Most pastor search committees ask questions that reveal style, not substance. These ten unique questions go deeper, uncovering humility, emotional health, and spiritual chemistry. The right questions don’t just identify the right pastor—they help the church rediscover who it is.

People didn’t leave the church overnight—and they won’t return overnight either. Decades of misplaced priorities and surface-level fixes have created deep wounds that can only be healed through repentance, humility, and genuine discipleship. The path forward isn’t a rebrand; it’s rebuilding trust one step at a time.

Churches often mistake inactivity for discernment, but spiritual momentum comes through obedience, not strategy. When God says move, and we hesitate, we stop His work before it starts. Renewal rarely begins with a new idea; it begins with an obedient heart.

Discussing pay with a potential interim pastor can feel uncomfortable—but it doesn’t have to be. Clear expectations and fair compensation build trust from the very beginning. This guide and calculator will help your church approach those conversations with confidence, balance, and grace.

Most churches aren’t big—they’re normal. Stop apologizing for size. Lean into your strengths, love people well, and trust God with the growth.

Bill Belichick didn’t forget how to coach—the game changed. The same thing is happening in the church. Pastors who once led strong, stable teams now find themselves in a “transfer-portal world,” where people move faster, trust less, and expect more relational leadership. The gospel hasn’t changed, but the field has. You can’t coach tomorrow with yesterday’s playbook.

: Our culture chases likes and affirmation, but Jesus says the persecuted are blessed. Persecution is not about being combative or obnoxious—it’s about suffering for righteousness’ sake. When we endure rejection for following Him, it proves we belong to His kingdom.

Our culture thrives on outrage and winning arguments, but Jesus blesses the peacemakers. Peacemaking means laying down the need to “win” in order to reflect the heart of God, who made peace with us through Christ. True peace doesn’t ignore conflict—it brings healing, truth, and reconciliation.

Purity of heart isn’t about flawless perfection—it’s about devotion and wholeness. In a distracted and cynical age, Jesus calls us to undivided hearts: free from hypocrisy, surrendered to God, and fully present with the people around us. The promise is clear—those with pure hearts will see God.

In a world quick to cancel and slow to forgive, Jesus calls us to mercy. Mercy doesn’t excuse sin or enable abuse—it reflects the mercy we’ve received from Christ. Real mercy changes how we relate to God, ourselves, and others, offering compassion without abandoning justice.

Jesus doesn’t bless those who achieve righteousness but those who crave it. Righteousness is the Spirit’s work in us, which kills pride, removes shame, and reshapes how we relate to God, ourselves, and others. In a world hungry for likes, only God can truly satisfy.

In a world where outrage and dominance are celebrated, Jesus blesses the meek. Meekness is not weakness but strength under control. The meek inherit the earth not by conquest but by the sure promise of Christ, which reshapes how we relate to God, ourselves, and others.

Jesus blesses those who mourn sin and its effects. In a culture that filters pain and denies brokenness, we are called to grieve what sin destroys in us and around us. Mourning focuses us on the real problem—sin—and the real solution—Christ.

To be poor in spirit is to admit our emptiness before God. That humility flips the script—shaping how we see Him, ourselves, and others. Dependence on grace kills pride, frees us from comparison, and opens the door to God’s kingdom.

The Beatitudes are not soft sayings but Jesus’ radical blueprint for kingdom life. In an age of self-promotion, division, and distraction, they call us back to humility, mercy, and wholehearted devotion.

In a culture marked by outrage and polarization, the Beatitudes call us to meekness and mercy. Meekness admits I do not have everything 100% right, while mercy remembers you do not either. If we embraced these two traits, our nation would be calmer, kinder, and closer to the heart of Christ.

Lasting change in the church doesn’t happen by rushing. Pastors shepherd change well by listening, communicating, building trust, and walking with their people step by step.

Pastors often feel pressure to move fast and prove themselves, but rushing change usually damages trust. Deliberate, slow leadership isn’t wasted time—it builds relationships and makes vision sustainable.

Preaching Jesus is essential—but we are called to do more than just preach. Many churches with sound doctrine are still declining because they lack healthy culture, vision, and strategy. Sound doctrine and sound strategies are not enemies; they work together. If we are serious about the gospel, we must also be serious about how we live it out as a church.

Most churches are “nose blind” to the way their facilities smell and look. First impressions matter, so invite a trusted outsider to give honest feedback about odors, cobwebs, clutter, and neglected spaces. Stewardship means creating a space that feels cared for and welcoming.