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The Church Answers Podcast with Thom Rainer is fast-paced, to the point, and sometimes witty. It addresses one question about church life and leadership in just ten minutes. Buckle your seatbelt and take a ride into the world of congregational health in a fun and fascinating way.
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The No Church Answers! podcast began as Man Up a Spiritual Oasis for Men in 2017, launched by Bill Cox, actor and DJ, and four regulars, Steven Titch, Robert Cocheu, Michael Cropper and Earl Lloyd--all from different faith backgrounds. Our focus is on ways men could use their Christian faith to drive their goals, leadership and action. We feel the faith muscle needs regular exercise. The body is like a barrel. The outside is your education, money and health. The inside is your faith and soul ...
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Thom and Jess interview Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services. In this episode, they discuss how to grow your congregation in the grace of giving. Increase in Faith Culture Shift Unify Congregation Develop New Volunteers Resources: Chaney & Associates The Church Advisory Podcast Upward Running Church Growth Services: Get your free campaign cap…
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How should Christians push against the modern "throwaway" culture that encourages both overconsumption and waste, be it with our land, material goods or human relationships? We discuss the virtue of simplicity in choosing value over cheapness, in living fruitfully but sustainably, and cultivating Bible-based stewardship in all we care for.…
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Reconnect Your Congregation to the Vision through Generosity: An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer
23:20
Thom and Jess interview Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services. In this episode, they discuss how to reconnect your congregation to the vision through generosity. Increase Momentum Break Longtime Barriers Increase General Fund Giving Expand Ministry Opportunities Resources: Chaney & Associates The Church Advisory Podcast Upward Running Church G…
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An “unforced error” is a term borrowed from sports, especially tennis, meaning a mistake made due to one’s own lapse rather than being forced by an opponent. In everyday language, it refers to an avoidable mistake or misstep, typically resulting from a lack of attention or care rather than external pressure. Thom and Jess examine one of the most co…
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An “unforced error” is a term borrowed from sports, especially tennis, meaning a mistake made due to one’s own lapse rather than being forced by an opponent. In everyday language, it refers to an avoidable mistake or misstep, typically resulting from a lack of attention or care rather than external pressure. Thom and Jess examine one of the most co…
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The fellows talk about the Second Coming, starting with the question of why there has to be one. Why wasn't God's plan of salvation and restoration accomplished all at once? Was the doctrine of the Second Coming tacked on after it became obvious the lion was not laying down with the lamb? If Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom of God on Earth, where is i…
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Church Facility Growth Strategy: How to Build with Purpose with Brown Church Development Group
25:37
Thom and Jess are joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” In this second episode, they discuss why intentional, purpose-aligned church facility planning is so critical. Smart churches don’t just build for growth; they build for purpose. Core Spaces – Necessary for Core Sunday Mi…
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5 Ways “Simple Church” Can Apply to Your Church Facility with Brown Church Development Group
24:59
Thom and Jess are joined by Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” In this first episode, they discuss five powerful ways “Simple Church” principles can shape not just how we do ministry, but how we build the spaces that facilitate it. Clarity Is Key Growth Must Be Purposeful The Core Co…
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Despite being a Bible study podcast, we've never taken up the fact of the sheer number of translations available. We remedy that oversight this week with a discussion about the history of Biblical translation, memories of Bibles we grew up with and what our preferences are now. This week's podcast is sponsored by Magic Mind. Visit www.magicmind.com…
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Thom and Jess discuss how the total of all Nones is at its lowest level since 2018. From 2015 to 2024, the number of atheists in America has been consistent at 6% or 7%. From 2015 to 2024, the number of agnostics has stayed at 6% every year. We have good anecdotal data that suggest each category is a revolving door. We also have good anecdotal data…
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From 2008 to 2014, the Nones (those who have no religious affiliation) were the fastest-growing demographic segment in the nation. They are no longer growing. In fact, they are declining slightly. Here are five major implications for churches. The extraordinary fast growth of the Nones (from 2008 to 2014, the Nones portion of the population went fr…
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Inspired by last week's NFL draft, the fellows got together to draft their favorite prophets from the Old and New Testaments. Who made their teams? Moreover, who got left of the board? And what do our listeners think? Join us as we take a fresh look a some of the notable, and sometimes overlooked, figures who have spoken for God. And a big h/t to T…
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What can pastors do to affair-proof their marriages? I’ve had the opportunity to talk with a number of pastors whose marriages seem to be healthy. They are certainly long-lived; the most recently married of the pastors to whom I spoke has been married 31 years. The longest marriage was 41 years in my sample group. From them, I learned some importan…
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What can pastors do to affair-proof their marriages? I’ve had the opportunity to talk with a number of pastors whose marriages seem to be healthy. They are certainly long-lived; the most recently married of the pastors to whom I spoke has been married 31 years. The longest marriage was 41 years in my sample group. From them, I learned some importan…
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Author Timothy Keller says it is the Trinity that makes God capable of love. It is a mystery, to be sure, and not always explicit, but from Genesis 1:1 on, scripture shows us one God but in three “persons” which all support and give freely in relationship with each other. Therefore, love began, or better still, has always existed, within the creato…
