth in a way that is easy to understand and share with others.

On the Table is a first-of-its-kind resource for individual and group discipleship, designed to cultivate ongoing spiritual growth throughout the year. Most uniquely, participants have the option to read a chapter OR stream a video of each week’s teaching, in addition to suggested Scriptures for daily devotion, a group discussion guide, and the occasional emphasis on a spiritual discipline. This flexibility to engage the content in various ways makes room for the time together to be focused on prayerful conversation where biblical truth is reinforced and applied rather than taught in the group setting. Like every Rooted Network resource, specific rhythms for life with Christ are highlighted.

In addition, the Deep Dive series is designed to immerse your people in the essentials of the Christian faith without overwhelming them, providing theological depth with a pastoral heart and leading your congregation to live out their faith. The Deep Dive Series comprises the following studies:

The Story of God explores the overarching, redemptive narrative of the Bible. The Image of God shares a beautiful, biblical understanding of human life, dignity, and worth, rooted in God’s original design. Theology and the Mission of God teaches core doctrines of the faith in an accessible and actionable way. 

I’m thankful for this team and what they mean for the Church and I encourage you to consider how Rooted Network can support the discipleship ministry in your church context. Visit experiencerooted.com to learn more.

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Artificial Intelligence: Is There a Right Way for Pastors to Use AI to Create Sermons?

Plagiarism. That was my gut reaction the first time I heard about artificial intelligence. My visceral response was oversimplified and hyperbolic. The tool has enormous potential for good, but I remain more cautious about AI than optimistic. How might AI affect the church? Sermon preparation will be one of the initial areas of impact. But first, what exactly is AI?

The Basics of AI

Will this human creation become a threat to its master? Mary Shelley wrote the book Frankenstein with this question in mind. Stanley Kubrick made a movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey, about what might happen. Is AI the next Skynet or HAL9000? Or is it an innovation on par with the printing press or the internet?

The concept of AI started way back in the 1950s. Alan Turing asked a philosophical question, “Can machines think?” Many years later, in 1997, IBM’s Deep Blue computer beat chess legend

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Why Pastors Struggle to Ask for Help (And How to Get Past It)

“It took me too long, but I finally decided to get the help I needed.” My first coaching call with this pastor was like so many others.

This pastor shouldered the leadership burden without much support for years. Then tensions built in his church, and he could not take the added pressure. Frankly, no one should carry this weight alone.

Far too many pastors do.

After professional counseling and a few coaching sessions, he was in a better place and ready to tackle the next set of challenges at his church.

Why do so many pastors struggle to ask for help?

The fear of vulnerability. Insecurity can cause someone to think receiving help is a sign of weakness. This fear of being perceived as weak will prompt a pastor to keep others at a distance.The veneer of control. When pastors believe they are self-sufficient, asking for help signals they no longer have the strength to be independent.The concern of rejection. When you have anxiety, a negative experience can decimate your self-confidence. Asking for help becomes a potential catalyst for a deep sense of rejection.The excessiveness of empathy. Some pastors find their value in how well they relate with others. However, excessive empathy causes you to assume the emotions of others before they even have a chance to respond. This pastor does not ask for help, believing the request will burden others.The past experiences of being burned. Unfortunately, many pastors have asked for help previously, only to receive poor treatment from their churches. Why risk getting burned again?The discouragement of perceived failure. When you don’t believe your leadership has been successful, asking for help can feel like another thing to pile on the heap of failure.

Any combination of these factors can compound the problem. And many of them are perceptions, not reality. But we must deal with perceived problems as we do real ones. How can pastors get past these hurdles and seek the help they need?

