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This is the audio from the July 31, 2022 sermon, “The Courage To Overcome Sin”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Joshua 7 & 8

Life is full of high points and low points regardless of how we live, so having the courage to overcome is a valuable trait for everyone at all times. Sometimes, however, we face defeat because of sin and we must be courageous enough to overcome the sin in order to overcome the struggle. So, what does it look like for you and I to overcome . . .

• Selfishness.  Joshua 7:20-21, James 4:3
  • Often at the heart of sin in our life is an element of selfishness.  It was the selfish nature of a man named Achan that brought about the need for Israel to overcome sin before victory could again be obtained.  As those who have been bought with the blood of Jesus, we should live a life devoted to Him in such a way that selfishness has no place to take root.  When we daily decide that God is in charge and that we are not, we begin to live with the courage to overcome selfishness.
• Injury.  Joshua 7:4-5, James 4:1-2
  • Sin has a way of causing injury not only to the person who sins, but often to many others as well.  Israel’s army suffered defeat and the loss of lives because of sin in the camp.  Whether we are the one injured or the one causing injury, God expects us to look deep within His Word to see how He can bring forgiveness and healing.  When we allow God’s Spirit to convict us of sin and bring about a transformation in our life, we begin to live with the courage to overcome the injury sin has caused.
• Neglect.  Joshua 8:1, James 4:17
  • While many people would not set out to intentionally sin, we find ourselves caught up in the sin of neglect by choosing not to do the things we know God has said we ought to do.  It appears to me that after the resounding victory over Jericho, Israel decided to forgo getting God’s direction on how to proceed and came up with their own plan for conquering the city of Ai.  At the very least, the plan implemented at the beginning of Joshua 7 was very different than the plan God directed at the beginning of chapter 8.  When we decide that everything is important enough for us to seek God’s counsel, we begin to live with the courage to overcome neglect.

Will you seek God’s help today to overcome SIN?

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This is the audio from the July 24, 2022 sermon, “A Courageous Way”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Joshua 5:13 – 6:27

Following God will call us to live with the courage needed to follow His plan.  This kind of courage calls us to live with a courageous . . .

• Wisdom.  Joshua 5:13-19, James 3:17-18
  • While the wisdom of this world will have us trying to figure out who is for us and how is against us, courageous wisdom will always acknowledge God is in charge.  This type of wisdom is only available from God and will lead to a harvest of righteousness.
• Action.  Joshua 6:8-14, James 2:14-17
  • When we choose to live in a courageous way, it is not good enough to simply be doing something because that type of action is usually focused on doing what pleases us the most rather than on what pleases God.  Courageous action is all about doing what God says even if doing so goes against every fiber of what our nature wants to do.
• Yell.  Joshua 6:15-17, James 4:7-10
  • Most people want to be heard and will often keep repeating themselves with louder and louder volume if they believe no one is listening.  A courageous yell isn’t so much about the volume or tone of our voice, but rather about having the courage to speak when God calls us to rather then when we want to.

Today, will your WAY be courageous?

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This is the audio from the July 17, 2022 sermon, “R & R: The Fruit of Courageous Purity”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Joshua 5:1-12, Colossians 2:9-15

Before the battles begin, God calls us to be purified and set apart for His exclusive use.  We grow in courage when we allow the purifying work of God to cut away our sinful nature when we are buried with Christ in baptism.  The fruit of this circumcision of the heart should result in the same type of fruit the Israelites experienced following their obedience to God in circumcision.  While most of us appreciate the common R & R of rest and relaxation, this morning I want us to consider three R & R events experienced by the Israelites, and by us, when God is allowed to do His work of purification.

As we grow in courageous and obedient purity, we find our. . .

• Reproach Removed.  Joshua 5:9, Colossians 2:13-15
  • The enemy does a pretty good job of accusing, blaming, and making us feel unworthy and unfit for God’s love.  When we allow God to do the work of purifying us, we find the reproach of the enemy removed.  While it takes courage to live in obedient purity, the freedom from reproach makes every effort of obedience worth it.
• Rescue Remembered.  Joshua 5:10, Colossians 2:11-12
  • As forgetful people, it is often easy to start thinking we’ve always been where we are in our relationship with God.  Not only did God remove the reproach from the Israelites, and from us, He calls us to remember how He is the One who rescued us.  While it takes courage to remember where we were before becoming obedient to Christ, the result of remembering will help us believe God can rescue those around us.
• Resources Restored.  Joshua 5:11-12, Colossians 2:9-10
  • Sin has a way of devouring all that is good and wholesome in our life.  When God’s people responded to His instructions with a courageous and obedient purity, He restored their resources and brought them fully into the land He had promised.  While it can be much easier for us to focus on what we have lost, or don’t have in comparison to others, God want us to live as those who have the fullness of Christ and all of His resources dwelling within us.

