Thom S. Rainer

Latest

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  Oct 2, 2018

  Scrappy Church: Why I Have Hope for More Than 100,000 Churches in North America

  The baby arrived! The baby is my book, Scrappy Church. And I am excited about this book. I am very excited about this book. I am very, very excited about this book.

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  Sep 30, 2018

  6 Negative Consequences of Church Members With an Entitlement Mentality

  The opposite of a healthy church member is an entitled church member. He or she sees the church as an organization that doles out perks and benefits somewhat like a country club.

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  Sep 28, 2018

  8 Differences Between Church Giving and Church Dues

  It is amazing to hear how church members view their tithes and offerings to their local churches. Though it's cliché to say, the attitudes of their hearts reflect the nature of their contributions to the church.

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  Sep 16, 2018

  10 Reasons We Are Starting Revitalize Network

  So, why are we starting Revitalize Network? As a starter, allow me to share ten reasons.

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  Sep 9, 2018

  What's Next for Me After Lifeway?

  Please indulge me for one more blog post about my decision to retire from LifeWay. In my previous post, I shared the reasons why I am retiring, why God is leading me to leave an organization I love deeply. In this post, I will share some of my plans for life post-LifeWay.

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  Sep 7, 2018

  Suicide, Depression and Pastors: One Way Church Members Can Help

  Most pastors are not suicidal. But most pastors do struggle. They lead churches in a culture that is not friendly to their calling. Three-fourths of them lead churches that are struggling by almost any measure or metric. Many pastors are on the precipice of quitting, and most church members have no idea of their inner turmoil.

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  Sep 2, 2018

  15 Common Sacred Cows in Churches

  To the delight of some and to the chagrin of others, I conducted an informal social media poll to find out what the audience deemed the most common sacred cows in their churches. The answers were voluminous. Some of the conversations were hilarious. Some people just got mad. Imagine that.

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  Aug 31, 2018

  10 Guidelines for Paying and Hosting Guest Speakers and Musicians

  Over the years, I have worked with many churches and speakers (and a few musicians) to establish some guidelines for hosting and paying guest speakers. Keep in mind, these are guidelines, not rigid rules. There will always be reasons for exceptions.

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  Aug 29, 2018

  Why I'm Retiring From Lifeway

  Tonight, during the regularly scheduled meeting of the LifeWay board, I announced my retirement as president and CEO. I will step down when the new CEO is named, or in one year, whichever comes first.

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  Aug 26, 2018

  Back to School: 5 Ways Your Church Can Have a Major Impact

  Let me share with you what I have heard about great success stories of churches as a new school year approached. They are basic but profound.