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Leadership From The Cross is dedicated to ministry training hosted by Pastor Scott Thom of Cross Christian Fellowship in Albuquerque, N.M. We help advance your leadership skills. Topics include Pastoring, Lay Ministry, Church Management, Vision Casting, Character, Team Building, Faith, Ministry Planning, Church Planting, and so much more. Pastor Scott also has a ministry training college for pastors and leaders.
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No Other Doctrine is a prerecorded apologetics Bible answer show hosted by Pastor Scott Thom of Cross Christian Fellowship in Albuquerque, N.M. We teach you to answer questions about Christianity and give Reasons for your faith. Topics include Bible questions, Faith, Religion, Christian philosophy, Jesus, God, Cults, Theology, and so much more. Pastor Scott also has a ministry training college for pastors and leaders.
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Your online home for leadership lessons for both the church and the workplace.
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Three Major Future Shifts for Churches You May Not Expect: An Interview with Brady Shearer
24:26
24:26
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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? C…
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The Burge Report: A Deep Dive into the Decline of the Southern Baptist Convention
27:31
27:31
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27:31
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…
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The Confusion about the Word “Discipleship”
25:24
25:24
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25:24
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 discip…
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Why Every Woman in Your Church Needs This Bible: An Interview with Naomi Cramer Overton and Misty Arterburn
26:17
26:17
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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 …
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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
21:39
21:39
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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 …
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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
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22:43
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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 nuance…
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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
20:30
20:30
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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 …
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There have been steady but subtle shifts in how churches hire staff and call ministers for years. Many of those shifts have accelerated since COVID. Sam and Thom look at four of the most significant shifts. The surprising number of pastors who were formerly laypersons in their churches. The acceleration of the part-time movement. The surprising num…
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Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Overcoming Failure: An Interview with Scott Beck
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28:11
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Thom welcomes Scott Beck, co-founder and CEO of Gloo, a technology platform that releases the collective might of the faith ecosystem. After starting and scaling successful businesses including Blockbuster Video, Einstein’s Bagel, Boston Market, and Angie’s List (now Angi), Scott turned his expertise to helping ministry leaders scale their impact t…
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Speaking in Tongues and Other Trending Worship Issues
26:56
26:56
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Thom and Sam examine long-term trends in corporate worship services. Some of the data surprised them. You might be surprised too. The overall trend is toward expressive worship. Raising hands and speaking in tongues. The return of the bulletin? Are worship services getting longer? Resources: California Baptist University Upward Sports The Everythin…
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The Burge Report: Who Is Attending Church MORE Frequently Now Than in the Past?
27:16
27:16
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27:16
America is not yet a godless nation, but we are becoming a less churched nation. While people say they believe in God, fewer are attending a house of worship. Ryan Burge joins the show with Thom and Sam to discuss the data driving these trends. But not all the trends are negative. In fact, one group is seeing more people attend church now than in t…
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Does the doctrine of the church affect the potential for growth? It depends. Thom and Sam analyze historical macro trends in church growth. Growing churches tend to be more conservative, and liberal churches tend to decline. But doctrine alone is not the entire story. The co-hosts discuss recent church history, doctrine, and the growth of churches.…
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The Good and Bad of Church Staff Having their Own Constituencies
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24:00
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24:00
Members will inevitably attach themselves to certain leaders in the church. In multiple-staff churches, this attachment is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, you should expect church members to get close to some of the staff, especially if they serve in their ministries. On the other hand, these constituencies can become problematic when used as le…
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How Much Time Should a Pastor Spend Preparing Sermons Each Week?
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24:22
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Pastors do not have unlimited hours and resources to write sermons. Additionally, pastors have workweeks much longer than church members realize because of the invisible nature of sermon preparation. But how long should it take to write a typical sermon? Well, it depends. Thom and Sam discuss what’s normal in ministry and how you can become more ef…
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Should Pastors Endorse Political Candidates?
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22:14
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Elections are contentious. They have been for most of our nation’s history. The tensions surrounding this year’s coming election season should not be a surprise. To what degree should pastors be involved in the political process? Thom and Sam discuss this hot-button issue on today’s episode. Pastors have always been part of the political process as…
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Should We Close Our Church? Five Issues to Consider
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22:29
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Sadly, Church Answers is getting an increasing number of consultation requests from churches wanting to deal with the issue of possibly closing their churches. Thom and Sam look at the five issues churches should consider before making such a dramatic move. What will be the gospel presence in your community if the church closes? Are your current me…
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A Special Three-Part Series with Brown Church Development Group: Episode #3 – How Does Church Design Impact the Culture of a Church? With Todd Brown
21:51
21:51
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Todd Brown is the CEO of Brown Church Development Group, a national church design/build firm. In this three-part podcast series, we will look at ministry focused design. In this third part, we talk with Todd about the ways in which church design impacts the culture of a church. Institutional versus relational ministry. Care about people, but it is …
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