Rainer on Leadership
Thom Rainer
Show overview
Rainer on Leadership launched in 2025 and has put out 112 episodes in the time since. That works out to roughly 50 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a several-times-a-week cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 23 min and 28 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Religion & Spirituality show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed earlier today, with 39 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Thom Rainer.
From the publisher
Your online home for leadership lessons for both the church and the workplace.
Latest Episodes
View all 112 episodesWhat to Say (and Not Say) Immediately After a Church Crisis
Crucial Commitments: 5 Simple Decisions That Members of Healthy and Growing Churches Make
How to Become Your Pastor’s Favorite Church Member
The Best Board and Trustee Structure for Churches
Seven Things Pastors Do You Probably Don’t Know About
The Burge Report: Gen Z and the Church: Lonely, Cautious, Skeptical, But… Open
How to Discard a Worn-Out Bible Properly
Should Full-Time Pastors Have a Side Hustle?
The Critical Functions of a Pastor Rarely Found in a Church Job Description
After 25 Years of Consistent Recreation Ministry, This Church Discovered Something…
What We’re Doing as Pastors to Keep Our Marriages Healthy
Six Reasons Pastors Must Be More Courageous Today
The Top Ways to Annoy Your Pastor
In this tongue-in-cheek episode, Josh and Sam discuss their top annoyances as pastors. Everyone has their pet peeves, and the co-hosts share theirs. The post The Top Ways to Annoy Your Pastor appeared first on Church Answers.
The Burge Report: The Latest Data on Transgender Young Adults and the Church
In this episode, Ryan Burge and Sam examine newly released national survey data that reveal a significant shift in how young adults understand and report gender identity. Drawing on high-quality data from the Cooperative Election Study, the research shows a clear and statistically meaningful decline in the share of 18–22-year-olds identifying as transgender since 2020, with similar downward trends appearing across older age cohorts as well. The post The Burge Report: The Latest Data on Transgender Young Adults and the Church appeared first on Church Answers.
Tithing Or Not: Should Lead Pastors Know What Church Staff Give?
Lead pastors often provide management oversight of staff. But should they know what church staff give to the church? Josh and Sam break down the arguments on both sides, examine potential safeguards, and discuss how church culture and pastoral character shape the best approach. The post Tithing Or Not: Should Lead Pastors Know What Church Staff Give? appeared first on Church Answers.
What Growing Churches Actually Do to Reach and Keep People
How does a church grow without relying on people transferring from other congregations? Thom and Sam take a dive into this topic. The post What Growing Churches Actually Do to Reach and Keep People appeared first on Church Answers.
Churches Are Targets for Predators (Here’s Why)
One of the biggest mistakes church leaders can make is assuming that abuse won’t happen in their churches. The belief that “it can’t happen here” is dangerously naïve. Any organization that works with children and other vulnerable individuals can be a target for predators. Satan specifically aims to attack churches and seeks to harm children and vulnerable people. Josh and Sam discuss this very important topic of safety. The post Churches Are Targets for Predators (Here’s Why) appeared first on Church Answers.
Marriage Discipleship Is the Missing Piece in Family Ministry
If your church cares about reaching the next generation, there’s an upstream strategy that strengthens every part of ministry: investing in marriages. Children’s and youth ministries matter deeply, but without discipling the parents who shape the spiritual culture of the home, churches often work harder than they need to. When marriages grow in grace, stability fills the home, volunteers serve with joy, teens show up more open, and the entire church experiences deeper unity. Brad Rhoads of Grace Marriage joins Sam on this episode. They explore why marriage discipleship isn’t just another ministry. It’s the source that feeds every other stream of church life, creating a generational ripple effect of gospel impact. The post Marriage Discipleship Is the Missing Piece in Family Ministry appeared first on Church Answers.
Why Churches Are MUCH Older Now…
Are aging churches a real problem? The US population has a median age of 39 years old. Most denominations have a median age of congregants close to 60 years old. Josh and Sam discuss why churches are a generation older than their surrounding communities. What are the implications of the aging trend in churches? The post Why Churches Are MUCH Older Now… appeared first on Church Answers.
Why Guests Don’t Come Back to Church After a Big Ministry Event
Big events can be a way for churches to reach people, but they often fail to draw people back once the event is done. Thom and Sam unpack what it actually takes to turn community events into gospel opportunities. The post Why Guests Don’t Come Back to Church After a Big Ministry Event appeared first on Church Answers.