Podcast - Leaders.Church | Resources for Pastors

Podcast

Millennials and Gen Zs Aren’t Replacing Boomers!

What’s in this Episode? Join Dick Hardy and Lead Pastor Jamie Austin as they sit down together to address the aging out of Boomer pastors and the crisis it is creating in churches and denominations all over the world. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:06 Hey friend, it’s great to be with you on this…

What happens when the God of Miracles doesn’t give you the miracle? – Dr. Mike Rakes

What’s in this Episode? Dr. Mike Rakes and his wife, Darla, prayed for the miracle healing of their 27-year old daughter. And then, on August 6, 2019, at 3:33 in the morning she took her last breath. How do a Mom and a Dad deal with that? Can there ever be a sense of “God…

Mark Johnson – Jonathan Hardy Helped Grow Our Volunteer Core

What’s in this Episode? We are sitting down with Pastor Mark Johnson to discuss Jonathan Hardy’s book, Arrow Striker, along with his 4-week sermon series, and the impact they had on Pastor Mark and his church. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:06 Hey, thanks very much for joining us today. Jonathan Hardy and Dick Hardy.…

Walter Harvey – Succession Planning in the Urban Context

What’s in this Episode? We are sitting down with Pastor Walter Harvey to discuss succession planning in the urban context. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:06 Hey, friend, it’s great to be with you here today on this Church Tips Podcast. And I am so excited. I’ve been trying to get this guy booked, not…

George Westlake – Circles of Leadership

What’s in this Episode? We are sitting down with George Westlake, Senior Pastor of Sheffield Family Life Center, to discuss circles of leadership. Download the PDF Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:06 Hey friends, it’s great to be with you on this Church Tips Podcast. And I gotta tell you, I am pumped to be…

Mark Batterson – Win the Day

What’s in this Episode? Join Jonathan as he sits down with author and pastor, Mark Batterson, to discuss his new book titled: Win the Day. This is a book that emphasizes daily habits to help you “win the day” from a Christian perspective. Jonathan Hardy 0:06 Hey guys, I am so excited to be with…

Chris Hodges – Out of the Cave

What’s in this Episode? We are sitting down with Pastor Chris Hodges to hear about his book, Out of the Cave.  Read the Transcript Dick Hardy Intro Hey friends, it’s great to be with you today on this Leaders.Church podcast and I am so blessed today to have a good friend, new friend, although…

Dick Hardy – Raising Pastor’s Kids to Love Jesus

What’s in this Episode? We are sitting down with Dick Hardy, Co-Founder of Leaders.Church, to discuss raising kids in ministry. Read the Transcript George Westlake 0:06 Hi, welcome to the Church Tips Podcast. I am your guest host, George Westlake. I know you’re disappointed because you need a Hardy, and I don’t quite fulfill that.…

George Westlake – Raising Kids in Ministry

What’s in this Episode? We are sitting down with George Westlake, Senior Pastor of Sheffield Family Life Center, to discuss raising kids in ministry. Read the Transcript Dick 0:06 Hey friend, great to be with you on this episode of the Church Tips Podcast. And I am privileged today to be with my buddy from…

Louie Giglio – At the Table with Jesus

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips podcast, author Louie Giglio is unpacking his new book, At the Table with Jesus. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:00 Hey friends, it’s great to have you here on the Church Tips podcast. We are here today with a friend of mine now, although…

John Lindell – New Normal

What’s in this Episode? Join Jonathan as he sits down with Pastor John Lindell to discuss the blessings of God, as discussed in Pastor Lindell’s new book, New Normal. Read the Transcript Jonathan Hardy 0:06 Hey friends, Jonathan Hardy here with Pastor John Lindell, my pastor who is the author of the newest book, New…

Jim Bradford – Lead So Others Can Follow

What’s in this Episode? We are sitting down with Dr. Jim Bradford, to discuss his book, Lead So Others Can Follow. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:06 Hey friends, great to be with you on this Church Tips Podcast. And today I’m with my great friend Jim Bradford. And Jim, you and I have known…

David Lindell – Christians and Social Media

What’s in this Episode? We are sitting down with David Lindell, Executive Pastor at James River Church, to discuss Christians and Social Media. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:06 Hey, friends, thanks for hanging out on this Church Tips Podcast, and I am here today with my good friend, David Lindell, who’s the Executive ministry…

Delayed Destiny – Interview with Jeffery Portmann

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips Podcast, Jonathan sits down with Jeffery Portmann, director of CMN and author, to discuss his new book titled: Delayed Destiny.  Read the Transcript Jonathan Hardy 0:05 All right, friends, hey, I want to welcome you to the Church Tips Podcast. I am here…

Chase Replogle – The 5 Masculine Instincts

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips podcast, pastor and author Chase Replogle is unpacking his new book, The 5 Masculine Instincts. Read the Transcript Jonathan Hardy 0:05 Hey, I want to welcome you today. Jonathan Hardy here with Chase Replogle. My friend Chase is the lead pastor of Bent Oak…

