Teaching Podcasts

A Road of Death! (Good Friday Sermon Audio)
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A Road of Death! (Good Friday Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the April 7, 2023 Good Friday sermon, “A Road of Death; A Time to DIE”, shared by Tom Lemler at the West Side Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 23:26-49

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
John 12:24 (NIV)

As I had opportunity to preach at a Good Friday service, tonight I continued a sermon series with a focus on The Road to Resurrection.  Each week of this series has considered a different glimpse of the life of Jesus during His final week leading up to His death, burial, and resurrection. As Jesus continued with a steadfast commitment to this road of resurrection, He approached the cross with an attitude that displayed an awareness that a road of death was a necessary part of reaching the road of life. As we gaze upon the cross, we find Jesus calling each one of us to take up our cross in this time to . . .

  • Decide:  —  Luke 23:26-35

    • As we face the cross we are faced with a decision.  Do we turn away and serve self or do we decide to take up the cross and die to self?  .

  • Invest:  —  Luke 23:36-43

    • As we face the cross we find a God who chose to invest in us.  Our response to the cross ought to be a willingness to invest in people in a kingdom way.

  • Exclaim — Luke 23:44-49

    • As we face the cross we find the exclamation of Jesus that He had finished His life and was committing His spirit to God.  Our response ought to be a life that leads others to see Jesus in a way that they echo the centurion in declaring the righteousness of God.

Today, what will you do with the invitation of Jesus to take up your cross and DIE?

Encouragement and Prayer: Pray With a Clear Mind! (4/7/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Pray With a Clear Mind! (4/7/23)

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This is the audio from the April 7, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:32 (NIV)

I suppose it may seem a bit strange at first to pray about praying, but if prayer is as central in our life as it ought to be then we ought to be talking with God and seeking His help in this area.  I suspect one of the big reasons we need to seek God’s help in our prayer life is the command to “devote yourselves to prayer”.  If God had said to simply pray when you feel like it or when it’s convenient, most of us could handle that.  But devoting ourselves to prayer is an entirely different task.  When we go to God about our prayer life, we open our self up to His instruction and guidance in the way we relate to Him.

“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.”
1 Peter 4:7 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine just how devoted to prayer you are.  Ask God to help you overcome distractions that keep you from praying as you ought.  Pray that you would recognize in the brevity of life the importance of praying with a clear mind and with self control.

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: Pray When In Trouble! (4/6/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Pray When In Trouble! (4/6/23)

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This is the audio from the April 6, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:32 (NIV)

I suppose it may seem a bit strange at first to pray about praying, but if prayer is as central in our life as it ought to be then we ought to be talking with God and seeking His help in this area.  I suspect one of the big reasons we need to seek God’s help in our prayer life is the command to “devote yourselves to prayer”.  If God had said to simply pray when you feel like it or when it’s convenient, most of us could handle that.  But devoting ourselves to prayer is an entirely different task.  When we go to God about our prayer life, we open our self up to His instruction and guidance in the way we relate to Him.

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.”
James 5:13 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine just how devoted to prayer you are.  Ask God to help you look to him in times of trouble — whether it is trouble you face or trouble those around you experience.  Pray that you would know the praise of peace that comes to those who seek God in times of trouble.  Pray for the courage to have others pray for you during times of trouble.

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: Pray for Restoration! (4/5/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Pray for Restoration! (4/5/23)

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This is the audio from the April 5, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:32 (NIV)

I suppose it may seem a bit strange at first to pray about praying, but if prayer is as central in our life as it ought to be then we ought to be talking with God and seeking His help in this area.  I suspect one of the big reasons we need to seek God’s help in our prayer life is the command to “devote yourselves to prayer”.  If God had said to simply pray when you feel like it or when it’s convenient, most of us could handle that.  But devoting ourselves to prayer is an entirely different task.  When we go to God about our prayer life, we open our self up to His instruction and guidance in the way we relate to Him.

“I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.”
Hebrews 13:19 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine just how devoted to prayer you are.  Ask God to help you notice those who are distant and need to be restored.  Pray that you would not only be restored to God, but that you would seek God’s help in seeing people restored to one another.  Pray about specific individuals and situations in which you need to be restored.

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

In prayer,
Tom

A Road of Prayer! (Sermon Audio)
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A Road of Prayer! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the April 2, 2023 sermon, “A Road of Prayer; Sweet HOUR of Prayer”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 22:31-32, 39-46

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:32 (NIV)

Today I continued a sermon series with a focus on The Road to Resurrection.  Each week of this series considers a different glimpse of the life of Jesus during His final week leading up to His death, burial, and resurrection.  Throughout His life on earth, Jesus set the example regarding the necessity of prayer.  As we walk this road to resurrection with Jesus, we find Him praying in the upper room with His disciples then returning to prayer in the garden as He asked them to join Him in the sweet . . .

