There are between 350,000 and 400,000 churches in the United States. Is there really a church on every street corner? Ryan Burge joins Thom and Sam on this special episode to discuss the optimal number of churches in a community. The answer will likely surprise you.

• • “Churches Near Me” is the new way people find you. Few people pay attention to your sign anymore.

• • You are invisible to your community without an outward focus.

• • Distribution of churches is key: There are 356,000 religious congregations. That’s about 113 per county. There’s about 1 congregation for every 1000 Americans. For reference, there are 13,400 McDonalds and about 16,000 Starbucks.

• • Geography is key: Houses of worship are not tracking with population growth in certain areas of the country.

• • The counties that grew the fastest over the last ten years are the most likely to have a very high ratio of churches to people. In other words, they need more churches planted there.

• • A church on every street corner is a kingdom outpost for the gospel!

Resources:

• Tithe.ly

• 2023 State of Church Giving

• “How Many Religious Congregations Are in Your County?” by Ryan Burge

• Ryan Burge

• “From Bible Belt to Sunbelt: Plain-Folk Religion, Grassroots Politics, and the Rise of Evangelical Conservatism” by Darren Dochuk (affiliate link)

• “How Much of Church Growth Is Based on Demographics? The Data Provides a Compelling and Clear Answer” by Ryan Burge

• The Everything Church Resource Directory

• The Hope Initiative

• Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector

Episode Sponsors:

Tithely provides churches around the world with software tools to help them and their ministries thrive.

Nearly 40,000 churches use Tithely for online and text giving, managing their people’s information, volunteer management, child check in, church apps and websites, and communicating through email and text messaging.

Made up of a team of ministry-minded people, Tithely’s heart is to see the local church empowered with the tools to fulfill their mission.

You can sign up for free at Tithely.com – yes that’s right, it’s free! Tithely’s giving platform comes with no monthly fees and no contracts. Get started taking donations in just 5 minutes at Tithely.com.

Also, right now Tithely is offering a free report called “2023 State of Church Giving Report.” You can access that report free by clicking on the link in the show notes.

The post The Burge Report: Are There Too Many Churches in the United States? appeared first on Church Answers.

Proverbs 22:1 makes clear, “Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.” (NLT) How can a church recover after a scandal? What are some ways a congregation can begin to rebuild a reputation? Thom and Sam discuss some steps forward for these churches.

• • If the scandal is rooted in sin, the church must publicly repent as a first step.

• • If the scandal is derived from a stance on truth, the church must stand firm.

• • The scandal’s size and impact of the scandal should determine your response.

• • Quickly remove church leaders from their positions of authority if necessary.

• • Humility and service to the community over time will reduce the impact of the scandal.

• • When there are victims, seek fair restitution proactively.

• • Do not sue others as a way to save face or retaliate.

• • Put Christ in the middle of your response and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance through prayer.

Resources:

• Upward Sports

• California Baptist University

• Church Answers Central

• Know Your Beliefs

• “It Is Time to Stop Celebrating Church Transfer Growth” by Thom S. Rainer

• The Everything Church Resource Directory

• The Hope Initiative

• Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector

Episode Sponsors:

Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings.

At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel.  Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers.

**As a partner of Rainer or Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE!

• • Did you know that fewer than 20% of Southern Baptist pastors have a bachelor’s degree? That is according to a past Pew Research study. How can this be combated and how can we prepare our churches for the future? California Baptist University has a solution. CBU offers a full breadth of courses through its online degree programs.
  • Whether you’re looking to start your degree, finish your degree, or prepare leaders in your church for advancement opportunities, CBU’s degree programs provide a flexible, online learning environment. Classes start every eight weeks, so you can begin any time.
  • An online degree can:
    • Help you gain a better understanding of your life’s purpose;
    • Symbolize competence and integrity in your career; and
    • Provide you with the skills and knowledge to make a difference in the lives of others.
  • Your team may benefit from a degree in business, leadership, finance, communications or Christian studies. There are dozens of online degrees available to you! The online Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries develops servant leaders with the tools for understanding and communicating biblical truths. This degree prepares students for active leadership roles in the church, parachurch and Christian organizations.
  • Financial aid is available, and thanks to CBU donors, online undergraduate degrees in Christian Ministries and Christian Studies may qualify for additional scholarship, making earning your degree more affordable.
  • Visit calbaptist.edu to learn more.