How to Equip & Develop the Worship Team – Jeff Deyo

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips Podcast, Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) and Dick Hardy talk about equipping and developing the worship team.  Show Notes: Be notified when the Worship Leadership Track by Jeff Deyo is live! http://leaders.church/worship PDF’s: The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and Cultural…

Worship Team Expectations – Jeff Deyo

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips Podcast, Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) and Dick Hardy discuss ways to keep the congregation involved and engaged in worship.  Show Notes: The Worship Leadership Track by Jeff Deyo is LIVE! http://leaders.church/worship PDF’s: The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and Cultural…

How Do We Increase Engagement of the Congregation? – Jeff Deyo

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips Podcast, Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) and Dick Hardy discuss ways to keep the congregation involved and engaged in worship.  Show Notes: The Worship Leadership Track by Jeff Deyo is LIVE! http://leaders.church/worship PDF’s: The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and Cultural…

What Is Worship? – Jeff Deyo

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips Podcast, Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) and Dick Hardy begin the conversation on living a lifestyle of Worship.  Show Notes: Be notified when the Worship Leadership Track by Jeff Deyo is live! http://leaders.church/worship PDF’s: The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and…

4 Principles to Engage Your Congregation in Worship

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips Podcast, Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) gives you 4 keys to engage your congregation in worship.  Show Notes: Be notified when the Worship Leadership Track by Jeff Deyo is live! http://leaders.church/worship PDF’s: The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and Cultural Worship…

Responding to Worship Criticism, Part 2

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips Podcast, Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) continues the discussion about dealing with worship criticism. Show Notes: Be notified when the Worship Leadership Track by Jeff Deyo is live! http://leaders.church/worship PDF’s: The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and Cultural Worship Gaps The Worship…

Responding to Worship Criticism, Part 1

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips Podcast, Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) talks about dealing with worship criticism. Show Notes: Be notified when the Worship Leadership Track by Jeff Deyo is live! http://leaders.church/worship PDF’s: The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and Cultural Worship Gaps The Worship Pastors Guide…

The Nitty Gritty of the Worship Pastor’s Life, Part 2

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips Podcast, Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) continues the conversation on the nitty gritty life of a worship pastor Show Notes: Be notified when the Worship Leadership Track by Jeff Deyo is live! http://leaders.church/worship PDF’s: The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and Cultural…

The Nitty Gritty of the Worship Pastor’s Life, Part 1

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips Podcast, Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) gives us insight into the nitty gritty life of a worship pastor. Show Notes: Be notified when the Worship Leadership Track by Jeff Deyo is live! http://leaders.church/worship PDF’s: The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and Cultural…

Your Guide to Seamless Worship Transitions

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips podcast, Dick Hardy and Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) as they approach and tackle the often-awkward transitions between worship songs. Show Notes: PDF’s: The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and Cultural Worship Gaps The Worship Pastors Guide to Honoring The Lead Pastor…

How to Work in Unison with the Worship Production Team

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips podcast, Dick Hardy and Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) discuss maintaining unity between the worship team and live production team. Show Notes: PDF’s: The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and Cultural Worship Gaps The Worship Pastors Guide to Honoring The Lead Pastor…

How To Keep Worship Teams Engaged During Rehearsal

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips podcast, Dick Hardy and Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) talk about how to maintain focus during worship practice. Show Notes: PDF’s: The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and Cultural Worship Gaps The Worship Pastors Guide to Honoring The Lead Pastor —– Want…

Navigate Tough Worship Conversations

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips podcast, Dick Hardy and Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) talk about how to have tough conversations with worship team members when that becomes necessary. Show Notes: Worship Team Effectiveness Blog PDF’s: The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and Cultural Worship Gaps Honoring…

Celebrate your Worship Team

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips podcast, Dick Hardy and Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) discuss ways to show appreciation for the worship team. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:06 Hey friends, great to have you here in the church tips podcast. I am so excited to be…

108 – Keys to Getting Your Book in People’s Hands

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips podcast, Jonathan Hardy, author of Arrow Striker, is sharing tips that you can apply in order to get the book you write into people’s hands. Read the Transcript Jonathan Hardy 0:00 When you write a book, the book doesn’t just jump off the shelves,…

107 – Publishing on a Budget

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips podcast, Jonathan Hardy, author of Arrow Striker, is sharing info on how to publish your book on a budget, as well as the pros and cons of traditional and self-publishing. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:00 Sure, you’ve got all the money in the…

106 – Busy Pastor’s Guide to Writing

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips podcast, Jonathan Hardy, author of Arrow Striker, is sharing more details about how to make time to write your own book with the messages God has birthed inside you. Read the Transcript Jonathan Hardy 0:00 Do you have a book idea in you but…

105 – Arrow Striker is LIVE for You!

