~

This is the audio from the January 21, 2024 sermon, “Immeasurably More: SERVE!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 1 Peter 4:7-11, Galatians 5:13-15

This morning’s message continued a sermon series designed to help us look at some of the immeasurably more God desires to do in us, through us, and for us.  Often when we think about immeasurably more, it focuses on what we want to receive.  God, on the other hand, is more concerned about what He will do to make the good news of the kingdom grow.  In the first message of this series we considered what it looks like to experience immeasurably more in our prayer life.  Last week we addressed the immeasurably more love that God has for us and expects us to share with others.  This led us to today’s topic of serving in immeasurably more ways because of what we experience through our increased prayers and love.  When we communicate with God through prayer and put His love into practice in our daily life, our appropriate response is to grow in the way we . . .

• Share: — Romans 12:13, 1 Timothy 6:18

  • We serve others when we choose to share with them according to their need.  I suspect that the most difficult thing for anyone to share is whatever it is that they value the most.  Many cringe at the topic of sharing because they equate it with someone wanting them to give away some of their money.  While Biblical sharing can, and often does, include our financial resources, the responsibility to share goes well beyond that.  In fact, Paul says that the reason Christians could share financially beyond what looked possible was because they had first given themselves to God.  We learn the immeasurably more of serving that God desires for us to practice when we share of our finances, our time, our ability, and our self.

• Equip: —  2 Timothy 3:16-17

  • While we may be reluctant at times to share of our finances, many times people relent in doing so because it is easier than being involved in equipping people for the immeasurably more God desires to do in and through them.  And our reluctance to equip others can often be based in our not doing the work necessary for us to be equipped.  God says that His Word is designed to do its work in the lives of people in such a way that we become equipped for every good work.  We learn the immeasurably more of serving that God desires for us to practice when we grow in being equipped to equip others.

• Rebuke/Repent: — Luke 17:3, Romans 2:4

  • Rebuke and repent is a combination of actions that we tend to like one side of more so than the other, but often would prefer to avoid both.  The serving that God desires for us to do will always call for us to be made right with one another and with God.  The only way that happens consistently is when we allow the wrong to be pointed out (rebuke) and then deal with it appropriately (repent).  We learn the immeasurably more of serving that God desires for us when we learn the godly practice of rebuking and repenting.

• Visit: — Matthew 25:34-40

  • I suppose growing in the way we visit could be a subset of sharing as it involves the sharing of our time and of our self.  When Jesus tells a story regarding the return of the Son of Man (Himself), He applauds and welcomes a group that had given of themselves to serve Him in the practical ways of feeding, clothing, caring, and visiting.  The ironic part is none of the ones who had done so (and none of the ones who didn’t) could think of any time they had seen Jesus in any of those situations, let alone responded to it.  The answer of the King is that we do those things to Him when we do them for others, even for “the least of these”.  We learn the immeasurably more of serving that God desires for us when we learn the practical ways we can visit those who need someone to care.

• Encourage — Hebrews 10:25

  • If you’ve reached this point and you are thinking sharing, equipping, rebuking/repenting, and visiting are difficult, then you should understand the necessity of encouragement as part of serving.  God says that we ought to be deliberate in meeting together for a variety of reasons, but one of those important reasons is so we can encourage one another.  Serving is difficult and learning to serve immeasurably more simply increases the difficulty and the temptation to simply not serve.  We put ourselves into position to see God do in us and through us immeasurably more than we can think or ask when we choose to be involved in encouraging others as they encourage us.

Today, how will you SERVE?

~

This is the audio from the January 14, 2024 sermon, “Immeasurably More: A Love That Is REAL”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Romans 12:9-21

This morning’s message was shared from my office as our in person worship gathering was cancelled due to the extreme weather and cold temperature, so it was a bit different for me.  Today I continued a sermon series designed to help us look at some of the immeasurably more God desires to do in us, through us, and for us.  Often when we think about immeasurably more, it focuses on what we want to receive.  God, on the other hand, is more concerned about what He will do to make the good news of the kingdom grow.  When we consider the immeasurably more God desires to do in us and through us, we discover the basis for this desire is His love.  As we examine the nature of God’s love and how He wants His love to grow through us, we find a love that is . . .