The post Rebuilding Your Reputation after a Church Scandal appeared first on Church Answers.

There are good examples of growing churches reaching young families. What are they doing differently than others? Thom and Sam answer this question. There is more to this issue than being a large church in a growing suburb. Churches reaching young families come in a variety of sizes and locations.

• • The demographic reality of an aging population in the United States.

• • Millennials (and soon Gen Z) are starting families at an older age than previous generations.

• • The growing family church understands the worship “show” is less important than rhythms of discipleship and consistent programming.

• • The growing family church understands you have to focus on children to reach young families, which means investing in staff, facilities, and programs.

• • The growing family church understands the family unit is more diverse now than ever before.

• • The growing family church understands the reality of single parenting.

• • The growing family church has older generations willing to sacrifice their preferences for the sake of reaching children.

Resources:

• California Baptist University

• Upward Sports

• Brown Church Development Group

• Ryan Burge

• “The Bridger Generation” by Thom S. Rainer (affiliate link)

• The Everything Church Resource Directory

• The Hope Initiative

• Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector

Episode Sponsors:

• • Did you know that fewer than 20% of Southern Baptist pastors have a bachelor’s degree? That is according to a past Pew Research study. How can this be combated and how can we prepare our churches for the future? California Baptist University has a solution. CBU offers a full breadth of courses through its online degree programs.
  • Whether you’re looking to start your degree, finish your degree, or prepare leaders in your church for advancement opportunities, CBU’s degree programs provide a flexible, online learning environment. Classes start every eight weeks, so you can begin any time.
  • An online degree can:
    • Help you gain a better understanding of your life’s purpose;
    • Symbolize competence and integrity in your career; and
    • Provide you with the skills and knowledge to make a difference in the lives of others.
  • Your team may benefit from a degree in business, leadership, finance, communications or Christian studies. There are dozens of online degrees available to you! The online Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries develops servant leaders with the tools for understanding and communicating biblical truths. This degree prepares students for active leadership roles in the church, parachurch and Christian organizations.
  • Financial aid is available, and thanks to CBU donors, online undergraduate degrees in Christian Ministries and Christian Studies may qualify for additional scholarship, making earning your degree more affordable.
  • Visit calbaptist.edu to learn more.

Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings.

At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel.  Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers.

**As a partner of Rainer or Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE!

The post How Do Growing Churches Reach Young Families? appeared first on Church Answers.

One of the signs of a healthy church is people asking tough questions. These questions may be theological, or they may involve life issues. When people are comfortable asking about difficult subjects, it shows trust in leadership. Thom and Sam discuss the importance of having a church culture that encourages asking hard questions.

• • People don’t ask tough questions when they don’t trust you.

• • People don’t ask tough questions when they don’t know you.

• • People don’t ask tough questions when they don’t understand you.

• • People don’t ask tough questions when they expect you to ignore them.

• • People don’t ask tough questions when they expect you to dodge them.

• • People don’t ask tough questions when they expect you to judge them.

Resources:

• “Every Woman’s Bible” (Discover This Bible)

• “Every Woman’s Bible” (Bulk Purchasing)

• Tyndale House Publishers

• Upward Sports

• Get your FREE eBook, Deferred Maintenance

• The Everything Church Resource Directory

• The Hope Initiative

• Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector

Episode Sponsors:

Discover your story in God’s story and find a life of extraordinary purpose.

Every woman brings her own questions to the Bible: If I’m God’s child, why does my life sometimes feel ordinary or even disappointing? Why does the Bible say such hard and confusing things about and to women? How can I understand God and my own identity and place in God’s story?