What’s in this Episode? In this episode of the Church Tips podcast, author Jonathan Hardy is sharing more details about his new book, Arrow Striker. He’s also giving info on bulk discounts, other resources coming soon, and a giveaway for today ONLY! Read the Transcript Jonathan Hardy 0:00 Hey Arrow Striker is officially live! Today’s…

104 – Pastor, Got a Book Idea in You?

What’s in this Episode? Jonathan Hardy, first-time author and co-host of the Church Tips podcast, shares tips based on his fresh experience writing, Arrow Striker, which is set to release on October 4, 2022. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:00 Pastor, if you’ve got a book inside you, this is the episode for you. You…

098 – Connections Track Last Day of Sale

What’s in this Episode? In this episode, we are talking about the new Church University Connections Track, and what it can do for your church. *NOTE: THIS SALE HAS ENDED. TO PURCHASE THE CONNECTIONS TRACK, PLEASE VISIT THIS LINK. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:05 Hey Friends great to be with you here on this…

097 – Connections Track Live

What’s in this Episode? Today, we are announcing the launch of our brand new track inside Church University called the Connections Track. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:05 Hey friends, it’s great to be with you here on this Church Tips Podcast today. I’m Dick Hardy, your co-presenter and today we’re hanging with my good…

096 – Connections Track Coming Next Week

What’s in this Episode? People coming in the front door and going right back out the back door. That’s the pits. They come one week, don’t come the next. How do we fix that? Well, in today’s church Tips Podcast, we’re going to tell you exactly how. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:00 People coming…

095 – How to Celebrate the Day after Easter

What’s in this Episode? The Monday after Easter is the greatest day in the life of the pastor. They are so excited. In today’s episode, we’re going to talk to you about how to channel that excitement and enthusiasm into your guests so that they get to carry over that experience from yesterday into the…

094 – How to Capture Guest Contact Info

What’s in this Episode? You ever wonder how some churches are able to actually get guest contact information? I mean, name, phone number, email? Well, we sure have. And in today’s church tips podcast, we’re going to talk to you specifically on how you go about getting that information. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:00…

Refuel Yourself As a Pastor (BONUS EPISODE)

What’s in this Episode? In this bonus episode of the Church Tips Podcast, we are unpacking the importance of refueling yourself as a pastor. PLUS you can find out how to take advantage of a HUGE Leaders.Church opportunity. Read the Transcript Jonathan Hardy 0:00 Hey, Jonathan Hardy here with leaders.church. I want to just take…

3 Budget Cut Ideas for Churches (BONUS EPISODE)

What’s in this Episode? In this bonus episode of the Church Tips Podcast, Dick is unpacking 3 key strategies to cut the church budget and maximize effectiveness. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:00 Hey friend, Dick hardy here, with Leaders.Church, it’s great to spend a few minutes here with you on a very important subject…

093 – Specific Action that Helps Grow Your Church

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever wondered if there’s any leadership actions that pastors of growing churches take that are kind of a common thread among pastors? Well, in reality, there are certain actions pastors of growing churches take. And in this episode, we’re gonna dive into some of those specific actions that are…

092 – Leadership Development

What’s in this Episode? Everybody’s got some level of leadership traits. You do. I Do. Have you ever wondered how you could develop those traits even better than they are now? I have. So, in today’s Church Tips podcast, we’re going to talk about exactly that: Church Leadership Development. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:20…

091 – Leading in the Moment

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever had a situation in ministry where, after having gone through it, you look back and said, ‘man, if I would have just taken care of this a while back, I would have been in a way better position”? In reality, there are often moments in time where we…

090 – Elevating Evangelism

What’s in this Episode? Hey, we don’t do that evangelism thing around here. I mean, that’s kind of old school. Nobody says that. But the reality is the actions of a boatload of churches scream that. So, how does a pastor actually elevate evangelism in the minds of their people? Well, in today’s Church Tips…

089 – Top 3 Areas of Ministry Improvement

What’s in this Episode? Everything at church is important, right? Everything merits improvement, right? But if I had to narrow it down to the top three areas where I could improve ministry, what would those three areas be? Well, in today’s Church Tips Podcast, we’re going to talk about exactly that. Read the Transcript Jonathan…

088 – How a Pastor Addresses Social Culture Issues

What’s in this Episode? William Wilberforce, Abraham Lincoln and Rosa Parks. Three people who entered the culture wars of their era and won. Looking through the lens of history, it can look clean and easy. But when you’re in the heat of the battle, when the culture war is swirling around you, it is not…

087 – Dealing with Ethical Violations

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever faced a situation in the church where there was an ethical violation of some sort, and you had to deal with the situation and bring resolve to it? Whether it’s a board member, staff member, or key volunteer leader, the reality is, there are times where this may…

086 – Dick’s One Thing to Grow the Church

What’s in this Episode? You know, I’ve been listening to these church tips podcast for a while now. And I really love the content. So practical, but at the end of the day, what is the one thing that Dick Hardy would say I need to do to help grow this church? Well, stay tuned.…