• Righteous/Repentant: — Romans 12:9

  • As Paul writes to the Romans about the love they ought to experience and share, he addresses the need for it to be right — to be sincere as it rejects evil and clings to good.  The only way for any of us to be right is through repentance as we allow God to change our way.  It is the righteousness of God in us that teaches us to love like we ought to love.  When we pursue a love that is real, we must examine our self with the help of God’s Word and His Spirit so that we can be made righteous through the blood of Jesus.

• Expressive: —  Romans 12:10-12

  • A love the is kept inside a person may be good and comforting to them but it does no good to others until it is expressed in appropriate ways.  The Bible says that God “demonstrated (expressed) His love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  It is through the expression of God’s love that we know how to express love to other.  When we pursue a love that is real, we must learn to value the needs of others above our own so that true love is expressed.

• Absolute: — Romans 12:13-16

  • It’s likely no secret that some people are easier to love than others.  My guess is that nearly every one of us are considered easier to love by some and more difficult to love by others.  The absolute nature of God’s love says that His desire is the same for all of mankind regardless of any details that people might say make a person unlovable.  While the expressions of our love may look different from person to person based on the need of the moment, the love we have for people ought to be absolute.  When we pursue a love that is real, we must love our enemies, as well as our friends, with the absolute love of God.

• Learning — Romans 12:17-21

  • If you’re still living on this earth, and I doubt is anyone is reading this who is not living on earth, your love is not complete.  When we think about the people we love the most, it should be obvious that our love for them continues to be a learning process.  Even our love for God is something that should be growing each day as we learn more of His love for us.  Because the righteous, expressive, absolute love that God desires for us to have is not natural, we must learn to know it and express it as we spend time with God.  When we pursue a love that is real, we must do so with a willingness to learn, and to put into practice, the things which represent the love of God.

Today, how will you have a love that is REAL?

~

This is the audio from the January 7, 2024 sermon, “Immeasurably More: Pray FIRST”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 1 Timothy 2:1-5

Today I began a sermon series designed to help us look at some of the immeasurably more God desires to do in us, through us, and for us.  Often when we think about immeasurably more, it focuses on what we want to receive.  God, on the other hand, is more concerned about what He will do to make the good news of the kingdom grow.  As we begin to consider what it looks like to experience the immeasurably more that God desires to do in the lives of His children, we begin with immeasurably more prayer.  This isn’t as much about praying more as it is about seeing God do immeasurably more through our prayers.  We put ourselves into a position for God to work through our prayers when we learn to pray . . .

• Faithfully: — 1 Timothy 2:1

  • We pray first when we choose to pray faithfully in all circumstances.  I suspect there are things in life that most people try to work out on their own without ever considering talking with God about it . . . at least not until we’ve exhausted all other options.  When we grow as one who is faithful in prayer, we realize God has something to say about every detail of what we experience in life.  Rather than live by a “when all else fails, read the instructions”, we find God doing immeasurably more through our prayer life when we live with a faithful commitment to talk with God first about everything.

• Intentionally: —  1 Timothy 2:2

  • We pray first when we pray intentionally for those in authority, but not necessarily seeking the selfish results we often want.  No, the intention of our prayers ought to be the seeking of a peaceful and quiet life that exhibits godliness and holiness in all things.  Particularly here in America, it becomes far too easy to get caught up in politics that often do nothing but cause division and hatred.  Rather than praying for the outcome God desires (peaceful and quiet lives), we pray for an agenda that fits what we think is right.  Because we serve a God who is holy and godly by His very nature, we find Him doing immeasurably more through our prayer life when we pray intentionally for the ability to lead a peaceful and quiet life that represents Jesus.

