EST. - For the Established Church with Sam Rainer and Josh King

Latest Episodes:

The Church Recovery Process Out Of COVID (Ep. 203) Oct 16, 2020

Show notes

Pastors are burning out at a record pace, but there is a way towards recovery. Karl Vaters joins Sam and Josh on this week's episode. The post-COVID recovery will take years, not months, in many small churches. Karl Vaters shares some key ways churches can begin the recovery process. Church unity is more important than church uniformity. Saving money is not a lack of faith; it's stewardship. Check out Karl's new book, The Church Recovery Guide. It's full of wisdom taken from the perspective of smaller churches.
You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s not on your plate.
Pastors are saying these are among the easiest, most effective ministries they’ve ever offered. Check out GriefShare and DivorceCare.

When Churches Search For New Pastors (Ep. 202) Oct 09, 2020

Show notes

In the coming months, a larger-than-usual shuffling will take place. Many pastors will transition to new ministry positions as others transition out. William Vanderbloemen joins Josh and Sam to discuss how you can prepare for your next ministry position. He also shares the fascinating inside story of how he started his company and his new venture, Christian Teams. We discuss several tips for pastors in transition and what to expect in the weeks leading up to the new position.
You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s not on your plate.
Pastors are saying these are among the easiest, most effective ministries they’ve ever offered. Check out GriefShare and DivorceCare.

The Pastor's Phone (Ep. 201) Oct 02, 2020

Show notes

There are real dangers with constant notifications on your phone. Pastors must manage how and when to connect with people. Social media can be especially toxic. Mark Satterfield, Senior Pastor of the Glade Church, joins us on the show. How do we keep the phone from keeping us? It takes work to break the confirmation bias of social media algorithms. It's good to establish deep work patterns away from the constant distraction of email. We discuss how to set your phone to minimize distractions without disconnecting completely.
You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s not on your plate.
Pastors are saying these are among the easiest, most effective ministries they’ve ever offered. Check out GriefShare and DivorceCare.

The Future of Worship Venues After COVID-19 (Ep. 200) Sep 25, 2020

Show notes

Preaching and worship venues are getting smaller. The average size of a new worship space or new sanctuary is down significantly. Churches with large spaces are asking the question about downsizing. What does this mean for the future of the church? Michael Wood, the lead pastor of First West, joins Sam and Josh on this week's episode. While COVID-19 has temporarily changed how people feel about the fullness of a space, these expectations will not last long term. We talk about different models of multisite churches and how smaller venues will become more popular in the future.
You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s not on your plate.
Pastors are saying these are among the easiest, most effective ministries they’ve ever offered. Check out GriefShare and DivorceCare.

The Future Of Preaching After COVID-19 (Ep. 199) Sep 18, 2020

Show notes

Preaching has changed with COVID-19, but it's anything but dead. More pastors are in front of a camera than ever before. The preaching audience is broad digitally but also smaller in size in live venues. Clay Smith joins us on the show. He is the senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in the Atlanta area. We discuss what the next eighteen months of preaching will look like. A renewed appreciation for live preaching will occur, but pastors should not neglect the power of a digital footprint.
You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s not on your plate.
Pastors are saying these are among the easiest, most effective ministries they’ve ever offered. Check out GriefShare and DivorceCare.

Congregational Singing & Leading As A Worshiper (Ep. 198) Sep 11, 2020

Show notes

The church will worship only to the level of the lead pastor. If a lead pastor is not a worshiper, then the church will struggle to worship. First Baptist Concord Pastor, John Mark Harrison, joins us on the show. The relationship between worship pastor and lead pastor is critical for the health of the church. John Mark, Josh, and Sam share their perspectives on how to lead a church towards healthy congregational singing. How involved should the lead pastor be in the selection of songs? Do you ever change the lyrics of a song? We share our answers and more.
You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s not on your plate.
Pastors are saying these are among the easiest, most effective ministries they’ve ever offered. Check out GriefShare and DivorceCare.

Keeping A Long-Term Perspective In A Broken Church (Ep. 197) Sep 04, 2020

Show notes

Many pastors inherit broken churches. The prospect of shepherding there for the long-haul can be mentally draining. In this episode, Sam and Josh interview Clint Pressley, Senior Pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C. Preparing for a long-term pastorate means maintaining the discipline of balance, especially at the beginning and end of your day. Give yourself time to breathe and unwind in the morning and evening because the middle of the day can be chaotic. Pastors who survive long-term are the ones who work hard but also keep a maintainable structure to each day. In a broken church, two kinds of leaders are typically needed. One that is a catalyst for change and another that can shepherd for the long haul. Sometimes these two leaders are two different pastors. Other times these two leaders are the same pastor that wears two different hats.
You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s not on your plate.
Pastors are saying these are among the easiest, most effective ministries they’ve ever offered. Check out GriefShare and DivorceCare.

Managing Your Schedule When You Don't Have An Assistant (Ep. 196) Aug 28, 2020

Show notes

We're all busy. Pastors especially have full calendars, but not every pastor has an assistant. How can you manage your schedule when you don't have an assistant? Josh and Sam share some everyday tools they use. As a pastor, you should be accessible to your congregation but always being available will crush you. In this episode, we share how to prioritize God and family with some practical scheduling techniques. What should you put in your calendar every week? How can prayer reminders help you shepherd the people you serve? What are the snooze and scheduling features in your email? There are some valuable technological solutions that will save you hours of work each week.
You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s not on your plate.
Pastors are saying these are among the easiest, most effective ministries they’ve ever offered. Check out GriefShare and DivorceCare.

Measuring Up Your Church Right Now (Ep. 195) Aug 21, 2020

Show notes

How do you measure church health in a pandemic? What do the numbers even mean right now? With church attendance at 25% to 50% for most churches, it's more difficult to get a feel for the room. Ronnie Parrott joins Sam and Josh on this episode to discuss how they are tracking church health. Focus on four key areas of church health: Stewardship, leadership, membership, and discipleship. The best way to measure church health is to track what you should be. Evangelism is as important as ever. Giving to missions should be emphasized. Care opportunities are abundant. Phone calls and letters are good ways to connect to members and people in the community.
You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s not on your plate.
Pastors are saying these are among the easiest, most effective ministries they’ve ever offered. Check out GriefShare and DivorceCare.

When Pastors and Deacons Do Ministry Together (Ep. 194) Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

When pastors and deacons work together, the ministry of the church thrives. When they are at odds, ministry struggles. Deacons are called to be unifiers in the church. Pastors should treat deacons positively and with respect. When hostility exists between pastors and deacons, the church will drift away from the mission. Too often deacons are forced into roles they are not passionate about. You can breathe life into the deacon body by giving them responsibilities in the areas they love. In this episode, Josh gives a great tip about how to equip deacons. It involves a pocket knife.
You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s not on your plate.
Pastors are saying these are among the easiest, most effective ministries they’ve ever offered. Check out GriefShare and DivorceCare.

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