085 – Position the Church for Growth

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever wondered if you are doing the right things to position the church for growth? Well, there’s a lot of things you can do, but there’s certain things that are the best things to do. In today’s episode, we’re going to share with you the number one tip to…

084 – Church Boards

What’s in this Episode? It’s a great idea and it’s really going to help move the church forward like never before! You’re going to see growth as a result of doing this very thing! But now, board member Bob comes up and says, “we’ve never done it that way before.” What are you going to…

083 – 5 Tips to Recruiting Kids Workers

What’s in this Episode? Do you find that it always feels like you have a need for more kids workers? It’s like you can never get all the slots filled for each weekend for the Wednesday night services or for whatever events you’re putting on. Well, it doesn’t have to be that way. In today’s…

082 – Parenting & Ministry

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever found yourself chasing around in ministry and you’re just busy, busy, busy? Meetings, meetings and more meetings and all the stuff that’s going on with ministry. And then you have a spouse who’s wanting you to be at home while you’ve got young kids that you need to…

081 – Balance as a Pastor

What’s in this Episode? Okay, the kids and the fam are all loaded up in the van ready to go for the 50 mile trek down the road for the long awaited vacation. I mean, everybody’s ready. And then the phone call comes in, that a longtime member of the church has just passed away,…

080 – Church Governance

What’s in this Episode? Church governance. Who needs it? I mean, I’m called of God to lead this church, I’ll just do it and let the chips fall where they may. Well, that might not work out real well for you. The governance of the church is meant to help you, not bind you. In…

079 – Landing the Plane – Sermon Close

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever struggled to land the plane when you’re preaching a sermon? You’ve got great content, you’ve worked so hard to put it all together, and as you’re delivering it comes time for the ending when you’re supposed to give the call to action for people to be able to…

078 – Sermon Body

What’s in this Episode? Okay, I know exactly where I’m going to start this sermon. And frankly, I think I’ve got a great ending. But building the body of the message, man, I’ve got to get the good content to make this message, the best it can possibly be. I mean, where in the world…

077 – Sermon Intros

What’s in this Episode? Every week you start with a blank page. You’ve got to figure out, what’s the hook? What’s the illustration? What’s the thing that’s going to get people on the same page as you prepare for the Word of God to be delivered to people. So as you’re putting that together, and…

076 – Dick’s All Time Favorite Sermons

What’s in this Episode? Wow, that was a great sermon pastor. I really can’t remember what it was exactly all about. But it was great. You’ve heard that before. Maybe you’ve said it before. Well, today’s episode of church tips, I want to talk to you about my three all time favorite, most memorable sermons.…

075 – How To Know if Small Groups Are Making Disciples

What’s in this Episode? Are the small groups in your church really helping make disciples? Are people growing in their faith? Or are the small groups more just connecting points for people? That’s the question so many churches are asking. How to determine if people are growing in their walk with God is a critical…

074 – You Shouldn’t Strive for a Culture of Excellence

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever heard a pastor tell you that their church set out to have a culture of excellence? In this episode, we’re going to unpack why you should not strive to create a culture of excellence for your church. Read the Transcript Transcript Coming Soon… Subscribe & Follow: Subscribe on…

073 – What Data to Measure in Ministry

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever heard the saying “numbers are everything?” Well, the fact is, that is very true. It doesn’t matter whether it’s sports, business, politics, whatever it is, people are measuring stuff all the time. And the same is true for the church. So in today’s episode, we’re going to talk…

072 – How to Fire a Church Volunteer

What’s in this Episode? You worked and worked and worked to get this volunteer to serve in ministry, and now they’re not cutting it. What in the world are you going to do? Can you fire a volunteer? Well, in this episode, we’re going to talk about exactly that. Understanding how to fire a church…

071 – Plan Your Experience

What’s in this Episode? Do you ever wonder what people outside the church think of you inside the church? I mean, they’re thinking about coming to church, but they don’t know what that experience is going to be. I’m telling you, in this episode, we’re going to talk about the very things you need to…

070 – How CMU Will Help You Reach More People

What’s in this Episode? Were you called by the Lord to lead a just a quiet little life with a few folks that come to church from time to time? Or were you called to lead a thriving, vibrant community of believers that does outreach and touches your community in ways that no one has…

069 – 3 Steps to Evaluate the Merits of a New Ministry in the Church

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever wondered if you should start a new ministry at the church? Maybe you’ve had someone come up to you with an idea that they thought would be a great idea for the church. Maybe you’ve got some ideas of things you could do at the church. Well, how…

068 – How to Know When to Hire a Church Employee

What’s in this Episode? You ever wonder why it is that the church grows faster than you have money to staff it? I mean, you’d think the Lord would kind of flip that and make it easier to make the decision or when to hire. Well, today’s episode of Church Tips podcast, we’re going talk…