• Respectfully: — 1 Timothy 2:3

  • We pray first when we pray respectfully in a way that pleases God.  The faithfulness of our prayers and the intentions of our prayers both reflect a respect, or lack thereof, for the One we are praying to.  The outcomes we desire from our prayers ought to be things which please God.  This doesn’t mean we erase our emotions from our conversations with God, rather it is a respect that can both praise and object in manners that recognizes God’s final authority.  There will be times we cry out in joy and times we cry out in anger but our respect will always listen for God’s answer.  We are able to see God do immeasurably more through our prayer life when we seek to please Him in all the ways we receive His responses with respect.

• Submissively: — 1 Timothy 2:4

  • We pray first when we pray submissively to the will of God in all things.  While it is easy to get caught up in debates about what exactly is the will of God in any given situation, a primary will of God stated throughout scripture is that all people would come to know Him through a repentant life submitted to Jesus.  While few would care to admit it out loud, there are people that many would not consider to be wanted by God.  At times we fail to pray that all people be saved because we’ve already decided certain people shouldn’t be, or at least can’t be.  We can see God do immeasurably more in our prayer life when we pray submissively to His will that all be saved and we live as an example of the saving power of God.

• Thankfully: — 1 Timothy 2:5

  • We pray first when we pray thankfully in all situations.  When we start talking about peaceful and quiet lives, about godliness and holiness, about respect, about submission, and about God wanting everyone to be saved, we ought to be led to an attitude of thankfulness to a God who makes all of that possible.  Knowing that Jesus is the mediator between God and mankind ought to fill our prayer life with thanksgiving because we know Him as a loving and fair mediator, full of all wisdom and grace.  Seeing God at work in our own life and in the lives of others ought to produce within us a thankfulness that is in itself proof that God is doing immeasurably more through our life of prayer.

Today, how will you see God do immeasurably more as you learn to pray FIRST?

~

This is the audio from the December 31, 2023 sermon, “Good News of Christmas: Good News Must GROW”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 2:21-52

Today I concluded a Christmas series from the gospel of Luke as we continued to gaze deeply into God’s Word to find the good news of Jesus shared with us by Luke the physician.  Throughout the month of December we have looked at The Good News of Christmas as found in the first two chapters of Luke.  After taking time last week to examine the good news born to all mankind, this week we considered what took place after the birth of Jesus.  When the good news of Christ is born to us, there is an expectation that we accept it and that it would grow in us.  As the good news grows, we find it is time for us to . . .

• Give: — Luke 2:22-24

  • The good news of Jesus grew as those who had experienced it began to give it to others.  The example of giving began with God in the giving of His Son to be Emanuel, God with us.  Mary and Joseph continued the giving as they gave to God that which was required by the law.  As we experience Jesus being born in us, we have the responsibility to give that good news to others.  Our giving must first be of our self and then our treasure, talents, and time will follow.

• Receive: —  Luke 2:33-35

  • The good news of Jesus grew as those who had experienced realized it was not something they had earned or accumulated of their own power, but rather it was something they had received.  The Bible asks the somewhat rhetorical question, “what do you have that you have not received, and if you have received it why do you act like you haven’t?”.  Mary and Joseph received blessings from God and from those God prompted to acknowledge the birth of Jesus.  As we experience Jesus being born in us, we must do so knowing that it is a gift of God for us and for all who would believe.  Our receiving from God must be done with open hands that willingly share because we understand who owns what we have received.

• Obey: — Luke 2:39-40, 50-51

  • The good news of Jesus grew as those who had experienced it understood the obedience that was required by God.  The entire Christmas story from Jesus, to Mary & Joseph, to the shepherds, to the wise men, and to you & I is all about obedience to the will of the Father.  As Mary and Joseph went through the process of being parents to the Son of God, they did so with full obedience to the Word of God.  Even Jesus as He grew understood the need to obey Mary and Joseph as His parents here on earth.  As we experience Jesus being born in us, we find a clear call from God to obey all that He has commanded.

