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 Renewal 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 10 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Incarnate Part 10 Discussion Guide
Summary
The sermon focuses on the importance of Scripture in Jesus’ life and ministry, particularly examining how Jesus used the Bible to defeat temptation in Luke 4. The pastor discusses the historical significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery in 1947, which provided evidence of the Bible’s accuracy and preservation over 2,000 years. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus relied on Scripture to combat the enemy’s three main temptation strategies: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life.
Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather to study Your Word, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to understand how Jesus used Scripture to overcome temptation. Help us to be receptive to Your teaching and guide us in applying these truths to our own lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ice Breaker
What was your favorite book as a child and why?
Key Verses
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Luke 4:1-13
1 John 2:15-16
Genesis 3:1-6
Questions
How does Jesus’ use of Scripture during temptation demonstrate its importance in our daily lives?
What are some ways the enemy tries to prevent believers from reading the Bible?
How do you see the three temptation strategies (lust of flesh, eyes, and pride of life) manifesting in today’s world?
Why do you think Jesus, being the Son of God, still relied on Scripture to combat temptation?
What role does love play in overcoming temptation according to the sermon?
How can we better prepare ourselves to face temptation using God’s Word?
What is your ‘go-to’ Scripture verse and why is it meaningful to you?
How has regular Bible reading impacted your relationship with Jesus?
Life Application
This week, choose and memorize one ‘go-to’ Scripture verse that you can use when facing temptation. Make a commitment to read your Bible daily, even if it’s just for a few minutes, and notice how it affects your relationship with God.
Key Takeaways
Jesus loved and relied on Scripture throughout His ministry
The enemy uses three main strategies for temptation: lust of flesh, lust of eyes, and pride of life
The Dead Sea Scrolls provide historical evidence of the Bible’s preservation and accuracy
Regular Bible reading is essential for spiritual growth and overcoming temptation
Ending Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us the power of Your Word in overcoming temptation. Help us to follow Your example by treasuring Scripture and using it in our daily lives. Give us the discipline to read Your Word regularly and the wisdom to apply it when facing temptation. In Your 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 Incarnate Part 9 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Incarnate Part 9 Discussion Guide
Summary
This sermon focuses on the story of Lazarus from John 11, exploring Jesus’ power over death and His transformative impact on those who believe in Him. Jesus isn’t afraid of our brokenness and wants to free us from our old ways of living, comparing our past life to ‘grave clothes’ that need to be removed. The message highlights that when we come to know Jesus, resurrection power begins working in our lives now, not just in the future.
Intro Prayer
Lord, as we gather to discuss Your Word, open our hearts to understand the power of resurrection life available to us now. Help us to be honest about the ‘stones’ in our lives that need to be rolled away, and give us the courage to help one another remove the ‘grave clothes’ that bind us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ice Breaker
What’s the most dramatic transformation you’ve ever witnessed in someone’s life?
Key Verses
John 11:25-26
John 11:35
John 11:43-44
Questions
What do you think was going through Martha and Mary’s minds during the four days they waited for Jesus?
Why do you think Jesus wept even though He knew He was about to raise Lazarus?
What are some ‘stones’ people use to hide their brokenness from others?
How does the community of believers help remove each other’s ‘grave clothes’?
What’s the difference between Lazarus’s resurrection and Jesus’s resurrection?
How do you see resurrection power working in your life today?
What ‘grave clothes’ might you still be wearing that Jesus wants to remove?
How can we help others experience the freedom Jesus offers without feeling condemned?
Life Application
This week, identify one area of your life where you’re still living as if bound by ‘grave clothes’ – old patterns, guilt, shame, or regret. Share this with a trusted believer and ask them to pray with you and help you walk in the freedom Christ has already given you.
Key Takeaways
Jesus isn’t afraid of what’s behind our stones – our mess and brokenness
We need community to help remove our ‘grave clothes’
Resurrection power is available to believers both now and forever
In Christ, we are no longer bound by our old way of living
When we come to Jesus, we become a fragrant offering instead of something that ‘stinketh’
Ending Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the resurrection power that’s available to us today through Jesus Christ. Help us to live fully in the freedom You’ve given us, removing the grave clothes of our past and walking in newness of life. Give us courage to help others experience this same freedom. 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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