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?

Encouragement and Prayer: A Productive Kindness and Love! (9/26/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Productive Kindness and Love! (9/26/26)

 

This is the audio from the September 26, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will be about some of the qualities which God says are necessary for an effective and productive life.  I suspect that nearly everyone wants to live a life that matters — a life that makes a difference to others.  As you pray, ask God to help you start with a foundation of faith that will help these qualities grow and build upon each other.  Pray that you would lead a productive life because of God’s presence in you.  Pray for an increasing humility which will allow the necessary character traits to grow more fully in your life.  Pray about how God would have you share with others in ways that encourage and build them up for greater effectiveness.  Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.

“I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.”
Hosea 11:4 (NIV)

As you pray this week, talk with God about some attributes He says are key in making your knowledge of Jesus useful.  Pray that God’s kindness and love would be reflected in the way you show kindness and love to the people around you.  Pray for the wisdom to live as one set free . . . and as one who shares the freedom of God with others.  Pray for God’s help in doing all things with love.

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: A Productive Godliness! (9/25/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Productive Godliness! (9/25/26)

 

This is the audio from the September 25, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will be about some of the qualities which God says are necessary for an effective and productive life.  I suspect that nearly everyone wants to live a life that matters — a life that makes a difference to others.  As you pray, ask God to help you start with a foundation of faith that will help these qualities grow and build upon each other.  Pray that you would lead a productive life because of God’s presence in you.  Pray for an increasing humility which will allow the necessary character traits to grow more fully in your life.  Pray about how God would have you share with others in ways that encourage and build them up for greater effectiveness.  Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

As you pray this week, talk with God about some attributes He says are key in making your knowledge of Jesus useful.  Pray that your training and growth in godliness would fill you with hope for today and for eternity.  Pray that the presence of God within you would produce a godliness that others can know and pursue for themselves.

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: A Productive Perseverance! (9/24/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Productive Perseverance! (9/24/26)

 

This is the audio from the September 24, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will be about some of the qualities which God says are necessary for an effective and productive life.  I suspect that nearly everyone wants to live a life that matters — a life that makes a difference to others.  As you pray, ask God to help you start with a foundation of faith that will help these qualities grow and build upon each other.  Pray that you would lead a productive life because of God’s presence in you.  Pray for an increasing humility which will allow the necessary character traits to grow more fully in your life.  Pray about how God would have you share with others in ways that encourage and build them up for greater effectiveness.  Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.

“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:4 (NIV)

As you pray this week, talk with God about some attributes He says are key in making your knowledge of Jesus useful.  Pray that your growth in Christ would help you to persevere in faith.  Pray that you would grow to maturity as you learn perseverance through the faithfulness of God.  Pray that your example of faithfulness in all things would help others know Jesus.

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: A Productive Self-Control! (9/23/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Productive Self-Control! (9/23/26)

 

This is the audio from the September 23, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will be about some of the qualities which God says are necessary for an effective and productive life.  I suspect that nearly everyone wants to live a life that matters — a life that makes a difference to others.  As you pray, ask God to help you start with a foundation of faith that will help these qualities grow and build upon each other.  Pray that you would lead a productive life because of God’s presence in you.  Pray for an increasing humility which will allow the necessary character traits to grow more fully in your life.  Pray about how God would have you share with others in ways that encourage and build them up for greater effectiveness.  Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.

“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.”
Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)

As you pray this week, talk with God about some attributes He says are key in making your knowledge of Jesus useful.  Pray for ever-increasing self-control to provide the protection God designed it for.  Pray for God’s Spirit to be evident in your life through the self-control which you possess as His gift.  Pray that the people around you would see a clearer image of Jesus through your self-control.

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: A Productive Knowledge! (9/22/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Productive Knowledge! (9/22/26)

 

This is the audio from the September 22, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will be about some of the qualities which God says are necessary for an effective and productive life.  I suspect that nearly everyone wants to live a life that matters — a life that makes a difference to others.  As you pray, ask God to help you start with a foundation of faith that will help these qualities grow and build upon each other.  Pray that you would lead a productive life because of God’s presence in you.  Pray for an increasing humility which will allow the necessary character traits to grow more fully in your life.  Pray about how God would have you share with others in ways that encourage and build them up for greater effectiveness.  Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!”
2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

As you pray this week, talk with God about some attributes He says are key in making your knowledge of Jesus useful.  Pray that God’s grace would produce within you a knowledge of Jesus that will transform every part of your life.  Pray for a knowledge that glorifies God rather than self.  Pray for the humility needed to give God the credit for all your knowledge.

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: A Productive Goodness! (9/21/26)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Productive Goodness! (9/21/26)

 

This is the audio from the September 21, 2026 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will be about some of the qualities which God says are necessary for an effective and productive life.  I suspect that nearly everyone wants to live a life that matters — a life that makes a difference to others.  As you pray, ask God to help you start with a foundation of faith that will help these qualities grow and build upon each other.  Pray that you would lead a productive life because of God’s presence in you.  Pray for an increasing humility which will allow the necessary character traits to grow more fully in your life.  Pray about how God would have you share with others in ways that encourage and build them up for greater effectiveness.  Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.

“I myself am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.”
Romans 15:14 (NIV)

As you pray this week, talk with God about some attributes He says are key in making your knowledge of Jesus useful.  Pray that your faith would produce a goodness that can instruct others in the things of God.  Pray that your eyes would be opened to the goodness of God in others.  Pray about how God would want His goodness to be seen in you.

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