Bible Lessons

A Road of Victory! (Sermon Audio)
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A Road of Victory! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the April 9, 2023 sermon, “A Road of Victory: A Time to WIN”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 24:1-49

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)

Today I concluded a sermon series with a focus on The Road to Resurrection.  Each week of this series considered a different glimpse of the life of Jesus during His final week leading up to His death, burial, and resurrection.  The road to resurrection teaches us many things about God’s love for us and the love we ought to have for others.  While the road for Jesus was not an easy one, nor is it easy for us, the destination is a place of victory.  When we walk with Jesus and live a resurrected life, we discover a time to . . .

  • Worship:  —  Luke 24:1-8

    • The road of victory is a time to worship.  The women approached the tomb of Jesus early in the morning for the purpose of finishing the burial procedures and honor the One they had loved.  Their plan of worship was focused on the memories of what had been rather than on the reality of what was.  When we come face to face with the truth of the resurrection of Jesus, and of our own resurrected life by the power of Jesus, we learn to worship more than just the stories of Jesus, but the real presence of God with us.

  • Invite:  —  Luke 24:9-12

    • The road to victory is a time to invite all to come taste of the goodness of God.  Even with the confusion of an empty tomb and a lack of understanding, there was a consistent desire to invite others to come and see whatever it was they had discovered.  Those who have put their faith in God today, do so because someone invited them to “taste and see that the Lord is good”.  When we experience the victory of the resurrection, it is our responsibility and privilege to invite others to know a true victory that is found in Christ.

  • Nurture — Luke 24:25-27, 45-49

    • The road to victory is a time to be nurtured and to nurture others.  As Jesus begins to make Himself known to His followers, He addresses their doubts and sets about to restore their shaky faith.  When we are involved in making Jesus known to others, we not only plant the seeds through invitations but we also care for others in ways that help them to grow.  Jesus knew just how to use the right combination of correction and encouragement to prepare His followers for their role in turning the world upside down as they took the good news of Jesus everywhere they went.  When we experience the victory of the resurrection, it is our task to take the comfort we receive from Christ and use it to nurture the faith of others.

Today, how will you live a resurrected life that helps others know a time to WIN?

A Road of Death! (Good Friday Sermon Audio)
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A Road of Death! (Good Friday Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the April 7, 2023 Good Friday sermon, “A Road of Death; A Time to DIE”, shared by Tom Lemler at the West Side Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 23:26-49

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
John 12:24 (NIV)

As I had opportunity to preach at a Good Friday service, tonight I continued a sermon series with a focus on The Road to Resurrection.  Each week of this series has considered a different glimpse of the life of Jesus during His final week leading up to His death, burial, and resurrection. As Jesus continued with a steadfast commitment to this road of resurrection, He approached the cross with an attitude that displayed an awareness that a road of death was a necessary part of reaching the road of life. As we gaze upon the cross, we find Jesus calling each one of us to take up our cross in this time to . . .

  • Decide:  —  Luke 23:26-35

    • As we face the cross we are faced with a decision.  Do we turn away and serve self or do we decide to take up the cross and die to self?  .

  • Invest:  —  Luke 23:36-43

    • As we face the cross we find a God who chose to invest in us.  Our response to the cross ought to be a willingness to invest in people in a kingdom way.

  • Exclaim — Luke 23:44-49

    • As we face the cross we find the exclamation of Jesus that He had finished His life and was committing His spirit to God.  Our response ought to be a life that leads others to see Jesus in a way that they echo the centurion in declaring the righteousness of God.

Today, what will you do with the invitation of Jesus to take up your cross and DIE?

Encouragement and Prayer: Pray With a Clear Mind! (4/7/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Pray With a Clear Mind! (4/7/23)

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This is the audio from the April 7, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:32 (NIV)

I suppose it may seem a bit strange at first to pray about praying, but if prayer is as central in our life as it ought to be then we ought to be talking with God and seeking His help in this area.  I suspect one of the big reasons we need to seek God’s help in our prayer life is the command to “devote yourselves to prayer”.  If God had said to simply pray when you feel like it or when it’s convenient, most of us could handle that.  But devoting ourselves to prayer is an entirely different task.  When we go to God about our prayer life, we open our self up to His instruction and guidance in the way we relate to Him.

“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.”
1 Peter 4:7 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine just how devoted to prayer you are.  Ask God to help you overcome distractions that keep you from praying as you ought.  Pray that you would recognize in the brevity of life the importance of praying with a clear mind and with self control.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Pray When In Trouble! (4/6/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Pray When In Trouble! (4/6/23)

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This is the audio from the April 6, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:32 (NIV)

I suppose it may seem a bit strange at first to pray about praying, but if prayer is as central in our life as it ought to be then we ought to be talking with God and seeking His help in this area.  I suspect one of the big reasons we need to seek God’s help in our prayer life is the command to “devote yourselves to prayer”.  If God had said to simply pray when you feel like it or when it’s convenient, most of us could handle that.  But devoting ourselves to prayer is an entirely different task.  When we go to God about our prayer life, we open our self up to His instruction and guidance in the way we relate to Him.

