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 7 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Incarnate Part 7 Discussion Guide
Summary
This sermon focuses on Jesus walking on water from John 6:16-20, following the feeding of the 5,000. Pastor Doug emphasizes that this miracle isn’t just about Jesus’ power over nature, but reveals His identity as King and why He came. The message explores how people often try to control Jesus rather than submit to Him, and how Jesus meets us in our storms, whether literal or figurative.
Intro Prayer
Lord, as we gather to discuss Your Word, open our hearts and minds to understand Your kingship in our lives. Help us to see where we need to surrender control and trust in Your perfect timing and plan. Guide our discussion and reveal what You want each of us to learn today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ice Breaker
What’s the most memorable storm (literal or figurative) you’ve experienced, and how did you get through it?
Key Verses
John 6:16-20
Romans 5:6-11
Exodus 3:14
Jonah 1:4-15
Questions
In what ways do you sometimes try to ‘make Jesus king by force’ in your own life?
Why do you think Jesus sometimes chooses to walk with us through storms rather than immediately calm them?
How does Jesus’ statement ‘It is I’ (ego eimi) reveal His divinity?
What’s the difference between how Jonah and Jesus responded to their respective storms?
How do you typically respond when God doesn’t answer your prayers in the way you expected?
What areas of your life do you need to hear Jesus say ‘Don’t be afraid’?
How does knowing Jesus endured the ultimate storm (the cross) impact your view of personal struggles?
What does it mean to let Jesus be the pilot instead of the co-pilot in your life?
Life Application
This week, identify one area where you’ve been trying to control Jesus instead of trusting Him. Write it down and deliberately surrender it to Him daily through prayer, asking not for your will to be done, but His.
Key Takeaways
Jesus is King and cannot be controlled or manipulated to fit our agenda
Jesus sees us in our struggles and meets us in the midst of our storms
Sometimes Jesus walks with us through storms rather than removing them
Jesus endured the ultimate storm (the cross) for our salvation
Our greatest refuge is found in Jesus Himself, not in the absence of storms
Ending Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for being our refuge in every storm. Help us to release control and trust in Your sovereign leadership over our lives. Give us the courage to face our storms with faith, knowing that You are walking with us. May we remember that You endured the ultimate storm for our sake. 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 6 with Discussion Guide
Kingdom Incarnate Part 6 Discussion Guide
Summary
The sermon focuses on the fourth sign in John’s Gospel – the feeding of the 5,000 – and connects it to Jesus as the Bread of Life. Pastor Steve explores how God used bread (manna) in the Old Testament to teach the Israelites to trust Him daily, and how Jesus later declares Himself as the true bread from heaven that provides eternal spiritual nourishment. The message emphasizes the importance of daily dependence on God and maintaining a consistent relationship with Him.
Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather to discuss Your Word, open our hearts and minds to understand what it means to depend on You daily. Help us recognize Jesus as the Bread of Life and teach us to trust You completely. Guide our discussion and reveal Your truth to each person here. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ice Breaker
What’s your favorite type of bread and why?
Key Verses
John 6:35
Exodus 16:4
John 6:27
John 6:51
Questions
What does it mean to you that Jesus is the ‘Bread of Life’?
How does the story of manna in the wilderness demonstrate God’s desire for daily dependence?
Why do you think the Israelites tried to store up manna despite God’s instructions?
In what ways do we sometimes try to ‘store up’ our relationship with God instead of seeking Him daily?
How does the feeding of the 5,000 demonstrate both God’s abundance and His care for our physical needs?
What are some practical ways we can seek God daily in our busy lives?
How does knowing that Jesus satisfies our spiritual hunger and thirst impact your approach to life?
What distractions or ‘food that spoils’ keep you from pursuing your relationship with God?
Life Application
This week, commit to spending dedicated time with God each day, even if it’s just 15 minutes. Keep a journal of how God speaks to you during these daily encounters and notice how this regular connection impacts your spiritual hunger and trust in Him.
Key Takeaways
Everything in Scripture points to Jesus as the source of life
Our relationship with God requires daily nurturing and cannot be stored up
True satisfaction comes only through Jesus, the Bread of Life
God is trustworthy and provides for both our physical and spiritual needs
We must actively choose to prioritize our relationship with God over temporary satisfaction
Ending Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for being our Bread of Life. Help us to hunger for You more than anything else and to trust You completely with our daily needs. Give us the discipline to seek You daily and the wisdom to recognize Your provision in our lives. Transform our hearts to desire the eternal nourishment only You can provide. 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.
Church Encourager
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