Pray specifically. Start here. Talk to God! And give Him your specific concerns. Pastors can be guilty of talking about God far more than we talk to God.Be honest with your spouse. Talk together. And pray together. You can retrain your ability to ask for help by opening a dialogue with the one closest to you.Get an outside perspective. Do not skip this step. Every pastor needs an outside perspective—even more so when you are struggling. Set up a time to talk to a mental health professional. Consider asking your church to help with a coach. Personally, I love our platinum coaching group at Church Answers!Start with a small circle of trust inside the church. Once you have confided in your spouse and gained an outside perspective from coaching and counseling, you are more prepared to build trust with a small group in your church. When you trust someone, you express how you value that person. I believe it’s unwise to use the pulpit as a way for pastors to communicate their struggles. Healing is more likely to occur in a circle of trust and not in the public arena.Guard your time and have some fun. Pastors who struggle also tend to be the ones who do not have much fun. When I observe pastors having fun, there are usually fewer struggles occurring. Is this relationship one of correlation or causation? I do not know. But there is something to the cliché, “a breath of fresh air.” Get out and enjoy something fun outside of ministry.

In his letter to the Philippians, The Apostle Paul wrote about how the church shared in giving and receiving. They supported each other. Even pastors need to receive ministry as they pour into their churches. Asking for help is biblical and good for the soul.

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The Most Surprising Issue about Church Facilities

Don’t get too bored reading about church facilities.

You will become interested when it’s time for a major building program.

You will be interested when you have to pay a big sum of money because little to no maintenance has been done on your church facilities.

You will definitely desire to know more about church facilities when you have to let go of personnel to pay the bills for the maintenance.

That’s why we keep talking about church facilities. Along with personnel, it’s one of the two biggest expenses churches have.

But I recently discovered an issue about church facilities that surprised me. And I wrongly thought that I knew a lot about the topic. I was wrong.

So what is the one surprising issue about church facilities?

The Surprise

I was digging into the data from the Faith Communities Study for 2020 (FACT 2020). Every five years they survey churches and produce a treasure trove of data. This particular survey included 15,278 congregations.

What surprised me about church facilities? More than one-third of churches in America do not own their facilities. 

Digging Deeper

Wow. I would not have guessed it. Okay, I know. I can be a statistical nerd. Allow me to dig a bit deeper. Here is the next level of the data:

Which best describes your congregation’s relationship to its primary place of worship? 

2% Have use of a facility for free 13% Rent 64% Owned by congregation 17% Owned by denomination 3%  Other arrangements

The surprise made more sense to me when I realized that 17% of congregations are in buildings owned by their denominations. That would include United Methodist churches where the local church typically has a lot of freedom to make changes and additions to the facilities. But it includes other churches where they have to go through a denominational process to get permission to make changes or additions to the building.

The Key Reason Church Facilities Are So Important

Our fascination (obsession?) with church facilities is straightforward. Funds spent on church facilities are funds that cannot be used for personnel and ministries. We see that reality more frequently than at any other time than we can recall.

More funds for church facilities means less funds to invest in ministries.

More funds for church facilities means less funds for personnel.

More funds for church facilities means less funds for evangelism.

You get the picture.

We will continue to dig into the implications about churches that do not own their facilities. We will also be more diligent to give you updated information about church facilities in general.

Don’t get too bored with this topic.

It really is that important.

P.S. I encourage you to contact our church facility partner, Brown Church Development Group, if you have any issues or questions about new construction, renovation, or master planning. 

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8 Reasons Some Young People Are Walking away from Their Faith

It’s alarming to me, actually. As a pastor and as a professor, I’ve had to deal with young people who were raised in seemingly strong Christian homes, yet who’ve now turned away from their Christian upbringing. Frankly, I’m grateful that some of these young people still trust me enough to talk to me—and in those conversations, I’ve learned some of the reasons they’ve walked in a new direction. 

