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In today’s episode Dr. Rainer unpacks his most recent research project that studied the revived church. The qualitative research reveals 7 characteristics of churches that have moved from dying to revived.
Episode highlights include:
- We have a tendency to blame others of the plight we find ourselves.
- Churches that are revived expanded their score card to include faith conversions.
- Revived churches got serious about prayer and prayed for other churches in their community.
- There are toxins in churches, and when left in the church toxins will be fatal over time.
- A toxic person is not a critic but has a repeated pattern of being divisive.
The 7 characteristics are…
- Accepting Responsibility
- Overcoming the Traps of Traditions
- Expanding the Scorecard
- Committing to Powerful Prayer
- Dealing with Toxins
- Seeking Silver Bullets No More
- Creating Meaningful Membership
Resources
Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.
Submit Your Question:
Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.
I attend a church that is dying. When my family first started attending, the average attendance was 70 people. Through a series of events, we have went from the 70 attending down to 20. I have watched our little assembly falter on just about every point you made in this podcast. I fear without something radical happening we will be a statistic. My hope is our church will break out of the mold that we have set and become a body of believers that is used by God again.
My prayers for your church, Wayne.
I want to thank you for your prayers. Our church is going through about the same experience at this time. This has given me some good thoughts and ways to look at going. We just had an elder retreat praying about and discussing this issue.
Why don’t you get an Interim revitalization leader to help you for a year
Would love to receive a copy of your upcoming book on this topic.
I’d love to have a copy of the new book!!! Autopsy has helped our church tremendously, and I anticipate that Anatomy will do the same to encourage our replant. Thank you so much!!!
You got it. Thanks, Travis.
Absolutely.
Thanks for a simple reminder of what it takes for a church to live again.
2 weeks ago I presented the basic outline of Autopsy of a Deceased Church (I had already worked through it with my deacons) to my church along with metrics to show how we are failing in many of these areas and asked permission to lead us into change. They unanimously agreed! Thank you for the resources you provide that have helped me know how to lead forward. Im looking forward to this new book. My Deacons and I worked through Becoming a Welcoming Church and are working on Who Moved My Pulpit currently.
Thank you for presenting the positive side of this coin. This is something that our church definitely will be hearing.
As a pastor of a church under revitalization, this would be a great resource!
Your comment about traditions vs traditionalism reminded me of the Jaroslav Pelikan quote that says, “Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.” I remember this idea was a point of discussion in one of my classes in seminary.
Thanks, Robert.
As the pastor of church going thru revitalization, I believe that this would be another great resource to have under my belt. Thank you Thom.
Wonderful insights, Dr. Rainer! I would love to learn more about it in your upcoming book, “The Anatomy of a Revived Church.”
As a pastor of several churches needing revitalization the concepts you shared here are definitely in line and right on target. wish every church member in every church understood these principles.
Count me in on the new book!
Wonderful insights, Dr. Rainer! I would love to learn more about this in your upcoming book, “The Anatomy of a Revived Church.”
Keep the comments coming. I will select 15 of your .from your comments to receive Anatomy of a Revived Church using a random number generator. I anticipate the books’ release in about eight weeks.
Well that answers my question about the timing of release. Been driving myself crazy trying to find it online. I want to use this for our training as we get set to launch our replanted church. Autopsy was so helpful in stimulating discussion that led to our decision to replant. I’m thrilled to see this companion book come out to give us a “target” to aim for as we launch. Thanks for your ministry, Dr. Rainer.
Dr R really excited about the new book.
This was a great podcast. Thanks for the encouragements. Looking forward to reading the new findings in the book.
We have really embraced prayer at my church. It makes a difference!
Love it!
I have recently been called to a church that is in the midst of revitalization. The fundamentals you have shared in becoming a more welcoming church are making a great difference. I look forward to this next book and the wisdom it will share. Thank you for your heart to help struggling churches.
Leaders like you are my heroes, Travis.
I’d like a copy if I am not too late!
Thank you for this important information. Looking forward to your new book. For your book Autopsy of a Dead Church, I was able to translate it to Spanish (verbally) for some of our traditionalist church members. There were “aha” moments. Thanks again.