067 – 5 Ways to Identify More Church Volunteers

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever looked around the church on a Sunday morning, just seeing all the same people, wondering where are you going to find some new volunteers to help you do the ministry that you want to do? Well, in today’s episode, we’re going to help you to identify five ways…

066 – Determining Whether Vision is You or From God

What’s in this Episode? I think I heard from God… Or was that just the bad pizza from last night? How do I really know if it’s vision from God or if my own thoughts are getting in the way? Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to talk about in this episode of the Church…

065 – Should Churches Allow Staff to Have Side Hustles

What’s in this Episode? What do you do if you have a staff person at the church who wants to work a side hustle? Should you allow them to do it? Are they not allowed to do it? They need to make a little extra money. The church can’t afford to give them the resources…

064 – Clean Exterior of the Church Building

What’s in this Episode? Who cares what the church building looks like? The church is the people anyway. And if you’re focused in on the building, you’re focused in on material things.Well, if that’s the way you’re thinking. A clean exterior is crucial and this episode of the Church Tips Podcast is going to push…

063 – Digital Content vs Digital Community and Participation vs Spectators

What’s in this Episode? You know, even during COVID, there are churches that are thriving, there are churches that are flat, and there are churches slipping. All of us want to be a church that’s thriving. So where does church digital content come into play? What are some things that are happening in churches that…

062 – The 12-Month Marketing Plan

What’s in this Episode? Hey, have you ever found yourself at a point where you say man, we need to promote this event coming up? Oh my goodness, we got something going on this fall, January’s coming,. We gotta promote! You know, you find yourself just spinning your wheels! Promote this, promote this. Wouldn’t it…

061 – Where to Spend Your Church Marketing Dollars

What’s in this Episode? You look around at all these other churches in your community, and they’re everywhere. Every time you turn around, you see them. And then there’s your church, nowhere to be found. Where do these people get all this money to do this? And if I did have some money, where’s the…

060 – How to Communicate Budget Cuts to Staff

What’s in this Episode? Budget cuts. Oh man, I just hate to even deal with those. But during this era of COVID, it seems like that’s all we do. Now, here’s the deal, it’s one thing to do those budget cuts. It’s something entirely different to communicate those cuts to the good staff and volunteers…

059 – How To Avoid Being a Defensive Leader

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever worked for someone that was very defensive? I mean, you want to tell that person to get a life, relax, come on, ease up. But time and time again, they get defensive and it’s frustrating. Well, today on the Church Tips podcast, we’re going to talk about exactly…

058 – Why Have Prayer Meetings

What’s in this Episode? There’s all kinds of stereotypes about prayer meetings. I mean, some people think they’re long, they’re boring, they’re too sleepy. And then there’s other people who think that they’re wild and they’re out of control. Well, is it possible that there could be another way? And why should we even have…

057 – What Qualifies a Pastor To Be a Pastor

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever questioned your call to ministry? I mean, you wonder, are you really doing what you’re supposed to be doing? Or maybe you’re not in full time ministry yet and you’re asking, am I really qualified to be a pastor? Well, in this episode, we’re going to talk about…

056 – Paying Stipends to Key People

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever said to yourself, “if we just had a little more money, we could hire someone full time?” Well, the reality is churches can’t always do that, but they can compensate people in different ways. In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about how a church can stipend some…

055 – That One Single Powerful Force that Holds You Back

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever had a moment when you thought to yourself, “yeah, that really was a pretty good sermon I just did.”? if we’re not careful, this can be a dangerous place to be. In fact, it’s arguably the greatest single force that holds people back in ministry. Well, in today’s…

054 – How to Lead on Full (and not Empty)

What’s in this Episode? If you feel like the demands of your church have you running non stop, then it’s time to fill up. You see, you can’t effectively lead the ministry when you’re running on an empty gas tank. Instead, you need lead on full, and not empty, so that you can continue to…

053 – 2 Ways To Do More and Better Ministry without More of Your Time

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to have 30 hours in a day? I mean, just think of what you could do ministry wise. Well, those hours don’t exist, but a way to do more and better ministry in the real 24 hours does exist. And we’re going to…

052 – The Key to Avoid Ministry Burnout

What’s in this Episode? 71% of pastors report being extremely stressed or highly stressed, and 90% work 55 to 75 hours per week feeling fatigued and worn out every single week. So how do you get off the treadmill and get some of your energy and time back? Well stay tuned because in this episode,…

051 – How Your Ministry is a Reflection of You

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever found yourself thinking that you’d never do or say something that your parents did, only to find yourself doing that exact thing? Very often, people are a mirror of their parents. The same is true in the church. In today’s episode, we’re going to take a look at…

050 – The #1 Reason Why You Need to Develop Leaders ASAP

What’s in this Episode? In the church world, we often hear about the need to develop leaders, but most of the time, the reasons and methods people share for why this is so important actually miss the mark. That’s why in today’s episode, we’re going to break down the number one reason why you need…