  • Hope of Prayer:  —  Luke 22:31-32

    • Life is full of struggles and difficulties that may very well shake us to the very core of our being.  In the midst of Jesus telling Peter what Satan has desired to do, there is great hope in knowing Jesus has prayed for him and states work that is to be done after the failure.  When we live life on the road of prayer with Jesus, we live with great hope as we trust Him to accomplish everything He has promised.

  • Opportunity of Prayer:  —  Luke 22:39-40

    • The greatest opportunities of life are not about luck, but rather they are about being prepared.  We find Jesus praying in the garden because prayer was His natural response to life.  When we create a habit of prayer in our own life, we find every moment is an opportunity to pray for our self, for our friends, and even for our enemies.

  • Understanding of Prayer — Luke 22:41-44

    • Many people give up on prayer because it didn’t accomplish what they had hoped it would.  Prayer is not some type of cosmic vending machine that gives us whatever we want simply because we put the “coin’ of prayer in the proper slot.  Jesus taught us that a proper understanding of prayer is that which always seeks the will of God and seeks to honor Him regardless of whether the result is what we wanted or not.

  • Result of Prayer — Luke 22:45-46

    • If our understanding of prayer teaches us it isn’t about our will, then the result of prayer should always be such that our will aligns more closely with what God wants.  Jesus asked His disciples to pray so they would not fall into temptation.  When we walk this road of prayer each step of life we take, we discover a result that helps us to avoid the traps of temptation the enemy has placed all along our way.

Today, will you join Jesus in the sweet HOUR of prayer?

Encouragement and Prayer: Pray With Joy! (4/4/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Pray With Joy! (4/4/23)

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This is the audio from the April 4, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:32 (NIV)

I suppose it may seem a bit strange at first to pray about praying, but if prayer is as central in our life as it ought to be then we ought to be talking with God and seeking His help in this area.  I suspect one of the big reasons we need to seek God’s help in our prayer life is the command to “devote yourselves to prayer”.  If God had said to simply pray when you feel like it or when it’s convenient, most of us could handle that.  But devoting ourselves to prayer is an entirely different task.  When we go to God about our prayer life, we open our self up to His instruction and guidance in the way we relate to Him.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine just how devoted to prayer you are.  Pray that you would understand your need for God’s  help in this part of your relationship with Him — as in all other parts.  Pray that you would be always watchful and thankful as you pray — both qualities that will require God’s help.  Pray that  your relationship with God would grow as your devotion to prayer grows.

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.”
Philippians 1:4 (NIV)

Ask God to fill you with joy about Him and about those you pray for.  Pray that your joy would be expressed, and even increased, because of the way you pray for all of those around you.  Pray that you would live in such a way that others would be filled with joy in their prayers for you.

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

In prayer,
Tom

A Road of Serving! (Sermon Audio)
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A Road of Serving! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the March 26, 2023 sermon, “A Road of Serving: What Will You DO?”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 22:7-30

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV)

Today I continued a sermon series with a focus on The Road to Resurrection.  Each week of this series will consider a different glimpse of the life of Jesus during His final week leading up to His death, burial, and resurrection.  As Jesus and His disciples traveled their road to resurrection on that final week before the cross, they pause to share a special meal together — a meal designed to commemorate the salvation which was experienced as the angel of death passed over the homes of those who had applied the blood of the lamb to the door posts of the home.  This was a significant meal that not only looked back, but also looked forward to what was about to happen.  Within that context, we find Jesus both teaching and showing what it looks like to be on a road of serving.  As we look to Jesus and are reminded of what He has done, there are two questions we ought to continually ask ourselves,  what will I  . . .

  • Discover:  —  Luke 22:7-13

  • Obey:  —  Luke 22:14-30

Today, what will you choose to DO?

Encouragement and Prayer: Understanding the Source of Scripture! (3/24/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Understanding the Source of Scripture! (3/24/23)

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

“Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do — 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command.”
1 Chronicles 12:32 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be to pray about growing in our understanding — our understanding of the things of God as well as our understanding of one another.  In a nation full of division, perhaps our understanding of the times would lead us to a greater understanding of God and then to a greater understanding of people.

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.”
2 Peter 1:20 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in understanding.  Pray that you would always view God’s Word as sacred because you understand its real source.  Pray that your response to scripture would be based on you understanding and acceptance of the fact that it is “God-breathed”.

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

In prayer,
Tom