Teaching Podcasts

Encouragement and Prayer: A New Commitment To Obedience! (01/11/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A New Commitment To Obedience! (01/11/22)

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This is the audio from the January 11, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands.”
1 Kings 8:61 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about living with a new, or renewed, commitment.  In the parable of the sower, we read of people who receive the Word of God and it grows in their life only to be choked out by the cares of the world.  In a time filled with many distractions and cares, it is critical that we examine our deeds and cry out to God with a new commitment.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you notice when you become distracted.  Pray that your commitment to God would be seen in the way you choose to obey His Word.  Pray for the courage to live with a heart fully committed to God.  Pray that the people around you would know you as one who obeys God in all things.

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: A New Commitment During Suffering! (01/10/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A New Commitment During Suffering! (01/10/22)

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This is the audio from the January 10, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
1 Peter 4:19 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about living with a new, or renewed, commitment.  In the parable of the sower, we read of people who receive the Word of God and it grows in their life only to be choked out by the cares of the world.  In a time filled with many distractions and cares, it is critical that we examine our deeds and cry out to God with a new commitment.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you notice when you become distracted.  Pray that you would choose to turn to God when life turns difficult.  Pray that your commitment to a faithful God would lead you to continue doing good in the midst of suffering.  Pray that God’s faithfulness would sustain you when times are good and when times are not so good.

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: Renewed In Truth! (01/07/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Renewed In Truth! (01/07/22)

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This is the audio from the January 7, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about being renewed.  Even after we have received new life in Christ, we have times when we “grow tired and weary”.  It is in these times we have God’s promise that we can be renewed as we put our hope in Him.  As we live our life in Christ, He desires to renew us in every way possible.  When we stumble and fall, we can be picked up by God and set on the right path again.  Our hope in God is not in vain when we allow Him to renew us through all of our weaknesses into His strength.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you recognize and admit where you are weak.  Pray that your speaking, and listening, to truth would renew within you a knowledge that is from God.  Pray that you would know the truth of God’s renewal in your life even as you live as a new creation.

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: Renewed Each Day! (01/06/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Renewed Each Day! (01/06/22)

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This is the audio from the January 6, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about being renewed.  Even after we have received new life in Christ, we have times when we “grow tired and weary”.  It is in these times we have God’s promise that we can be renewed as we put our hope in Him.  As we live our life in Christ, He desires to renew us in every way possible.  When we stumble and fall, we can be picked up by God and set on the right path again.  Our hope in God is not in vain when we allow Him to renew us through all of our weaknesses into His strength.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you recognize and admit where you are weak.  Pray that the things God is renewing within you each day would be enough to help you through any circumstances.  Pray that this daily renewal would keep you from losing heart and giving up.  Pray that your life would help others know they can experience God’s renewal.

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: Renewed In Mind! (01/05/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Renewed In Mind! (01/05/22)

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This is the audio from the January 5, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Romans 12:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about being renewed.  Even after we have received new life in Christ, we have times when we “grow tired and weary”.  It is in these times we have God’s promise that we can be renewed as we put our hope in Him.  As we live our life in Christ, He desires to renew us in every way possible.  When we stumble and fall, we can be picked up by God and set on the right path again.  Our hope in God is not in vain when we allow Him to renew us through all of our weaknesses into His strength.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you recognize and admit where you are weak.  Pray that your mind would be guarded from conforming to the patterns of this world.  Pray for a submissive spirit that allows a renewed mind to transform your thoughts and actions.  Pray that your life would help others desire to live with a renewed mind.

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: Renewed In Spirit! (01/04/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Renewed In Spirit! (01/04/22)

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This is the audio from the January 4, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about being renewed.  Even after we have received new life in Christ, we have times when we “grow tired and weary”.  It is in these times we have God’s promise that we can be renewed as we put our hope in Him.  As we live our life in Christ, He desires to renew us in every way possible.  When we stumble and fall, we can be picked up by God and set on the right path again.  Our hope in God is not in vain when we allow Him to renew us through all of our weaknesses into His strength.

As you pray this week, ask God to help you recognize and admit where you are weak.  Pray that the pure heart God creates in you would renew your spirit each day.  Pray for a patient endurance that comes from a renewed spirit within you.  Pray that the people around  you would see a purity in you that comes from a renewed spirit.

