Bible Lessons

Encouragement and Prayer: Come Near To God! (10/23/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Come Near To God! (10/23/25)

This is the audio from the October 23, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”  
Matthew 4:19 (NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will focus on knowing the invitation of Jesus to come, follow Him.  This invitation of Jesus to follow Him is not meant to be a passive following like is often done on social media.  No, it is a call to action as we come to where He is and then we follow His actions in regard to both where He goes and how He lives.  In fact, Jesus says that if we wish to come after Him we must take up our cross daily and follow Him even in our dying to self.  Pray that you would understand the need for an active following of the ways and teachings of God’s Word.  Pray for an eagerness to become more like Jesus in all your ways.  Pray that your response to God would daily be an active movement toward Him.  Pray for wisdom in living a life that invites others to come and follow Jesus.  Pray that your following of Jesus would result in a great catch of people for God’s kingdom.

“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
James 4:8 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your desire to come and follow Jesus.  Pray that your desire would always be to come near to God in your thoughts and actions.  Pray that you would know the nearness of God’s response as you approach Him by faith.  Pray for a steadfast mind that desires the nearness 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: Come and Be Cleansed! (10/22/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Come and Be Cleansed! (10/22/25)

This is the audio from the October 22, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”  
Matthew 4:19 (NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will focus on knowing the invitation of Jesus to come, follow Him.  This invitation of Jesus to follow Him is not meant to be a passive following like is often done on social media.  No, it is a call to action as we come to where He is and then we follow His actions in regard to both where He goes and how He lives.  In fact, Jesus says that if we wish to come after Him we must take up our cross daily and follow Him even in our dying to self.  Pray that you would understand the need for an active following of the ways and teachings of God’s Word.  Pray for an eagerness to become more like Jesus in all your ways.  Pray that your response to God would daily be an active movement toward Him.  Pray for wisdom in living a life that invites others to come and follow Jesus.  Pray that your following of Jesus would result in a great catch of people for God’s kingdom.

“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.  Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
2 Corinthians 6:17 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your desire to come and follow Jesus.  Pray that you would have the courage and wisdom to leave the things of sin as you approach Jesus to be cleansed.  Pray for a growing desire to live a life set apart to honor God.  Pray for a purity of mind to keep yourself holy.

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: Come To Your Senses! (10/21/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Come To Your Senses! (10/21/25)

This is the audio from the October 21, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”  
Matthew 4:19 (NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will focus on knowing the invitation of Jesus to come, follow Him.  This invitation of Jesus to follow Him is not meant to be a passive following like is often done on social media.  No, it is a call to action as we come to where He is and then we follow His actions in regard to both where He goes and how He lives.  In fact, Jesus says that if we wish to come after Him we must take up our cross daily and follow Him even in our dying to self.  Pray that you would understand the need for an active following of the ways and teachings of God’s Word.  Pray for an eagerness to become more like Jesus in all your ways.  Pray that your response to God would daily be an active movement toward Him.  Pray for wisdom in living a life that invites others to come and follow Jesus.  Pray that your following of Jesus would result in a great catch of people for God’s kingdom.

“Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God — I say this to your shame.”
1 Corinthians 15:34 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your desire to come and follow Jesus.  Pray that you would recognize the deceptiveness of sin as you come to your senses with the help of God’s Spirit.  Pray that you would not be ignorant of God or His ways so that you would not be brought to shame.

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 Invitation: COME! (Sermon Audio)
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Knowing the BASICS – Knowing the Invitation: COME! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the October 19, 2025 sermon, “Knowing the Invitation: COME!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Revelation 22:17, Acts 2:36-47

 

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”
Revelation 22:17 (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 calling for us to . . .

  • Change:  Acts 2:36-40

    • The invitation of Jesus for us to come to Him is a call for us to change.  The very heart of repentance is to stop what we’re doing and begin doing something different.  With the help of God’s Spirit, we must turn from sin and pursue righteousness.  As the crowd heard the message of God through Peter and the apostles, they asked what they needed to do.  It was the invitation of God that they repent and be immersed as God wanted to change them from being dead in sin to being alive in Christ. 

  • Obey:  Acts 2:41

    • When Jesus invites us to change, the proper response is always to obey.  We see that from the crowd on the day of Pentecost as about 3000 people are obedient to the command to repent and be immersed.  When we come to Jesus, it is always important to remember we do so on His terms, not ours.  Jesus makes it clear in His teaching that it makes no sense for us to call Him Lord and yet choose to not obey Him.

