10 of the Most Common Questions Asked by Pastors

I wish I could respond to every phone call, email, text, Facebook post, Twitter direct message, blogpost comment, and several other forms of communication I receive. Pastors ask me questions, lots of questions. I am both honored and humbled that they would think that I could be a source of information or expertise.

That is why I am frustrated that I get to respond to relatively few of them. Pastors deserve better, and I'm trying to figure out a better way to be more responsive.

Before I give you my idea, let me share with you the most common questions I am asked by pastors. It was a relatively easy exercise to review several weeks of communication and tally the most common questions. Here are the top ten questions in reverse order:

10. How can I get the business and finance training I need to understand that aspect of church life?

9. What should be our church's first step with a new member or a prospective member?

8. How do I broach the subject about my salary and benefits?

7. What are the most common outreach and evangelism ministries in effective churches?

6. How do I handle a particular conflict in the church?

5. How should I allocate my time as a pastor?

4. How do I balance family time with the demands upon me as a pastor?

3. How are effective churches closing the back door?

2. How can I simplify the busyness in my church?

1. What are the most common discipleship ministries and programs used in effective churches?

Here is my plan. I hope in the next six months to establish on ThomRainer.com a comprehensive question and answer section for pastors. I will need help in two ways. First, I will need help answering the questions. I plan to recruit pastors and other leaders who can provide expertise according to the questions.

Second, I need questions from you. You can start now.