Every Woman’s Bible doesn’t shy away from the questions women ask. In these pages, active and impactful women of yesterday and today share age-old truths with modern relevance. Contributions from more than 100 women around the world—from every continent—explore the heartfelt needs, gritty challenges, and uncommon faithfulness of women of the Bible, throughout history, and today. Serious study and deep reflection will help you clarify your calling through personal stories, insights, inspiration, and study notes that dig into personal needs during your Bible reading—all created by women, for women.

You’ll find . . .

• • Insight and transformation through deep study
  • Personal growth through reflective content
  • Connection to a global community of women
  • Powerful learning through access to additional study and devotional resources in the Filament Bible App
  • Greater understanding of God through digging into passages that are often difficult for women
  • Challenge through learning from a diverse group of women from many walks of life

This beautiful Bible is created in community across socio-economic lines and international borders, by women united by their bond through Christ. This is your invitation to a global community. Together, in these pages, we discover the life we’re each made for and how to live it in our daily relationships with God, family and friends, and our communities, and how to create our unique imprint for good.

Special features include . . .

• • The clear and accurate New Living Translation
  • Powerful and practical features by more than 100 women from around the world and in many walks of life
  • Insightful devotionals and study notes, all created by female scholars and writers
  • Beautiful full-color photographs and interior design
  • Content that’s perfect for personal study and for church or small group Bible studies
  • Access to the innovative Filament Bible app, linking you to additional notes, articles, videos, interactive maps, and worship music that illuminate the page of Scripture you’re reading

Enhance Your Bible Studying through the Free Filament Bible App
This app enables you to use your mobile phone or tablet to connect every page to a vast array of related content, including:

• • 25,000+ study notes
  • 350+ videos
  • 40+ maps and infographics
  • 400+ profiles and articles
  • 1,500+ devotionals
  • Library of worship music

The Filament Bible app turns this Bible into a powerful study and devotional experience, offering more to expand your mind and touch your heart than you can possibly hold in your hand. And there is no additional cost for the Filament Bible app. No additional purchase. No additional size or weight.

Of course, you can use this Bible without the app, but when you want to go further, grab your phone or tablet and open the Filament Bible app. It’s so easy to use.

Powerful and practical features and study notes are packaged in a beautiful Bible to be used in home for personal study, as well as taken to church or small group Bible studies. This beautiful full-color Bible for women will draw you into the story of God and help you explore God’s plans and purposes for you. It’s a deep, authentic call to extraordinary purpose.

Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings.

At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel.  Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers.

**As a partner of Rainer or Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE!

The post Why People Don’t Ask Tough Questions in Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Sam are delighted to welcome Brady Shearer to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Brady is the CEO of Pro Church Tools. His work helps churches navigate what he calls “the single biggest communication shift we’ve seen in the last 500 years.” Here are some questions they will discuss:

• • Why is Gen Z really different from previous generations?

• • Can smaller churches be a positive development?

• • What has taken place to cause such a dramatic shift in communications?

Resources:

• Upward Sports

• “Every Woman’s Bible” (Discover This Bible)

• “Every Woman’s Bible” (Bulk Purchasing)

• Tyndale House Publishers

• Pro Church Tools

• The Pro Church Tools Show

• Nucleus

• Social Sermons

• “Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up” by Abigail Shrier (affiliate link)

• Ryan Burge

• The Everything Church Resource Directory

• The Hope Initiative

• Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector

Episode Sponsors:

Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings.

At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel.  Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers.

**As a partner of Rainer or Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE!

Discover your story in God’s story and find a life of extraordinary purpose.

Every woman brings her own questions to the Bible: If I’m God’s child, why does my life sometimes feel ordinary or even disappointing? Why does the Bible say such hard and confusing things about and to women? How can I understand God and my own identity and place in God’s story?

