Sam Rainer's Blog, page 2

Running on Empty? How Pastors Overcome Fatigue and Reclaim Energy

For many pastors and church leaders, feeling tired has moved from an occasional issue to an ongoing one. Fatigue is no longer a seasonal challenge but a chronic issue. Unfortunately, too many pastors and ministry staff across the country are running on empty, struggling to find the energy they once had. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. There are proven strategies that can help you break the burnout cycle and reclaim the joy of ministry.

A Tipping Point: The 50-Hour Rule

Studies show that pr...

9 Commitments Every Church Must Make to Stay Safe [Plus A Training Guide to Secure Your Campus]

Campus security means more than preparing for potential violence. Indeed, you are more likely to encounter a lost child on your campus than an armed threat. When you properly secure the church campus, you equip your volunteers to respond to a variety of incidents that may occur at any given time.

How can you prepare your church for the unpredictable? No plan is foolproof, but you can reduce risk dramatically with the right approach. The following nine commitments will go a long way toward establ...

How the Decline of Denominations Is Reshaping American Christianity: Lessons from the Southern Baptist Convention

For decades, denominations have experienced a slow-motion deterioration. The declines in any one year are subtle, but each year’s cumulative effects have become a serious problem. Why should we care? 

Some look at denominations like the folding divider walls in a large room—unnecessarily compartmentalizing believers into theological camps and keeping them from uniting for the mission of God. There is some truth to this perspective. However, there are far more benefits to denominations than detri...

An Open Letter to a Pastor Unjustly Fired

Dear Pastor,

I wish I did not have to write this letter. I wish your story were an anomaly, a rare and isolated incident in the life of the church. Unfortunately, your experience is one of many, a tragic reminder of the pain that can arise from the very place meant to bring healing and hope.

Over the years, I have walked alongside many pastors. I’ve listened as they recounted the betrayal, confusion, and heartache they endured. These stories emerge from a common pattern, a series of events that ...

Deacon Selection Process: Interview Questions to Ask Before Ordination [FREE Download]

Deacons play a vital role in the church, serving alongside pastors and helping maintain the congregation’s spiritual health. While much focus is placed on pastoral leadership, deacons are no less essential to the church’s mission. No single passage outlines the exact duties of a deacon, but several themes emerge from Scripture, particularly in Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 3.

Acts 6 provides the foundational account of deacons in the early church. As the number of believers grew, so did logistical challe...

What Pastors Should Wear While Preaching (Proper Church Dress Code)

Between the 4th and 6th centuries, early Christian ministers adopted distinctive attire, setting them apart from the people they shepherded. As long robe-like garments of the Roman and Greek Empires became less popular in civil life, the church retained the attire for clergy, which evolved into what we know today as vestments.

In many Christian traditions, clergy still wear liturgical garments. As a low-church Baptist, I have limited knowledge about the use and symbolism of Catholic, Anglican, L...

Am I Too Lonely? A Free Self-Scoring Tool for Pastors and Church Leaders

Generally, pastors are content with their callings. A study by Ryan Burge noted that 83% of clergy felt happy at least four days a week, and 85% reported having life satisfaction almost daily. While this data was collected before the pandemic, there is little reason to believe that pastors are more dissatisfied as a professional group than any other. Additionally, the longer a pastor is in ministry, the higher the satisfaction rate.

But what about loneliness? It’s reasonable to propose that a pa...

Is Your Church High, Low, or Average Capacity? A Formula That Predicts Growth or Decline

How fast can the church adapt and change? Capacity involves ability. How capable is the church of moving forward? The Capacity Filter Formula is a simple way to gain a general understanding of your church’s ability to handle change. As you answer the three questions below, be as accurate in your numbers as possible. If your church is smaller, you may be able to put names to numbers. If your church is larger, do your best to make accurate estimates.

Answer the questions with numbers, not percenta...

Predators, Wolves, and Recognizing Where Abuse Begins in Churches

There is a difference between a predator and a wolf. A predator may come from anywhere. But the Bible gives a special warning about wolves—namely, church leaders who look the part but are dangerous. Matthew records this warning from Jesus: “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.”

Wolves are inclined to do as much damage to the church as possible. The carnage may come in the f...

How to Know Your Church Is Truly Revitalized (5 Key Indicators)

At what point can you say your church is fully revitalized?

In some ways, church health is an ongoing journey. You never really “arrive.” In fact, the healthiest churches are inevitably messy. A healthy church will have many new believers, which means an ongoing struggle to disciple them. This discipleship doesn’t happen instantaneously. The more people you reach for Christ, the more new believers you have, and the messier your church will be.

However, there are some key indicators that signal y...