049 – Major Changes to Leaders.Church and Why You Should Join Now

What’s in this Episode? Change is a part of life. Sometimes we like it. Sometimes we don’t. But today is a day of great news because some things are changing here and leaders.church. So in today’s episode, we’re going to talk with you about these new exciting changes at leaders.church, and why you’ll want to…

048 – Traits of Growing Churches

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever wondered why it is that some churches seemed to grow all the time and others don’t? Well, in today’s episode, we’re going to look at specific traits of growing churches. And when a church has these traits in place, it positions them for growth and greater influence. Read…

047 – Cultures of Growing Churches

What’s in this Episode? What’s the magic formula? I mean, I’ve seen it happen where some churches have it. Others don’t have it. What is it? Why is a pastor successful in one church and one city, moves to another one, and bombs completely? Well, we’re going to talk about cultures of growing churches in…

046 – 3 Steps to Becoming a Better Pastor

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever felt stuck as a pastor? Just sort of going through life and not really able to figure out what to do to move the ministry forward? You try all kinds of things, but nothing seems to work. Well in today’s episode, we’re going to share three steps to…

045 – 4 Reasons Why Taking Inventory of Yourself Moves the Church Forward

What’s in this Episode? So often, as pastors, it’s go go go all the time. I mean, we moved from sermon prep, to preaching, to counseling appointment, to conflict management, not to mention all the other things that you do on a weekly basis. Ministry keeps on moving. But are you stopping long enough to…

044 – How to Communicate Vision to Millennials and Gen Z

What’s in this Episode? Wouldn’t you love it if everyone got your vision the way you get it? Now you have these millennials and Gen Z’s coming along. How in the world do you communicate vision to them? Well, in this episode of Church Tips, we’re going to talk about exactly that. Here, we are…

043 – How to Help Millennials and Gen Z Champion Change

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever looked at the energy that Millennials and Gen Z have at your church? Do you wish you could channel that energy into the change that you know needs to happen? Well, today we’re going to talk about exactly that, how to help millennials and gen z champion change.…

042 – How to Get Millennials and Gen Z to Stay Committed

What’s in this Episode? Commitment. Wouldn’t you love it if everyone in the church who said they would do something would actually do it? And then you talk about Millennials and Gen Z… I mean, for goodness sakes, how do you get them to stay committed? We’re going to talk about how to get Millennials…

041 – Where Does a Pastor Go for Personal Help

What’s in this Episode? I’m in ministry and where in the world do I turn to for help? I mean, the risk of talking to someone about something deeply personal to me, and maybe even a failing of mine, is too risky. So maybe I’ll just wing this on my own. Let me tell you,…

40 – In the Midst of Covid-19, What to Do When Church Attendance Slips

What’s in this Episode? COVID-19 happened and church attendance began to slip. Now what do we do? Here we are, months later, and it’s still an issue. Well, in today’s episode, we’re going to talk about what to do when church attendance has slipped, how to respond, and ways you can move forward, despite the…

038 – How a Pastor Can Address Conflict with a Church Member

What’s in this Episode? The ministry would be great if you didn’t have to deal with crabby and uncooperative people, people who want to have conflict with you. Nobody loves conflict, but it’s real in ministry, and if you’ve ever had to deal with it, stay tuned to this episode, and we’re going to talk…

039 – 6 Best Practices for Pastors to Grow the Relationship with Their Spouse

What’s in this Episode? Do you remember where you were at when you first saw that guy or girl and you said yourself, “hmm, I could live the rest of my life with that one.” Well what happens after years of ministry and marriage? Well in this episode, we’re going to talk about how a…

037 – 4 Ways to Market the Church

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever wondered what it takes to get the word out about your church, especially in today’s age where things are changing so quickly? Things are moving online, and so it causes us to have to do more marketing. But then you wonder, well, is marketing the right thing for…

036 – How a Pastor Can Hear Vision from the Lord

What’s in this Episode? How come everybody’s got vision except me? I mean, the guy across town who pastors that church, he just oozes vision. The only thing that oozes out of me is sweat when I’m trying to walk around the block. You ever wondered how it is you really hear vision for the…

35 – How a Pastor’s Duties and Responsibilities Change as the Church Grows

What’s in this Episode? Here at Church Tips, we like order. A place for everything and everything in its place. And when we find something that works, we stick with it. But have you ever tried that in ministry? You see, as the ministry grows, things have to change. And that includes the roles and…

034 – 6-Step Process to Double the Number of Leaders in the Church

What’s in this Episode? Things would really be great around here if I could just get people off their duff and into the ministry. Have you ever said anything like that? I certainly have. The whole issue of developing volunteers and more importantly, developing leaders, is absolutely critical to the growth of your church. We’re…