Their faith was never really theirs in the first place. They did what they knew others wanted them to do. They followed in the steps of their parents and grandparents. What they never really did, though, was make that faith their own. They’ve seen too much hypocrisy among believers. Sometimes, to be honest, they’ve seen the hypocrisy in their own homes; their parents weren’t the same people at home that they were at church. In other cases, these young people have seen the moral failure of far too many church leaders. They have never really been discipled themselves. Even though they grew up in a Christian home, no one walked arm-in-arm with these believers to help them get grounded in their faith, to stand against the devil, and to walk in victory. They’ve had to “figure it all out” largely on their own—and that’s made them vulnerable. They live in an ever-changing culture that gives them permission to live differently than their Christian upbringing demands. When I was younger, you may have wrestled with lifestyle issues, but you did it quietly and alone. That’s not the case anymore. Culture now invites and welcomes deconstruction of faith. They have never had anyone legitimately hear their questions, much less try to answer them. Too many older believers have simply criticized their doubt and called them to “just believe.” It’s accurate that we must believe, but belief that cannot answer opposing questions is surely lacking. They have had no real grounding in the Word. This issue, of course, is connected to #3 above. Others have told them, “This is the Word of God,” but no one’s helped them know why we believe that about the Word. These young people now approach the Bible with skepticism—if they approach it at all. They’re dealing with sin in their lives. I don’t remember who made this statement, but I’ve never forgotten the statement about believers who turn from their faith: “Immorality often precedes unbelief.” Sometimes, young people walk in another direction in their beliefs because they’ve already walked that way in their actions. They’ve found a stronger community outside the church than within. They’ve found friends, fun, and fellowship with others—things they for some reason did not get in the church. We know their community with others might be fleeting, but their eyes are on the immediate rather than the long-term. They like what they’re getting now. 

What reasons would you add to this list? What’s been your experience?

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One Key Reason Why Church Consultations Fail

I did my first church consultation in 1988. Since then, I have been involved in hundreds of consultations of different ilk and varying depth.

I am not the brightest person, but I can lead a church consultation with ease. I am glad, because we had more consultation requests in 2023 than I have ever seen in my experience in this ministry. The ease by which I consult is not due to my intellect, but to the fact that I have done so many. Patterns develop. Solutions become obvious. Objections can be anticipated.

When a church leader contacts us to discuss a consultation, that leader often asks us about our “success rate.” For most church leaders, they define success as a numerical turnaround. Others have a specific problem they want us to solve. For them, the consultation is a success if the problem goes away.

So, how do we answer the question? What is our success rate? If you define success like church leaders did in the previous paragraph, our consultation success rate is only about one-half.

In case you did not read closely, I want to say it again. We only succeed in our consultations in one out of two cases. That is 50%. That is abysmal. 

But on the positive side, we’ve learned the one major factor that most often determines success in church consultations. Let’s look at that one key factor. You might be surprised.

The Main Factor

I love my primary physician. He is not only a great doctor, he’s a very good friend. Though I don’t frequent his office that much (I am thankful for good health), I do enjoy (most of) the visits. Recently, we got into a discussion about his “success rate.” He is considered one of the best diagnostic physicians in the business.

Though my doctor did not give me a quantitative success rate, he did tell me that it is lower than he wishes. Of course, I asked him why. His response was straightforward: “Because the patient does not act on my recommendations.”

Hear me clearly. My doctor is a humble man, a Christian whose faith is obvious. He does not have one ounce of arrogance when he says that patients should act on his recommendations. He really knows what’s best for them, but they do not take his advice and treatments.

From Human Health to Church Health

With that context, I hope you will understand my posture of humility when I share with you the number one reason our consultations are not successful: The one key reason why one out of two of our consultations are not successful is that the church does not act on our recommendations.

In other words, when a church does implement our recommendations, their chances of “success” are high. But we offer a path and not a shortcut. Sadly, many church leaders choose not to take the path we recommend. Why? I see at least four reasons.

Why Recommendations Are Not Implemented

After 35 years of church consultations, I can articulate with a high level of confidence why the solutions our consultation team offers are not implemented. Indeed, I see four key reasons.

