Summer With the Son: Being Generous! (Sermon Audio)
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Summer With the Son: Being Generous! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the August 2, 2026 sermon, “Summer With the Son: Being Generous”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Matthew 6:1-4, Luke 21:1-4

 

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”
1 Chronicles 29:14 (NIV)

Being Generous sounds like an attribute that would be focused on how much we give.  In reality, however, the true measure of generosity focuses on how much is . . .

  • Known:  Matthew 6:1

    • Being generous will focus on how much is known about God and about His being the source of everything you have.  What we have kept will fade away to nothing when as we grow in our knowledge of God being the provider of all things.  It is our own selfishness that often holds on to the very things which God calls for us to share with others.  When we begin to know God’s purpose in providing us with “every good and perfect gift”, we start on the path of using said gifts for Him.

  • Expressed:  Matthew 6:2

    • Being generous will focus on how much is expressed by us about God.  Often times in giving, we like to be the one who receives the credit rather than acknowledge God as to source of our gift.  As we communicate to others about God’s goodness, we share in a generosity that exceeds any other gift that could be given.  While our human nature often desires to express our goodness and generosity to others, God’s Spirit within us will always remind us to give God the credit for Him being the source of all good things.

  • Protected:  Matthew 6:3

    • Being generous will focus on how much is protected from our own greed and selfishness.  We give from what God has entrusted to us so that we protect the name of the Lord God from being blasphemed by those who might claim that God doesn’t care.  We give with diligence and discernment through listening to the Holy Spirit so that we’re not wasteful with the resources of our Lord.  We protect, not for our benefit, but for the benefit of the kingdom and for the glory of the Lord most high.

  • Trusted:  Matthew 6:4

    • Being generous will focus on how much is trusted as we choose to listen to God’s Spirit.  Trust can play a huge role in our generosity.  When God’s Spirit convicts us to be generous to someone else with what we have, we must trust that God will supply, or resupply, that which is given.  While many would say they would be more generous if they had more to give, most often it appears God calls us to generosity in the very areas we feel are lacking in our life in order to produce within us a growing trust.

 

We grow in Being Generous when what we have Known, what we have Expressed, what we have Protected, and what we have Trusted is all God!

Today, how will you be more generous because of what you have KEPT?

Encouragement and Prayer: Perfect In Love! (8/1/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Perfect In Love! (8/1/26)

 

This is the audio from the August 1, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Finally, brothers, good-by.  Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you.”  
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about God’s desire that we be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.  I suspect many have heard the instruction of Jesus calling us to be perfect, but have we really considered the context in which it is given?  For many, the pursuit of perfection seems to center around our self and/or our accomplishments.  We aim and we fall short, causing us to doubt if this command of Jesus is even possible.  In fact, we excuse it away with the statement that “no one is perfect except Jesus.”  Yet rather than a focus on us, Jesus puts the emphasis on how we relate to others when it comes to the perfection He desires in us.  Pray that your interactions with others, all others, would display a perfection that reflects the interaction God has with you.  Pray for the courage to reach beyond, over, and through the walls you have created between you and others.  Pray that you would pursue perfection as being one made complete in Christ.  Ask God to help you live with humility in the way that perfection in Christ is seen in you.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
1 John 4:18 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine both how and who you love.  Pray that you would know the freedom from fear that comes through perfect love.  Pray that your interactions with all people would take place in an environment of perfect love that has come from God.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Perfect In Speech! (7/31/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Perfect In Speech! (7/31/26)

 

This is the audio from the July 31, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Finally, brothers, good-by.  Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you.”  
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about God’s desire that we be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.  I suspect many have heard the instruction of Jesus calling us to be perfect, but have we really considered the context in which it is given?  For many, the pursuit of perfection seems to center around our self and/or our accomplishments.  We aim and we fall short, causing us to doubt if this command of Jesus is even possible.  In fact, we excuse it away with the statement that “no one is perfect except Jesus.”  Yet rather than a focus on us, Jesus puts the emphasis on how we relate to others when it comes to the perfection He desires in us.  Pray that your interactions with others, all others, would display a perfection that reflects the interaction God has with you.  Pray for the courage to reach beyond, over, and through the walls you have created between you and others.  Pray that you would pursue perfection as being one made complete in Christ.  Ask God to help you live with humility in the way that perfection in Christ is seen in you.

“We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.”
James 3:2 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine both how and who you love.  Pray that God would place a guard upon your words so that you would not stumble nor cause others to stumble.  Pray that your interactions with others would be marked by speech which is made perfect in Christ.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Perfect In Faith! (7/30/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Perfect In Faith! (7/30/26)

 

This is the audio from the July 30, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Finally, brothers, good-by.  Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you.”  
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about God’s desire that we be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.  I suspect many have heard the instruction of Jesus calling us to be perfect, but have we really considered the context in which it is given?  For many, the pursuit of perfection seems to center around our self and/or our accomplishments.  We aim and we fall short, causing us to doubt if this command of Jesus is even possible.  In fact, we excuse it away with the statement that “no one is perfect except Jesus.”  Yet rather than a focus on us, Jesus puts the emphasis on how we relate to others when it comes to the perfection He desires in us.  Pray that your interactions with others, all others, would display a perfection that reflects the interaction God has with you.  Pray for the courage to reach beyond, over, and through the walls you have created between you and others.  Pray that you would pursue perfection as being one made complete in Christ.  Ask God to help you live with humility in the way that perfection in Christ is seen in you.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine both how and who you love.  Pray for the courage to allow God to perfect your faith when you are filled with doubt.  Pray that the knowledge of all Christ endured would fill you with confidence in His ability to perfect your faith.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Perfect In Unity! (7/29/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Perfect In Unity! (7/29/26)

