I’m Steve Lawes
Certified Church Consultant
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Church in Decline? Plateaud?
Helping Churches Thrive
Utilizing a process we call “Virtual Church Consulting” we work with you through a series of steps to help pinpoint problems and offer solutions. This all online church consulting method is effective and affordable.
Internet Impact (Learn about your digital footprint)
Community Statistics (Learn about your community)
Church Health Survey (Learn about your church)
Effective Outreach Ideas (Learn how to reach your community)
Internet Impact
Your website is the “digital foyer” for the church. It is the first impression for almost everyone that visits your church.
Community Statistics
Demographic information is helpful in getting an overview of what is happening in your community.
Church Health Survey
A church health survey/assessment is a helpful tool that will give you information on the overall health of your church.
Effective Outreach Ideas
An outreach strategy is a specific set of tactics intended to ultimately attract new people to your church.
Church Consulting & Coaching
We offer a wide range of Church Consulting and Ministry Coaching Services. Our desire is to help pastors and churches thrive so that they are able to fulfill the calling that God has on them for their community.
Church Marketing
Think of church marketing as a tool to help people who are in need of what your church offers to be able to connect with you. We are not trying to sell something people don’t need. We are trying to connect them with the One who changes everything. Click on this link to read more about developing a Church Marketing Strategy.
Church Revitalization
Church Revitalization is the process of leading a dying or declining church back to a healthy place so that it can continue to carry out the calling and purpose that God has for it. Steve Lawes is certified in Church Revitalization with Church Answers.
Ministry and Pastoral Coaching
We offer a wide variety of Coaching Services for pastors and churches. For more information go to Church Encourager.
Disciplship Training
Partnering with the Jesus Moment Bible Institute and Seminary we are able to offer a wide variety of Discipleship Training opportunites for pastors and churches.
Meet Steve Lawes
Steve Lawes is a Certified Church Consultant. He has been the lead Pastor of Keys Vineyard Church in Big Pine Key since 1992. He has a Bachelors Degree in Bible and Theology from Berean University and Masters and PhD Degrees from Atlantic Coast Theological Seminary. He lead the Cuba Missions Team for Vineyard Missions from 1995-2005 and traveled to Cuba more than twenty times helping to plant churches and build up local leaders. He served as the South Florida Area Leader for the Association of Vineyard Churches for ten years. He also founded the Jesus Moment Bible Institute and Seminary in 2014 which has a student enrollment of over 1800. He has written three devotional books, Daily Psalt Intake, Daily Sage Intake and Daily Strength Training which are now out of print but are currently available as free e-books.
Free Ebook - Nine Point Church Consulting Strategy
Recent Posts from Church Consultant
Understanding Our Identity in Christ: Lessons from John the Baptist
John the Baptist provides powerful lessons about understanding our true identity in Christ and pointing others toward Jesus. His story reveals important truths about humility, purpose, and recognizing who Jesus really is.
Who Was John the Baptist?
John the Baptist emerged as a unique figure – wearing camel hair clothing and eating locusts and honey in the wilderness. He baptized people in the Jordan River, preaching repentance and preparing the way for Jesus. Despite drawing large crowds from Jerusalem and Judea, he maintained remarkable humility about his role.
How Did John the Baptist View Himself?
When questioned by religious leaders about his identity, John humbly described himself as simply “a voice calling in the wilderness.” He explicitly denied being the Messiah, Elijah, or the prophet. His identity was wrapped up in pointing others to Jesus rather than promoting himself.
How Did Jesus View John the Baptist?
While John downplayed his own importance, Jesus declared him to be “the greatest born among women” up to that time. This reveals an important truth – our worth comes from how Jesus sees us, not how we see ourselves or how others view us.
What Can We Learn About Identity in Christ?
A key insight emerges: Our identity in Christ is received, not achieved. We don’t have to constantly strive to prove our worth or compare ourselves to others. Like John the Baptist, we can rest in who God says we are while faithfully fulfilling our purpose.
How Did John the Baptist View Jesus?
John recognized Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” This profound declaration connected Jesus to the Passover lamb of the Old Testament – pointing to His sacrificial death that would free people from bondage to sin and death.
Life Application
This week, consider these questions:
Are you trying to achieve your identity through constant doing rather than receiving it from Christ?
How can you, like John the Baptist, point others to Jesus with both humility and boldness?
Are you making time to simply “hang out” with Jesus rather than always being too busy doing things for Him?
Challenge: Take time each day this week to sit quietly with Jesus, receiving His love and acceptance rather than trying to earn it. Look for opportunities to be a voice that tells others about the hope found in Christ.
Remember – you are loved and valued by Jesus before you do anything for Him. Let that truth shape how you view yourself and how you interact with others.
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.
Understanding Jesus as the Living Word: Insights from John 1
The opening chapter of John’s Gospel presents one of the most profound introductions to Jesus in all of Scripture. It connects the Old and New Testaments while revealing deep truths about who Jesus is and why He came.
What Does “The Word” Mean in John 1?
John begins by introducing Jesus as “the Word” (Logos in Greek). While Greek philosophers viewed the Logos as an impersonal force maintaining universal harmony, John reveals that the Logos is actually personal – Jesus himself. This Word was with God from the beginning and was God, actively involved in creation.
How Does Jesus Connect to the Old Testament?
The opening verses deliberately echo Genesis 1, taking readers back to creation. Just as God spoke the world into existence, Jesus as the Word was present and active in creation. This connection shows Jesus’ divine nature and eternal existence.
The Tabernacle Connection
John 1:14 states that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The phrase “made his dwelling” literally means “tabernacled.” This references the Old Testament tabernacle where God’s presence dwelt among His people. Jesus becomes the new meeting place between God and humanity.
