Teaching Podcasts

Good News: Learning Something NEW! (Sermon Audio)
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Good News: Learning Something NEW! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the August 27, 2023 sermon, “Good News: Learning Something New”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 6

“It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.”
John 6:45 (NIV)

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.  As we continue our Good News From the Doctor series, we find that as Jesus went about life on earth He used the everyday activities of life to teach lessons about God and how we can live in ways that please Him.  While all of His teaching was based on the truth of God’s Word that many of His listeners would be very familiar with, He taught in such a way that they would constantly be learning something . . .

  • Necessary: (Luke 6:1-5)

    • Many of the lessons Jesus taught the crowds were designed to teach them the necessity of living in relationship with God.  When the religious leaders watched Jesus and His disciples, they often observed actions that seemed contradictory to their understanding of what God required.  In our text today, Jesus makes it clear that the necessity of life and caring for the needs of people was the application of God’s Word.  When we choose to be taught by God’s Word and the example of Jesus, we find that we learn what is truly necessary.

  • Eternal: — (Luke 6:20-23)

    • Because the world we live in is full of trouble, it is very easy to get caught up in the difficulties of life and even begin to question God’s goodness.  When Jesus begins to teach about the blessings of things that don’t sound that desirable, he does so with the purpose of teaching us to see with an eternal perspective.  Jesus made it clear in His teaching that all who would follow Him would face troubles and opposition of various kinds.  But He doesn’t just warn us of the troubles, He reminds us that He has overcome the world and that an eternity with Him awaits all who persevere and are faithful to the end.  When we choose to be taught by God’s Word and the example of Jesus, we find that what we learn is eternal.

  • Wise: — (Luke 6:46-49)

    • Because most people want to be thought of as wise, we often define wisdom according to our standards and thus struggle to understand the nature of true wisdom.  As Jesus teaches the crowds, He addresses the fact that many want to claim association by calling Him Lord but few want to actually do what He says.  Jesus teaches that the one who hears the Word of God and does what it says is the one who truly understands the transforming power of God’s wisdom.  When we choose to be taught by God’s Word and the example of Jesus, we find that we learn to be wise by applying to our own life everything within Scripture.

Today, what will you learn that is NEW?

Encouragement and Prayer: Powerful Work! (8/25/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Powerful Work! (8/25/23)

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This is the audio from the August 25, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

This week we will pray about the new job we have as Christians and what God wants our work to look like.  The good news of Jesus says there is a job for each of us to do and our job is one that not only benefits us, but it is designed to benefit the body of Christ.  We learn to work for the Lord when we carry a new journey, observation, and belief into our work.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)

As you pray this week, consider the work you do, as well as the ability that God gives you to do that work.  Pray for the courage to see the bigger things God has called you to.  Pray for the humility to allow God’s power to work in you.  Pray that the people around you today would recognize the powerful work of God as they see His work in you.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Effective Work! (8/24/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Effective Work! (8/24/23)

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This is the audio from the August 24, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

This week we will pray about the new job we have as Christians and what God wants our work to look like.  The good news of Jesus says there is a job for each of us to do and our job is one that not only benefits us, but it is designed to benefit the body of Christ.  We learn to work for the Lord when we carry a new journey, observation, and belief into our work.

“But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”
1 Corinthians 16:8-9 (NIV)

As you pray this week, consider the work you do, as well as the ability that God gives you to do that work.  Pray that you would know the satisfaction of being involved in a work which is effective.  Pray that opposition would  not cause you to give up on effective work.  Pray that the people around you would come to know Jesus because of the effective work you are doing.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Tested Work! (8/23/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Tested Work! (8/23/23)

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This is the audio from the August 23, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

This week we will pray about the new job we have as Christians and what God wants our work to look like.  The good news of Jesus says there is a job for each of us to do and our job is one that not only benefits us, but it is designed to benefit the body of Christ.  We learn to work for the Lord when we carry a new journey, observation, and belief into our work.

“His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.”
1 Corinthians 3:13 (NIV)

As you pray this week, consider the work you do, as well as the ability that God gives you to do that work.  Pray that you would pay close attention to what your life’s work is being built with.  Pray that your diligent work for the kingdom would stand up to the testing by God.  Pray that the people around you would come to know work that stands up to the testing of God.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Helpful Work! (8/22/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Helpful Work! (8/22/23)

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This is the audio from the August 22, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

This week we will pray about the new job we have as Christians and what God wants our work to look like.  The good news of Jesus says there is a job for each of us to do and our job is one that not only benefits us, but it is designed to benefit the body of Christ.  We learn to work for the Lord when we carry a new journey, observation, and belief into our work.

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Acts 20:35 (NIV)

As you pray this week, consider the work you do, as well as the ability that God gives you to do that work.  Pray that your work for the Lord would help others.  Pray that you would see the value of helping the weak.  Pray that the people around you would see by your example the great blessing of giving.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Required Work! (8/21/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Required Work! (8/21/23)

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This is the audio from the August 21, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

This week we will pray about the new job we have as Christians and what God wants our work to look like.  The good news of Jesus says there is a job for each of us to do and our job is one that not only benefits us, but it is designed to benefit the body of Christ.  We learn to work for the Lord when we carry a new journey, observation, and belief into our work.  As you pray this week, consider the work you do, as well as the ability that God gives you to do that work.  Pray that you would recognize the value of the work God has called you to and that you would value the work that others do.  Pray for a growing awareness of how your work should be a benefit to the body of Christ.  Pray that your attitude about the work you do, whether a paid work or not, would always be focused on honoring God.  Pray for an eagerness in doing the new job that is yours as a follower of Jesus.

“Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’  Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'”
John 6:28-29 (NIV)

Pray that you would desire to do the work God expects from those who are His.  Pray that you would not lose sight of God’s requirement of belief in Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would understand the importance of believing in Jesus.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom

Good News: A New JOB! (Sermon Audio)
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Good News: A New JOB! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the August 20, 2023 sermon, “Good News: A New Job”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 5

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

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.  As we continue our Good News From the Doctor series, we find the good news of Jesus as the powerful Word.  The good news of Jesus is a message that not only transforms us from the inside out, it transforms our work from the inside out.  When we respond to the calling of Jesus to follow Him, He gives us a new . . .

  • Journey: (Luke 5:10-11; Genesis 12:1-4)

    • For many people, one of the easiest things to do is to get caught up in the routines of life to such an extent that we lose sight of why we do what we do.  For Peter, James, and John, their life journey as fishermen was changed by an encounter with Jesus.  While there are times when God will call us to an occupational change, many times He simply changes the focus of what our work is really about.  These fishermen from Galilee came face to face with Jesus and found their life journey changed from fishing for fish to fishing for people.  This type of change is consistent with the way God works in the lives of people throughout time. When God called Abram to a new job, He started him on a new journey that was simply a walk with God.  When we respond to God’s call, He calls us to change the why of our work to do everything for Him and in so doing we begin a new journey with God everywhere we go.

  • Observation: — (Luke 5:22-26, Genesis 13:14-17)

    • When we choose to do everything as working for the Lord, He calls us to look at all things differently.  When a paralyzed man is brought to Jesus by his friends, Jesus forces those around Him to observe more than what is seen.  Jesus declares that the paralyzed man’s sins are forgiven and the religious leaders simply can’t see how that is possible.  Jesus then goes on to heal the man as an observable proof that Jesus has the power to do exactly what He says He will.  While Abram is on his walk with God, he is called to look around and see everything that God was giving to him.  In our daily work, God’s desire is that we would open our eyes and see all circumstances through His perspective.  Those things we think are impossible become possible when God declares them done.  When we respond to God’s call, He calls us to change the scope of our work to what we observe from Him rather than limiting it to what we observe in our own capabilities.

  • Belief: — (Luke 5:31-32, Genesis 15:5-6)

    • When we see our work as being done for the Lord, He calls us to a new belief that overcomes the ways of the world and embraces the way of the Lord.  As Jesus encounters Levi, he is at work collecting taxes for Rome.  His response to Jesus is one of closing up shop and following Jesus in a way that desires his peers to know Jesus as well.  Unfortunately, the religious leaders of the day were pretty set in their belief that a good Jewish teacher should not be associating with tax collectors and sinners.  The response of Jesus to these religious leaders is a challenge to have a new belief that understands the value of every person and the need for repentance and restoration.  When we respond to God’s call, He calls us to change what we believe about people so that we would see them as individuals created in His image and loved by Him.

Today, how will you accept a new JOB?

Encouragement and Prayer: Powerful for Training! (8/18/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Powerful for Training! (8/18/23)

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This is the audio from the August 18, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about the power of God’s Word in our life.  In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, we have a list of some of the things that God says Scripture is useful for if we were to make use of it and apply it to everything we do.  The reason God’s Word is useful is because of the power it has which is seen through the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us.  Sadly, many have come to view Scripture as more inspirational than transformational.  In reality, it is only truly inspirational if it inspires us to experience the power of God and be transformed.

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.”
1 Timothy 4:7(NIV)

As you pray, ask God to help you accurately evaluate how much time you spend reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God.  Pray that you would reject the myths of the world and seek to be trained by God’s Word.  Pray that you would cling to God’s Word as the true source of training in godliness.  Pray that you would be powerfully trained and able to train others because of the power of God’s Word.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page.

In prayer,
Tom