Tag: Thom Rainer

A number of pastors said that they get complaints about something they did or did not do, and they have no idea when or if this alleged offense took place.

Hunting and fishing season can adversely affect church attendance. Deer season was mentioned most frequently.

There are two alarming data points in our studies. First, churches are rapidly abandoning evangelism. Second, church members are steadily denying the essentials of the Christian faith.

With the increase of remote work and digital communications, the yearning for in-person connections is growing. The church is the place such connections are meant to take place.

God gave us the local church as his plan A for his mission on earth, and he did not give us a plan B. The local church is just that important.

Don’t ask your pastor to make every decision. Most pastors are “decision weary.” Unless the issue is critical, see if you can find solutions other than going to the pastor with the problem or need.

Does your church publish attendance for all members to see? This question might cause a level of concern. We know that fewer churches publish attendance records than at any point in the past few decades.

Ultimately, we approach God with complete humility because he is God and we are not. He is the Creator; we are the creation. Indeed, we approach him with a posture of total humility and lack of pride because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).