How much courage will it take today for you to experience God’s R & R through a commitment to purity?

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This is the audio from the July 3, 2022 sermon, “A Courageous CHOICE”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Joshua 2

Do you ever feel trapped by past choices?  Perhaps labeled by others, or even yourself, in ways that don’t reflect who you really want to be?  Maybe surrounded by a culture that isn’t right, but one that makes change seem impossible?  This message takes a look at the second chapter of Joshua to see how one person’s courageous choice changed her life and some lessons we can apply in our own life as we choose God and choose to live with a courageous . . .

• Confession.  Joshua 2:9-11
  • A courageous choice begins with a courageous confession about ourselves before God.
• Hope.  Joshua 2:12-13
  • A courageous choice results in a courageous hope that believes we don’t have to stay the way we are.
• Opportunity.  Joshua 2:14-16
  • A courageous choice gives us a courageous opportunity to treat others the way we want to be treated.
• Intention.  Joshua 2:17-20
  • A courageous choice will reveal a courageous intention that is tested by what we actually choose to do.
• Commitment.  Joshua 2:21
  • A courageous choice will contain a courageous commitment that is all in when it comes to doing what God desires.
• Example.  Joshua 2:22-24
  • A courageous choice will make us a courageous example for others to follow in a way that brings them into a growing relationship with God.

How will your courageous CHOICE today help others see Jesus in you?

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This is the audio from the June 26, 2022 sermon, “Finding the Courage to LEAD”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Joshua 1:6-11

Are you a leader?  Are you sure?  It has been said that one of the best ways to know if you are a leader is to look around and see if anyone is following.  Whether the followers are plentiful or few, we each lead in some way so the question we ought to ask is, “How do I live with the courage to lead God’s way?”.  We do so when we find the courage to  . . .

• Listen.  Joshua 1:6-7
  • Leading God’s way requires that we find the courage to listen.  Listening helps us to understand what people are going through.  However, we must be careful that our primary listening is to God and the truth contained in His Word.  It was following the majority rule and listening to people that kept the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years.  We ought to spend so much time with God through prayer and His Word that we recognize the voice of our shepherd and follow Him in all we do.
• Examine.  Joshua 1:8
  • Leading God’s way requires that we find the courage to examine.  It is important that we examine our motives and actions to see how they align with God’s Word.  It is through the process of examining scripture daily that we can learn what direction is from God and what is simply from our own flesh.
• Accept.  Joshua 1:9
  • Leading God’s way requires that we find the courage to accept.  The foundation of this principle is that we accept God’s Word as the authority we live by.  It also involves learning to accept others in the same way Christ accepted us.  This is not in any way an acceptance of sinful activity, but rather an acceptance of people where they are so that God’s love can transform them just as He transforms us.
• Direct.  Joshua 1:10-11
  • Leading God’s way requires that we find the courage to direct.  Many times when we think of leading, we want to jump directly to this and skip everything else that ought to be involved.  But God’s desire is that we would direct people toward Him and in His ways rather than seeing leadership as a means to get others to do what I want.  The direction we each receive from God, as the leader we ought to be following, is for us to make disciples everywhere we go.

How will you LEAD today?

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This is the audio from the June 19, 2022 sermon, “Training a Courageous SON (Or Daughter)”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Deuteronomy 31:7-8, Judges 2:7

As we prepare for a journey through the book of Joshua, it is important to consider who Joshua is and why he chose to act with courage.  I believe the obvious answer is God, but I also believe that in many ways he was trained by Moses as a man would train a son.  When we look at Moses as a spiritual father to Joshua there are lessons each of us can learn, regardless of whether we are a son or daughter, father or mother, or simply a person investing in the lives of others.  When applied universally, we learn to train a courageous . . .

