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This is the audio from the September 8, 2024 sermon, “Vision To GROW!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Zechariah 2

• Go:  Zechariah 2:1-2

  • A vision to grow involves the need to recognize we are representatives of Jesus everywhere we go.  We may go places with our own agenda and ideas of what we are doing, but God desires to use us in ways that are bigger than we often imagine.  When we acknowledge Jesus as being in charge of everything, including us, we are filled with a vision to go simply because He says so.

• Report:  Zechariah 2:3-5

  • A vision to grow will call for us to report all that we have seen Jesus do in our life.  When we live as one responding to the good news of Jesus, we grow in faith and we grow the kingdom when we tell others our story of encountering the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  It is in this report that we begin to realize the kingdom of God cannot be confined in ways that physical kingdoms are.  

• Observe:  Zechariah 2:6-9

  • A vision to grow means that we will observe the things of God in ways that not only notice God’s commands, but we keep them.  Part of our responsibility as God’s child is to teach others to observe everything commanded by Jesus.  It is through our life of giving value to all of God’s Word by our obedience to it, we help others grow through our teaching and example.

• Worship:  Zechariah 2:10-13

  • A vision to grow will lead us to a greater expression of worship as we realize it is God who is bringing about the growth.  Our response to going everywhere with the good news of Jesus not only leads us to a greater obedience, it leads us to worshiping God with the whole heart He desires for us to have.

Today, how will you GROW?

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This is the audio from the September 1, 2024 sermon, “Vision To Return: A Welcome HOME!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Zechariah 1

• Humility:  Zechariah 1:1-3

  • A vision of return begins with a welcome humility which acknowledges the Lord Almighty.  Three times in one short verse we find God referred to as the Lord Almighty.  I believe that should get our attention about who we are compared to who God is.  It is when we come home with humility that we find ourselves prepared to not only be humble before God, but to be humble in our dealings with others as we share God’s invitation to return home.

• Obedience:  Zechariah 1:4-6

  • A vision of return also leads us to an obedience to the One in charge.  Humbling ourselves before the Lord Almighty, by nature should indicate our willingness to obey.  But this isn’t an obedience born out of compulsion, rather it is a welcome obedience as our way of expressing the love and honor due to the One who has called us to return home.  It is in this obedience that we share with others God’s desire that they also return and find a welcome home.  

• Mercy:  Zechariah 1:12-16

  • A vision of return will lead us to find a very needed mercy.  God’s Word makes it clear that our rebellion against Him has earned us a penalty of death.  There is no amount of goodness on our part which can overcome the debt we have accumulated.  In fact, even the invitation to return to God is offered out of God’s immense mercy toward us.  But it’s not just us that God is merciful towards.  He says His mercy endures forever and extends to all who will call upon the name of the Lord.  The message of return ought to not just be experienced, it ought to be shared with others as we extend the same mercy which we ourselves need from God.

• Encouragement:  Zechariah 1:17

  • A vision of return will lead to a welcome encouragement.  It ought to encourage us beyond measure to know that we who were not a people of God are now God’s children.  No matter how much, or how little, we believe we have strayed from God, the Bible says we all like sheep have gone astray.  We are encouraged with the knowledge that God has seen us at our worst and still loves us and wants us.  We encourage others to return home when we choose to live with the same humility, obedience, mercy, and encouragement toward them that we ourselves need from God.

Today, how will you pursue a return of HOME?

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This is the audio from the August 25, 2024 sermon, “Chosen To Be Patient: Learning To WAIT!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 2 Peter 3

• Worship:  2 Peter 3:1-2

  • As those chosen by God to be patient, we must learn to worship God in the waiting.  As we reflect on the mighty works of God recorded in scripture and experienced in our own life, we find a God deserving of our worship.

• Act:  2 Peter 3:11-13

  • As those chosen by God to be patient, we find that God wants us to learn to act as those who are His children.  While waiting can often feel very passive, God has work for us to do as we long for His coming.  

• Inspect:  2 Peter 3:14-16

  • As those chosen by God to be patient, we use our time of waiting to inspect our life in comparison to the standard set in God’s Word.  While our tendency is to try and shape God’s Word to fit our choices, His command is that we shape our choices to fit His Word.

• Trust:  2 Peter 3:17-18

  • As those chosen by God to be patient, we learn to trust that God knows not only what He is doing, but also knows the proper time to accomplish it.  Waiting can be difficult, but when we trust what is coming is worth the wait, we find a reward of peace.

Today, how will you live as one chosen to learn to WAIT?

