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This is the audio from the April 4, 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
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 final 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.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’“
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
Do you like to go places? How do you decide where to go? Has there ever been a time in your life when someone in authority would set your schedule and tell you where you had to be and when you had to be there? Did you like it? Did you do it? Why? What do you think would happen if you took a job delivering pizza but would only go to the addresses that you were familiar with? Would your boss be okay with that, or would he expect you to go everywhere he tells you?
As Jesus was finishing His ministry on earth, He commands those who would follow Him to go and make disciples. Some say the emphasis in the command is on going and others claim it is on making disciples. I’m not convinced Jesus had any intention for us to separate the two parts of the command. The idea is that those needing to be discipled aren’t usually going to come to you as you sit by and wait — you must be actively involved in living the gospel of Jesus and taking it with you everywhere you go.
As you pray, ask God to fill you with the courage to go when He commands. Pray that your obedience to His command would involve you in the act of serving everywhere you go.
In prayer,
Tom
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This is the audio from the April 3, 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
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 twelfth 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.
“Differing weights and differing measures — the LORD detests them both.
Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.“
Proverbs 20:10-11 (NIV)
Why do you do what you do? What motives compel you to serve, or keep you from doing so? What do you think your actions reveal about you? What would your closest friends say about your purity based on your actions? What would strangers say? Should those answers be the same? Why? What standard do you use to determine “good and right” actions? How will having purity in your actions help you as you serve?
While our thoughts influence our actions, it is our actions that influence our character — what people think about us. Whether we like it or not, people are watching and they make judgments about what kind of person we are based on what they see us doing, or not doing. When those we are serving watch us, they decide rather quickly if we can be trusted as they observe our actions with others and experience our actions toward them. When our actions honor God, we find ourselves serving others in ways that honor God as well. As you pray, ask God to help you see how well your actions are reflecting Him to those you serve. Pray that the people around you will know you as God’s child by the way you live.
In prayer,
Tom
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This is the audio from the Good Friday, April 2, 2021 sermon, “A TIME to Remember”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.
Text: Matthew 27:32-50
Good Friday is a time to remember the great price which Jesus paid to cover the penalty of sin we each owe. As we look at the events of the crucifixion, I find four things which I believe are important for us to remember.
The message of the cross has a:
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This is the audio from the April 2, 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
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 twelfth 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.
“The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.“
Proverbs 15:26 (NIV)
What do you think about most? What things would make a thought impure? Do you think that list is larger or smaller than most people imagine? Why? How does your intent, or motives, influence the purity of your thoughts? How often are your thoughts pleasing to the Lord? Do you think He agrees with your answer? What would make a thought pleasing or displeasing to God? How will having pure thoughts help you serve others more effectively?
As with most aspects of purity, sexual temptation is an area that can quickly overtake a person’s thoughts and wreak havoc in their ability to serve. Because it is so predominant in our culture, it is easy to be on guard against impure sexual thoughts while completely ignoring the danger of other thoughts that are just as impure. We have thoughts of selfishness, pride, and envy that can cause us to not serve as we ought if we let them take over our mind. Any thought that doesn’t please God becomes a gateway for evil to take root. As you pray, ask God to cleanse your thought life. Pray that you would take captive every thought and make them obedient to Christ as you serve others.
In prayer,
Tom
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This is the audio from the April 1, 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
Tom's Treasure 