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Five Pastoral New Year's Resolutions that Aren't About You
Episode 990
Most New Year’s resolutions focus inward on personal growth, habits, and goals. On this episode, Josh and Sam challenge church leaders to flip the script on traditional resolutions by making them abo…
Published on 5 hours ago
The Burge Report: Who’s Really Watching Online Church?
Episode 989
Nearly five years after COVID-19 lockdowns, the research reveals surprising truths about how Americans engage with church online and what that means for pastors and ministry leaders.
While 91% of chur…
Published on 4 days, 8 hours ago
After the Christmas Chaos: The Lightest Work Week of the Year for Pastors
Episode 988
The week after Christmas—those quiet days between December 26 and New Year’s—is often the lightest week of the year for pastors. After weeks of preparing Advent services, coordinating Christmas Eve w…
Published on 1 week, 1 day ago
Religious People Are Happier (And the Data Proves It)
Episode 987
Thom and Sam dive into Ryan Burge’s latest analysis of the 2023–2024 Pew Religious Landscape Survey, which asked nearly 37,000 Americans a simple question: “How happy are you with your life these day…
Published on 1 week, 5 days ago
Unbelievable: 72% of Churches Have No Marriage Ministry!
Episode 986
Churches help prepare couples for marriage and rescue them when things fall apart, but what happens in between? That middle space—the “fine zone”—is where most couples slowly drift while everyone ass…
Published on 2 weeks ago
NEW Research: What Really Matters in Theological Education?
Episode 985
For decades, seminaries have promoted the ideal—full-time, on-campus study in a traditional academic setting. But for most adults pursuing ministry training, that ideal simply isn’t practical. New re…
Published on 2 weeks, 4 days ago
Non-Churchy Looking Churches: The Advantages of Big-Box Church Architecture
Episode 984
In this follow-up episode, we examine the other side of the conversation—the rise of big-box church architecture. Often found in converted retail spaces or new multipurpose campuses, these designs em…
Published on 3 weeks ago
Should Churches Look Churchy? The Advantages of Traditional Architecture
Episode 982
In this episode, we explore why traditional church architecture still resonates deeply with people, even those who rarely attend church. A recent research project found that 90% of Americans want chu…
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago
How to Handle Losing Your Church's Biggest Financial Supporter
Episode 982
When a major donor or key financial supporter leaves a church, it can feel personal, unsettling, and even threatening to the ministry’s stability. But pastoral leadership during this moment matters i…
Published on 4 weeks ago
Small-Church Breakout Growth: The Incredible Story of First Baptist Caldwell, NJ
Episode 981
God has done something remarkable at First Baptist Church in Caldwell, NJ. They have limited space and limited parking. However, through Upward Sports, the church has developed a large outreach minis…
Published on 1 month ago