1. Our recommendations often include a plan for the church to be more obedient to the Great Commission, the recommendation most often resisted. Evangelism scares some church members. Evangelism scares some pastors as well. I think the implementation of evangelism is spiritual warfare. The Enemy will fight us and the church from moving into our communities to reach people with the gospel.

2. Church members will focus on and even fight over the minor recommendations. Thus they don’t get to the major direction the consultation offers because they are distracted by the minor issues. A church might spend countless hours resisting  the recommendation of new interior signage and a cleaned-up foyer. If they resist and fight over relatively small issues, they are not likely to get to the essence of the consultation report.

3. Church members often expect a silver bullet. I’ve learned over the years that church members can see a consultation to be like taking a car to be serviced and repaired. Once a few issues are handled, the car (or the church) is like new, and they can get back to business as usual.

4. Church members are ready to accept change until the change affects them. When church members hear the caution that a consultant will likely recommend changes for the church, they often accept that they are fine with it. And they are fine with it until it affects them personally. For some reason, church members can view change as something that affects other people but not them.

When a consultation request comes to Church Answers, we often caution the prospective client that our consultations are successful only half the time for the four reasons cited above. Most of them move forward because they believe that their church will be one of the 50% that has a positive outcome.

Sadly, half of them are wrong.

P. S. It’s too early to make a definitive statement, but we are seeing a higher success rate when churches implement The Hope Initiative for their Great Commission initiative. I will keep you updated on this issue.

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When You’re Starting on Empty: How to Start a New Year with Little To Give

As the calendar turns, and a new year unfolds before us, leaders will often find themselves sorting through an inbox of messages around goal setting, how to cast the perfect vision for the new year and five quick steps to a ‘successful’ impact. These are not bad and are often helpful in sparking passion, precision–and most importantly, purpose into one’s plans. 

But what if you are starting the year in a spot that is more from a weary and questioning posture than a hopeful and expectant one? The responsibilities of guiding, inspiring, and nurturing others can be overwhelming, especially when faced with personal doubts, discouragement, and hesitancy about the path ahead. 

If you’re starting this year on empty, take heart—you’re in good company. There are steps you can take to refuel, reevaluate, and renew your sense of purpose in ministry.

1. Look Where God is Working:

To overcome the challenges of a new year, start by shifting your focus from your own uncertainties to where God is already at work. Take time to pray and look for places where God is blessing and bringing about new life. It could be a small discipleship group engaged in evangelism and sharing the gospel, or maybe a next-gen ministry connecting generations and investing in developing disciples. Think about where you’ve seen God’s impact, both in your personal life and ministry. Often, God is working in specific areas, and we can be too busy to notice.

2. Reflect on God’s Faithfulness:

In moments of doubt, it’s crucial to look back and remember God’s faithfulness. Reflect on the ways He has provided, guided, and sustained you through previous challenges. Growth happens more in our challenges than in our victories. Remind yourself of the difficult steps you resiliently took forward, and journal through the specific lessons that you learned. We all have leadership lessons that we can tuck in our pockets from failures or how we should have done things differently. But more than that, what lessons did you learn about God’s heart, care, and faithfulness? These lessons are invaluable and will be built upon in the days ahead. This reflection not only builds your faith, but also equips you with the strength to face the uncertainties that lie ahead.

3. Make a Commitment to Healthy Rhythms:

If you are starting from a place of burnout, the healthiest step you can take is in your own self-leadership. Ministry leaders are often so busy caring for others, making decisions, and moving things forward, that they neglect their own well-being. This year, commit to establishing and maintaining healthy rhythms in your life. Prioritize silence and solitude, set boundaries around your work hours and family life, and ensure that you are spending time in the Word and community–not just for your position but for nurturing your relationship with your Heavenly Father. 