Every Woman’s Bible doesn’t shy away from the questions women ask. In these pages, active and impactful women of yesterday and today share age-old truths with modern relevance. Contributions from more than 100 women around the world—from every continent—explore the heartfelt needs, gritty challenges, and uncommon faithfulness of women of the Bible, throughout history, and today. Serious study and deep reflection will help you clarify your calling through personal stories, insights, inspiration, and study notes that dig into personal needs during your Bible reading—all created by women, for women.

You’ll find . . .

• • Insight and transformation through deep study
  • Personal growth through reflective content
  • Connection to a global community of women
  • Powerful learning through access to additional study and devotional resources in the Filament Bible App
  • Greater understanding of God through digging into passages that are often difficult for women
  • Challenge through learning from a diverse group of women from many walks of life

This beautiful Bible is created in community across socio-economic lines and international borders, by women united by their bond through Christ. This is your invitation to a global community. Together, in these pages, we discover the life we’re each made for and how to live it in our daily relationships with God, family and friends, and our communities, and how to create our unique imprint for good.

Special features include . . .

• • The clear and accurate New Living Translation
  • Powerful and practical features by more than 100 women from around the world and in many walks of life
  • Insightful devotionals and study notes, all created by female scholars and writers
  • Beautiful full-color photographs and interior design
  • Content that’s perfect for personal study and for church or small group Bible studies
  • Access to the innovative Filament Bible app, linking you to additional notes, articles, videos, interactive maps, and worship music that illuminate the page of Scripture you’re reading

Enhance Your Bible Studying through the Free Filament Bible App
This app enables you to use your mobile phone or tablet to connect every page to a vast array of related content, including:

• • 25,000+ study notes
  • 350+ videos
  • 40+ maps and infographics
  • 400+ profiles and articles
  • 1,500+ devotionals
  • Library of worship music

The Filament Bible app turns this Bible into a powerful study and devotional experience, offering more to expand your mind and touch your heart than you can possibly hold in your hand. And there is no additional cost for the Filament Bible app. No additional purchase. No additional size or weight.

Of course, you can use this Bible without the app, but when you want to go further, grab your phone or tablet and open the Filament Bible app. It’s so easy to use.

Powerful and practical features and study notes are packaged in a beautiful Bible to be used in home for personal study, as well as taken to church or small group Bible studies. This beautiful full-color Bible for women will draw you into the story of God and help you explore God’s plans and purposes for you. It’s a deep, authentic call to extraordinary purpose.

The post Three Major Future Shifts for Churches You May Not Expect: An Interview with Brady Shearer appeared first on Church Answers.

The Southern Baptist Convention is experiencing a decline in the scope and scale that is unprecedented in American church history. As the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S., the declines in the SBC are noteworthy for many reasons. Ryan Burge joins Thom and Sam on this special episode to discuss what’s happening and what the future may hold for the SBC.

• • Membership peaked in 2006 at over 16 million, but today membership is around 13 million, where it stood in 1978.

• • The rate of membership decline has increased, especially in the last three years.

• • The decline in attendance is equally astounding at almost 40%, from a peak of 6.2 million in 2009 to around 3.8 million today.

• • The warning shot from 2005: “A Resurgence Not Yet Realized”

• • Baptisms peaked in 1972 (with fewer members) and have declined by 60% (445k in 1972 compared with 180k in 2022).

• • What got us here? Fights, factions, scandals, and an archaic system of funding.

• • Another big factor is demographics. The SBC became dependent upon its constituency increasing its population size. The opposite took place.

• • What does the future hold? Likely more of the same. The SBC is like a slowly deflating balloon. Every controversy acts as another pinhole, releasing more air. Due to its size, the SBC will not disappear overnight, but it’s unlikely the denomination will ever return to its former size.

Resources:

• Tithe.ly

• 2023 State of Church Giving

• Ryan Burge

• “The 2022 Data on the Southern Baptist Convention is Out” by Ryan Burge

• The Hope Initiative

• Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector

Episode Sponsors:

Tithely provides churches around the world with software tools to help them and their ministries thrive.