• Worship: — Luke 2:29-32, 36-38

  • The good news of Jesus grew as those who had experienced it chose to worship God in every way possible.  Those who were surprised by the coming of Jesus, like the shepherds, chose to worship Him.  Those who had been anticipating and longing for the birth of Jesus, like Simeon and Anna, chose to worship Him.  It is the offering of ourselves as living sacrifices that God deems a reasonable, or acceptable, act of worship on our part.  As we experience Jesus being born in us, our response every day ought to be a response of worship.

Today, how will the good news of Jesus help you GROW?

~

This is the audio from the December 24, 2023 sermon, “Good News of Christmas: SONG”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 2:1-20

Today I continued a series from the gospel of Luke as we gaze deeply into God’s Word to find the good news of Jesus shared with us by Luke the physician.  Throughout the month of December we will continue our Good News series with a look at The Good News of Christmas as found in the first two chapters of Luke.  In the small town of Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to a son and placed him in a manger because there was no room in the inn.  At that moment, the seed of good news which had been growing in Mary was born and it changed the world forever.  After the official birth announcement was given to a group of shepherds, we find an appropriate response which teaches us that good news must be . . .

• Believed: — Luke 2:8-15, Mark 1:15

  • As the recipients of the official birth announcement concerning Jesus, the shepherds had a choice about what they would do with the information.  Do they believe the good news given to them, or not?  Granted, when the proclamation is given by an angel who is joined by a “great company of the heavenly hosts”, the credibility of the message would seem to be great.  As Jesus began His ministry here on earth, His call was for all who would hear the good news of the kingdom of God to repent and believe.  We are faced with a similar decision when the good news of Christmas is presented to us, and the appropriate response is belief.

• Observed: —  Luke 2:16, James 1:25

  • While the flesh tends to operate on a seeing is believing basis, faith says that believing is seeing.  It is the response by faith of the shepherds which took them into the town of Bethlehem so that they could observe for themselves what they had already believed.  The good news of Christmas becomes more than just a story when we begin to look deeply into God’s Word and observe for our self the wonder of God taking on flesh.

• Reported: — Luke 2:17-18, Acts 4:20

  • After the shepherds had been able to observe all that had been told to them, their next step was to report this wonderful news to everyone they met.  When our faith becomes sight and we are able to experience the good news of Jesus working in our life, our responsibility is to accurately report the work God is doing in and through us.

• Nurtured: — Luke 2:19-20, 1 Corinthians 3:6-8

  • While there is often great excitement at a birth, it is in that moment that the real work often begins.  Mary’s soul is nurtured as she treasures and ponders in her heart all that had taken place from the birth of Jesus through the visit by the shepherds.  The shepherds grew in their faith as they went from their encounter with Jesus to being reminded of that encounter every time they shared with someone new about all they had experienced.  We have that same responsibility to nurture the faith of others as we recall our faith story and share it with the people we meet.

Today, how will good news be BORN in your life?

~

This is the audio from the December 17, 2023 sermon, “Good News of Christmas: SONG”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 1:46-80

Today I continued a series from the gospel of Luke as we gaze deeply into God’s Word to find the good news of Jesus shared with us by Luke the physician.  Throughout the month of December we will continue our Good News series with a look at The Good News of Christmas as found in the first two chapters of Luke.  The Christmas story contains several instances of people, and some angels, breaking out in song as they express praise to God.  As we look specifically at the songs of Mary and of Zechariah found in Luke 1, we see God using these songs not only to give praise to Him but to benefit those who would hear — including us!  As we experience the work of God in our lives, we too should respond with a good news . . .

