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 Posts
Kingdom Incarnate Part 13 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Incarnate Part 13 Discussion Guide
Summary
This sermon focuses on generosity and breaking free from what the pastor calls the ‘Mammon trap.’ The message emphasizes that generosity is not just about money, but a way of living that helps move people from ownership to stewardship. The pastor explains how credit card debt and poor financial management can keep people in bondage, while providing practical steps for achieving financial freedom through budgeting, saving, and giving.
Intro Prayer
Lord, as we gather to discuss generosity and stewardship, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to Your wisdom. Help us to see money and possessions through Your eyes, and guide our discussion to reveal the freedom that comes from living generously. Give us the courage to examine our own hearts and make changes where needed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ice Breaker
What’s the most memorable gift you’ve ever received and why was it meaningful to you?
Key Verses
Luke 12:29-32
Matthew 6:19-21
Proverbs 21:20
2 Corinthians 9:7
Questions
How do you think the ‘love of money’ differs from money itself?
What are some ways you’ve seen money become a master in people’s lives?
How does living beyond our means through credit cards affect our spiritual and emotional well-being?
What practical steps could you take to move from ownership to stewardship in your life?
How might developing a budget actually lead to more freedom rather than restriction?
What prevents people from being generous with their resources?
How does saving money relate to trusting God?
In what ways can generosity transform our character and relationship with God?
Life Application
This week, create a simple budget tracking your expenses and identify areas where you might be overspending. Then, prayerfully consider one way you can practice generosity, whether through giving money, time, or resources to someone in need.
Key Takeaways
Generosity is about moving from ownership to stewardship
Living beyond our means through credit creates bondage
A budget brings freedom by telling your money where to go
Saving is biblical and necessary for financial health
True generosity flows from understanding God’s generosity toward us
Ending Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your generous heart toward us. Help us to break free from any financial bondage and live in the freedom of wise stewardship. Give us the courage to make necessary changes in our financial habits and the wisdom to be generous as You have been generous with us. 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 Incarnate Part 12 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Incarnate Part 12 Discussion Guide
Summary
This sermon focuses on the Lord’s Prayer, examining it as a beautiful poem that Jesus wrote for his friends as a guide for prayer and daily living. The pastor explains how the prayer’s structure reflects the greatest commandment – to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. The first three petitions focus on God (your name, kingdom, will) while the latter three focus on human needs (give us, forgive us, lead us).
Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather to discuss your Word and the prayer that Jesus taught us, open our hearts and minds to understand its deeper meaning. Help us to see how we can apply these teachings to draw closer to you and better serve others. Guide our discussion and reveal what you want each person here to learn today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ice Breaker
What’s your earliest memory of learning or reciting the Lord’s Prayer?
Key Verses
Luke 11:1-4
Matthew 6:9-13
Matthew 22:36-40
Exodus 16:4
Questions
How does viewing the Lord’s Prayer as a personal poem from Jesus to his friends change your perspective of it?
Why do you think Jesus included both God-focused and human-focused petitions in the prayer?
What does it mean to you personally to call God ‘Father’ or ‘Abba’?
How do you understand the petition ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done’?
What role does daily trust in God play in your life when praying ‘give us this day our daily bread’?
How does the forgiveness we receive from God relate to our forgiveness of others?
What does it mean to you to ‘hallow’ God’s name in your daily life?
How can we use the Lord’s Prayer as a blueprint for our own prayer life?
Life Application
This week, commit to praying the Lord’s Prayer daily, but instead of rushing through it, pause at each petition to reflect on its meaning and how you can live it out in your daily life. Consider journaling about how this practice impacts your relationship with God and others.
Key Takeaways
The Lord’s Prayer is not just a prayer to memorize but a guide for how to pray and live
The prayer’s structure reflects the greatest commandment – love God and love your neighbor
God desires an intimate relationship with us as our Father
Prayer is important because God’s will is not automatically done – we participate through prayer
Daily trust in God is essential to the Christian life
Ending Prayer
Father God, thank you for giving us this beautiful prayer through your Son Jesus. Help us to understand it more deeply and live it out more fully. May we honor your name, seek your kingdom, trust in your provision, walk in forgiveness, and rely on your protection. Guide us as we apply these principles in our daily lives. 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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