Nearly 40,000 churches use Tithely for online and text giving, managing their people’s information, volunteer management, child check in, church apps and websites, and communicating through email and text messaging.

Made up of a team of ministry-minded people, Tithely’s heart is to see the local church empowered with the tools to fulfill their mission.

You can sign up for free at Tithely.com – yes that’s right, it’s free! Tithely’s giving platform comes with no monthly fees and no contracts. Get started taking donations in just 5 minutes at Tithely.com.

Also, right now Tithely is offering a free report called “2023 State of Church Giving Report.” You can access that report free by clicking on the link in the show notes.

The post The Burge Report: A Deep Dive into the Decline of the Southern Baptist Convention appeared first on Church Answers.

It is fascinating to engage church leaders and members about their understanding of discipleship. Frankly, it means different things to different people. Sam and Thom discuss the importance of getting clarity about discipleship in a local church.

• • Why it is important to define (or at least clarify) the term

• • Personal discipleship and corporate discipleship

• • Programs and discipleship

• • Can you measure discipleship in your church?

• • The false dichotomy of evangelism and discipleship

Resources:

• “Every Woman’s Bible” (Discover This Bible)

• “Every Woman’s Bible” (Bulk Purchasing)

• Tyndale House Publishers

• Upward Sports

• “Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples” by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger

• “Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life” by Donald S. Whitney 

• The Everything Church Resource Directory

• The Hope Initiative

• Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector

Episode Sponsors:

Discover your story in God’s story and find a life of extraordinary purpose.

Every woman brings her own questions to the Bible: If I’m God’s child, why does my life sometimes feel ordinary or even disappointing? Why does the Bible say such hard and confusing things about and to women? How can I understand God and my own identity and place in God’s story?

Every Woman’s Bible doesn’t shy away from the questions women ask. In these pages, active and impactful women of yesterday and today share age-old truths with modern relevance. Contributions from more than 100 women around the world—from every continent—explore the heartfelt needs, gritty challenges, and uncommon faithfulness of women of the Bible, throughout history, and today. Serious study and deep reflection will help you clarify your calling through personal stories, insights, inspiration, and study notes that dig into personal needs during your Bible reading—all created by women, for women.

You’ll find . . .

• • Insight and transformation through deep study
  • Personal growth through reflective content
  • Connection to a global community of women
  • Powerful learning through access to additional study and devotional resources in the Filament Bible App
  • Greater understanding of God through digging into passages that are often difficult for women
  • Challenge through learning from a diverse group of women from many walks of life

This beautiful Bible is created in community across socio-economic lines and international borders, by women united by their bond through Christ. This is your invitation to a global community. Together, in these pages, we discover the life we’re each made for and how to live it in our daily relationships with God, family and friends, and our communities, and how to create our unique imprint for good.

Special features include . . .

• • The clear and accurate New Living Translation
  • Powerful and practical features by more than 100 women from around the world and in many walks of life
  • Insightful devotionals and study notes, all created by female scholars and writers
  • Beautiful full-color photographs and interior design
  • Content that’s perfect for personal study and for church or small group Bible studies
  • Access to the innovative Filament Bible app, linking you to additional notes, articles, videos, interactive maps, and worship music that illuminate the page of Scripture you’re reading

Enhance Your Bible Studying through the Free Filament Bible App
This app enables you to use your mobile phone or tablet to connect every page to a vast array of related content, including:

• • 25,000+ study notes
  • 350+ videos
  • 40+ maps and infographics
  • 400+ profiles and articles
  • 1,500+ devotionals
  • Library of worship music

The Filament Bible app turns this Bible into a powerful study and devotional experience, offering more to expand your mind and touch your heart than you can possibly hold in your hand. And there is no additional cost for the Filament Bible app. No additional purchase. No additional size or weight.

Of course, you can use this Bible without the app, but when you want to go further, grab your phone or tablet and open the Filament Bible app. It’s so easy to use.

