Sam Rainer

Latest

• 
  Oct 30, 2022

  Pastors with initiative build healthier church relationships

  Many pastors rigorously protect their study time in God’s Word. The same intensity should apply to personal relationships.

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  Oct 16, 2022

  Leading the church when you doubt yourself

  Leaders must recognize doubt for what it is. Pastors especially must be open to the fact they will have doubts. The only response is to worship through the doubt.

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  Oct 9, 2022

  The pastor’s dilemma of balancing the prophetic voice with the shepherd’s hand

  As a pastor, I find it challenging to balance the prophetic voice with a shepherd’s hand.

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  Oct 4, 2022

  10 bad church work habits every pastor should avoid

  When leaders get into a pattern of long-term bad behaviors, they are often detrimental to the church. But do not confuse a bad day with a bad habit.

• 
  Sep 17, 2022

  5 warning signs of false teachers

  False teachers add to Scripture to control the behavior of others. The motive is often power. Other false teachers will remove from Scripture to live as they want and participate in otherwise prohibited behavior.

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  Aug 28, 2022

  What size must a church be to trigger the need for revitalization?

  Churches are notorious for living in a state of tension between fragility and resiliency. They hang on by their fingernails, but those nails are quite strong.

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  Aug 21, 2022

  6 questions to discern toxic conflict vs. healthy conflict

  Conflict can be healthy. The greatest art is produced at a point of tension. Innovation occurs when the heat of conflict rises. Accountability is difficult apart from some level of conflict.

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  Jul 27, 2022

  Be the church that embraces children, not just tolerates them

  However, the families visiting your church will know whether you embrace their kids or not. The churches that welcome children have a higher likelihood of families returning — not just once but often!

• 
  Jul 19, 2022

  Leading others when they're frustrated, angry with the church

  What is the answer to the instability of frustration and anger? Empathy is the stabilizer. If you have a shepherding role in the church, don’t perceive the emotions of others as a threat to you.

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  Apr 8, 2022

  The church should do more to address issues of mental illness

  If you are a member of a typical church, then about 15 people will experience some form of mental illness in a given year. If your church is larger, let’s say 300 people, then it is likely that about 60 people will experience some form of mental illness a year.