Church Encourager
Our hope at Church Encourager is to provide practical support to help pastors, churches and leaders have greater confidence, enthusiasm and strength in their lives and walk with God.
We are excited to announce that we are launching the Church Encourager Initiative to enhance leadership effectiveness, improve team dynamics, and reduce burnout among faith leaders. Use the button below to find out more about this exciting opportunity.
For Pastors and CHurch Leaders
Pastors and church leaders often experience high levels of stress and burnout, with limited access to personalized coaching and development tools. Many struggle with team conflicts, leadership challenges, and personal discouragement, leading to ineffective ministry and, in some cases, early resignation. We are launching the Church Encourager Initiative to enhance leadership effectiveness, improve team dynamics, and reduce burnout among faith leaders.
For Churches
Utilizing a process we call Virtual Church Spark we work with you through a series of steps to help pinpoint problems and offer solutions.
Books & Publications
Establishing a daily life of prayer and meditation on the Word of God are vital to the life and health of every believer. My devotional books help to incorporate proven Spiritual disciplines into your daily life.
Discipleship Training
Daily Psalt Intake
From the beginning, the church has used the Book fof Psalms (Psalter) as the center of its daily practice.
Discipleship Training
Daily Sage Intake
The Proverbs help to develop the way that we live our life “in Christ” in a fallen world on a broken planet.
Discipleship Training
Daily Strength Training
Have you prayed today? That is a question of four simple words that can help us to become a people of prayer.
Recent Church Encourager Podcast
Recent Church Encourager Posts
Kingdom Tension Part 5 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Tension Part 5 Discussion Guide
Summary
The sermon focuses on the importance of prayer in the church, both corporately and individually. The pastor emphasizes that prayer was the first recorded activity of the early church and remains fundamental to church life today. He shares personal experiences about how prayer led to divine encounters during a mission trip to Cuba in 1995, demonstrating how prayer helps align believers with God’s agenda rather than their own.
Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather to discuss the power and importance of prayer, we ask that You would open our hearts and minds to what You want to teach us. Help us to be honest about our prayer lives and receptive to Your guidance on how we can grow closer to You through prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ice Breaker
What’s the most memorable answer to prayer you’ve experienced in your life?
Key Verses
Acts 2:42
Acts 1:14
Acts 4:24-31
Philippians 4:6-7
Questions
Why do you think prayer was the first recorded activity of the early church?
What are some common barriers that prevent us from maintaining a consistent prayer life?
How do you typically respond to worry – with more worry or with prayer?
What’s the difference between praying to get God to do what we want versus aligning ourselves with His will?
How can we practically shift our worry time into prayer time?
What role does corporate prayer play in strengthening the church community?
How has prayer changed you personally over time?
What steps can you take this week to make prayer more central in your daily life?
Life Application
This week, whenever you catch yourself worrying, make a conscious effort to transform that worry into prayer. Start with a simple ‘Help’ prayer if needed, but work to redirect your mental energy from anxiety to conversation with God.
Key Takeaways
Prayer is foundational to church life and should be prioritized both corporately and individually
The enemy actively works to prevent us from praying because prayer aligns us with God’s will
Worry often steals the time we could be using for prayer
Prayer doesn’t change God, it changes us
Simple prayers like ‘Help’ can be effective in shifting from worry to trust
Ending Prayer
Lord God, thank You for the gift of prayer and the privilege of communicating with You. Help us to recognize when worry is stealing our peace and give us the strength to turn those moments into opportunities for prayer. Transform our anxious thoughts into conversations with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This series may be taken as a course offered by the Online Bible Institute. For more information check out the Keys Vineyard Ministries Courses page.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
Kingdom Tension Part 4 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Tension Part 4 Discussion Guide
Summary
Pastor Kevin delivered a sermon about the ‘secret sauce’ to relationships, drawing from Philippians 1:3-6. He outlined three key relational rhythms that can transform both easy and difficult relationships: being grateful for people, praying for them, and believing in them. The message emphasized how these intentional habits can revolutionize relationships in all areas of life – family, work, church, and community.
Intro Prayer
Lord, as we gather to discuss these important truths about relationships, open our hearts to receive Your wisdom. Help us to see others through Your eyes and give us the courage to apply these principles in our daily lives. Guide our discussion and help us grow closer to You and each other. Amen.
Ice Breaker
Who is someone in your life that you’re particularly grateful for right now, and why?
Key Verses
Philippians 1:3-6
Philippians 1:9-11
Questions
How does practicing gratitude change our perspective on relationships?
What makes it challenging to maintain gratitude in long-term relationships?
How has prayer changed your attitude toward someone who was difficult to love?
Which of the four prayer points (love, wise choices, integrity, Christ-likeness) resonates most with you and why?
How does hearing ‘I believe in you’ impact a person? Share a personal experience.
What practical steps can we take to show people we believe in them?
How can we maintain these three rhythms (gratitude, prayer, belief) consistently in our relationships?
Which of these three relational rhythms do you find most challenging to practice and why?
Life Application
This week, choose one person in your life and intentionally practice all three rhythms with them: express gratitude for them, pray for them using the four prayer points discussed, and find a way to communicate that you believe in them. Journal about how this impacts your relationship.
Key Takeaways
Gratitude transforms relationships and prevents taking others for granted
Praying for others changes our own hearts, even if it doesn’t change them
The four prayer points: growth in love, wise choices, integrity, and Christ-likeness
Expressing belief in others through the words ‘I believe in you’ can revolutionize relationships
God believes in us and continues His good work in our lives
Ending Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for believing in us and starting a good work in our lives. Help us to be people who consistently practice gratitude, prayer, and belief in our relationships. Give us the strength and wisdom to apply these rhythms daily, and may our relationships bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This series may be taken as a course offered by the Online Bible Institute. For more information check out the Keys Vineyard Ministries Courses page.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
Church Encourager
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