Great! Thanks, Maria.
I’d like to have a copy of the new book!
If I meet the first 15 commenters I as well would like a copy of the book plz.
Saxton –
We will choose 15 randomly from all the comments today and tomorrow.
I was called to a church in trouble, maybe not quite on the verge of dying, but looking at it.
Looking back on the time of brining it toward being a healthy church, which it is now, I see that many of the things you have identified have been with our process.
I’ve been a fan of your podcasts and of your books for years and the insight from them has been very helpful in leading me–and the church–through this time
Thank you for your kind words, Bill.
I would be interested in a copy of the book. 🙂
I believe each one of these comments is spot on. I am currently at a church where I’ve been for four years who lost a pastor for decades to retirement, then lost the silver bullet pastor to difficulty within the church. I was on staff during both of these departures and have since taken up preaching responsibilities as well as leader ship responsibilities. We have went through your first five points and I hopefully in the midst of a search we will not look for a silver bullet and then look to create a healthy church membership. Thank you for your willingness to create helpful and insightful content on a weekly basis.
Thank you for your encouraging words, Andrew.
Excellent list of insights!
I would love a copy…
I would love to get a copy of the new book.
I thank you for sharing these practical insights. Our church is in the revitalization process, and I look forward to reading Anatomy of a Revived Church. I thank you also for conducting the micro-consultations. That session blessed me tremendously, and I am already sharing what I learned with our church. God has blessed our church in the past, and I believe that our best is yet to come!
Loved having you at the Micro, George!
Im pastoring a church on the verge of closing its doors before my wife and I came on as pastors. Your advice is what we are starting to do. Thank you
Thom,
Thank you for the work you are doing. I’m currently coming into an existing church in which the founding pastor is retiring. Anatomy of a Revived Church could be a great tool for us as we go through the process of revitalization.
I cannot tell you how excited I am about this book. What a fantastic preview! Thank you for all that you are doing to facilitate church revitalization!
Thanks so much, Jeremy.
I am a pastor of church that is outside the revival tent. As a pastor, I have encounter difficulty to help the church face the truth about themselves, change the scorecard, and seek Jesus in prayer. I am praying for revival.
What do you mean “dealing with toxins” Is this toxic person’s or situations?
Robert –
I cover that in the podcast. Let me know if you need further clarification.
As a lay person I’d like a copy of your book, but I’m more than happy to pay for it, hopefully you are producing more than 15 copies, 😉 just let me/us know when it is available to purchase.
BTW, I loved your solo broadcast. You got right to the point and it was well absorbed as I worked at my computer. I vote for more solo podcasts; you did great!
I like your comments on “hire a young pastor.” I feel like I’m the young pastor our church hired 7 years ago. I look forward to reading this book.
I get it, Jim.
I think you did a great job on your solo cast! I’m very excited for your new book to be released.
Thank you, Jennifer.
Reminds me of something I learned early in ministry, “Nothing of eternal significance happens without prayer,” or something like that. If you want the walls of heaven to rattle your church, start with prayer
Interesting question (and maybe I’m in the minority) about tradition and a focus on traditions; in a denominational church, there are certain aspects of the worship life that are part of the church’s identity – centrality of the Eucharist, inspirational vs. exegetical preaching, etc. Might breaking tradition be considered something like “doing the old things in a new way”? Meaning things like: singing psalms as opposed to simply reading them; introducing new settings for worship music.
Confirming the premise of the power of giving up on finding a Silver Bullet – my current call broke tradition of “we want a young pastor” to say “we want a pastor with energy and new insights – but also with experience and patience” After shedding a few members (who didn’t want change) the downward trend was stemmed. Now our problem is creating enough growth before the existing members all pass away.
Your book does sound interesting to add to the tools in my tool bag. Thanks for all you do for ministers.
Thom,
Really learn a lot from the podcast. I am leading a revitalization of an Assembmy of God church in a rural community in MO.
I recently completed an Ed. D. in Transformational Leadership. My research was in the area of rural church revitalization.