033 – 4 Habits of Growing Churches

What’s in this Episode? Did you know there are certain things churches can do that will almost guarantee their ability to reach more people? The question is, what are those things? Well, stay tuned, because in this episode, we’re going to share four habits of growing churches that will help you reach more people and…

032 – Why Does the Church At-Large Resist Change

What’s in this Episode? The only thing permanent around here is change, and that’s a good thing when it’s happening to your church, but sometimes the institution of the church, really resists change. Why is that? We’re going to talk about that in this particular episode. Read the Transcript Dick Hardy 0:19 The other day,…

031 – 10 Leadership Training Topics (Part 2)

What’s in this Episode? One of the most important things for pastors to do is to train the key staff and volunteer leadership that they have at the church. And yet, where do you begin? What topics do you cover? Well, in this episode, we’re going to continue our discussion of the 10 church leadership…

030 – 10 Leadership Training Topics (Part 1)

What’s in this Episode? Man, I’ve got some great leaders in this church. In fact, pastors would drool to have the leaders I have, but I gotta tell you, I feel the pressure to train them to be all they need to be. Where do I go for the topics to cover to really make…

029 – How to Respond When You’re Betrayed in Ministry (Part 2)

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever felt betrayed by someone in ministry? You were partnering together to accomplish the ministry God had given you and then all of a sudden, you’re betrayed. Maybe they said something negatively to you, or maybe they spoke behind your back, or maybe they did something else and all…

028 – How to Respond When You’re Betrayed in Ministry (Part 1)

What’s in this Episode? You stood up with them in their wedding. They stood up with you. You stood with them when their integrity was in question. You were accountability partners. You would get your life for this ministry friend that you partnered with for years, and now they turned their back. They don’t return…

027 – The First Ways to Cut the Church Budget

What’s in this Episode? There comes a time in the life of almost every church where they need to trim back on the church budget. Maybe things pop up, maybe circumstances change, maybe giving decreases, and as a result, they need to cut the church budget. But the question is, what do you cut? Well,…

026 – 6 Ways to Pay for Expensive Church Building Maintenance Items

What’s in this Episode? Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me. We’ve got to replace the roof this year? And that crumbling parking lot? And oh, by the way the HVAC system is going out. Why do I have to deal with these as a pastor? I’m supposed to be the visionary leader who can…

025 – 6 Characteristics of Church Board Members

What’s in this Episode? Just imagine what it would be like to have visionary, forward-thinking, smart, and savvy church board members sitting alone in the church board table with you, coming alongside you to help support and advance the mission that God has for the church. Well, you’ve come to the right spot today, because…

024 – How to Develop a Philosophy of Ministry

What’s in this Episode? What do you think of when you think of philosophers? I mean, you got a college professor, maybe a beard, the bow tie, the wild, crazy hair? Is that you as a pastor? Probably not, but you know, the philosophy of ministry is absolutely critical and your ability to develop it…

023 – How to Turn a Change-Resistant Church

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever felt like you wanted to make changes in the church and yet the entire church or a large portion of the church was resistant to that change? Well, if so, you’re in a good place today, because in this episode, we’re going to talk about six ways you…

022 – Why Corporate Prayer Is a Critical Church Growth Principle

What’s in this Episode? You know, you might hear a statement from the old timers. Something like, “hey, I gotta head out to the prayer meeting.” Prayer meetings, kind of old school, right? The reality is prayer meetings, times of corporate prayer, are absolutely critical to the church. And you might ask, “well, how can…

021 – 4 Ways to Develop Leaders at Your Church

What’s in this Episode? God has more he wants to accomplish through your church. There’s more people in your community and surrounding areas that he wants you to reach. But in order to reach them, you need to be prepared. And to be prepared, you need to have the right leaders in place. And so…

020 – How to Pay the Pastor Well

What’s in this Episode? Pastors are notorious for not wanting to talk about how much money they make. And if I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it 100 times: “I’m not in it for the money.” And we’re glad they’re not in it for the money. But the reality is, churches need to pay attention…

019 – 7 Essential Purposes of a Church Board (Part 2)

What’s in this Episode? Is having a church board really all that important? I mean, sometimes it seems like they just get in the way of making ministry happen. You know, if you’ve been wondering what the role and responsibility of a church board really is, you’re in luck, because today we’re going to continue…

018 – 7 Essential Purposes of a Church Board (Part 1)

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever wondered what the concept of deacons, elders and pastors is supposed to be and what it’s supposed to look like in the 21st century? There are many different types of ways to do governance. And when it comes to the idea of a church board, some wonder, is…

017 – How to Train Hospitality Volunteers

What’s in this Episode? Is it really that hard to welcome people? I mean, you wouldn’t think it’d be that hard to open a door and say hi to someone and give them a nice handshake, but for whatever reason, people mess this up all the time, giving a bunch of dead fish handshakes to…

016 – 8 Steps to Recruit First Impressions Hospitality Volunteers (Part 2)