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: Renewed Even Through Death! (01/03/22)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Renewed Even Through Death! (01/03/22)

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This is the audio from the January 3, 2022 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.”
Isaiah 40:30 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about being renewed.  Even after we have received new life in Christ, we have times when we “grow tired and weary”.  It is in these times we have God’s promise that we can be renewed as we put our hope in Him.  As we live our life in Christ, He desires to renew us in every way possible.  When we stumble and fall, we can be picked up by God and set on the right path again.  Our hope in God is not in vain when we allow Him to renew us through all of our weaknesses into His strength.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you recognize and admit where you are weak.  Pray that you would fully place your hope in Him so that you would be renewed.  Pray that even your faith would be renewed in times when it becomes weak.  Pray that God’s renewal in  your life would lead you to greater endurance as you live each day for Him.

Renewed Even Through Death

“If a man dies, will he live again?  All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come.”
Job 14:14 (NIV)

Pray that you would live this life with an eye toward an eternal renewal that is to come.  Pray that the promise of being renewed after death would give you great hope in the midst of the difficult days of life.  Pray that your hope would be shared with others so they would know of a renewal to come.

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

In prayer,
Tom

A Time To REST? (Sermon Audio)
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A Time To REST? (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the January 2, 2022 sermon, “A Time To REST?”, shared by Tom Lemler at the North Wayne Mennonite Church.

Text:  Mark 6:30-44

God created us with a need to rest.  He even set the example for us as we see in scripture following the creation of all things that on the seventh day God rested from all His work.  But rest done God’s way isn’t strictly about us and often helps us to see how God would have us to be involved in the lives of others.  So when our idea of rest seems to be interrupted, perhaps it would be good to consider a time to . . .

  • Retreat.  Mark 6:30-32
    • Finding a place of quiet solitude can be a good thing from time to time.  Making the time to be alone with His Father appears to be a priority of Jesus not only in His actions, but also in the teaching of His disciples.  Even in the midst of good work and productive ministry, briefly stepping back from the needs of people can help us have a better view of things from God’s perspective.  While a time to retreat is good, and even necessary at times, it alone will not assure true rest.
  • Encourage.  Mark 6:33-34
    • Even as Jesus made plans to withdraw to a quiet place with His disciples, a crowd of people ended up arriving at the intended destination even before He did.  Rather than turn around and go back to where they had come from, or even seek out a more secluded place, Jesus took notice of the crowd and had compassion on them.  At their intended place of retreat, Jesus took the opportunity to encourage the people as He began to teach.  When we recognize that our desire for rest isn’t all about us, we are more likely to use our times of stepping away from routine to encourage those we encounter in our quiet places.
  • Serve.  Mark 6:35-40
    • Just as our desire for a time to rest may involve retreat and encouraging others, we may discover it is also a time to serve.  I know it probably sounds strange to think of a time to rest as being a time to serve, yet there is something uniquely refreshing about serving when you know without a doubt that it is God serving others through you.  As Jesus called the disciples to serve the crowd, they did a quick tally and concluded that the task was too big.  When Jesus tells them to see what they can find, I believe He does so to emphasize the impossibility of the task by human standards.  When we serve outside of our comfort zone in ways that require God to work through us, I believe we not only find a time to rest, but also a time of rest.
  • Thank.  Mark 6:41-44
    • Even before the crowd was fed and the leftovers collected, Jesus paused and recognized a time to thank.  Someone has once said (and interestingly the source is greatly debated) that it is amazing what can be accomplished if you don’t care who gets the credit.  I believe that even greater is what can be accomplished if you set out to deliberately give God the credit.  Perhaps one of the reasons we become so weary at times is because we’ve convinced ourselves that everything in front of us has been accomplished by us.  We wear ourselves out just thinking of all we have done.  We are most prepared to find a time to rest when we make it a priority to have a time to thank God.  It is in offering thanks to God that we acknowledge His hand in our life and we are able to lift Jesus up so that many would be drawn to Him.

Do you need a time to REST?
How will a deliberate life of Retreat, Encouragement, Service, and Thanks help you experience a greater rest?