• Story: — 

  • The songs of Mary and of Zechariah each told a story of how God had worked in their life to accomplish more than what was thought possible.  But it was not just their story — their praise of God told the story of His working among His people throughout history to bring about the personal events that would take place in their own lives.  We too can sing a good news song when we discover we have a good news story to tell with our words, our life, and our music.

• Object: —

  • The songs of Mary and of Zechariah each focused on the object of God’s love and the work that would be accomplished through the coming of Jesus to earth.  The stories were not just stories, they were object lessons designed to teach us how to respond to the coming King.  While wonderful things were happening through them, both Mary and Zechariah made sure that God was the object of their song of praise.  We too can sing a good news song when we keep Jesus as the main object of our words, our life, and our music.

• Notice: —

  • The songs of Mary and of Zechariah each focused on giving notice to all who would listen — notice of the work of God being accomplished within their lifetime.  The stories, and the object of their stories, were not a recognition of a theoretical god out there somewhere, but rather the songs gave notice that this God of Israel was alive and well as He worked in the present time to accomplish the fulfillment of His promises.  We too can sing a good news song when we choose to give notice with our words, our life, and our music that now is the day of salvation.

• Goal: —

  • The songs of Mary and of Zechariah each focused on sharing the goal of people knowing a God who loves them enough to be involved in their lives.  While the primary goals of each of these songs seems to be expressing praise to God, they are given in the context of making known to the world a God who loves all people.  We too can sing a good news song when we choose to live with the goal of making Christ known through our words, our life, and our music.

Today, what will by your good news SONG?

~

This is the audio from the December 10, 2023 sermon, “Good News of Christmas: JOY”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 1:26-56

Today I continued a series from the gospel of Luke as we gaze deeply into God’s Word to find the good news of Jesus shared with us by Luke the physician.  Throughout the month of December we will continue our Good News series with a look at The Good News of Christmas as found in the first two chapters of Luke.  Last week we looked at God announcing the time for the Messiah was at hand as He prepared Zechariah and Elizabeth with a message of a son who would prepare the way for Jesus.  This week we considered the joy woven throughout God’s message to Mary.  After Mary’s encounter with an angel of God, she went to visit her relative, Elizabeth.  Upon Mary’s greeting, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy.  The good news of Christmas is not only about God coming at the right time, as we talked about last week, it is about God bringing joy to the world.  As we consider how Mary come to know true joy, we find that we too can bring joy to the world when we share the good news of . . .

• Jesus: — (Luke 1:26-33)

  • While we often think of the “good tidings of great joy” being delivered to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth, that message of joy first came to Mary as the angel announced to her that she would give birth to a son and give him the name Jesus!  At the heart of real joy is a foundation of Jesus.  The presence of Jesus in our life ought to not only fill us with joy, it ought to spread the light of joy into the lives of all we encounter.  When we live with the good news of joy, we live with Jesus at the center of all we think and do.

• Overcoming: — (Luke 1:34-37)

  • Sometimes the good news of joy brought to us by God’s Word appears to be both impractical and impossible.  While evidently not filled with the same doubt Zechariah expressed in his response to the angel, Mary’s response was one that revealed an awareness that this promise would not be possible in a normal or natural way.  Living with the joy of the Lord is only possible through the overcoming power of His Spirit within us.  As we gaze into God’s Word and discover how we ought to live in ways that represent Jesus, it becomes apparent that we must overcome our own nature to be used in a way that brings joy to those around us.  When we live with the good news of joy, we live a life that overcomes by the power of the Spirit and the Word.

• Yielding: — (Luke 1:38)

  • The response of Mary to the angel, and to God, is one of humility and a desire to yield to whatever God wants.  Even with uncertainty as to how God will overcome the impossible, she proclaims her willingness to serve Him not according to her plans or knowledge, but according to His.  It is by living this yielded life that John leaps for joy within the womb of Elizabeth because he recognizes the presence of Jesus within Mary.  When we chose to die to self and allow Christ to live within us through the power of His Spirit, the people around us ought to also be filled with joy because of Christ in us.  When we live with the good news of joy, we live a life yielded fully to the authority of God.

