Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchWhy the NLT Might Be the Best Bible You’ve Never Considered
Sam welcomes Dan Block to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Dan is a Senior Translator for the New Living Translation. They discuss why the New Living Translation is the best choice for those seekin…
Published on 4 months, 1 week ago
Sermon Illustrations that Connect to the Bible Text (And Your Church!)
In this episode, Josh and Sam explore a fresh way to approach sermon illustrations. Instead of building a massive database with search tools and tags, consider categorizing your illustrations by typ…
Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago
The Easiest (and Most Incredible) Way to Get Information from Your Guests!
Churches have long embraced technology to enhance their ministries, but the most successful churches are shifting beyond simply broadcasting information—they’re leveraging technology to create belon…
Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago
The Burge Report: Is Gen Z More Religiously Engaged than Their Parents?
New religious data in the United States was released recently, and Ryan Burge joins the show with Sam to discuss the details. In 2024, Gen Z showed relatively strong religious attendance compared to…
Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago
The Limits of Pastoral Care: When Counseling Isn’t Appropriate
Pastors provide spiritual guidance, but there are times when counseling crosses into territory best handled by trained professionals. In this episode, Josh and Sam explore the limits of pastoral car…
Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago
The Top 5 Legal Issues Churches Face Today
Churches may be spiritual communities, but they operate in a legal world. And many aren’t prepared. In today’s episode, Sam interviews Ryan June of Castañeda + Heidelman LLP, and we unpack the five …
Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Ten Quiet Disrupters in American Church Life (Part 2)
Many of the disruptions in local church life are widely known. For example, most congregants and church leaders can clearly see the impact of COVID several years ago. But there have been a number of…
Published on 4 months, 4 weeks ago
Ten Quiet Disrupters in American Church Life (Part 1)
Many of the disruptions in local church life are widely known. For example, most congregants and church leaders can clearly see the impact of COVID several years ago. But there have been a number of…
Published on 5 months ago
What Young Families Really Want in a Church
Most every church desires to grow with young families. But what do they look for in a church? Josh and Sam discuss a few key ways to attract and retain families with children.
An indicator of hea…Published on 5 months ago
Seven Occasions When You Should Not Hire More Church Staff
Hiring staff can strengthen a church—but not always. In this episode, Thom and Sam discuss seven times when adding staff is a mistake, from removing ministry opportunities from the laity to financia…
Published on 5 months, 1 week ago