Bible Lessons

Encouragement and Prayer: Pray Earnestly! (11/17/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Pray Earnestly! (11/17/25)

This is the audio from the November 17, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about our need to pray with joy!  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.  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.  Pray each day for the individuals of your church congregation as well as the body of Christ as a whole.

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”
Acts 12:5 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine just how devoted to prayer you are.  Ask God to help you pray earnestly for those whose situations may seem hopeless.  Pray that you would be serious in the content of your prayers and in the expectation that God will act for the good of His children.  Ask God to help you always keep on praying without giving up.

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

Exceedingly Great Joy: PRAY With Joy! (Sermon Audio)
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Exceedingly Great Joy: PRAY With Joy! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the November 16, 2025 sermon, “Exceedingly Great Joy: PRAY With Joy!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Philippians 1:1-11

 

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

Today, we begin a sermon series through Philippians about Exceedingly Great Joy and we lay the foundation with prayerful joy!  Even as a prisoner himself, Paul knew the secret to the exceedingly great joy expressed by the Magi and he sought to instruct the Philippians, and us, about how to live with such joy.  At the heart of living with exceedingly great joy is the need for each of us to . . .

  • Partner with joy:  Philippians 1:3-6

    • Prayer is a partnership of us choosing to align our self with God, and therefore growing in joy at the success of others.  As Paul prayed for the Philippian believers, he was filled with joy because of their partnership with him in the gospel.  When we allow God to be in control of our life, we ought to grow in our understanding of how our partnership with others aids in the spread of the gospel.  We pray with joy when we partner with others in sharing the good news of Jesus. 

  • Receive with joy:  Philippians 1:7-8

    • Praying involves receiving from God that which only He can give.  Even when we receive from others, we acknowledge in prayer how God is the One who ultimately provided that which was needed.  When we humble our self to receive from others, we recognize how God uses each of us to  be a blessing to someone else.  We pray with joy when we humbly receive from God and from others.

  • Ask with joy:  Philippians 1:9-10

    • Perhaps the most common aspect of praying is when we ask God for what we need, want, or desire.  Because we don’t always know what we ought to ask for, it can be easy to become disillusioned with prayer when our asking doesn’t produce the desired results.  Paul’s asking was not for any of the things you might expect to ask for given similar circumstances.  Rather, he asked for God to meet the spiritual needs necessary for the growth of faith in the lives of the believers.  We pray with joy when we learn to unselfishly ask for God to provide for others the things which only He can provide.

  • Yield with joy:  Philippians 1:11

    • For prayer to be meaningful and effective, it is important that we are willing to yield to the will of God in all circumstances.  We can partner, receive, and ask all that we want but when we refuse to yield, all of those aspects of prayer become very self-centered.  Jesus taught by example that we should pray for God’s will to be done in all things, especially when our will does not yet align with His.  We pray with joy when we yield and experience the goodness of God’s plans far exceeding our own.

Today, how will you PRAY with joy?

Encouragement and Prayer: A Gift Of Yourself! (11/14/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Gift Of Yourself! (11/14/25)

This is the audio from the November 14, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on a topic which requires great humility in us for it to be seen as a good thing.  While referring to someone as thinking they are God’s gift to mankind is usually a reference to attitudes and actions of arrogance, when we live in the humility of God’s Spirit we find God really has created us as His gift.  It is this humility that helps us understand the gift doesn’t choose either the giver or the recipient.  There will not be much that is as affirming in your life as knowing God has chosen you as His gift to others through the good works He created in advance for you to do.  Pray that you would learn to communicate to others the precious gift of God that they are.  Pray that you would live as one who does the will and works of God in such a way that others praise Him for His wonderful gifts.  Pray that you would always view the children in your family, your church, and your community as the gifts from God that they are.

“And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.”
2 Corinthians 8:5 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see the value He places on the workmanship of His hands.  Pray that your life as God’s gift would be a result of first giving yourself to the Lord.  Pray that your obedience to God would lead you to give of yourself to Him and to those around you who need what He has placed 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

Encouragement and Prayer: A Gift That Is Enough! (11/13/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Gift That Is Enough! (11/13/25)

This is the audio from the November 13, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on a topic which requires great humility in us for it to be seen as a good thing.  While referring to someone as thinking they are God’s gift to mankind is usually a reference to attitudes and actions of arrogance, when we live in the humility of God’s Spirit we find God really has created us as His gift.  It is this humility that helps us understand the gift doesn’t choose either the giver or the recipient.  There will not be much that is as affirming in your life as knowing God has chosen you as His gift to others through the good works He created in advance for you to do.  Pray that you would learn to communicate to others the precious gift of God that they are.  Pray that you would live as one who does the will and works of God in such a way that others praise Him for His wonderful gifts.  Pray that you would always view the children in your family, your church, and your community as the gifts from God that they are.

“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”
2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see the value He places on the workmanship of His hands.  Pray that you would live with an understanding that God has created you to be enough for the need He has called you to meet.  Pray that you would be willing to give fully based on what you have rather than based on what you want.

