A Not So Minor Offering: Giving Your BEST! (Sermon Audio)
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A Not So Minor Offering: Giving Your BEST! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the October 4, 2026 sermon, “A Not So Minor Offering: Giving Your BEST!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Malachi 1

 

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)

As we gaze into God’s instructions for His people through the prophet Malachi, we find the importance of examining our offerings so that we are giving our . . .

  • Background:  Malachi 1:1-5

    • Giving your best to God involves giving Him your background so that He can use it for His glory.  Rather than trying to hide our past or live in our past, God wants to use our past in ways which reveal His great love.

  • Excuses:  Malachi 1:6-7

    • Giving your best to God will require that you give Him your excuses, not in making excuses to Him but in surrendering them to Him.  In a world of self-justification, God desires that we release our excuses to Him and find a true justification which comes through faith.

  • Sacrifice:  Malachi 1:8-9

    • Giving your best to God will result in a sacrifice which is holy and acceptable to Him.  It is a sacrifice that chooses not to give what is extra or not needed by us, but to give from the top what is the absolute best.

  • Temple:  Malachi 1:10-14

    • Giving your best to God will lead you to being prepared as the temple of the living God.  As you invite Jesus to be Lord of your life, you choose to be fully cleansed by His blood and sacrifice so that you become the holy temple of God — the place in which He dwells.
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Today, how will you give your BEST as an offering to God?

Encouragement and Prayer: Being Obedient To Express Love! (10/3/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Being Obedient To Express Love! (10/3/26)

 

This is the audio from the October 3, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“But Samuel replied:  ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’”
1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

Most adults seem to like the command where God says children are to obey their parents.  We like it because we tend to unconsciously add two small words to it.  We tend to read it, “[Little] Children obey your [good] parents in the Lord, for this is right.”  Yes, there are limits when it comes to obeying people — “We must obey God rather than men” — but obedience is a trait that God expects all of His children to exhibit.  This week we will be praying about following the example of Jesus, who “became obedient to death — even death on a cross.”  Pray that you would value the choice of obedience in your life and in the lives of others.  Pray for a desire to obey God that exceeds the “have to” and becomes a “want to”.  Pray that the results of your obedience would help the people around you see Jesus more clearly.

“This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.”
1 John 5:3 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine your current level of obedience and reveal how you need to grow to become more like Christ.  Pray that your love for God would always be expressed in your willingness to obey Him.  Pray that your eyes would be opened to seeing the benefits of obedience.  Pray for a growing love that is expressed through the way you obey 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: Being Obedient To Leaders! (10/2/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Being Obedient To Leaders! (10/2/26)

 

This is the audio from the October 2, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“But Samuel replied:  ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’”
1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

Most adults seem to like the command where God says children are to obey their parents.  We like it because we tend to unconsciously add two small words to it.  We tend to read it, “[Little] Children obey your [good] parents in the Lord, for this is right.”  Yes, there are limits when it comes to obeying people — “We must obey God rather than men” — but obedience is a trait that God expects all of His children to exhibit.  This week we will be praying about following the example of Jesus, who “became obedient to death — even death on a cross.”  Pray that you would value the choice of obedience in your life and in the lives of others.  Pray for a desire to obey God that exceeds the “have to” and becomes a “want to”.  Pray that the results of your obedience would help the people around you see Jesus more clearly.

“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine your current level of obedience and reveal how you need to grow to become more like Christ.  Pray that you would obey the leaders that God has placed in positions of authority over you.  Pray for a life which makes the work of leaders less difficult.

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: Being Obedient To Parents! (10/1/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Being Obedient To Parents! (10/1/26)

 

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

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“But Samuel replied:  ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’”
1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

Most adults seem to like the command where God says children are to obey their parents.  We like it because we tend to unconsciously add two small words to it.  We tend to read it, “[Little] Children obey your [good] parents in the Lord, for this is right.”  Yes, there are limits when it comes to obeying people — “We must obey God rather than men” — but obedience is a trait that God expects all of His children to exhibit.  This week we will be praying about following the example of Jesus, who “became obedient to death — even death on a cross.”  Pray that you would value the choice of obedience in your life and in the lives of others.  Pray for a desire to obey God that exceeds the “have to” and becomes a “want to”.  Pray that the results of your obedience would help the people around you see Jesus more clearly.

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Colossians 3:20 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine your current level of obedience and reveal how you need to grow to become more like Christ.  Pray that you would be faithful in honoring and obeying your parents — regardless of your age or theirs.  Pray that the people around you would understand how much it pleases God for them to be obedient to their parents.  Pray for a godly life that helps obedience to be easier.