  • Model: Acts 2:42-44

    • Our response to the invitation of Jesus to come is made evident in how we model this new life on a daily basis.  The early Christians were indeed known for their love for one another just as Jesus expected.  The didn’t just talk the Jesus talk, the lived the Jesus life.  It is in our change and obedience that God works in us to equip us to model a life which represents Jesus.

  • Enjoy:  Acts 2:45-47

    • Contrary to what some may believe and teach, our response to the invitation of Jesus isn’t just about us changing and obediently following God’s Word so we model the life of Christ.  No, it is designed so we would do all of that in a way that brings enjoyment!  When Jesus calls for all who are thirsty to come, He does so in order for us to enjoy the life which is made full in Christ.

Today, how will you COME?

Encouragement and Prayer: Come and Find Rest! (10/20/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Come and Find Rest! (10/20/25)

This is the audio from the October 20, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”  
Matthew 4:19 (NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will focus on knowing the invitation of Jesus to come, follow Him.  This invitation of Jesus to follow Him is not meant to be a passive following like is often done on social media.  No, it is a call to action as we come to where He is and then we follow His actions in regard to both where He goes and how He lives.  In fact, Jesus says that if we wish to come after Him we must take up our cross daily and follow Him even in our dying to self.  Pray that you would understand the need for an active following of the ways and teachings of God’s Word.  Pray for an eagerness to become more like Jesus in all your ways.  Pray that your response to God would daily be an active movement toward Him.  Pray for wisdom in living a life that invites others to come and follow Jesus.  Pray that your following of Jesus would result in a great catch of people for God’s kingdom.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your desire to come and follow Jesus.  Pray that you would respond to the call of Jesus to find a place or rest in Him.  Pray for all who are weary, that they would find rest in Jesus.  Pray that you would always find the burdens of your life to be lightened as you place them in the care of 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: Submit To God! (10/17/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Submit To God! (10/17/25)

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

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“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”
Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)

This week we will focus on praying about submission from God’s point of view and how it is a practice we all should participate in as we seek to be more Christ-like.  The Bible says that Jesus was heard by His Father because of His reverent submission.  Yet submission is a word and topic that we tend to avoid in the church and in our personal lives because it may sound demeaning to give up our rights in preference to someone else. Pray that you would be confident in God hearing your prayers and petitions as you grow in your submission to Him.  Pray that you would know the salvation found in  Christ as you submit to His will and His way.  Pray that the way you submit to God would be evident in the way you submit to others.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 (NIV)

 As you pray this week, ask God to help you understand the importance and value of submission to God and to one another.  Pray that you would submit to God in all things so that the devil has no foothold in your life.  Pray that your submission to  God would give you the courage to resist the devil and all his temptations.  Pray for a continued growth in seeing how your submission to God helps you to resist all that is evil.

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: Submit To Leaders! (10/16/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Submit To Leaders! (10/16/25)

This is the audio from the October 16, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”
Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)

This week we will focus on praying about submission from God’s point of view and how it is a practice we all should participate in as we seek to be more Christ-like.  The Bible says that Jesus was heard by His Father because of His reverent submission.  Yet submission is a word and topic that we tend to avoid in the church and in our personal lives because it may sound demeaning to give up our rights in preference to someone else. Pray that you would be confident in God hearing your prayers and petitions as you grow in your submission to Him.  Pray that you would know the salvation found in  Christ as you submit to His will and His way.  Pray that the way you submit to God would be evident in the way you submit to others.

“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 understand the importance and value of submission to God and to one another.  Pray that your submission to leaders would make their work a joy.  Pray for godly leaders who are easy to submit to as they fully submit to 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: Submit To Discipline! (10/15/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Submit To Discipline! (10/15/25)

This is the audio from the October 15, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”
Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)

This week we will focus on praying about submission from God’s point of view and how it is a practice we all should participate in as we seek to be more Christ-like.  The Bible says that Jesus was heard by His Father because of His reverent submission.  Yet submission is a word and topic that we tend to avoid in the church and in our personal lives because it may sound demeaning to give up our rights in preference to someone else. Pray that you would be confident in God hearing your prayers and petitions as you grow in your submission to Him.  Pray that you would know the salvation found in  Christ as you submit to His will and His way.  Pray that the way you submit to God would be evident in the way you submit to others.

“Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!”
Hebrews 12:9 (NIV)

 As you pray this week, ask God to help you understand the importance and value of submission to God and to one another.  Pray that you would accept God’s discipline as the live-giving correction it is meant to be.  Pray for the courage to welcome discipline from God as an act of His 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