Thom S. Rainer

Latest

• Sep 10, 2012

  Pastors Are Hurting

  Not all the news about pastors is discouraging. Pastors feel privileged to be called to their places of ministry. They have a deep love for those they shepherd. Most of them could not conceive of doing anything else. But please hear me: Many pastors are hurting.

• Aug 27, 2012

  Listening to Negative People Will Make You Dumb

  We all know those "energy drainers." They are the people that seem to have a perpetual cloud hanging over their heads. Research shows that exposure to 30 minutes or more of negativity – including viewing such material on TV – actually peels away neurons in the brain's hippocampus. That's the part of your brain you need for problem solving.

• Aug 25, 2012

  10 Questions to Diagnose the Evangelistic Health of Your Church

  In my work with churches across America, I often ask a series of questions that help me assist the church to become more evangelistically focused. Are members more concerned about the lost than their own preferences and comfort?

• Aug 11, 2012

  Eight Leadership Lessons From Bad Politicians

  Let's be fair. Many politicians are good and strong leaders. They have a high ethical standard, care for their constituencies first, and seek to serve. But some politicians are bad. They put self first. They lie. They seek power first.

• Aug 8, 2012

  Two Big Distractions for Pastors

  Distractions take our eyes off those things that really matter. For a pastor, the health of the church is greatly at risk when he loses his focus. Most pastors say critics distract them from their ministries.

• 
  Jul 30, 2012

  Dealing With Five Common Objections to New Member Classes

  There is good anecdotal evidence and older research evidence to indicate new member classes are good for the health of congregations. One of the common objections to new member classes, however, is a lack of time or resources.

• 
  Jul 26, 2012

  Leadership Lessons From Penn State

  I must force myself to learn something if I am ever to be the kind of leader to make certain this tragedy does not place where I serve. If nothing else, I must learn leadership lessons for the sake of these children and future children. In doing so, I noted seven leadership lessons from Penn State.

• 
  Jul 19, 2012

  10 Reasons We Have Not Reached the Unchurched

  Let us look with stark honesty and candor at the ineffectiveness of most American believers when it comes to sharing their faith. One of the main reasons many Christians do not share their faith is simply explained by the word disobedience.

• 
  Jul 14, 2012

  Seven Questions to Help Leaders Avoid Committing Sins of Omission

  It's easy sometimes not to make a decision, to let the perceived status quo become our daily agenda. Instead of becoming a leader who is a change agent, we become managers who carry out routine tasks. How can we leaders make certain we are not seeking the comfort of sameness and committing sins of omission?

• 
  Jul 6, 2012

  12 Lessons of Fatherhood

  I am not a perfect father. Not close. And I am not a perfect husband. Far from it. But do you know what Art, Sam, and Jess know? Despite my imperfections as a husband, despite my stupid anger, despite my self-centeredness, I love their mother.