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The Amazing Growth of Sports Ministries to Reach Communities with the Gospel: An Interview with Kevin Drake
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In many (if not most) of the growing churches that are reaching their communities, Church Answers hears a repeated theme in our consultations. These churches are growing through sports ministries. Thom interviews Kevin Drake, Executive Director of Upward Sports, to get a “behind the scenes” perspective of this incredible growing ministry. Resources…
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A Church That Is Really Reaching Its Community with Sports: An Interview with Chris “Tiny” Seely
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Church Answers continues to hear stories about churches reaching their communities through sports. Jess and Thom interview Chris “Tiny” Seely, the children’s pastor of Woodbridge Baptist Church in Kingwood, Texas. His church has some amazing stories about how it has used sports to reach people in their community. Resources: Chaney & Associates The …
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Podcast 354 -- What If...The Resurrection Really Happened? 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 12-14, 20-23
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Jesus' resurrection is a binary proposition: it either happened or it didn't. And there's nothing to support the idea that the testimony Gospels and the Apostle Paul should be taken as symbolic or metaphorical: they all clearly testify to Jesus' bodily resurrection concrete terms. But to accept the truth of the resurrection is to confront so many i…
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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of American Protestantism the Past 25 Years, Part 4: Abject Failures of American Protestantism in the 21st Century
20:57
In an unusual departure from the style of this podcast, Thom and Jess look at American Protestantism in the 21st century, highlighting 10 amazing contributions and 10 abject failures. For number 21, the Rainers give American Christianity a “grade” they believe is objective based on the past 25 years. They will take four podcasts to take you on this…
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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of American Protestantism the Past 25 Years, Part 3: Key Strengths of American Protestantism in the 21st Century
20:48
In an unusual departure from the style of this podcast, Thom and Jess look at American Protestantism in the 21st century, highlighting 10 amazing contributions and 10 abject failures. For number 21, the Rainers give American Christianity a “grade” they believe is objective based on the past 25 years. They will take four podcasts to take you on this…
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“Why did Jesus have to die?” is a question author Timothy Keller heard more often than “Does God exist?” To skeptics and, if we're honest, some Christians, the crucifixion is confusing, if not outright cruel. If God is so loving, they ask, why did he demand such a horrific sacrifice from his purported son? He’s God, after all, why can’t he just wav…
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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of American Protestantism the Past 25 Years, Part 2: Abject Failures of American Protestantism in the 21st Century
21:41
In an unusual departure from the style of this podcast, Thom and Jess look at American Protestantism in the 21st century, highlighting 10 amazing contributions and 10 abject failures. For number 21, the Rainers give American Christianity a “grade” they believe is objective based on the past 25 years. They will take four podcasts to take you on this…
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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of American Protestantism the Past 25 Years, Part 1: Key Strengths of American Protestantism in the 21st Century
27:00
In an unusual departure from the style of this podcast, Thom and Jess look at American Protestantism in the 21st century, highlighting 10 amazing contributions and 10 abject failures. For number 21, the Rainers give American Christianity a “grade” they believe is objective based on the past 25 years. They will take four podcasts to take you on this…
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Popular novels and movies like The Da Vinci Code have contributed to the belief that the gospels and letters in the New Testament Bible were either embellished or made-up completely. Academics, including contemporary Christians like John Dominic Crossan, tell us Jesus' miracles, let alone, his Resurrection, could not have happened, and it wasn't un…
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Listen to the previous podcast where Jess and Thom review the six reasons you should change the name of your church. In this podcast, they look at the 15 most common church names. First + denomination Grace Church Hope Church New Life Church Crossroads Church Journey Church Bridge Church Elevation Church Summit Church Redeemer Church Oasis Church H…
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Yes, there are times when you should consider changing your church’s name. Jess and Thom review six of them. Look at our other podcast this week, where we review the top 15 most common church names. To create a clear or new priority. To change a geographical distinction that is no longer relevant. To identify with the community more clearly and emp…
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For centuries the Church supported--and underwrote--the study of science and the natural world. Only in that late 20th Century did Evangelicals go to war with science. To us, the conflict, largely ginned up by the culture, detracts from more important messages in the Bible. Join us as we continue our study of Timothy Keller's The Reason for God: Be…
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In Part 4, Thom and Jess look at some of the most common issues and questions you have about church revitalization. Your questions have directed us in our research and writings, and they will continue to do so. Though there were several hundred questions you submitted, we selected 23 most common questions about revitalizing churches. See the previo…
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In Part 3, Thom and Jess look at some of the most common issues and questions you have about church revitalization. Your questions have directed us in our research and writings, and they will continue to do so. Though there were several hundred questions you submitted, we selected 23 most common questions about revitalizing churches. Because of the…
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There's no way around it, Christianity teaches the only way to eternal life is through a conscious decision to accept Jesus Christ's sacrificial atonement on the Cross. Timothy Keller states many find this the most offensive doctrine in Christianity. We take up the difficult question of why a loving God would consign people to eternal torment. We d…
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