Powerful and practical features and study notes are packaged in a beautiful Bible to be used in home for personal study, as well as taken to church or small group Bible studies. This beautiful full-color Bible for women will draw you into the story of God and help you explore God’s plans and purposes for you. It’s a deep, authentic call to extraordinary purpose.

Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings.

At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel.  Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers.

**As a partner of Rainer or Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE!

The post The Confusion about the Word “Discipleship” appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom welcomes Dr. Naomi Cramer Overton, “Every Woman’s Bible” General Editor and CEO of Stonecroft, and Misty Arterburn, Associate Editor for the “Every Woman’s Bible.” The Every Woman’s Bible by Tyndale House Publishers is a study Bible for the heart and mind. The relevant and timely features in this Bible focus on what hundreds of women say they desire from a Bible. Over one hundred scholars, writers, and contributors—all women—from around the world invite readers into serious study and deep reflection through this Bible and to connection in the global community.

• • Why do you see women as central to God’s mission?

• • Why do you see the Every Woman’s Bible as a Bible for such a time as this?

• • Tell us about your vision to see women being transformed and transforming.

• • What do you want church leaders to know as they consider this Bible for their ministries?

• • Why create a woman’s study Bible for heart and mind?

• • What was your approach in tackling the difficult questions this Bible addresses?

Resources:

• Upward Sports

• “Every Woman’s Bible” (Discover This Bible)

• “Every Woman’s Bible” (Bulk Purchasing)

• Tyndale House Publishers

• “Being God’s Image: Why Creation Still Matters” by Carmen Imes

• The Everything Church Resource Directory

• The Hope Initiative

• Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector

Episode Sponsors:

Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings.

At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel.  Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers.

**As a partner of Rainer or Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE!

Discover your story in God’s story and find a life of extraordinary purpose.

Every woman brings her own questions to the Bible: If I’m God’s child, why does my life sometimes feel ordinary or even disappointing? Why does the Bible say such hard and confusing things about and to women? How can I understand God and my own identity and place in God’s story?

Every Woman’s Bible doesn’t shy away from the questions women ask. In these pages, active and impactful women of yesterday and today share age-old truths with modern relevance. Contributions from more than 100 women around the world—from every continent—explore the heartfelt needs, gritty challenges, and uncommon faithfulness of women of the Bible, throughout history, and today. Serious study and deep reflection will help you clarify your calling through personal stories, insights, inspiration, and study notes that dig into personal needs during your Bible reading—all created by women, for women.

You’ll find . . .

• • Insight and transformation through deep study
  • Personal growth through reflective content
  • Connection to a global community of women
  • Powerful learning through access to additional study and devotional resources in the Filament Bible App
  • Greater understanding of God through digging into passages that are often difficult for women
  • Challenge through learning from a diverse group of women from many walks of life

This beautiful Bible is created in community across socio-economic lines and international borders, by women united by their bond through Christ. This is your invitation to a global community. Together, in these pages, we discover the life we’re each made for and how to live it in our daily relationships with God, family and friends, and our communities, and how to create our unique imprint for good.

Special features include . . .

• • The clear and accurate New Living Translation
  • Powerful and practical features by more than 100 women from around the world and in many walks of life
  • Insightful devotionals and study notes, all created by female scholars and writers
  • Beautiful full-color photographs and interior design
  • Content that’s perfect for personal study and for church or small group Bible studies
  • Access to the innovative Filament Bible app, linking you to additional notes, articles, videos, interactive maps, and worship music that illuminate the page of Scripture you’re reading

Enhance Your Bible Studying through the Free Filament Bible App
This app enables you to use your mobile phone or tablet to connect every page to a vast array of related content, including:

• • 25,000+ study notes
  • 350+ videos
  • 40+ maps and infographics
  • 400+ profiles and articles
  • 1,500+ devotionals
  • Library of worship music

The Filament Bible app turns this Bible into a powerful study and devotional experience, offering more to expand your mind and touch your heart than you can possibly hold in your hand. And there is no additional cost for the Filament Bible app. No additional purchase. No additional size or weight.

