Sam Rainer

Op-ed Contributor

Sam Rainer is president of Church Answers and pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church in Florida.

Latest

Dec 10, 2023
What pastors actually think about while they preach
What exactly am I thinking while I preach?
Dec 3, 2023
Christmas Eve is a Sunday this year (the big opportunity)
The reality is this Christmas Eve may be one of the biggest opportunities you have for several years to come.
Nov 19, 2023
7 tips to make sermon points more memorable
He said, “Passion is the degree of difficulty one will endure to reach a goal.” It stuck with me all these years! This one point has guided so much about the way I live.
Nov 12, 2023
Why your church needs more (often) announcements in worship
Announcements are not the most important part of the worship service, but leaders should announce what’s most important to the entire church. And the answer is not more announcements.
Oct 29, 2023
10 insights for retiring pastors
How do I prepare my church for my retirement?; what are some major financial issues regarding retirement?; and what do I do after I retire? Here are 10 insights that touch on those three questions.
Oct 22, 2023
How to recover from a toxic church and bounce back even better
You can bounce back. Indeed, you must bounce back for the sake of God’s Kingdom.
Oct 15, 2023
The megachurch movement is fading. What’s next?
Many neighborhood churches are right around the corner but off the radar. Your neighborhood church can regain the attention of the neighbors. The potential for this movement is enormous. I believe you can be a part of it.
Oct 8, 2023
Why every single word in the Bible matters for you today
The first words in Genesis are, “In the beginning God,” not, “In the beginning you.” God is the protagonist of the Bible, not you.
Oct 1, 2023
It’s time to release churches from the myth of infinite expansion
Every church has limiting factors. No church grows exponentially every year. Infinite expansion isn’t possible.
Sep 24, 2023
Behind the decline: Unraveling the forgotten reasons of fading neighborhood churches
The mission of every church is to go into a fragmented world and share the good news of Jesus that heals the brokenness.