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This is the audio from the August 18, 2024 sermon, “Chosen To Be PURE!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 2 Peter 2

“Even a child is known by his actions,
by whether his conduct is pure and right.”
Proverbs 20:11 (NIV)

• Protected:  2 Peter 2:1-9

  • As those chosen by God to be pure, it is important to know that in the midst of all the evil in the world, God can and will protect those who are His.

• Understanding:  2 Peter 2:10-12

  • As those chosen by God to be pure, it is important that we grow in our understanding that God is the One who makes us pure through a cleansing by the blood of Jesus.  

• Repentant:  2 Peter 2:13-16

  • As those chosen by God to be pure, He has an expectation and command that we repent every time we find ourselves caught in sin.

• Example:  2 Peter 2:17-22

  • As those chosen by God to be pure, we have the privilege of following the example of Jesus so that we can be an example of purity for others.

Today, how will you live as one chosen to be PURE?

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This is the audio from the August 11, 2024 sermon, “Chosen To Be SURE!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 2 Peter 1

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.”
Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)

• Steadfast:  2 Peter 1:1-4

  • We can be sure because of a steadfast faith in a steadfast God.  When we choose to build on the solid foundation of Jesus, we find our house is able to withstand the storms of this world.  When the righteousness we claim is the righteousness of Christ rather than our own, we can be sure that God is with us and not against us.

• Useful:  2 Peter 1:5-11

  • When we are sure of the work of God in our life, and continually grow in the fruit produced by faith, we find that we are useful instruments prepared to do our Master’s will.  While the specific nature of the work God prepared in advance for us to do may vary from person to person, the useful result of the work is to help us know Jesus and to make Him known.  

• Reminded:  2 Peter 1:12-15

  • Not only are we forgetful people, but the enemy does everything he can to distract us and fill us with doubt.  It does us good to be reminded, and to be those who remind others, of the great value we have as those chosen by God to be His.  The reminders from God’s Word help us to remember how we ought to live and how we ought to represent Jesus.

• Eternal:  2 Peter 1:15-21

  • Living with our eyes fixed on the eternal prize, which belongs to all who are found in Christ, helps us be sure in our faith.  When the troubles of this world cause us to doubt the goodness of God, we need to step back and look at everything from the perspective of eternity.  When our confidence is built on an eternal God, we can look forward to the day when our faith shall be made visible.

Today, how will you live as one chosen to be SURE?

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This is the audio from the August 4, 2024 sermon, “Chosen To Be SHEEP!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 1 Peter 5

“Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”
Psalm 100:3 (NIV)

• Submissive:  1 Peter 5:1-4

  • It is the responsibility of each believer to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Even those who have leadership roles of any kind are to lead in such a way that they are serving those being led as they submit to the lordship of Jesus.  Shepherds of people only have that role as servants of the Chief Shepherd who sets the example of submission to God in all things.

• Humble:  1 Peter 5:5-6

  • Our submissiveness is only possible when we learn to take on the attitude of humility which was found in Christ Jesus.  We’re just sheep in the pasture of God, and as such we’re not better or worse than the other sheep which belong to Him.  It is through a spirit of humility that we find ourselves prepared to be lifted by God in ways we could never lift ourselves.

• Equipped:  1 Peter 5:7-11

  • The good news of being sheep is that it is the responsibility of the Good Shepherd to equip us with the protection which is necessary to stand against the attacks of the evil one.  Our ability to resist the temptations of evil is possible because our Shepherd equips us with spiritual armor that helps us to stand on the day of evil.

• Encouraged:  1 Peter 5:12

  • As sheep of God’s pasture, we are part of a herd.  This means we are not meant to do life alone and we are not left to do life alone.  It is said that hurt people hurt people, which I believe to be true.  The good news for the believer is that it is also true that encouraged people encourage people.  We have the responsibility, and ability, to encourage others with the same encouragement that we ourselves receive through our connection with Jesus as our Good Shepherd.

• Peaceful:  1 Peter 5:13-14

  • Some animals, and people, just seem to be mean by nature — good sheep are generally not that way.  In fact, as sheep of God’s pasture, He calls us to not only live at peace as far as it depends upon us, but to also be a peacemaker in everything we do.  When we surrender our desire to be in charge and learn to be a submissive, humble, equipped, and encouraged sheep with Jesus as the Chief Shepherd, we find the secret to a peaceful life in Christ.

Today, how will you live as one chosen to be SHEEP?

