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 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.
Kingdom Incarnate Part 11 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Incarnate Part 11 Discussion Guide
Summary
This sermon focuses on forgiveness and its importance in Christian life, using the story of the paralyzed man from Luke 5 and Mark 2. The pastor emphasizes how Jesus prioritized forgiving the man’s sins before healing his physical condition, demonstrating that spiritual healing is often more crucial than physical healing. The message explores how unforgiveness acts like a spiritual paralysis, preventing personal growth and affecting all aspects of life.
The sermon delves into what forgiveness is and isn’t, highlighting that while we’re not expected to forget wrongs done to us (only God can do that), we are called to release resentment and trust God to handle justice. The pastor also discusses the physical and mental health benefits of forgiveness, supported by medical research.
Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather to discuss forgiveness, open our hearts to Your wisdom and truth. Help us to be honest with ourselves about any unforgiveness we may be harboring, and grant us the courage to release it. Guide our discussion and help us learn from one another as we seek to better understand Your heart for forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ice Breaker
What’s the kindest thing someone has done for you recently that made you feel grateful?
Key Verses
Luke 5:20
Matthew 6:14-15
Ephesians 4:31-32
Micah 7:18-19
Questions
What stood out to you most about Jesus forgiving the paralyzed man before healing him?
How do you typically respond when someone offends you? What’s your first reaction?
Why do you think it’s sometimes harder to forgive ourselves than to forgive others?
How has holding onto unforgiveness affected your life or relationships in the past?
What’s the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation? Why is this distinction important?
How does knowing that God delights in showing mercy impact your view of forgiveness?
What are some practical steps we can take to prepare ourselves for future offenses?
How can we help others who are struggling with unforgiveness in their lives?
Life Application
This week, identify one person or situation where you’ve been holding onto unforgiveness. Spend time each day praying for that person and asking God to help you release any resentment. Take one practical step toward forgiveness, even if it’s simply writing a letter you never send expressing your feelings and your choice to forgive.
Key Takeaways
Unforgiveness is like spiritual paralysis that affects all areas of life
Forgiveness empowers and benefits the forgiver, leading to better mental and physical health
Only God can truly forget sins; we’re called to release resentment and trust His justice
Forgiveness isn’t pretending everything is fine or necessarily reconciling with the offender
People will inevitably hurt us, so we should prepare by extending grace in advance
Ending Prayer
Lord God, thank You for being the ultimate example of forgiveness. Help us to release any unforgiveness we’re holding onto and trust You with our pain. Give us the strength to forgive as You have forgiven us. Let Your healing power work in our hearts as we choose to walk in forgiveness. 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
Ask a question or schedule a free thirty minute Zoom chat below.
