Thom S. Rainer

Latest

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  Feb 26, 2019

  5 reasons churches are moving from vertical growth to horizontal growth

  So why is growth more likely today with additional services, classes, groups, venues, and campuses? Why do we see the horizontal strategy to be more pervasive today? Here are five key reasons:

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  Feb 24, 2019

  Pendulum Swing Syndrome: 5 questions to ask when hiring a new pastor

  In order to make certain churches do not intentionally subject themselves to the pendulum swing syndrome, I urge them to consider carefully these five questions:

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  Feb 22, 2019

  How not to compensate your pastor

  I hear six very common negative themes about pastoral compensation. I wish they were not repeated, but they are. See if you have heard any of them. Let’s look at the six ways not to compensate your pastor.

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  Feb 20, 2019

  Southern Baptist ordination and sexual predators

  The recent articles from the Houston Chronicle about sex abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) are convicting to me. What can I and others do better to prevent such abuse? How can we better serve, help, and show compassion to the victims?

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  Feb 12, 2019

  Pastors: Consider the 5-hour challenge

  I was hesitant to write this post ... But I do have to challenge pastors and church leaders.

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  Feb 10, 2019

  6 questions when you're called to ministry later in life

  The call to vocational ministry later in life is both exciting and challenging. It is exciting to know God is preparing you for another path and, perhaps, another place. It’s challenging because of issues related to family, finances, and training.

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  Feb 3, 2019

  5 perspectives that help me deal with criticisms

  As one who has received criticisms over the years, I want to share with you personally five perspectives that have helped me deal with them.

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  Feb 2, 2019

  Megachurches and the growing crisis of finding successors

  You could see it unfolding. Boomer megachurch pastors are retiring. The number grows every month. And, as we thought might take place, the churches are having difficulty finding their successors.

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  Jan 31, 2019

  Many churches are dying due to too many meetings

  So, what can we do in our churches to reduce the time in meetings? What can we do to get more time in ministry from our members? Here are five considerations.

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  Jan 29, 2019

  5 reasons 'we pay the bills at this church' is so toxic

  One of the most toxic statements a church member or group of church members can make is, “We pay the bills at this church.”