4. Embrace Something New:

To take your leadership to the next level, consider doing something new. Hire a coach or mentor who can provide guidance and support tailored to your specific needs. Sign up for a Church Equip course that will help you grow in an area you haven’t studied before or will help refresh new perspectives and old truths you may have forgotten. Another great step would be to join our online community, Church Answers Central, which connects you to incredible leaders all across the globe for ministry insights and encouragement. Learning and digging deeper can bring fresh perspectives and renewed enthusiasm to your ministry.

You Are Not Alone

Reflecting on the conversations of this past year, it’s evident that many leaders, including myself, have felt the weight and impact of the challenges in recent times.

Remember, the journey of ministry doesn’t have to be a solitary one. By turning to God, reflecting on His faithfulness, establishing healthy rhythms, and embracing new opportunities for personal and professional growth, you can enter the new year well-prepared to lead with faith and purpose. 

May this upcoming year become a season of transformation, not only for you, but also for the people you serve.

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Best-Selling Bible Translations: The Breathtaking Decline of the King James Version

It is a fascinating journey to watch the trends of Bible translations, particularly the sales and presumed popularity of each translation. These trends often reflect cultural shifts, changes in religious practice, and the evolving language needs of Bible readers. For sales and rankings, we used the information of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). The ECPA gets its data from Circana Bookscan which receives sales information from reporting retailers. 

Neither ECPA nor Church Answers imply that the reporting of this information to be an endorsement of any one translation. But I will offer my commentary specifically on the King James Version (KJV). 

First, let’s look at the sales rankings of the top ten translations for 2021 and 2022. ECPA offers monthly rankings but, for the purpose of this analysis, I will use full-year data. I include a brief description of each translation. 

2022 Rankings (2021 in parentheses)

1. New International

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10 Fresh Pastoral Prayers for the New Year

Before you launch your New Year ministry plan, begin with prayer. How might you pray to start the year?

Passion for people, not numbers. You should track your numbers and know your metrics. Yes, each number represents a person. I get it. But you don’t shepherd numbers. If you struggle with caring more about numbers than people, now is an excellent time to take a new posture. Pray God gives you this passion. A filling of the Holy Spirit over comfort with nostalgia. I have a deep love for the sanctuary room. Even when I’m alone, I still enjoy the comforting presence of the room. Nostalgia is a powerful emotion, but our prayers should be first for a filling of the Holy Spirit. Outward movement rather than an inward bent. Pray your church has a desire to reach outward rather than inward. Ask God to give your church a wake-up call for evangelism.Compassion for the lonely. Some people need more time alone, but isolation is never beneficial. Pray for those who are experiencing loneliness. Pray that your church shows compassion. New avenues for hospitality. Many churches believe they are friendly, but too few demonstrate genuine hospitality. The problem is friendliness is often directed internally. Members are kind and pleasant with each other and overlook guests. You can be nice to someone without showing hospitality. Hospitality involves generosity and sacrifice with outsiders.Strength for the elderly. Older generations come to church more frequently. Ask God to allow them to continue this pattern of faithfulness.  Readiness for spiritual warfare. The local church is the front line of ministry. In the battle against the spiritual forces of evil, the church is the trench. Christ’s bride is dug in, charged up, and ready to die for the freedom of souls. While there is no beauty in warfare (spiritual or otherwise), the battling bride is a gorgeous organism. Sensitivity with guests. Inevitably, the Holy Spirit will prompt people to show up for the first time. These guests could be desperate for spiritual guidance, longing for connection, or bringing a long list of questions for God. Pray for extra sensitivity with those who bravely approach your campus for the first time. Graciousness with doubt and questions. A crisis will cause people to question their beliefs. Pray for graciousness for those seeking God, even during a season of doubt. Mental, spiritual, and emotional health for church leaders. Pastors and other church leaders have faced many obstacles in the last few years. Ask God to provide ways for people to seek help and maintain health. 

I am sure you are preparing for an excellent start to the year, but don’t forget to pray! God’s plan for the church always includes prayer. 

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