Discipleship

Serving God: Contentment As a Part of God’s Commands
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Serving God: Contentment As a Part of God’s Commands

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 one in the second 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:
Contentment As a Part of God’s Commands

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Deuteronomy 5:21 (NIV)

Are there things that you want, or want more of, just because you see someone else have them?  What are some of those things?  How effective is visual advertising in getting you to think you need something?  With the costs of 30-second advertisements during events like the Super Bowl in the millions of dollars, how effective do you think companies believe visual advertising is?  How would a lifestyle of contentment help you to live obediently to God’s command to not covet?  Why do you think contentment would be such an important quality in the lives of those who serve?

Doing the right thing has always been a core part of who I am.  Not that I have always chosen the right thing, but the desire to do so seems to have been imbedded in me by my parents and by God Himself.  Our society makes living with an attitude of contentment a very difficult thing to do.  Knowing that God commands me to be content, to not covet what others have, helps me have a desire to be satisfied with what He gives me.  As you pray, ask God to help you understand His desire for you to be content.  Pray that you would be able to serve others effectively because of your obedience to God’s commands.

In prayer,

Tom

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Encouragement and Prayer (01/14/21)

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This is the audio from the January 14, 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 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