Rainer on Leadership

Sam welcomes Dr. Nijay Gupta back to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Nijay is a senior translator for the New Living Translation, a Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary, and the author of several books, including A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies and Tell Her Story. Today they discuss why preachers should commit to one primary translation in the pulpit, and why the New Living Translation is the best choice.

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Historically, Christians have favored burial. That practice was not accidental. Burial reflects the biblical pattern of honoring the body, treating death with gravity, and looking forward to the resurrection. In Scripture, the body is not treated as disposable. At the same time, the Bible does not give a direct command that Christians must be buried or that cremation is sinful. Josh and Sam discuss this question on today's episode.

Americans are moving far less than they did in previous generations, and Gen Z may become the least mobile generation in American history. In the 1950s, about 20% of Americans moved each year. By 2019, that number had fallen to roughly 11%. Even more surprising, younger adults are more likely than older generations to say they have lived in the same local community their entire lives. Nearly half of those born in the early 2000s re...

Many churches are beginning to recognize that their discipleship systems are no longer working as well as they once did. The problem is not necessarily neglect. In many cases, the problem is that the model was built for a different era—one marked by more frequent church attendance, earlier marriage, more stable family rhythms, and Baby Boomers providing much of the volunteers.

That world is fading.

Josh and Sam discuss how ch...

Preaching has not changed in its core calling: proclaiming God’s Word faithfully to God’s people. But the context around preaching has changed dramatically. Josh and Sam discuss the major changes in preaching over the last two decades. Pastors today must still preach the text, but they also have to work harder to explain context, build trust, apply Scripture clearly, and communicate in a world conditioned by short-form ...

Many churches say they value older adults, but their staffing decisions often tell a different story. Thom and Sam discuss how ageism is a real and often overlooked problem in church personnel decisions, especially for staff members approaching retirement. Churches may seek “younger energy,” cut older staff under the banner of stewardship, or assume older workers cannot adapt. But a healthy, multigenerational church sho...

The question of whether a church should have an armed security team is both practical and pastoral. Churches want to be welcoming places of worship, but they also have a responsibility to protect the people gathered on campus. An armed security team may be appropriate in some contexts, but it should never be treated casually. The decision requires clear policies, legal guidance, extensive training, insurance awareness, pastoral wis...

Josh and Sam discuss why many churches have moved away from old-school hymns, not always because they reject them, but because worship culture has changed. Modern worship music is often easier to lead with a band, more familiar to younger generations, and shaped by digital platforms, conferences, and major worship publishers. But the disappearance of hymns can also come at a cost. Hymns often carry theological depth, congregational...

What should a church do if someone wins the lottery and wants to tithe from the proceeds? The question is more complicated than it first appears. On one hand, churches should teach biblical stewardship and encourage generosity. On the other hand, gambling raises serious concerns about wisdom, exploitation, addiction, and the source of financial gain. In this episode, we discuss how church leaders can think carefully, pastorally, an...

A common argument says immigration could help reverse America’s secular drift because immigrants are assumed to be more religious than native-born Americans. Ryan Burge’s analysis challenges that assumption. Using Cooperative Election Study data, he finds that immigrants are only slightly more religious than Americans whose families have been in the United States for generations—and not nearly enough to shift the ...

Thom and Sam explore why the pastorate remains one of the most secure callings in an AI world. Artificial intelligence can help with research and administrative tasks, but it cannot replace the heart of pastoral ministry: presence, trust, discernment, and shepherding. The more ministry is rooted in real relationships rather than production alone, the more durable it becomes. In many ways, the rise of AI may actually clarify what pe...

Josh and Sam discuss why churches should still believe in short-term mission trips when they are approached with the right biblical purpose and practical care. While these trips are sometimes criticized for being expensive, shallow, or more about the travelers than the mission field, they can still be powerful tools for gospel partnership, spiritual growth, and leadership development. When done well, short-term trips do not replace...

Pastors often look to the book of Nehemiah for practical lessons on leadership. However, in times of rebuilding and revitalization, we should not overlook the book of Ezra, with its story of the rebuilding of the temple. Ken Roach, Vice President of Innovation at Wesley Biblical Seminary, joins Sam to share the three “royal decrees” found there and how they translate into leadership principles every rebuilder needs to c...