A demographic and ministry shift is underway. Thousands of pastors are approaching retirement age, and few younger leaders are ready to take their place. The wave is coming, and every church will soon feel its impact.
Is It Time to Start a Ministry Residency at Your Church?
A ministry residency isn’t a program you purchase. It’s a way of forming, equipping, and sending called people.
Are Young Men Being Drawn to Christ or Christian Culture?
There has rarely been a more confusing time to be a man.
Also See: How Orthodoxy almost drew me inMAGA’s war on empathy was started by a woman
"...while they have tried to frame this anti-empathy discourse in faux-scientific and masculinized rhetoric, the right’s modern war on empathy really began with a woman."
For first time ever, US refused to acknowledge World AIDS Day
For the first time since World AIDS Day began, the U.S. State Department declined to officially recognize it — a silence that speaks volumes. A silence that, for many, still equals death.
This Year, Rediscover The “Why?” Behind Your Church’s Christmas Traditions
Asking “why?” can help a church infuse Christmas celebrations with greater hope, joy, mission, and purpose.
10 Sermon Habits That Quietly Lose the Congregation
We have all experienced that sinking feeling in the pulpit. You have spent hours in faithful exegesis, wrestled with the text, and prayed over the message. Yet, as you look out at the people you notice the glazed eyes, the shifting in seats, or the covert checking of watches. It is rarely a lack of biblical truth that causes a room to disconnect; more often, it is subtle delivery quirks or structural issues that create a barrier between the pulpit and the pew. These unintentional sermon habits can act like static on a radio, distorting the clear signal of the Gospel. The good news is that most of these habits are learned behaviors that can be unlearned. By identifying them, we can remove the distractions and clear the path for the Holy Spirit to move.
7 Worship Set Mistakes That Kill Momentum
We have all been there. The service starts strong, the band is tight, and the congregation is engaged. Then, suddenly, the energy in the room evaporates. It might be an awkward silence while a guitarist tunes, a new song that nobody knows, or a transition that feels like a car hitting a speed bump. Instead of lifting their eyes to heaven, people are looking at their watches. The difference between a distracted crowd and an engaged congregation often comes down to flow. As worship leaders, we are not just musicians; we are spiritual architects building a path for people to meet with God. When we allow common worship set mistakes to creep into our planning, we inadvertently place obstacles on that path.
11 Outreach Ideas Gen Z Actually Responds To
The fundamental shift required for effective ministry to Gen Z is moving from an “attractional” model to an “incarnational” one. We cannot simply open the doors and expect them to come. We must go where they are. When brainstorming outreach ideas, we must filter them through the lens of trust. Gen Z values transparency, tangible help, and community over production value. If we want to reach them, we have to offer them a seat at the table before we ask them to sit in a pew.
Future Church Series – Episode 3: Trends in Evangelism in the Local Church
Thom and Jess continue the “Future Church” series with an episode focused on one of the most important—and most misunderstood—topics in today’s congregations: evangelism.
The way people come to faith is changing, and so are the methods churches use to share the gospel. Attendance patterns are different. Communities are more skeptical of institutions. And more often than not, the first place someone encounters the church is online, not in person. In this conversation, the Rainers look at how evangelism is evolving, why it still matters deeply, and four major trends shaping how local churches reach people today.
Future Church Series – Episode 4: Making Evangelism Visible
The Rainers continue the 6-part series called “The Future Church.” Over the next episodes, we’ll explore how the landscape of ministry is changing—and how leaders can prepare with wisdom, courage, and hope.
Thom and Jess discuss how churches are making evangelism more than a slogan or a sermon topic—how to make it visible, tangible, and celebrated in the life of the congregation. Most believers genuinely want to share their faith, but they often need reminders, encouragement, and creative ways to stay focused on the mission. In this episode, Thom and Jess offer four practical ideas any church can implement to highlight the importance of evangelism every week.
This Year, Rediscover The “Why?” Behind Your Church’s Christmas Traditions
Asking “why?” can help a church infuse Christmas celebrations with greater hope, joy, mission, and purpose.
10 Sermon Habits That Quietly Lose the Congregation
We have all experienced that sinking feeling in the pulpit. You have spent hours in faithful exegesis, wrestled with the text, and prayed over the message. Yet, as you look out at the people you notice the glazed eyes, the shifting in seats, or the covert checking of watches. It is rarely a lack of biblical truth that causes a room to disconnect; more often, it is subtle delivery quirks or structural issues that create a barrier between the pulpit and the pew. These unintentional sermon habits can act like static on a radio, distorting the clear signal of the Gospel. The good news is that most of these habits are learned behaviors that can be unlearned. By identifying them, we can remove the distractions and clear the path for the Holy Spirit to move.
7 Worship Set Mistakes That Kill Momentum
We have all been there. The service starts strong, the band is tight, and the congregation is engaged. Then, suddenly, the energy in the room evaporates. It might be an awkward silence while a guitarist tunes, a new song that nobody knows, or a transition that feels like a car hitting a speed bump. Instead of lifting their eyes to heaven, people are looking at their watches. The difference between a distracted crowd and an engaged congregation often comes down to flow. As worship leaders, we are not just musicians; we are spiritual architects building a path for people to meet with God. When we allow common worship set mistakes to creep into our planning, we inadvertently place obstacles on that path.
11 Outreach Ideas Gen Z Actually Responds To
The fundamental shift required for effective ministry to Gen Z is moving from an “attractional” model to an “incarnational” one. We cannot simply open the doors and expect them to come. We must go where they are. When brainstorming outreach ideas, we must filter them through the lens of trust. Gen Z values transparency, tangible help, and community over production value. If we want to reach them, we have to offer them a seat at the table before we ask them to sit in a pew.
Future Church Series – Episode 3: Trends in Evangelism in the Local Church
Thom and Jess continue the “Future Church” series with an episode focused on one of the most important—and most misunderstood—topics in today’s congregations: evangelism.
The way people come to faith is changing, and so are the methods churches use to share the gospel. Attendance patterns are different. Communities are more skeptical of institutions. And more often than not, the first place someone encounters the church is online, not in person. In this conversation, the Rainers look at how evangelism is evolving, why it still matters deeply, and four major trends shaping how local churches reach people today.
Future Church Series – Episode 4: Making Evangelism Visible
The Rainers continue the 6-part series called “The Future Church.” Over the next episodes, we’ll explore how the landscape of ministry is changing—and how leaders can prepare with wisdom, courage, and hope.
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