The Church Answers Podcast

Thom and Jess challenge five assumptions that quietly shape how churches approach evangelism. These beliefs often go unspoken, but they influence priorities and outcomes more than leaders realize. Evangelism is the job of a few gifted people. People aren’t interested in the gospel anymore. If we improve our worship services, evangelism will take care of itself. Discipleship must come before evangelism. Programs and events are the primary way to reach people. Resources: Wesley Biblical Seminary, Master of Ministry Church Answers University Church Answers Awards Church Equip The Hope Initiative Church Answers Central FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights Episode Sponsor: Ready to take the next step in your ministry calling but don’t want to spend the next five years in school? At Wesley Biblical Seminary, we’re excited about our new Master of Ministry, a 37-credit-hour graduate degree for pastors and Christian leaders that provides a solid foundation in biblical and theological studies and can be completed in as little as two years. You’ll strengthen your ability to study the Bible, improve your preaching, teaching, and leadership skills, and learn to think theologically. What’s great about this degree program is, if you like what you’re learning and decide to pursue the more comprehensive Master of Divinity degree, all your courses in the Master of Ministry will transfer up. Classes are affordable and offered live online—so you get the benefit of real interaction with your professors and classmates, while still enjoying the flexibility of working from home on your own schedule. Learn more and apply today at wbs.edu/mm. Want to save even more time and money? Right now, you can get nine hours of credit towards the Master of Ministry for any Church Answers University certificate program that you complete—a savings of $4,500. Learn more at wbs.edu/cau. The post Five False Assumptions about Evangelism in Churches Today appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom begin with a simple observation: most churches still believe in evangelism—but far fewer are organized around it the way they once were. Programs that were once central have faded, and new approaches have emerged, often without the same clarity or consistency. In this episode, Jess and Thom look at how evangelism ministries have shifted over the past three decades—and what those changes mean for churches that want to reach people effectively today. Evangelism has shifted from structured programs to informal, decentralized efforts. Personal invitation has increasingly replaced cold-contact outreach methods. Churches have moved from proclamation-focused approaches to relationship-driven strategies. Evangelism is now more integrated into the overall church culture rather than a standalone ministry. Many churches have lost intentional evangelistic focus—and must now be more deliberate to regain it. Resources: Wesley Biblical Seminary, Master of Ministry Church Answers University Church Equip The Hope Initiative “Don’t Give Up: Trusting God with Your Wandering Loved Ones” by Chuck Lawless (affiliate link) Church Answers Central FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights Episode Sponsor: Ready to take the next step in your ministry calling but don’t want to spend the next five years in school? At Wesley Biblical Seminary, we’re excited about our new Master of Ministry, a 37-credit-hour graduate degree for pastors and Christian leaders that provides a solid foundation in biblical and theological studies and can be completed in as little as two years. You’ll strengthen your ability to study the Bible, improve your preaching, teaching, and leadership skills, and learn to think theologically. What’s great about this degree program is, if you like what you’re learning and decide to pursue the more comprehensive Master of Divinity degree, all your courses in the Master of Ministry will transfer up. Classes are affordable and offered live online—so you get the benefit of real interaction with your professors and classmates, while still enjoying the flexibility of working from home on your own schedule. Learn more and apply today at wbs.edu/mm. Want to save even more time and money? Right now, you can get nine hours of credit towards the Master of Ministry for any Church Answers University certificate program that you complete—a savings of $4,500. Learn more at wbs.edu/cau. The post How Evangelism Ministries Have Changed in Churches in 30 Years appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Jess and Thom address one of the most overlooked challenges in the church today: the gap between belief and action when it comes to inviting others. Most church members love their church—but they rarely invite anyone to attend. Jess and Thom explore why this gap exists, what holds people back, and how leaders can create a culture where invitations become natural, consistent, and effective. Most members underestimate how receptive people are. Churches rarely equip members with simple language. Invitation must become a rhythm, not an event. Leadership sets the tone for an invitation culture. Start this week: give out invite cards at every service. Resources: Wesley Biblical Seminary, Master of Ministry Church Answers University Church Answers Awards Church Equip Radiant Printing The Hope Initiative Church Answers Central FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights Episode Sponsor: Ready to take the next step in your ministry calling but don’t want to spend the next five years in school? At Wesley Biblical Seminary, we’re excited about our new Master of Ministry, a 37-credit-hour graduate degree for pastors and Christian leaders that provides a solid foundation in biblical and theological studies and can be completed in as little as two years. You’ll strengthen your ability to study the Bible, improve your preaching, teaching, and leadership skills, and learn to think theologically. What’s great about this degree program is, if you like what you’re learning and decide to pursue the more comprehensive Master of Divinity degree, all your courses in the Master of Ministry will transfer up. Classes are affordable and offered live online—so you get the benefit of real interaction with your professors and classmates, while still enjoying the flexibility of working from home on your own schedule. Learn more and apply today at wbs.edu/mm. Want to save even more time and money? Right now, you can get nine hours of credit towards the Master of Ministry for any Church Answers University certificate program that you complete—a savings of $4,500. Learn more at wbs.edu/cau. The post The Invitation Gap: Why Your Members Aren’t Inviting Others appeared first on Church Answers.