Today, how will you share the good news of JOY?

~

This is the audio from the December 3, 2023 sermon, “Good News of Christmas: TIME”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 1:1-25

Today I continued a series from the gospel of Luke as we gaze deeply into God’s Word to find the good news of Jesus shared with us by Luke the physician.  Throughout the month of December we will continue our Good News series with a look at The Good News of Christmas as found in the first tow chapters of Luke.  Luke makes it clear that his goal in writing is to set forth an orderly account of the story of Jesus.  In the fullness of time God sent His Son to be the fulfillment of His law and prophecies.  While many had grown tired, and some had even quit looking, Luke records for us the good news that the time had come and that announcement first makes its way to a couple who needed to hear the good news of time!  As we consider the Christmas story, we find the good news of  . . .

• Trust: — (Luke 1:1-7)

  • When things don’t happen according to our timetable, our doubt can grow to the point where we eventually lose hope in the desired outcome ever taking place.  In our text, Zechariah and Elizabeth lived at a time when people had become skeptical concerning the promised Messiah and they had also lived to an old age without having any children.  While there were likely many claiming God had forgotten them, they remained steadfast in their trust of Him no matter what.  Our trust in God isn’t about experiencing everything we want when we want it, rather it is believing that God knows best and we learn to trust in His plan and timing.  The good news of trust says that I will believe God even when I don’t understand.

• Incense: — (Luke 1:8-12; Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4))

  • It was a privilege and special responsibility to be chosen as a priest of God to burn incense before the Lord in His temple.  It was in this fullness of time that Zechariah was chosen by God through the casting of lots so the he would carry out the task of going before the altar of the Lord to burn incense.  When you consider the altar of the Lord was a place of sacrifice where the blood of bulls and goats was brought in to temporarily pay the penalty for the people’s sin, the burning of incense by God’s direction was meant to make the offering a sweet aroma before the Lord.  In the book of Revelation we find that the incense being offered to God is the prayers of God’s people.  Even in our text, as Zechariah is burning the incense before the Lord, it is taking place in tandem with the prayers of the people who were outside worshiping God.  The good news of incense says that my prayers carry a sweet aroma before God which is pleasing to Him.

• Meaning: — (Luke 1:13-17)

  • As Zechariah is fulfilling His responsibility before the Lord, an angel comes and stands before him to announce that his prayers had been heard.  I suspect that if an angel would appear to any one of us announcing that our prayers had been heard, we would want some clarity as to what exactly was meant.  For Zechariah, the first level of meaning to having his prayers heard was that he and Elizabeth would have a son even in their old age.  But I suspect that Zechariah, as one who was considered by God to be upright and blameless, had been praying for much more than a son.  In fact, the angel goes on to say that the meaning of this birth announcement was that this child would be the one to prepare the way for the Lord.  The good news for us is that each of us have meaning and value because we were knit together in our mother’s womb and called into being by God.  The good news of meaning says that God knows what He is doing and He knows when He is doing it so that His work in us and through us always has purpose.

• Encouragement: — (Luke 1:18-25)

  • Because God operates on a timetable that we generally don’t understand, we must rely on Him for the encouragement necessary to continually live with the faith He desires to find in us.  Zechariah had doubts and was made to be unable to speak as a sign to him that God was indeed in the midst of this.  While the silence may not sound very encouraging to us, when Elizabeth became pregnant the silence of Zechariah was a continual reminder that God was in the midst of this.  When we live with a focus on what God is doing, it is our sharing of that with others that encourages both us and them.  Especially when the working of God comes at a time we least expect, we discover His faithfulness in helping our trust and obedience be an encouragement to others.  The good news of encouragement is that God desires to use each one of us in ways that not only build us up individually, but also in ways that builds up and encourages the body of Christ.

Today, what will you do with the good news of TIME?