 

This is the audio from the July 29, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Finally, brothers, good-by.  Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you.”  
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about God’s desire that we be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.  I suspect many have heard the instruction of Jesus calling us to be perfect, but have we really considered the context in which it is given?  For many, the pursuit of perfection seems to center around our self and/or our accomplishments.  We aim and we fall short, causing us to doubt if this command of Jesus is even possible.  In fact, we excuse it away with the statement that “no one is perfect except Jesus.”  Yet rather than a focus on us, Jesus puts the emphasis on how we relate to others when it comes to the perfection He desires in us.  Pray that your interactions with others, all others, would display a perfection that reflects the interaction God has with you.  Pray for the courage to reach beyond, over, and through the walls you have created between you and others.  Pray that you would pursue perfection as being one made complete in Christ.  Ask God to help you live with humility in the way that perfection in Christ is seen in you.

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:14 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine both how and who you love.  Pray that you would pursue life with others in a way that is held together by godly love.  Pray for an understanding of how God’s love in and through you can hold people together in perfect unity.  Pray for a desire to live in perfect unity with God and with others.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Perfect In Weakness! (7/28/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Perfect In Weakness! (7/28/26)

 

This is the audio from the July 28, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Finally, brothers, good-by.  Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you.”  
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about God’s desire that we be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.  I suspect many have heard the instruction of Jesus calling us to be perfect, but have we really considered the context in which it is given?  For many, the pursuit of perfection seems to center around our self and/or our accomplishments.  We aim and we fall short, causing us to doubt if this command of Jesus is even possible.  In fact, we excuse it away with the statement that “no one is perfect except Jesus.”  Yet rather than a focus on us, Jesus puts the emphasis on how we relate to others when it comes to the perfection He desires in us.  Pray that your interactions with others, all others, would display a perfection that reflects the interaction God has with you.  Pray for the courage to reach beyond, over, and through the walls you have created between you and others.  Pray that you would pursue perfection as being one made complete in Christ.  Ask God to help you live with humility in the way that perfection in Christ is seen in you.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine both how and who you love.  Pray that you would learn to accept your weaknesses as a way for God’s power to be made perfect in you.  Pray that you would live in a way that connects others to the strength that can be found in Christ.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Perfect In Christ! (7/27/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Perfect In Christ! (7/27/26)

 

This is the audio from the July 27, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Finally, brothers, good-by.  Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you.”  
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about God’s desire that we be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.  I suspect many have heard the instruction of Jesus calling us to be perfect, but have we really considered the context in which it is given?  For many, the pursuit of perfection seems to center around our self and/or our accomplishments.  We aim and we fall short, causing us to doubt if this command of Jesus is even possible.  In fact, we excuse it away with the statement that “no one is perfect except Jesus.”  Yet rather than a focus on us, Jesus puts the emphasis on how we relate to others when it comes to the perfection He desires in us.  Pray that your interactions with others, all others, would display a perfection that reflects the interaction God has with you.  Pray for the courage to reach beyond, over, and through the walls you have created between you and others.  Pray that you would pursue perfection as being one made complete in Christ.  Ask God to help you live with humility in the way that perfection in Christ is seen in you.

“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”
Colossians 1:28 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine both how and who you love.  Pray that you would know and teach Christ as the only way to be made perfect.  Pray that the way you interact with all people would reflect a perfection that comes from Christ.  Pray for pure motives in the way you admonish and teach.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Summer With the Son: Being Perfect! (Sermon Audio)
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Summer With the Son: Being Perfect! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the July 26, 2026 sermon, “Summer With the Son: Being Perfect!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Matthew 5:43-48

 

“Finally, brothers, good-by.  Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you.”  
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

Being Perfect sounds like an impossible goal, and in fact it is impossible in our own strength.  It is only through abiding in God’s love that we can be perfect just as He is perfect.  To do that, we need God’s help to become perfect through . . .

  • Learning:  Matthew 5:43-44

    • Being perfect through learning involves us understanding more accurately what God actually has said through His Word.  There are many times in life we “have heard it said”, but that doesn’t mean what we have heard is always accurate or complete.  Perfect love is found in Christ and we grow in perfection when we learn how to live with that kind of love.

  • Opportunity:  Matthew 5:44-45

    • Being perfect involves our being aware of the perfect opportunities to share the love of Jesus with everyone.  It can be easy to miss good opportunities simply because we believe incorrectly about who and how we ought to love.  The perfect love of Christ in us will always look for and make the most of every opportunity to love others.

  • Value:  Matthew 5:46-47

    • Being perfect requires that we value all people with the same value that God has created them with.  The Bible makes it clear that it was while we were enemies of God in our own mind that Christ died for us because of the great value He considers us to have.  Our value to God is not dependent on our goodness or lack of goodness, therefore the value that we credit others with having should always come from who they are as one created by God rather than from how we perceive them.  The perfect love of Christ in us will value our self and others with the same value that is derived from God.

  • Example:  Matthew 5:48

    • Being perfect is made visible to us through the perfect example of God as we seek to “be perfect just as our heavenly Father is perfect.”  With the Father exalted as our primary example, we also understand perfect love as we grow in our knowledge of Christ’s love for us.  Jesus sets the perfect example, and calls for us to follow His example, as He love without partiality, favoritism, or prejudice.  The perfect love of Christ in us will not only follow His example, but will become an example in us to others.

 

Today, how will you live with perfection that is all about LOVE?