In this episode, Jess and Thom challenge a common assumption in church leadership: that struggling churches need a better vision. In reality, many churches already have a clear vision—but they lack the systems to follow up with the people God is already sending their way. Jess and Thom walk through how ineffective or inconsistent follow-up is one of the biggest reasons churches fail to retain guests, and they offer simple, practical steps to close that gap immediately. Most guests decide quickly whether they will return. Simple systems outperform complex strategies. Personal follow-up is still the gold standard. Lack of ownership leads to missed opportunities. Start this week: implement one clear follow-up step within 48 hours. Resources: Wesley Biblical Seminary, Master of Ministry Church Answers University Church Equip The Hope Initiative Church Answers Central FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights Episode Sponsor: Ready to take the next step in your ministry calling but don’t want to spend the next five years in school? At Wesley Biblical Seminary, we’re excited about our new Master of Ministry, a 37-credit-hour graduate degree for pastors and Christian leaders that provides a solid foundation in biblical and theological studies and can be completed in as little as two years. You’ll strengthen your ability to study the Bible, improve your preaching, teaching, and leadership skills, and learn to think theologically. What’s great about this degree program is, if you like what you’re learning and decide to pursue the more comprehensive Master of Divinity degree, all your courses in the Master of Ministry will transfer up. Classes are affordable and offered live online—so you get the benefit of real interaction with your professors and classmates, while still enjoying the flexibility of working from home on your own schedule. Learn more and apply today at wbs.edu/mm. Want to save even more time and money? Right now, you can get nine hours of credit towards the Master of Ministry for any Church Answers University certificate program that you complete—a savings of $4,500. Learn more at wbs.edu/cau. The post Your Church Doesn’t Have a Vision Problem—It Has a Follow-Up Problem appeared first on Church Answers.

Jess and Thom have both seen it again and again: churches that are incredibly busy but not particularly effective. In this episode, we talk candidly about the hidden cost of busyness in the church. Full calendars and constant activity can feel like signs of health, but they often mask deeper issues of focus and clarity. Together, we’ll explore why doing more is not the answer—and how simplifying ministry can actually lead to greater impact and renewed energy. Busyness creates the illusion of effectiveness. Too many programs dilute the mission. Leaders and volunteers burn out quietly. Guests struggle to find a clear entry point. Healthy churches learn the discipline of subtraction. Resources: Wesley Biblical Seminary, Master of Ministry Church Answers University Church Equip “Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples” by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger (affiliate link) Certification in Simple Church Ministry The Danger of a Big Vision “Good to Great” by Jim Collins (affiliate link) “Breakout Churches” by Thom S. Rainer (affiliate link) The Hope Initiative Church Answers Central FREE Research Report: New Surprising Insights Episode Sponsor: Ready to take the next step in your ministry calling but don’t want to spend the next five years in school? At Wesley Biblical Seminary, we’re excited about our new Master of Ministry, a 37-credit-hour graduate degree for pastors and Christian leaders that provides a solid foundation in biblical and theological studies and can be completed in as little as two years. You’ll strengthen your ability to study the Bible, improve your preaching, teaching, and leadership skills, and learn to think theologically. What’s great about this degree program is, if you like what you’re learning and decide to pursue the more comprehensive Master of Divinity degree, all your courses in the Master of Ministry will transfer up. Classes are affordable and offered live online—so you get the benefit of real interaction with your professors and classmates, while still enjoying the flexibility of working from home on your own schedule. Learn more and apply today at wbs.edu/mm. Want to save even more time and money? Right now, you can get nine hours of credit towards the Master of Ministry for any Church Answers University certificate program that you complete—a savings of $4,500. Learn more at wbs.edu/cau. The post The Hidden Cost of Busyness in the Church appeared first on Church Answers.