Why Did Jesus Come in Human Form?
Jesus came to fulfill all the Old Testament promises and covenants in an unexpected way. Rather than arriving as a military leader, He came:
Full of grace and truth
To serve others
To reach the broken and outcast
To demonstrate God’s love personally
To inaugurate God’s kingdom
What Does This Mean for Us Today?
Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the sending of the Holy Spirit, believers become living temples where heaven and earth connect. We are adopted into God’s royal family and become part of His rescue mission to bring others from darkness to light.
Life Application
This week, consider these questions:
Am I fully engaged in God’s story or just living “story adjacent”?
How can I view my circumstances through the lens of Jesus?
What keeps me from spending time in God’s Word?
Challenge: Commit to reading 2-3 chapters of John this week, asking God to help you see Jesus more clearly through His Word. Remember that Jesus endured the cross with you personally in mind – you were the joy set before Him.
Remember: The enemy will try to keep you from engaging with Scripture, but pressing through leads to discovering the adventure of walking with Jesus daily. He wants you fully involved in His story of redemption.
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.
Understanding the Highway of Holiness: A Journey Through Isaiah 35
Introduction
This week, we explored Isaiah 35, a chapter that beautifully bridges the Old and New Testaments, offering a vision of restoration and hope. Whether you’re a long-time believer or someone seeking answers about faith and Christianity, this summary will help you grasp the essence of the sermon and its life-changing message.
What is the Highway of Holiness?
A Vision of Restoration
Isaiah 35 paints a vivid picture of a future where the desert and parched land will rejoice and blossom. This transformation symbolizes the spiritual renewal that comes through a relationship with God. The living water, which once flowed from Eden, will again nourish the barren places, both in the world and within our hearts.
The Role of Jesus
Isaiah’s prophecy points to the coming of Jesus, who inaugurates the Kingdom of God. His arrival is not just a historical event but a divine intervention to save humanity. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection open the way for us to be reconciled with God, turning our spiritual deserts into flourishing gardens.
Why Did God Come to Save Us?
Strengthening the Weak
Isaiah 35:3-4 encourages us to strengthen the feeble hands and steady the knees that give way. This passage reassures us that God will come to save us, bringing divine retribution against evil and offering salvation to those who seek Him. This is a powerful reminder of God’s personal involvement in our lives.
Demonstrating Compassion
Jesus’ miracles—healing the blind, deaf, and lame—are not just acts of compassion but signs that the Kingdom of God has come. These miracles fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy and demonstrate that Jesus is the way to spiritual restoration.
How Does This Apply to Us Today?
Living in the Tension
We live in the “now and not yet” of God’s Kingdom. While we experience glimpses of His Kingdom through spiritual renewal and miracles, we await its full realization when Jesus returns. This tension calls us to live faithfully, continually seeking God’s presence in our lives.
The Path to Holiness
Isaiah 35:8-10 describes a highway called the Way of Holiness, reserved for the redeemed. This path is not one we create through our efforts but one we walk by God’s grace. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, guiding us back to a restored relationship with God.
Life Application
Reflect and Surrender
As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to reflect on the dry places in our lives that need God’s living water. Instead of making resolutions that may not last, consider surrendering these areas to God. Invite Him to bring spiritual renewal and transformation.
Know Him Better
Make it a goal to know God better in the coming year. Spend time in prayer, read the Bible, and engage in a community of believers. Consider joining a Bible reading plan, like the one offered by BibleProject, to deepen your understanding of God’s Word.
Questions for Reflection
- What are the dry, barren places in your life that need God’s living water?
- How can you invite God into these areas for spiritual renewal?
- What steps can you take to know God better in the coming year?
Conclusion
Isaiah 35 offers a powerful vision of restoration and hope, pointing us to Jesus as the way to spiritual renewal. As we reflect on this message, let’s surrender our dry places to God and seek to know Him better. By doing so, we can experience the joy and transformation that comes from walking the Highway of Holiness.
May this message inspire you to draw closer to God and experience His life-changing power in the coming year. God bless you!
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.
Testimonials
“Steve and his team at Keys Vineyard Church have built a church that has done an inspiring job reaching their community. Steve is a treasure trove of experience and has continued to prioritize learning and growth throughout his more than 30 years of ministry in a way few pastors have. You’ll get a lot out of connecting with him!”
“I watched first hand as Steve experienced the devastation of hurricane Irma in his town of Big Pine Key, Florida. The town was destroyed, the church building rendered unusable and the staff impacted personally. I watched a leader rise to the need of his community and minister in a situation that not very many could. He has a powerful voice of experience and wisdom earned the hard way.”
“Steve Lawes is a valuable coach/ mentor. I’ve watched Steve over the last thirty years build a substantial outward focused church with disciples who do what Jesus did. He has inspired leaders of churches with simple/tested ideas to develop leaders and grow churches.
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“Steve Lawes is an outstanding coach. He is authentic, creative, and personable. He has more cutting edge ideas than any pastor I know in regard to evangelism and meeting the needs of people in his community.”
Interested in Becoming a Church Consultant?
We are pleased to be partnering with the Jesus Moment Bible Institute and Seminary to be able to offer Free Church Consulting Training. Even if you are not looking to become a certified church consultant, the free church consultant training will be beneficial for your personal ministry.
One of the greatest questions Jesus asked was “Do You Want to Get Well?”
I t would seem that the answer was obvious. But getting well for the man who had been not well for a very long time meant that he would have to do something different. It is not easy to change, but it always starts with a first step.
Take that first step now by sceduling your no obligation, free thirty (30) minute Zoom meeting with us today. You have nothing to lose and it may be your first step to a new and healthy way of doing and being the church.
Don’t Wait Any Longer. Take The First Step Toward Getting Well Today!
