Thom Rainer
Church researcher, author, and CEO of Church Answers; former president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources and founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism, known for consulting with churches on growth and outreach.
Top 5 podcasts with Thom Rainer
Ranked by the Snipd community
89 snips
Nov 6, 2025 • 1h 3min
CNLP 765 | The Real Difference Between Growing and Declining Churches: Thom Rainer on What Reaches The Anxious Generation
Thom Rainer, a church researcher and former CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources, dives into the contrasting behaviors of growing and declining churches. He highlights the importance of outwardly focused events for growth and how personal invitations significantly boost attendance. Rainer also discusses the challenges faced by the Anxious Generation and emphasizes the need for churches to create a welcoming atmosphere. With insights on why unchurched individuals often view churches more positively than insiders, Rainer offers a fresh perspective on outreach and engagement strategies.
17 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 1h 2min
THOM RAINER | Crucial Commitments to Church (Ep. 887)
Thom Rainer, author and longtime church leader, returns with a concise mini bio and practical perspective. He discusses why committed membership matters, the danger of consumer Christianity, the limits of online church, and the five corrective commitments like radical prayer and evangelism. He also tackles family priorities, cultural capitulation, and why serving imperfect churches beats searching for perfect ones.
6 snips
Aug 11, 2022 • 1h 7min
CNLP 513 | Thom Rainer Dissects the Death of Denominations, the Stunning Decline in Evangelism, and the Digital Revolution for Small Churches
Bestselling author, Thom Rainer, returns to the podcast to discuss the three biggest shifts he's seeing in the church right now: the death of denominations, the stunning decline in peoples' commitment to evangelism and the promising hope for small churches through digital evangelism. Get more on this episode by going to https://careynieuwhof.com/episode513.
Apr 5, 2024 • 22min
A Conversation with Thom Rainer, Part 2
Thom Rainer discusses the future of megachurches in North America, redefining what qualifies as a megachurch. They explore the reasons behind the formation of megachurches and why Boomers played a significant role. The discussion touches on the decline of many institutions and the shift towards individuality over big establishments.
Mar 22, 2024 • 21min
A Conversation with Thom Rainer, Part 1
Debunking the myth that conservative churches are growing while liberal ones decline. Importance of aligning theology with practice for growth. Challenges faced by denominational churches in the face of declining membership. The rise of non-denominational churches and caution against relying on transfer growth. Benefits and pitfalls of denominational alignment. Future of denominational entities in a changing world.