What’s in this Episode? What if you get to church on a Sunday and you have greeters calling in sick or they forget to tell you that they’re down at the lake or they literally just don’t show up. Do you have ample hospitality volunteers to fill the gaps? This is the challenge many churches…

015 – 8 Steps to Recruit First Impressions Hospitality Volunteers (Part 1)

What’s in this Episode? Studies show visitors at a church will make their decision about the church well before the sermon is ever started. This means your first impressions and hospitality team will make or break the experience for people at your church. And if you don’t have enough people on the team to welcome…

014 – 9 Tips to Increase Volunteer Retention

What’s in this Episode? One of the best indicators of a strong healthy ministry is the longevity of your volunteers. Like it or not, most people who volunteer in ministry will do so for a while, but then eventually, they’ll take a break. But when you know how to keep them serving for a longer…

013 – The 8-Step Process to Recruit Church Volunteers (Part 2)

What’s in this Episode? It’s not very fun to gain a new volunteer only to lose an existing volunteer, but that’s exactly what happens in ministry often. Two steps forward, one step backward and sometimes one step forward and two steps backward. The only way for churches to get off the hamster wheel is to…

012 – The 8-Step Process to Recruit Church Volunteers (Part 1)

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever had a high caliber person tell you they’d serve in some way, and then the next thing you know, they quit on you. It’s unbelievably frustrating when that happens. And now you’re back to the drawing board trying to find someone to help you fill that role. Well,…

011 – 14 Church Leadership Training Idea (Part 3)

What’s in this Episode? If the greatest athletes of all time still need training, then how much more do the key leaders in your church need training? The fact is, they do need training, but if you’re going to do it right, then you need to put together training events that are helpful, effective, and…

010 – 14 Church Leadership Training Ideas (Part 2)

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever gone to a meeting where someone allegedly said they would train you to be part of some big thing, only to waste your time with stuff they could have easily communicated to you by email. The truth is, your time is worth something, and so is every volunteer’s…

009 – 14 Church Leadership Training Ideas (Part 1)

What’s in this Episode? Ever been asked to attend a meeting where someone was going to provide training and you just dreaded going to it? I mean, you’ve sat in enough of those meetings to know that they can be a major drag, you get nothing out of it, and you tell yourself, I’m never…

008 – 4 Practical Church Leadership Principles for Young Pastors

What’s in this Episode? With everything changing so rapidly in society today, it’s easy to think that the way we lead must also change quickly. And if you’re a younger pastor, you might even wonder what principles of the past still apply in church leadership today. Well, in this episode, we’re going to look at…

007 – How to Balance a Church Budget

What’s in this Episode? In any organization, the goal is to have more income than expenses, but what happens when the tithes drop and you have the same amount of expenses? How could the church make sure to balance the budget and not go into debt? Especially when it comes to smaller church contexts. Well,…

006 – 9 Steps to Helping People Buy into Change (Part 2)

What’s in this Episode? If you’ve wanted to make change in your church, but you fear the resistance of people, don’t worry, you could make the change. But you just need to know how to do it right. There are strategic simple things you could do to make changes that will help your church move…

005 – 9 Steps to Helping People Buy into Change (Part 1)

What’s in this Episode? There’s nothing worse than having vision to make some sort of change in the church, only to have it stopped because you can’t get some people on board. That’s why it’s so important to get buy in before you make the change. So in this episode, we’re going to help you…

004 – What to Do When People Turn on You

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever had somebody stab you in the back? You trusted them, you did life together, you considered them a friend, and then they turned on you. And what’s worse is, you never saw it coming. And you wonder what happened? In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about how…

003 – 7 Ways for a Pastor to Stay Mentally Fresh

What’s in this Episode? You’ve got to be on your game 24/7 365. There’s no rest for the wicked or the righteous. You push hard, study hard, pray hard and do everything else hard. All these people have giant expectations, viewing you as their super pastor. In their eyes, you’re taking this church to places…

002 – 6 Tips to Build Your Church Volunteer Core

What’s in this Episode? Do you feel like you always ask the same volunteers to do everything? Do you wish others would step up and get more involved? This is a constant challenge for churches everywhere. There’s always more ministry to be done and not enough people to do it. Well in today’s episode, we’re…

001 – 5 Reasons Change Is So Hard

What’s in this Episode? Have you ever wondered why making a change in the church is so hard? All it takes is one person like Herb or Mabel to completely stop your progress. In this episode, we’re going to help you know how to make changes in the church by understanding why change is so…

The Church Tips Podcast for Pastors Launches!

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: [DICK] Today, church ministry is more complicated than ever, and the church landscape is constantly changing. People’s priority for church is not the same as it used to be. And as a result, the way in which we do church continues to evolve. And then you throw in a global pandemic. I mean,…



Join us daily as we share practical tips and strategies you can use to get better, break barriers, and grow the church.


Subscribe