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.”
James 5:13 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine just how devoted to prayer you are.  Ask God to help you look to him in times of trouble — whether it is trouble you face or trouble those around you experience.  Pray that you would know the praise of peace that comes to those who seek God in times of trouble.  Pray for the courage to have others pray for you during times of trouble.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Pray for Restoration! (4/5/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Pray for Restoration! (4/5/23)

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This is the audio from the April 5, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:32 (NIV)

I suppose it may seem a bit strange at first to pray about praying, but if prayer is as central in our life as it ought to be then we ought to be talking with God and seeking His help in this area.  I suspect one of the big reasons we need to seek God’s help in our prayer life is the command to “devote yourselves to prayer”.  If God had said to simply pray when you feel like it or when it’s convenient, most of us could handle that.  But devoting ourselves to prayer is an entirely different task.  When we go to God about our prayer life, we open our self up to His instruction and guidance in the way we relate to Him.

“I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.”
Hebrews 13:19 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine just how devoted to prayer you are.  Ask God to help you notice those who are distant and need to be restored.  Pray that you would not only be restored to God, but that you would seek God’s help in seeing people restored to one another.  Pray about specific individuals and situations in which you need to be restored.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

A Road of Prayer! (Sermon Audio)
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A Road of Prayer! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the April 2, 2023 sermon, “A Road of Prayer; Sweet HOUR of Prayer”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 22:31-32, 39-46

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:32 (NIV)

Today I continued a sermon series with a focus on The Road to Resurrection.  Each week of this series considers a different glimpse of the life of Jesus during His final week leading up to His death, burial, and resurrection.  Throughout His life on earth, Jesus set the example regarding the necessity of prayer.  As we walk this road to resurrection with Jesus, we find Him praying in the upper room with His disciples then returning to prayer in the garden as He asked them to join Him in the sweet . . .

  • Hope of Prayer:  —  Luke 22:31-32

    • Life is full of struggles and difficulties that may very well shake us to the very core of our being.  In the midst of Jesus telling Peter what Satan has desired to do, there is great hope in knowing Jesus has prayed for him and states work that is to be done after the failure.  When we live life on the road of prayer with Jesus, we live with great hope as we trust Him to accomplish everything He has promised.

  • Opportunity of Prayer:  —  Luke 22:39-40

    • The greatest opportunities of life are not about luck, but rather they are about being prepared.  We find Jesus praying in the garden because prayer was His natural response to life.  When we create a habit of prayer in our own life, we find every moment is an opportunity to pray for our self, for our friends, and even for our enemies.

  • Understanding of Prayer — Luke 22:41-44

    • Many people give up on prayer because it didn’t accomplish what they had hoped it would.  Prayer is not some type of cosmic vending machine that gives us whatever we want simply because we put the “coin’ of prayer in the proper slot.  Jesus taught us that a proper understanding of prayer is that which always seeks the will of God and seeks to honor Him regardless of whether the result is what we wanted or not.

  • Result of Prayer — Luke 22:45-46

    • If our understanding of prayer teaches us it isn’t about our will, then the result of prayer should always be such that our will aligns more closely with what God wants.  Jesus asked His disciples to pray so they would not fall into temptation.  When we walk this road of prayer each step of life we take, we discover a result that helps us to avoid the traps of temptation the enemy has placed all along our way.

Today, will you join Jesus in the sweet HOUR of prayer?

Encouragement and Prayer: Pray With Joy! (4/4/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Pray With Joy! (4/4/23)

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This is the audio from the April 4, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:32 (NIV)

I suppose it may seem a bit strange at first to pray about praying, but if prayer is as central in our life as it ought to be then we ought to be talking with God and seeking His help in this area.  I suspect one of the big reasons we need to seek God’s help in our prayer life is the command to “devote yourselves to prayer”.  If God had said to simply pray when you feel like it or when it’s convenient, most of us could handle that.  But devoting ourselves to prayer is an entirely different task.  When we go to God about our prayer life, we open our self up to His instruction and guidance in the way we relate to Him.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine just how devoted to prayer you are.  Pray that you would understand your need for God’s  help in this part of your relationship with Him — as in all other parts.  Pray that you would be always watchful and thankful as you pray — both qualities that will require God’s help.  Pray that  your relationship with God would grow as your devotion to prayer grows.

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.”
Philippians 1:4 (NIV)

Ask God to fill you with joy about Him and about those you pray for.  Pray that your joy would be expressed, and even increased, because of the way you pray for all of those around you.  Pray that you would live in such a way that others would be filled with joy in their prayers for you.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Serving By God’s Power! (3/27/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Serving By God’s Power! (3/27/23)

I am in Mississippi this week helping with disaster response following a series of tornados that ripped through the state over the weekend.  My internet is limited so I’m not able to do live stream broadcasts or upload the audio, but here is the written part of the day’s devotion.

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about serving others.  While many people put much time and effort into climbing their version of the ladder of success, few take time to understand God’s instructions for becoming great.  Not only did Jesus serve others as He walked this earth, that was His purpose in coming.  He made it clear through His teaching and His example that true success is found by climbing down the ladder to be with those who need served rather than climbing up the ladder away from them.  Any level of greatness that we might achieve will only be found as we view ourselves accurately according to God’s perspective and serve others as Jesus did.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you live with the humility that sees yourself as He sees you.  Pray for the courage to serve others when your flesh desires to be served.  Pray for the wisdom to serve others according to their need.  Pray for the desire to be more Christ-like in the way you serve.  Pray that your greatness would be measured by your sacrificial acts of service to others.

“For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.”
2 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

Pray that your weaknesses would allow God’s power to be evident in you as you serve others.  Pray that you would not use your weakness as an excuse to not serve others.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom