Bible Lessons

Serving God: Serve to Be Like Christ
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Serving God: Serve to Be Like Christ

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day seven in the first week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Serve to Be Like Christ

“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)

Who are some people that you have wanted to be like during your life so far?  Why?  Have there been people in various leadership roles over you that you would not want to be like?  Why?  Do you respond better to someone who works with you on a task or to someone who watches from a distance as they tell you exactly how to do it their way?  How would you define servant leadership?  Do you think it is really possible to become great by serving?  Who have you avoided serving that you need to serve this week?

Several times in the gospels, the disciples seem to try to figure out a “pecking order” — who was the greatest, who deserved the place of highest honor.  It seems to be our natural tendency to do everything in our power to be the one being served rather than the one serving.  However, if it is our desire to be like Christ then we must adopt His attitude and practice of becoming servant of all.  As you pray, ask God to empty your heart and mind of all pride that keeps you from serving.  Pray that you would follow the example of Christ in serving others for their benefit.

In prayer,

Tom

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Encouragement and Prayer (01/13/21)

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This is the audio from the January 13, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Serving God: Serve By Encouraging
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Serving God: Serve By Encouraging

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day six in the first week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Serve By Encouraging

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.“
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

What is the most encouraging thing anyone has ever said to you or done for you?  What made it so?  How often do you like to be encouraged?  How often do you encourage others?  What are some things you could do this week to encourage the people around you?  Would it help if you knew what they received encouragement from?  How would you know?  Do you find the gathering together as a staff encouraging?  Why or why not?  What can you do to make it more encouraging?

The writer of Hebrews tells us that we should purposefully come together as a group to encourage one another.  As the days draw nearer to the return of Christ it is even more important that we spur one another on in remaining faithful to our calling in Christ Jesus.  If you haven’t noticed, life has a way of discouraging everyone at some time or another.  God has given us the task of encouraging others so that they too would be able to encourage us.  As you pray, ask God to help you to see the value in meeting together with fellow believers.  Pray that your life would be an encouragement to others as you meet together with an eternal perspective.

In prayer,

Tom

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Encouragement and Prayer (01/12/21)

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This is the audio from the January 12, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Serving God: Serve By Visiting
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Serving God: Serve By Visiting

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day five in the first week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Serve By Visiting

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’“
Matthew 25:37-40 (NIV)

Who do you like to spend time with?  Why?  Are there people that you tend to avoid?  Why?  If you were to evaluate the time you spend with people, how much of that time is about benefitting you?  How much is for mutual benefit?  How much is primarily to benefit others?  Are there people you have noticed this week that you could serve simply by spending time with them?  Would your attitude about spending time with them change if you viewed that time as being time spent with Jesus Himself?

Most of us know people that have a hard time fitting in.  Some of us are those people.  In a group setting we often leave those who don’t fit in alone, rather than take the time to go sit with them and get permission to enter their world for a moment.  When God calls us to visit the lonely and the outcast, sometimes they are much nearer to us than we even think about.  As you pray, ask God to help you see the people around you that you can serve simply by spending time with them listening and giving value to them as a person.  Pray that you would notice the stranger, the needy, the sick, and the imprisoned and visit them as if you are visiting Christ.

In prayer,

Tom

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Encouragement and Prayer (01/11/21)

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This is the audio from the January 11, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Serving God: Serve By Rebuking and Repenting
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Serving God: Serve By Rebuking and Repenting

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day four in the first week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Serve By Rebuking and Repenting

“If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.  If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.“
Luke 17:3-4 (NIV)

Have you ever been wrong?  How does it feel when someone points out an area of incorrect belief or action in your life?  Why?  How can rebuking someone be seen as serving them?  Are there ways to rebuke, or be rebuked, that would not be serving?  What should the goal of pointing out the faults of another be?  What should your response be when your faults are revealed?  Is repentance more than being sorry?  What do you think repentance should look like when you need to repent?  When others need to repent?

We all know of times when rebuking, or pointing out the sin of another, did not lead to good results.  There are times when those closest to us think they are doing us a favor by not mentioning sin that has become obvious in our life.  If we want to serve others in a way that benefits them, we must learn the godly versions of both rebuking and repenting.  God’s desire in rebuking is that it would lead to repentance — a change of mind that aligns our direction with His.  As you pray, ask God to fill you with His love to direct the rebuking and repentance that you need to do.  Pray for the wisdom and grace to rebuke others in love and to repent when you are rebuked. 

In prayer,

Tom

Finding (And Sharing) CALM in the Storms (Sermon Audio)
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Finding (And Sharing) CALM in the Storms (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the January 10, 2021 sermon, “Finding CALM in the Storm”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Mark 1:21-45

Storms come in many shapes and sizes.  The storms of life are no different in that even when similar, each storm seems to be unique.  As we consider the storms of this year, there are many storms that have been widespread such as the storms of injustice, COVID, political division, and other issues that touch all of us in some way.  There have also been the “usual” storms of life that are often dealt with in individual lives in ways that can be unknown to those around us.  In all of these storms, I believe that God’s desire for us as Christ-followers is that we would both find and share a CALM that can only come from Him.  Today’s message looks at some ways Jesus remained calm in the midst of the storms of sickness, disease, and pure evil.

When the storms of life rage around you, ask God to help you know and share His . . . 

  • Compassion: Mark 1:29-31, 40-41 — One of the foundations of finding and sharing calm in the midst of life’s storms is to approach all people and situations with compassion.  We do that when we take the time to listen and fully understand a person to the best of our ability.  We experience calm when we experience the compassion of Christ demonstrated toward us.  We share calm when we extend that same level of compassion to others — all others.
  • Authority:  Mark 1:25-27, 33-34 — A second foundation of finding and sharing calm in the midst of life’s storms is to submit to the authority of God in all things.  When we do that, we learn to trust God whether the storm is dismissed by Him or if He chooses to carry us through it.  We can be pretty good at intensifying our storms simply by thinking we know best.  We experience calm in the storm when we admit we aren’t in charge and our desired outcome isn’t anywhere near having the same authority as what God wants.  We share calm when we allow God to be God and don’t take it upon ourselves to be the final authority in the things that others experience as storms.
  • Lessons:  Mark 1:38-39 — Another foundation of finding and sharing calm in the midst of life’s storms is to look for and learn from the lessons the storms contain.  One of those great lessons that Jesus taught over and over again is that the calm He offers is for everyone.  When the disciples wanted to pull Him back into the city because there was still a great need, He used the opportunity of the storms to teach them about His purpose on earth.  We experience calm in the storm when we open ourselves up to learning the lessons that we might never learn apart from the difficulty.  We share calm when we help others see the lessons God would have for them.
  • Moments:  Mark 1:35, 45 — The final foundation of finding and sharing calm in the midst of life’s storms is to look for and savor the moments.  Jesus set the example through His practice of finding solitary places to spend time with His Father in prayer.  It is not only okay to admit we need a time-out from the storms on occasion, it is necessary to find those moments of solitude and spend them with our Father.  In an age of technology that can constantly bombard us with news of the storms all while trying to draw us into them, it is critical that we deliberately step aside for those moments with God.  We experience calm in the storm when we spend our moments with God.  We share calm in the storm when we help others value and practice time alone with God.

So, as you live through the storms which batter our nation and batter your life, will you pause long enough to find the CALM God wants you to have?  Once you find it, will you be obedient in sharing that CALM with others? 

In prayer,
Tom