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 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.
Kingdom Foreshadowed Part 8 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Foreshadowed Part 8 Discussion Guide
Summary
In this sermon, the pastor emphasizes the importance of loving God wholeheartedly and loving our neighbors as ourselves. He explains the significance of the Ten Commandments, referring to them as ‘ten words’ that guide us in our relationship with God and others. The sermon highlights the need for genuine relationship with God rather than mere rule-following, and underscores that Jesus is the ultimate representation of God’s truth and love.
Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for bringing us together today. As we delve into Your Word, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to receive the message You have for us. Help us to understand the depth of Your love and the importance of loving You and our neighbors. Guide our discussion and let Your Holy Spirit lead us in truth. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Ice Breaker
What is one fun activity you enjoyed doing as a child that you haven’t done in a long time?
Key Verses
- Matthew 22:36-40
- Exodus 20:3-4
- John 14:6
- Colossians 1:15-20
Questions
- What stood out to you the most from today’s sermon?
- How do you understand the difference between the first and second commandments?
- Why is it important to see Jesus as the visible representation of the invisible God?
- How can we avoid creating a ‘God of our imagination’ in our daily lives?
- What does it mean to take God’s name in vain, beyond using it as a curse word?
- How does understanding Jesus as ‘the way, the truth, and the life’ impact your faith?
- In what ways can we deepen our relationship with God rather than just following rules?
- How can we better love our neighbors as ourselves in practical ways this week?
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to spend intentional time in prayer and reading the Bible to deepen your relationship with God. Look for opportunities to show love to your neighbors in practical ways, whether through acts of kindness, words of encouragement, or simply being present for them.
Key Takeaways
- Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
- Love your neighbor as yourself.
- Jesus is the visible representation of the invisible God.
- Avoid creating a ‘God of your imagination’ and seek the true God revealed in Jesus.
- True relationship with God goes beyond rule-following; it requires genuine commitment and love.
Ending Prayer
Lord, we thank You for the time we’ve spent together discussing Your Word. Help us to take these lessons to heart and apply them in our daily lives. Strengthen our relationship with You and guide us in loving our neighbors as ourselves. May we always seek Your truth and live out Your commandments with genuine love and commitment. 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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