I’m Steve Lawes
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Recent Posts from Church Consultant
Understanding the Ten Words: A Journey Through Exodus and Galatians
Today, we continue our series, “Kingdom Foreshadowed,” which explores the Bible from Exodus to Second Kings. This sermon focuses on the Ten Words, commonly known as the Ten Commandments, and their connection to the New Testament teachings in Galatians.
The Ten Words: A Love Document
What Are the Ten Words?
Often referred to as the Ten Commandments, the Ten Words are better understood as a love document rather than a set of rules. These words were given to the Israelites after their rescue from slavery in Egypt, outlining how they should live as God’s rescued and delivered people. They emphasize loving God fully and loving your neighbor as yourself.
The Connection to Genesis
The Ten Words are connected to the ten times God spoke in Genesis 1 and 2, bringing order out of chaos. Similarly, these words are meant to guide the Israelites in living a life of love and order after their deliverance.
Living by the Spirit: Insights from Galatians
Freedom in Christ
Galatians 5:13-18 emphasizes that we are called to be free, but this freedom is not for indulging the flesh. Instead, it is for serving one another humbly in love. Paul summarizes the entire law with the command, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
The Conflict Between Flesh and Spirit
Paul explains that the desires of the flesh are contrary to the Spirit. Living by the Spirit means not gratifying the desires of the flesh but being led by the Spirit, which frees us from the law.
The Fall and Exile: A Deeper Understanding
The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve’s sin of eating from the Tree of Knowledge led to their exile, symbolizing spiritual death. This condition of exile and separation from the Tree of Life has been passed down to all of us.
Made Alive in Christ
Through Christ, we are made alive and given access to the Tree of Life once again. This new life is not earned by following rules but is a gift of grace, enabling us to live by the Spirit.
The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Deposit of Our Inheritance
Holy Spirit is described as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. This means that the presence of the Holy Spirit in us is just a glimpse of the full life we will experience in God’s kingdom.
Producing Fruit
The Holy Spirit produces fruit in us, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are relational and help us love others well.
The Greatest Commandments: Love God and Love Your Neighbor
Jesus’ Summary of the Law
In Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus summarizes the law with two commandments: Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. These two commandments are interconnected; loving God fully enables us to love others well.
The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:12, often known as the Golden Rule, encapsulates this teaching: “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” This principle sums up the law and the prophets and emphasizes treating others with the same love and respect we desire.
Life Application
Living Out the Ten Words
Understanding the Ten Words as a love document changes how we live. It’s not about following rules but about loving God and others. This week, challenge yourself to:
- Pray for Your Neighbors: Make it a daily habit to lift up your neighbors in prayer, asking God to move in their lives.
- Serve Humbly in Love: Look for opportunities to serve others humbly and lovingly, reflecting the freedom you have in Christ.
- Yield to the Holy Spirit: Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your interactions, helping you produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life.
Reflective Questions
- How can I better love my neighbors this week?
- In what areas of my life do I need to yield more to the Holy Spirit?
- How can I serve others humbly and lovingly in my daily interactions?
By focusing on these applications, we can live out the love and freedom that Christ has given us, transforming our lives and the lives of those around us.
Thank you for joining us today. We look forward to continuing this journey through the Bible with you. Next week, we’ll delve into the Tabernacle and its significance. 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.
Understanding the Ten Commandments: Love, Truth, and Commitment
Welcome to the Vineyard! We’re thrilled to have you with us, whether you’re joining in person or online. This week, we continue our series “Kingdom Foreshadowed,” diving deep into the Ten Commandments, or as we prefer to call them, the Ten Words. These words are not just rules but a love document that guides us in our relationship with God and others.
The Greatest Commandments: Love God and Love Your Neighbor
In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus summarizes the essence of the Ten Commandments:
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
- Love your neighbor as yourself.
These two commandments encapsulate the entire law and the prophets, emphasizing that our faith is fundamentally about relationships—first with God and then with others.
The Ten Words: A Foundation for Community
The Ten Commandments were given to a people already rescued and delivered by God. They are not a set of rules to earn salvation but a guide for living as God’s family. These words are about relationship, not rule-following. They teach us how to love God and others, reflecting the transformation that occurs when we trust and follow Him.
The Second Commandment: Truth
Exodus 20:4-5 instructs us not to make any images or idols. This commandment is about truth and avoiding the worship of gods of our imagination. In our culture, it’s easy to create a version of God that fits our preferences, but this is not who God is. Jesus is the visible representation of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15-20). We must look to Jesus to understand who God truly is.
The Third Commandment: Commitment
Exodus 20:7 warns against misusing the name of the Lord. This commandment is about commitment and avoiding hypocrisy. Taking God’s name means living in a way that honors Him, reflecting our relationship with Him. It’s not just about avoiding using God’s name in vain but about living a life that truly represents Him.
Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life
In John 14:6, Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” As followers of Christ, we believe that truth is not an abstract concept but a person—Jesus. Our culture may say that truth is relative, but as Christians, we know that truth is found in Jesus. This relationship with Him transforms our lives and guides us in living out the Ten Words.
Peter’s Restoration: A Lesson in Commitment
In John 21:15-19, Jesus restores Peter after his denial. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him, using different Greek words for love (agape and phileo). This exchange highlights the importance of loving Jesus supremely and being committed to following Him. It’s a reminder that our relationship with God is about transformation and wholehearted devotion.
Life Application
Challenge for the Week
Reflect on your relationship with God. Are you loving Him all in? Are you committed to living out His truth in your life? This week, challenge yourself to deepen your relationship with God by spending time in prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking to love others as He loves you.
Questions to Ponder
- How can you better love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?
- In what ways can you show love to your neighbors this week?
- Are there areas in your life where you have created a version of God that fits your preferences? How can you align your understanding of God with who He truly is as revealed in Jesus?
- How can you live in a way that honors God’s name and reflects your commitment to Him?
By focusing on these questions and applying the principles of the Ten Words, we can grow in our relationship with God and others, living out the love and truth that Jesus exemplifies.
Thank you for joining us this week. Let’s continue to pray for our neighbors, love God all in, and live out His truth in our daily lives. Have a blessed week!
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.
Finding Rest in God: A Journey from Restlessness to Trust
Introduction
In our latest sermon, we delved into the theme of “Kingdom Foreshadowed,” focusing on the journey from Exodus to Second Kings. This sermon emphasized the importance of trust and rest in our relationship with God. By examining the story of the Israelites and their journey through the Red Sea, we explored how trust in God leads to true rest and how restlessness can lead us to create idols in our lives. Let’s break down the key points and lessons from this powerful message.
The Journey from Exodus to Second Kings
What Are the Ten Words?
The “Ten Words,” commonly known as the Ten Commandments, are not just rules but a love document given to a people already rescued and delivered by God. These words are designed to help us live as the people of God, focusing on loving God and loving others. The first three commandments are about loving God, the last six about loving others, and the fourth one is about Sabbath rest.
Trust and Rest: The Core of the Ten Words
Trusting God is the foundation of entering into His rest. Without trust, we cannot fully rest in Him, and without rest, we cannot love God and others as we are called to. The Israelites’ journey through the Red Sea is a powerful illustration of this. On one side of the Red Sea, they were restless and fearful; on the other side, they found rest and trust in God.
The Importance of Trust
Learning to Trust God
Trusting God is a process that takes time. The Israelites had to learn to trust God through their journey in the wilderness, where He provided for them in supernatural ways. This trust is built through daily dependence on God, as illustrated by the provision of manna and quail.
The Consequences of Restlessness
When we are restless, we are prone to creating idols in our lives. The story of the golden calf in Exodus is a prime example. The Israelites, in their restlessness, demanded a god substitute, leading to the creation of an idol. This serves as a warning for us to avoid letting restlessness drive us to seek false gods.
The Gift of Sabbath Rest
Sabbath as a Reset
The Sabbath is not just a day of rest but a reset, a reminder to focus on God and trust in His provision. It is a promise of new creation and a foretaste of the eternal rest we will have with God. The Sabbath helps us to love God and others by taking time to rest and reset our focus on Him.
The Lifestyle of Sabbath
Sabbath rest should permeate our lives beyond just one day a week. It is a lifestyle of trusting and resting in God, allowing us to love others generously and live in the freedom God intends for us. This includes the practice of canceling debts every seven years, as described in Deuteronomy, to ensure that God’s people are free from indebtedness and slavery.
God’s Restorative Power
The Story of the Floating Axe Head
In 2 Kings, we see a powerful example of God’s restorative power. When a prophet’s student loses a borrowed iron axe head in the Jordan River, Elisha performs a miracle by making the iron float. This story illustrates God’s desire to restore and free His people from indebtedness and slavery.
The Heart of God
God’s heart is for restoration and freedom. He wants us to trust Him, rest in Him, and experience the fullness of life He offers. This theme of rescue and rest runs throughout the Bible, pointing us to the ultimate rest we find in Jesus.
Life Application
Applying Trust and Rest in Our Lives
This week, challenge yourself to trust God more deeply and find rest in Him. Reflect on areas of your life where you may be restless or anxious and seek to replace those feelings with trust in God’s provision and care.
Questions for Reflection
- Which side of the Red Sea are you on? Are you resting in God or feeling restless and anxious?
- What idols or false gods have you created in your life due to restlessness?
- How can you incorporate Sabbath rest into your weekly routine to reset your focus on God?
- In what ways can you trust God more deeply and experience His restorative power in your life?
By focusing on trust and rest, we can live as the people of God, loving Him and others as we are called to. Let this message inspire you to find true rest in God and experience the fullness of life He offers.
May the Lord bless and keep you, and may you find peace and rest in His presence this week. God bless you all!
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?
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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!