Here is a link to my dissertation should you be interested.
https://commons.cu-portland.edu/edudissertations/245/
Thom, Thanks for your faithful insights and encouragement. I’ve been blessed over the past couple of years by your challenges and insights as I took a step of faith and followed God’s leading into a small church in decline. The challenges of shifting culture are great, and they are not impossible. We continue to walk with God and his timing as we fumble the ball forward.
Each of your seven characteristics are spot on. I’d love to say we are hitting each with great momentum, but I can’t. We are taking one or two at a time, visiting, and revisiting these items as we discern who to come along side a “churchless” culture. It’s an adventure, thanks for being a mile-marker along the way.
I’m definitely not one of the first 15 to comment, so a gifted book, is out of the question, just wanted you to know your impact for the Kingdom is “playing in Peoria.”
I guess I will have to buy the book
I’m interested in seeing how your research gives insight to adding purpose to “expanding the scorecard.” What do we track? And why? But, more importantly, how do we utilize the numbers to encourage action and change in the members? Thanks!
I’m a regular listener. Thank you for your commitment to Church Revitalization and Replanting. I’m looking forward to reading the new book. So grateful for you and your ministry.
I have been an interim pastor of a declining church and based my messages on your Autopsy book to prepare them for their new pastor. Time will tell if it will turn around. I am now a pastor of another small rural church and would love to have a copy of your new book.
Thom,
Thank you for this podcast, and the many ways you resource churches for kingdom impact. One of the things we just started (which is totally new for our church) was creating a meaningful membership class where we went over information, expectation, and assimilation — and the amazing was we had 5 people join our church after it.
The two that seem to speak the most to me as we work toward revitalization is Powerful Prayer and dealing with Toxins. I would love to hear more from you more about identifying the toxins and what to do about them? (part of the tension I feel is knowing where the balance is between shepherding a well intention toxin and where, when, and how church discipline comes into play.)
Also, I would love a copy of your new book.
Hey Thom! Thanks for previewing the Anatomy of a Revived Church concept in today’s podcast. Can I have a link to pre-order the book? Thanks, Jeremy
Pre-order is not available yet, Jeremy. Should be soon.
I would love a new book!
Your new book! Cool. Include me in the drawing. . .
I really enjoy the podcasts. Even flying solo. I have benefitted from many of your books and would love a copy of the new book!
Just listened to your summary of what’s in the book and very much need the entire approach. I probbably will not qualify for a free copy, so pleasw let me know what I need to do to get a copy. Thank you.
Our church just finished your study on Autopsy of A Deceased church. It was helpful, truthful and hope-filled. One of the older members said to me “what do we do now…”? There is an expectant energy in our church about the future.
Thankfully our association (the BMA of America) has a revitalization program and they have gifted us with the revitalize bundle.
I am looking forward to your new release.
Looking forward to the new book!!
Sounds like a great book. I appreciated Autopsy of a Deceased Church and will look forward to the release of this new book. I’ve been listening to Revitalize and Replant for a few years now and have gleaned a lot of great lessons from the podcast and related resources.
I am very excited about ‘Anatomy’. ‘Autopsy’ was such a pivotal resource for established churches. I will be getting a copy one way or another!
Great Podcast. I am looking forward to reading more about this in your book. The biggest key for our ministry is implementation. Everyone can agree on a plan, but then we all say ti should work, but not many are ready to work it. God help us all.
I would love to receive a copy of the book, although to be honest, if I don’t get one for free, I’ll probably just buy it…
I would love to receive a copy but totally understand if I wasn’t one of the top 15 comments. I am trying to revitalize the church I am currently pastor. It is a constant one step forward and two back. It is hard work to keep momentum. I have to constantly remind myself that I cannot get to far ahead that I am not leading the church in change. The greatest challenge I am dealing with is moving the church away from apathy and indifference. I appreciate the list. It helps give me goals, Thom.
I would like a copy of your book… if it is not too late for our church…
I’ll be sharing this podcast with my church’s Renewal Team that is just beginning to be formed.
I enjoyed your solo podcast. The point on prayer is especially useful.
I will take a book!!!
I am a first time lead pastor of a church In a small town, who went through a messy church split when the previous pastor took a church a couple miles down the road and more than half the attendees with him. We started with 28 in January and are now running a solid 50. That said we are fighting many battles on several fronts. The information I have already gleaned from your books and podcasts have been a blessing. God is good!
I’m a new priest at a church that is primed, primed for revitalizing.
I’d love a copy of the book. If I’ve missed the giveaway I’m happy to purchase one. I need this podcast and am so delighted to have found it. Thank you Dr Rainer for this ministry.
Rev Mia McDowell
Thank you, Mia.
I’m a young pastor looking at a couple churches right now. I’ll definitely be going through this book with my future board.
The church that I’m feeling most led to is going to need to go through revitalization, and they know it. And thus I’m so grateful for the resources you provide including the podcasts!
Thanks for setting me up over the last few years, as I’ve listened to you, for this moment Thom.
You mean a lot to me and have been super helpful!
I would love a copy of this book. Good stuff.
Thank you for all you do for pastors and the church! My husband and I listen often and quote you much.
I’d love to be one of the 15 people to receive a copy of the new book, Autopsy of a Revived Church. I hope I”m leading one and would love to see if the book affirms that.
On behalf of Dr. Rainer, the winners of his new book, “Anatomy of a Revived Church” are:
Ralton Emery, Ray Laitd, Jerry, Esteban Talavera, Jason Ellsworth, Jeremy Geerdes, Robert White, Joel Dryden, Danny Davis, Jeremy Norton, Aaron Sellers, Roy Wahlgren, William Vassar, Cari Mahan, and Josh Smith.
Winners will be contacted by email. Thank you for all of the great comments!
I have been listening to Revitalize and Replant for 5 months and have listened to all 114 podcast to date. Read Autopsy of a Deceased Church, the Holy Spirit moves within me when I hear the truths being shared through these podcast.
Looking forward to getting a copy of your latest book Anatomy of a Revived Church. May God bless you
Thank you!
May not be one of the 15 but thought it worth a try seeing as I just heard this today.
Wow! What an incredibly helpful podcast episode! As a pastor of a church revitalization, I’m looking forward to reading your new book when it comes out!
Where can I purchase a copy of your new book, “Anatomy Of A Revived Church”?
Yes, the release date is January 2, 2020. You might be able to get it on Amazon a few days earlier.
I recently began listening to the R&R podcast. I appreciate your insights into this topic. I’ve read your book Autopsy of a Deceased Church, very helpful in thinking through and assessing where the church has been and is currently. Listening to this podcast gives a few things to begin working toward. It seems as if there is at least one nugget to be taken from each podcast. I would be interested in knowing how many churches you are working with in the New England area in comparison to other areas of the country. I’ve been in other parts of the country and can see how some of the insights you give would work. Not saying this to be snooty…New England is a totally different beast than other parts of the country. If you have any copies of the book you referenced on the podcast left, I’d be interested in hearing more about this topic. If you have any resources in or about the New England area I’d be interested in learning from your experience. BTW: The podcast is a good length because it’s almost as long as my workout on the treadmill during the long winters…just get it to 30 minutes and it would be a perfect length. 🙂
Jeff –
We work with several churches in New England through Church Answers.
Hello Thom Rainer.com, how can I get a bulk box of “Anatomy of Revived church. We are a little church of 20+. The Elders and I are meeting this week to discuss the reality of “Revive” or “Bury” this week. I would like to put a copy in the hands of every family in the church in hopes they would also see the need for major focus shift. We have our annual meeting at the end of January at which time I want to give them to the church.
Thank you for the response to “autopsy” and responding to Roberts plea for a “before it’s too late”.
Thank you for writing this to lay people as well.
Mitch –
Write Jess@RainerPublishing.com. He can help.
I just finished your book yesterday and was able to share an overview with our church last night. Thank you for writing it and for speaking the truth in love so that we will “change” instead of “die.” I have had several ask where they can get a copy of the book and I have several ministry brothers to whom I would love to gift a copy. I have emailed Jess to request bulk pricing.
From “Robert” to “Alicia” was an incredible journey to take. Thank you again.