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This is the audio from the July 28, 2024 sermon, “Chosen To Be RIGHTeous!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 1 Peter 4

“Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”
Philippians 3:9 (NIV)

• Repentant:  1 Peter 4:1-4

  • Since we do not have a righteousness of our own, a change must take place for us to be declared righteous.  That change comes in the form of our repentance from all that is sinful.  When we choose to identify with the suffering of Christ, we choose to die to sin which means it has been rejected by us and we now live in a new way.  Our desire for sin is dead and our repentance leads us toward the righteousness which can be found in Christ.

• Instructed:  1 Peter 4:5-7

  • In a world filled with information, it can be challenging to know what is good and right.  In fact, many will tell us to go by what we feel or by what makes us happy.  Unfortunately, going along with the world will never lead to righteousness simply because the world is caught up in a pursuit of evil desire.  It is when we turn to God’s Word for true instruction that we find ourselves being cleansed of all unrighteousness so that we are prepared for God to judge us according to the spirit.

• Giving:  1 Peter 4:8-10

  • While the hallmark of unrighteousness is selfishness, the shining star of righteousness is love.  But the love defined by righteousness is not a love which is self-serving, but rather a love which is giving.  When we are declared righteous by God, we recognize that everything we have has come to us as a gift from God.  Our understanding of God as the owner of all things should lead us to be a more generous person as we seek to reflect the nature of God.

• Humble:  1 Peter 4:11

  • Sometimes the temptation of being declared righteous is that we begin to think we are good enough to actually be righteous.  When we use the gifting of God in our life to serve others, we do so with the humility which gives God the credit for all the good being done.  It is a spirit of humility which helps us serve with an attitude that considers the needs of others to be more important than our own.

• Tested:  1 Peter 4:12-19

  • Perhaps the most difficult part of being declared righteous is the testing that takes place in this world.  We want to think that being right with God should remove all trouble from our life, yet Jesus declared that in this world we would have trouble.  Just as a test in school is designed to confirm what we know, the testing of our faith through the trials and struggles of life serve to confirm the righteousness God has declared is ours.

Today, how will you live as one chosen to be RIGHTeous?

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This is the audio from the July 21, 2024 sermon, “Chosen To Be READY!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 1 Peter 3

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

• Respectful:  1 Peter 3:1-7

  • One of the things that often gets lost when people look at the first part of 1 Peter 3 is the context of submitting to one another so that we are ready to give an answer for the hope which lies within us.  God’s desire is that our attitude toward one another would be respectful so that unbelievers would desire to know the Savior we know.  When our submission is a reflection of our reverence for Christ, we find that it has purpose and brings fulfillment to us and to others.

• Encouraging:  1 Peter 3:8-9

  • The world is filled with so many discouraging things which weigh us down and attempt to keep us from being ready to share the good news of Jesus and His return.  The way in which we encourage one another goes a long way in not only helping others remain faithful, but i helping us be ready to share about the hope Jesus gives us.  The Bible says we ought to be actively involved in meeting together for the purpose of encouragement, and to be doing so more and more as we see the day of Christ’s return approaching.  When we are encouraged, and encouraging, we prepare ourselves to be ready.

• Active:  1 Peter 3:10-14

  • Being ready is not something that passively occurs simply because we want it to happen.  God’s Word instructs us to be active in our participation even as God’s Spirit does the work of conviction and transformation.  Refraining from evil and doing good requires an active desire on our part to know that which is God’s good and perfect will, and then set about with the fruit of God’s Spirit to help us live according to that will.  We find ourselves ready when we are active in our repentance and obedience to all God’s instructions.

• Direct:  1 Peter 3:15-17

  • Many of us like to be liked, so it often becomes difficult to be as direct as we ought to be.  When asked about the hope that lies within us, we beat around the bush so badly that the truth of Jesus being that hope never gets heard.  The necessary balance to being direct is to do so with gentleness and respect.  Helping a fellow believer notice a sin in their life which they may be blinded to, must be done with love, compassion, and care.  Our answer about what God has done in our life should be as clear as possible so that others would know the hope they desire is attainable.

• Yielded:  1 Peter 3:18-22

  • Being ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us begins by first setting apart Christ as Lord in our life.   We live a life yielded to Him and a life that continues to yield to Him.  Being immersed into Christ often makes no logical sense other than it is an act of obedience which identifies us with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  It is God choosing to work in us a resurrection from the deadness of sin which had laid claim to our soul.  If the heart of being ready involves submission to one another, the foundation on which we build is a life fully yielded to God.

Today, how will you live as one chosen to be READY?