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 Gift That Comes From God! (11/12/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Gift That Comes From God! (11/12/25)

This is the audio from the November 12, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on a topic which requires great humility in us for it to be seen as a good thing.  While referring to someone as thinking they are God’s gift to mankind is usually a reference to attitudes and actions of arrogance, when we live in the humility of God’s Spirit we find God really has created us as His gift.  It is this humility that helps us understand the gift doesn’t choose either the giver or the recipient.  There will not be much that is as affirming in your life as knowing God has chosen you as His gift to others through the good works He created in advance for you to do.  Pray that you would learn to communicate to others the precious gift of God that they are.  Pray that you would live as one who does the will and works of God in such a way that others praise Him for His wonderful gifts.  Pray that you would always view the children in your family, your church, and your community as the gifts from God that they are.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
James 1:17 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see the value He places on the workmanship of His hands.  Pray that you would always acknowledge God as the source of every good gift, even when that gift may appear to come from you.  Pray that you would pour yourself into the lives of others as a gift to them 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: A Gift To Serve Others! (11/11/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Gift To Serve Others! (11/11/25)

This is the audio from the November 11, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on a topic which requires great humility in us for it to be seen as a good thing.  While referring to someone as thinking they are God’s gift to mankind is usually a reference to attitudes and actions of arrogance, when we live in the humility of God’s Spirit we find God really has created us as His gift.  It is this humility that helps us understand the gift doesn’t choose either the giver or the recipient.  There will not be much that is as affirming in your life as knowing God has chosen you as His gift to others through the good works He created in advance for you to do.  Pray that you would learn to communicate to others the precious gift of God that they are.  Pray that you would live as one who does the will and works of God in such a way that others praise Him for His wonderful gifts.  Pray that you would always view the children in your family, your church, and your community as the gifts from God that they are.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see the value He places on the workmanship of His hands.  Pray that your life as God’s gift to others would be displayed in the way you serve them.  Pray for the humility necessary to serve others according to their need rather than according to your desire.

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 Gift To Your Parents! (11/10/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Gift To Your Parents! (11/10/25)

This is the audio from the November 10, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on a topic which requires great humility in us for it to be seen as a good thing.  While referring to someone as thinking they are God’s gift to mankind is usually a reference to attitudes and actions of arrogance, when we live in the humility of God’s Spirit we find God really has created us as His gift.  It is this humility that helps us understand the gift doesn’t choose either the giver or the recipient.  There will not be much that is as affirming in your life as knowing God has chosen you as His gift to others through the good works He created in advance for you to do.  Pray that you would learn to communicate to others the precious gift of God that they are.  Pray that you would live as one who does the will and works of God in such a way that others praise Him for His wonderful gifts.  Pray that you would always view the children in your family, your church, and your community as the gifts from God that they are.

“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD; The fruit of the womb is a reward.”
Psalm 127:3 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see the value He places on the workmanship of His hands.  Pray that you would view all children as the gift that God says they are.  Pray that you would live as one who is God’s gift to your parents regardless of your age or their level of deserving such a gift.  Ask God to help you know how to be the gift that is “just right” for the time at hand.

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

Knowing the BASICS – Knowing the Stewardship: Your GIFT! (Sermon Audio)
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Knowing the BASICS – Knowing the Stewardship: Your GIFT! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the November 9, 2025 sermon, “Knowing the Stewardship: Your GIFT!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

 

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Today we continued a sermon series about Knowing the BASICS!  This will be a six-part series looking at the basics of what we believe as the Deer Run Church of Christ, which corresponds with what I believe as a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus.  Foundational to our beliefs about God is a belief that the Bible is the true and accurate Word of God filled with the content He desires for us to know and follow.  Because the Bible is God’s Word, we believe and know God to be the authority over all things.  With God as the authority, we find through Jesus the example of knowing the submission we ought to live with.  As we submit to God, we discover a great invitation from Him to all people.  As we respond to the invitation of God, we discover a community of believers called to a unity through a communion with God and with one another.  When we understand that the true ownership of all that we have and all that we are belongs to God, it ought to lead us into a practice of godly stewardship.  In church settings we often think of stewardship in terms of the amount we give.  I believe God would have each person be more serious in looking at both sides of your . . .

  • Generosity:  2 Corinthians 9:6-7

    • Understanding your gift begins with an understanding of God’s generosity which ought to lead to your generosity.  Our working definition of generosity typically involves someone who gives freely, joyfully, abundantly, and beyond what is expected.  God anticipates an abundant crop of righteousness produced in our life because He has been generous in sowing those seeds into us.  God’s gift becoming your gift, and your gift becoming God’s gift, will always produce generosity. 

  • Involvement:  2 Corinthians 9:8-9

    • Understanding your gift will lead you to an involvement in using that gift for the good of God’s kingdom.  It is God’s gift, His grace in your life, which supplies the very things necessary for good works to be accomplished in you and through you.  God expects to be involved in your life just as he expects you to be involved in kingdom life.  God’s gift becoming your gift, and your gift becoming God’s gift, will always require both His and your involvement.

  • Faith: 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

    • Understanding your gift will produce a growing faith in your life.  While the very definition of faith precludes God from having a belief and trust in something unseen and unknown, in a sense He has faith in us as He both sows seed in our life and provides seed for us to sow.  It is by faith that we accept the seed of God’s Word planted within us and it is by faith that we share the seed of that Word with others.  God’s gift becoming your gift, and your gift becoming God’s gift, will always be an act of faith.

  • Thankfulness:  2 Corinthians 9:12-15

    • Understanding your gift will result in a thankfulness that must be expressed.  As each member of the body of Christ does its part, it produces an overwhelming thankfulness for the way God is meeting the needs of everyone.  It is relatively easy to do things in a way in which people thank you for your help.  The greater challenge as those who recognize all things come from God, is to do your good deeds in a way which people glorify your Father who is in heaven.  God’s gift becoming your gift, and your gift becoming God’s gift will always result in a thankfulness which acknowledges God.

Today, how will you express your GIFT?