Sam Rainer's Blog, page 18

Apathy: Why It Has Hit the Church So Hard and Your Next Step to Break Out of It

“I’m managing each week as they come. I don’t have the energy to think further out.”

The pastor was struggling to regain his passion, and he was expressing frustration with himself. He is self-aware enough to recognize his apathy. At the same time, he was unsure how to move forward from the malaise.

The problem of apathy has hit churches. Both leaders and congregants are struggling to move forward following the pandemic. A general lack of enthusiasm is defining the culture of many churches right...

How Pastors Can Use Feelings of Restlessness in a Positive Way

I have a tendency towards restlessness. Leading through a pandemic did not help. Feeling restlessness is a common phenomenon among pastors and church leaders right now. Maybe you can relate.

Leadership restlessness is something most leaders feel—usually more often than not. It’s the nagging question that keeps you thinking . . . what’s next? In the case of the church, this question can be corporate, meaning you’re thinking what’s next? for the entire congregation. This question can also be perso...

How the Neighborhood Church Could Make a Comeback

Incredible potential is right around the corner. Imagine what could happen if neighborhood churches got healthy on a large scale.

I believe the neighborhood church movement is primed for a launch.

The neighborhood church is associated with a particular neighborhood. It is common for them to carry the name of the community. They were originally started in the community and for the community. They are built into the fabric of the community and are often landlocked, surrounded by residences. Neighb...

Five Dangers of Speaking in Hyperbole and How It Can Backfire

Most pastors communicate with good intentions, and most pastors are genuinely excited about God’s work in their churches. In fact, one of the main questions I get when I consult with pastors is How can I get my church more excited? I start by telling them it’s unlikely anyone in your congregation will have the same level of passion as you do. As a pastor, you’re the shepherd. You lead by example. Leading out with passion is part of shepherding people.

But I’ve noticed a recurring theme among pas...

Six Ways the Church Becomes Hypocritical

A hypocrite is someone who acts differently than his or her stated beliefs. In one sense, we’re all hypocrites because none of us live up to our own standards.

We’ve all heard the claims about how the church is full of hypocrites. It’s easy to dismiss these complaints as unfair. We shouldn’t.

Your attitude and actions should match your belief. Jesus expressed concern over religious hypocrisy. In Matthew 6 and Luke 11, He denounces hypocritical givers, hypocritical prayers, hypocritical fasting, ...

What You Might Be Missing in Your Church’s Annual Budget

Budget season is upon us. Most churches budget on a calendar year basis. Meetings begin in September and October to finalize the budget before Christmas.

Churches are adapting with new ministry paradigms. Many congregations recently added digital strategies. There is a renewed focus on getting people back into groups. Adopting and fostering churches is becoming more commonplace.

As you attempt new ways of doing ministry, don’t fall back into an old budget template. You can’t resource new ministr...

The Frustrating Paradox of Serving with an Amiable Autocrat

It’s possible to be a pleasant tyrant.

Nice dictators exist, at least in the leadership sense. I refer to these types of leaders in the church as amiable autocrats. Friendly church dictators rule from their positional authority. They order everyone around because their title enables them to do so, and they do it with a smile.

Amiable autocrats are typically well-liked by the general congregation, but their teams are miserable. These church leaders genuinely like other people but enjoy telling th...

Which Methods of Personal Communication Work Best in the Church? Phone Call, Email, Text, and Social Media

Like me, you probably get a lot of messages throughout the day. They all coalesce in my smartphone. I assume most of you have the same setup. It’s convenient. But the message amalgamation can become a source of stress, especially for task-oriented people. I’m among your ranks.

So, I’m giving my thoughts about when you should use each communication channel: In-person, phone call, email, text, and social media.

In-person. This channel of communication is the most intimate. However, it can be the b...

What Should You Do When You Get Hate Messages? Four Options to Consider

Most leaders get them. Every so often, someone will send an unwarranted venomous note, letter, or email. If you’ve ever received one, then you know they rarely come from someone close. Most of the time, they come from people you hardly know. In the church, these malicious messages are usually about irrelevant specifics, not the essentials of discipleship or the direction of a leader’s vision. Most annoyingly, they often come as a surprise from someone who has never expressed any previous disagre...

Winning Over Three Kinds of Your Most Difficult Church Members

Every church has difficult people. Most people will be difficult at some point. Likely, you’ve been a difficult person. Some are consistently difficult, while others are only difficult in certain scenarios.

Do not confuse difficult people with antagonists.

Difficult people challenge you. Antagonists are hostile. Difficult people can be supportive. Antagonists default to opposition. Difficult people are usually stubborn because they believe they are right. Antagonists are bullies because they are...