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 Foreshadowed Part 10 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Foreshadowed Part 10 Discussion Guide
1 Sermon Summary
In today’s sermon, we delved into the concept of the Tabernacle as part of our ongoing series, “Kingdom Foreshadowed.” We explored the significance of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, a portable place of worship that God instructed the Israelites to build after their escape from Egypt. This Tabernacle served as the meeting place between God and His people, symbolizing the connection between heaven and earth. We traced the journey from creation, through the fall, to the establishment of the Tabernacle, and how it foreshadowed the coming of Jesus Christ.
We also examined how the Tabernacle points to Jesus, who “tabernacled” among us by taking on human flesh. Through Jesus, we have direct access to God’s presence, a privilege that was once limited to the high priest entering the Holy of Holies. This sermon emphasized the importance of understanding the entire biblical narrative as it points to Jesus, encouraging us to deepen our relationship with Him and recognize our mission to bring His glory into every corner of creation.
2 Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You with grateful hearts, thankful for the opportunity to gather and learn from Your Word. As we discuss today’s sermon, we ask for Your Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to receive the truths You want to impart to us. Help us to understand the significance of the Tabernacle and how it points to Jesus. May our discussion draw us closer to You and inspire us to live out Your mission in our daily lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
3 Ice Breaker
What is one place you’ve visited that made you feel a sense of awe or wonder?
4 Key Verses
- Exodus 40:34-38 – “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out. But if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.”
- John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
- Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
- John 1:1-3 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
5 Questions
- What stood out to you the most from today’s sermon about the Tabernacle?
- How does understanding the Tabernacle enhance your appreciation of Jesus’ role in our lives?
- Why do you think God chose to dwell among the Israelites in a portable Tabernacle?
- How does the concept of Jesus “tabernacling” among us change your perspective on His presence in your life?
- What parallels can you draw between the Tabernacle in the Old Testament and the presence of the Holy Spirit in believers today?
- How can we, as a group, better reflect the glory of God in our community?
- What are some practical ways you can “pitch your tent” and bring God’s presence into your daily life?
- How does the story of the Tabernacle and Jesus’ incarnation inspire you to engage more deeply with the Bible?
6 Life Application
This week, take time each day to intentionally invite God’s presence into your daily activities. Whether it’s through prayer, reading Scripture, or simply being mindful of His presence, make an effort to “tabernacle” with God in your everyday life. Share your experiences with the group next week.
7 Key Takeaways
- The Tabernacle as a Meeting Place: The Tabernacle was a portable place of worship where God’s presence dwelled among the Israelites. It symbolized the connection between heaven and earth and served as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ coming.
- Jesus as the Ultimate Tabernacle: Jesus “tabernacled” among us by taking on human flesh. Through Him, we have direct access to God’s presence, a privilege that was once limited to the high priest entering the Holy of Holies.
- Understanding the Biblical Narrative: The entire Bible points to Jesus. By understanding the story of the Tabernacle and its fulfillment in Christ, we gain a deeper appreciation of God’s rescue plan and our role in it.
- Living Out Our Mission: As believers, we are called to bring God’s glory into every corner of creation. This mission is energized by our worship and shaped by the story of Jesus as seen in the Bible.
- Daily Presence of God: Just as the Israelites followed the cloud and fire of God’s presence, we are called to invite and recognize God’s presence in our daily lives. This transforms our ordinary moments into opportunities for divine encounter.
8 Ending Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the rich insights we’ve gained from today’s discussion. As we go forth from this place, help us to carry Your presence with us in all that we do. May we be mindful of Your glory and seek to reflect it in our interactions and decisions. Empower us to live out our mission with passion and purpose, bringing Your light into every corner of our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. 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 Foreshadowed Part 9 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Foreshadowed Part 9 Discussion Guide
1 Sermon Summary
In this sermon, we explored the concept of the “Ten Words” or the Ten Commandments, emphasizing that they are not merely rules to follow but a love document given by God to guide His rescued and delivered people. The sermon highlighted the importance of loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. This love is not about following rules to earn salvation but about living a life transformed by the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to love well and live fully human lives as God intended.
The sermon also connected the Old Testament teachings with the New Testament, particularly focusing on Galatians 5, where Paul speaks about living by the Spirit and not gratifying the desires of the flesh. The freedom we have in Christ is not for self-indulgence but for serving one another humbly in love. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in us—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—which are relational and help us to love others well.
2 Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You with grateful hearts for the opportunity to gather and learn from Your Word. We ask that You open our hearts and minds to receive what You have for us today. Help us to be attentive to Your Spirit and to understand the depth of Your love for us. May we be transformed by Your Word and empowered by Your Spirit to love You fully and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Guide our discussion and let it be fruitful and edifying for everyone here. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
3 Ice Breaker
What is one thing you enjoy doing to relax or unwind after a busy day?
4 Key Verses
- Galatians 5:13-14 (NIV) – “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
- Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV) – “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
- Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV) – “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
- Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
- Matthew 7:12 (NIV) – “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
5 Questions
- How do you understand the concept of the “Ten Words” as a love document rather than a set of rules?
- In what ways can we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind in our daily lives?
- How does loving our neighbors as ourselves fulfill the entire law, according to Paul in Galatians 5?
- What does it mean to live by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh?
- How can we serve one another humbly in love within our community?
- What are some practical ways to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in our interactions with others?
- How can we better love people we disagree with, as mentioned in the sermon?
- What steps can we take to ensure we are yielding to the Holy Spirit in our daily lives?
6 Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to intentionally love someone you find difficult to love. Whether it’s a neighbor, a coworker, or a family member, ask the Holy Spirit to help you show kindness, patience, and love towards them. Reflect on how this act of love impacts your relationship and your own spiritual growth.
7 Key Takeaways
- The Ten Words as a Love Document
The Ten Commandments are not just rules but a love document given by God to guide His people. They are meant to show us how to live as rescued and delivered individuals, loving God fully and loving our neighbors as ourselves. - Living by the Spirit
True freedom in Christ is not about self-indulgence but about serving one another humbly in love. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live this way, producing fruit in us that helps us love others well. - Connection Between Old and New Testament
The teachings of the Old Testament, particularly the Ten Commandments, are deeply connected to the New Testament teachings of Jesus and Paul. Loving God and loving our neighbors are central themes that run throughout the Bible. - The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is given to us as a deposit, guaranteeing our inheritance and helping us to live fully human lives as God intended. He produces in us the fruit of the Spirit, which are relational and essential for loving others well. - Loving Those We Disagree With
One of the biggest challenges we face is loving people we disagree with. The sermon emphasized the importance of loving others regardless of differing opinions, as this is a key aspect of living out our faith and partnering with God to transform the world.
8 Ending Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the time we’ve spent together discussing Your Word. We ask that You help us to apply what we’ve learned in our daily lives. Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to love You fully and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Help us to serve one another humbly in love and to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in all our interactions. Guide us as we go forth from this place, and may our lives be a testament to Your love and grace. In Jesus’ name, we pray. 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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