• Servant.  Exodus 33:11, Deuteronomy 3:28, Exodus 24:13, Joshua 24:15
  • We train a courageous son or daughter when we train a courageous servant.  Joshua spent time not only with Moses as his “young aide”, he also spent time with God.  He learned to serve and he learned the value of choosing to serve.  A courageous servant is one who discovers what God wants and then follows through with doing it regardless of who else might stand with him or against him.
• Observer.  Deuteronomy 3:21, Exodus 17:14, Numbers 13:16, Numbers 14:5
  • We train a courageous son or daughter when we train a courageous observer.  Not only was Joshua good at learning what he was taught, he was good at learning through what he observed.  Even when he saw the same things that everyone else saw, he saw them in a different way as he looked through the lens of God’s will.  A courageous observer is one who not only notices the things around him, he acts on them according to God’s Word.
• Nature.  Numbers 27:18, Numbers 32:12, Deuteronomy 34:9
  • We train a courageous son or daughter when we train a courageous nature.  Courage and obedience to God are not natural products of our flesh, but they are the supernatural product of God’s Spirit within us.  Joshua was known as one who had a different spirit and understanding because his nature had been trained to pursue God in all things.  A courageous nature will lead us to not only imitate Christ in everything, but to be aware of how that represents Jesus in all we do

Who is training you?  Who are you training?

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This is the audio and outline from session two with the leaders during a June 2022 prayer seminar held at the Spencer Christian Church in Taylorsville, Kentucky.

Text:  Nehemiah 1 & 2

Before Nehemiah led the people of Israel in the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls, he was serving as a cup-bearer to a foreign king.  As the book that bears his name opens, I find some incredible lessons about prayer as he sought to both know and do God’s will.

1. Seek accurate evaluations.
2. Seek God’s perspective.
3. Talk to God honestly about who He is and who you are.
4. Remember God’s promises.
5. Request mercy and favor.
6. Be honest and courageous in your reporting.
7. Talk to God before you answer others.
8. Give God’s answers, not your own.
9. Count the costs; do your homework.
10. Trust God for His answer.

Who’s in charge of your prayer life?
Who gets the credit when God works in your life and in your church?

“When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.”
Nehemiah 6:16 (NIV)

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This is the audio and outline from session one with the leaders during a June 2022 prayer seminar held at the Spencer Christian Church in Taylorsville, Kentucky.

Text:  Colossians 4:2-6, Isaiah 40:30-31

For me, one of the comforting aspects of the Isaiah 40:30-31 passage is the acknowledgement that even youths grow weary and tired.  It serves as a reminder that we all experience circumstances of life that wear us down and we find ourselves in need of renewal.  The good news is that God says those who wait upon Him, or put their hope in Him, will be renewed.  Learning to put our hope in the Lord and wait upon Him helps us to lead as we . . .

• Pause.  Colossians 4:2, Proverbs 24:32
  • Learning to pause can be a valuable tool to help us grow in a lifestyle of prayer.  It is often the lack of a pause that gets us into trouble as our nature has a tendency to want to respond out of the emotions that are stirred up by what we see and hear.  When we watch and pause, we take time to observe carefully and seek God’s perspective on what is really going on.  Practicing the pause is done when we spend time with God in prayer and His Word so that we are the sheep who hear His voice and know His voice.
• Request.  Colossians 4:3-4, Philippians 4:6
  • By beginning with a pause that seeks God above all else, our requests are refined to remove the typical selfishness that seems to be a part of mankind’s nature.  Watching what is really going on around us should lead us to requests that God would use us to speak boldly and lovingly about the good news of Jesus.  When we are devoted to prayer in a way that is watchful and thankful, our requests of God tend to have a more eternal perspective as we realize the temporary nature of this life on earth.
• Act.  Colossians 4:5, Proverbs 3:27
  • Learning to watch and act means that we are listening to God and being obedient when He calls us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people around us.  Many times we make our requests known to God and then we sit back and expect God or someone else to make them happen.  Learning to pause and request doesn’t negate the need to act — it just puts the action that we take into the proper perspective of being directed by God.  When you pray and make your requests known to God, especially requests for others, it is important that you also listen for the great possibility that God will call you to act in response to that request.
• Yield.  Colossians 4:6, Matthew 6:10
  • This may be the most difficult part of learning to watch and pray for many people.  Yielding to God’s authority in all things means that we are not in charge.  When we learn to let our words be seasoned with grace, we yield the need to be right about everything and we remove ourselves from the position of pretending we are God.  Even when we pause, request, and act, we must be careful that our will is fully yielded to God and that we are not simply using a false spirituality to push our ways on others.  Learning to watch and pray leads us to a point of joining in the prayer of Jesus, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

What do you need to work on in order to PRAY as you lead? 

What could happen if you were to PRAY as the foundation of leading?