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: Being Obedient In the Holy Spirit! (9/30/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Being Obedient In the Holy Spirit! (9/30/26)

 

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

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“But Samuel replied:  ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’”
1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

Most adults seem to like the command where God says children are to obey their parents.  We like it because we tend to unconsciously add two small words to it.  We tend to read it, “[Little] Children obey your [good] parents in the Lord, for this is right.”  Yes, there are limits when it comes to obeying people — “We must obey God rather than men” — but obedience is a trait that God expects all of His children to exhibit.  This week we will be praying about following the example of Jesus, who “became obedient to death — even death on a cross.”  Pray that you would value the choice of obedience in your life and in the lives of others.  Pray for a desire to obey God that exceeds the “have to” and becomes a “want to”.  Pray that the results of your obedience would help the people around you see Jesus more clearly.

“We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Acts 5:32 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine your current level of obedience and reveal how you need to grow to become more like Christ.  Pray that you would recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life through your obedience to God.  Pray that God’s Spirit would help you be a witness to the things of God.  Pray that the people around you would know God’s presence in them through their obedience.

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: Being Obedient To Be Blessed! (9/29/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Being Obedient To Be Blessed! (9/29/26)

 

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

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“But Samuel replied:  ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’”
1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

Most adults seem to like the command where God says children are to obey their parents.  We like it because we tend to unconsciously add two small words to it.  We tend to read it, “[Little] Children obey your [good] parents in the Lord, for this is right.”  Yes, there are limits when it comes to obeying people — “We must obey God rather than men” — but obedience is a trait that God expects all of His children to exhibit.  This week we will be praying about following the example of Jesus, who “became obedient to death — even death on a cross.”  Pray that you would value the choice of obedience in your life and in the lives of others.  Pray for a desire to obey God that exceeds the “have to” and becomes a “want to”.  Pray that the results of your obedience would help the people around you see Jesus more clearly.

“He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’”
Luke 11:28 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine your current level of obedience and reveal how you need to grow to become more like Christ.  Pray that you would always listen to the word of God with a desire to obey what He says.  Pray for the courage to obey God as He reveals Himself through His Word.  Pray that you would be a blessing to others because of your obedience to the word of 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: Being Obedient In Teaching! (9/28/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Being Obedient In Teaching! (9/28/26)

 

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

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“But Samuel replied:  ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’”
1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

Most adults seem to like the command where God says children are to obey their parents.  We like it because we tend to unconsciously add two small words to it.  We tend to read it, “[Little] Children obey your [good] parents in the Lord, for this is right.”  Yes, there are limits when it comes to obeying people — “We must obey God rather than men” — but obedience is a trait that God expects all of His children to exhibit.  This week we will be praying about following the example of Jesus, who “became obedient to death — even death on a cross.”  Pray that you would value the choice of obedience in your life and in the lives of others.  Pray for a desire to obey God that exceeds the “have to” and becomes a “want to”.  Pray that the results of your obedience would help the people around you see Jesus more clearly.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine your current level of obedience and reveal how you need to grow to become more like Christ.  Pray that you would be a faithful disciple of Jesus in the way you teach others to obey all He commanded.

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

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This is the audio from the September 27, 2026 sermon, “Summer With the Son: Being Productive!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Matthew 7:24-29

 

“But Samuel replied:  ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’”
1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

Being Obedient is the only appropriate response to hearing the Words of Jesus.  In fact, Jesus concludes the Sermon On the Mount with clear instruction about our need to . . .

  • Observe:  Matthew 7:24

    • Being obedient requires us to observe, or look at, what God’s Word actually says.  It is important to be a hearer of God’s Word as the foundation for our obedience.  Doing what God says requires us to know what God says, so we spend time as students of the Word.

  • Believe:  Matthew 7:25-27

    • Being obedient also requires that we believe what God says.  We have a tendency to test the words of others as to whether they really mean what they say, and that often carries over into our belief of God’s Word.  When we believe what God says and that He has ultimate authority, then we position ourselves to understand the need for obedience.

  • Express:  Matthew 7:28

    • Being obedient will lead us to express with our words and our actions that Jesus really does have authority over our life.  The Word of God ought to amaze us with its accuracy, truth, and relatability.  Our obedience becomes an expression of our love for God and our desire to please Him.

  • Yield:  Matthew 7:19-29

    • Being obedient is in its very nature a willingness to yield.  In keeping with the prayer of Jesus who said, “not my will, but yours be done”, we must learn to yield to the will of God in all things.  Our obedience not only states that Jesus taught as one with authority, we choose to submit to Him as the One with authority.
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Today, how will you OBEY in a way that honors God?