Of course, you can use this Bible without the app, but when you want to go further, grab your phone or tablet and open the Filament Bible app. It’s so easy to use.

Powerful and practical features and study notes are packaged in a beautiful Bible to be used in home for personal study, as well as taken to church or small group Bible studies. This beautiful full-color Bible for women will draw you into the story of God and help you explore God’s plans and purposes for you. It’s a deep, authentic call to extraordinary purpose.

The post Why Every Woman in Your Church Needs This Bible: An Interview with Naomi Cramer Overton and Misty Arterburn appeared first on Church Answers.

As the median size of a church gets smaller, more are in the predicament of being supported by a handful of key donors. Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services joins Thom and Sam to discuss what these churches can do. Not every case is dire, but the long-term viability of a congregation is at stake when one or two key donors are responsible for most of the budget.

• • The median church size is around 40 to 60 people, so many churches are supported by one or two key donors.

• • Financial risk increases as the number of donors decreases.

• • Assume the best of these key donors, even if they have a lot of influence.

• • Some cases will only be resolved with numerical growth and strong stewardship training.

• • Build a strong relationship with key donors while you build the church.

• • Take care of as much deferred maintenance as possible.

• • Fill the church budget with as many outwardly focused ministries as possible.

• • Transparency is key; don’t be afraid to ask your church to step up.

Resources:

• Church Growth Services

• Get your FREE eBook, 5 Generosity Megatrends

• Episode #1: Making the Ask: How Pastors Should Approach Key Church Donors – An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer

• Episode #2: The Upside and Downside of Designated Giving in Churches – An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer

Episode Sponsor:

The post A Special Three-Part Series with Church Growth Services: Episode #3 – What Should You Do When a Handful of Key Donors Support the Church – An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer appeared first on Church Answers.

Most gifts to churches are given without designating how the funds should be spent. However, there are cases when donors restrict their donations or give to a designated account. While every donation helps kingdom work, designated gifts can be tricky. Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services joins Thom and Sam, and they discuss some of the nuances around restricted giving.

• • Designated gifts are restricted to a particular project or budget line item.

• • They are a blessing when people give above and beyond their undesignated tithe.

• • Some churches strategically request designated gifts, like mission offerings and capital campaigns.

• • Some members give only designated gifts because of pet projects or discontent with leadership.

• • By law, designated gifts must be used for their intended purposes.

• • Designated gifts to individuals are not tax-deductible contributions.

• • When a church has too many designated funds, givers get confused. And confused givers typically donate less.

• • Some churches use a “one fund” approach to giving.

Resources:

• Church Growth Services

• Get your FREE eBook, 5 Generosity Megatrends

• Episode #1: Making the Ask: How Pastors Should Approach Key Church Donors – An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer

• Episode #3: What Should You Do When a Handful of Key Donors Support the Church – An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer

Episode Sponsor:

The post A Special Three-Part Series with Church Growth Services: Episode #2 – The Upside and Downside of Designated Giving in Churches – An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer appeared first on Church Answers.

Talking to key givers in the church does not have to be awkward. Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services joins Thom and Sam to discuss how pastors can make the ask without feeling icky. They discuss some best practices that any pastor can follow.

• • Understand the history and culture of your church.

• • Do not violate any written policies or unwritten rules.

• • If you are comfortable in the conversation, most others will be as well.

• • Watch your non-verbal cues and be confident.

• • Desperation only works once.

• • Building relationships takes time, and you may not have the luxury of waiting.

Resources:

• Church Growth Services

• Get your FREE eBook, 5 Generosity Megatrends

• Episode #2: The Upside and Downside of Designated Giving in Churches – An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer

• Episode #3: What Should You Do When a Handful of Key Donors Support the Church – An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer

Episode Sponsor:

The post A Special Three-Part Series with Church Growth Services: Episode #1 – Making the Ask: How Pastors Should Approach Key Church Donors – An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer appeared first on Church Answers.