Teaching Podcasts

Following Jesus – Keeping Watch! (Sermon Audio)
by

Following Jesus – Keeping Watch! (Sermon Audio)

~

This is the audio from the August 3, 2025 sermon, “Following Jesus: Keeping Watch!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Matthew 25

 

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” 
Matthew 25:13 (NIV)

As one called by Jesus to “Come, follow me”, Matthew gives us great teaching on what it looks like to live a life which follows Jesus.  In the days leading up to His crucifixion, Jesus becomes laser focused on preparing His followers not only for His death, burial, and resurrection, but also for His ascension and eventual return with a need for us to keep . . .

  • Wise:  Matthew 25:1-5

    • Keeping watch requires a wisdom which knows what it is we are watching for.  As Matthew 25 opens with Jesus telling a parable, we find individuals labeled as wise or foolish with the only difference being pointed out is their preparedness, or lack of preparation.  The Bible tells us that wisdom begins with a fear of the Lord.  We keep watch with wisdom when we prepare ourselves at all times by obedience to God’s Word so that we are always ready for the return of Jesus. 

  • Aware:  Matthew 25:6-13

    • Keeping watch requires an awareness of that which is necessary to be declared right with God.  Our preparedness for the return of Jesus is something we can share about with others so that they might also be ready, but it is not something we can do on their behalf.  The wise in our story were aware of both an unknown time period of waiting and an eventual arrival of the bridegroom.  We keep watch with awareness when we hold fast to our faith in Christ with an unwavering grasp that refuses to give it up for anyone or anything.

  • Trustworthy:  Matthew 25:14-30

    • Keeping watch requires that we are trustworthy with all the Master has given to our care.  In Matthew 25, Jesus makes it clear that what is entrusted to each individual will vary according to an ability known by Him.  The evaluation of our trustworthiness is not based on equal results, but rather on faithfulness in using what has been given to us.  We keep watch as one who is trustworthy when we treat with value every good and perfect gift which God has placed in our life, and then we use that gift with faithfulness for the good of God’s kingdom.

  • Compassionate:  Matthew 25:31-36

    • Keeping watch requires a compassionate attitude and practice toward all people in keeping with how we would treat Christ Himself.  As Jesus tells a story depicting the scene which will unfold at the end of this age, He speaks of a separation of people according to how they treated others.  We obviously know from the context of Scripture that we don’t earn salvation through our good deeds toward anyone, however our good deeds do reflect the transformation which God has done in our heart.  We keep watch as one who is compassionate when we both notice and join the suffering of others in ways which share the goodness of God’s presence with them.

  • Humble:  Matthew 25:37-40

    • Keeping watch requires a humility which understands our being able to endure the return of Christ is only possible by His faithfulness.  This is a humility which recognizes that our wisdom, awareness, trustworthiness, and compassion are only good to the extent that they come from God and are used for His purposes.  The people who showed compassion to the hungry, thirsty, lonely, naked, sick, or imprisoned and were welcomed into the Master’s happiness had such a humility that they were unaware that they had done anything special for Jesus.  We keep watch as one who is humble when we do what is right with no expectation of recognition simply because it is right.

Today, how will you keep WATCH?

Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together For Perfection! (8/1/25)
by

Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together For Perfection! (8/1/25)

This is the audio from the August 1, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

~

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we do life together.  The early believers met together in public and they met together in their homes.  The nature of their coming together was such that they enjoyed “favor with all the people.”  The result of such favor was that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Pray that you would interact with others in ways that promote favor and goodwill among people.  Pray that God would help you to see how your interactions with other believers can be a fruitful witness for the cause of Christ.  Pray that you would find joy in the coming together of the body of Christ whenever you have the opportunity to be together.  Pray for a spirit of unity within the body of Christ.

“God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”
Hebrews 11:40 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of one another as we live this Christian life together.  Pray that your life in Christ would follow in the footsteps of those who have lived by faith so that together each would be made perfect.  Pray that your walk of faith would be perfected by those who follow in your footsteps.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together In Unity! (7/31/25)
by

Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together In Unity! (7/31/25)

This is the audio from the July 31, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

~

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we do life together.  The early believers met together in public and they met together in their homes.  The nature of their coming together was such that they enjoyed “favor with all the people.”  The result of such favor was that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Pray that you would interact with others in ways that promote favor and goodwill among people.  Pray that God would help you to see how your interactions with other believers can be a fruitful witness for the cause of Christ.  Pray that you would find joy in the coming together of the body of Christ whenever you have the opportunity to be together.  Pray for a spirit of unity within the body of Christ.

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:14 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of one another as we live this Christian life together.  Pray that you would clothe yourself in the love necessary to grow in unity.  Pray for a heart of love that would bind together all of the good things that Christ has put within you.  Pray that you would grow in the things which promote unity.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together As God’s Dwelling! (7/30/25)
by

Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together As God’s Dwelling! (7/30/25)

This is the audio from the July 30, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

~

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we do life together.  The early believers met together in public and they met together in their homes.  The nature of their coming together was such that they enjoyed “favor with all the people.”  The result of such favor was that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Pray that you would interact with others in ways that promote favor and goodwill among people.  Pray that God would help you to see how your interactions with other believers can be a fruitful witness for the cause of Christ.  Pray that you would find joy in the coming together of the body of Christ whenever you have the opportunity to be together.  Pray for a spirit of unity within the body of Christ.

“And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:22 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of one another as we live this Christian life together.  Pray that you would see yourself not only as an individual dwelling of God’s Spirit, but also as a part of the larger community of His body.  Pray for eyes which see the household of God being built together with those who are in Christ.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together With Joy! (7/29/25)
by

Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together With Joy! (7/29/25)

This is the audio from the July 29, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

~

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we do life together.  The early believers met together in public and they met together in their homes.  The nature of their coming together was such that they enjoyed “favor with all the people.”  The result of such favor was that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Pray that you would interact with others in ways that promote favor and goodwill among people.  Pray that God would help you to see how your interactions with other believers can be a fruitful witness for the cause of Christ.  Pray that you would find joy in the coming together of the body of Christ whenever you have the opportunity to be together.  Pray for a spirit of unity within the body of Christ.

“By God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.”
Romans 15:32 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of one another as we live this Christian life together.  Pray that you would bring joy to others when you are together.  Pray that you would know the refreshing from God that can come through joining together with your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Pray for a growing desire to meet together in ways which share joy.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together In Prayer! (7/28/25)
by

Encouragement and Prayer: Growing Together In Prayer! (7/28/25)

This is the audio from the July 28, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

~

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we do life together.  The early believers met together in public and they met together in their homes.  The nature of their coming together was such that they enjoyed “favor with all the people.”  The result of such favor was that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Pray that you would interact with others in ways that promote favor and goodwill among people.  Pray that God would help you to see how your interactions with other believers can be a fruitful witness for the cause of Christ.  Pray that you would find joy in the coming together of the body of Christ whenever you have the opportunity to be together.  Pray for a spirit of unity within the body of Christ.

“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
Acts 1:14 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the value of one another as we live this Christian life together.  Ask God to help you give greater value to the practice of praying together.  Pray that you would be faithful in joining in prayer with others, and for others, even when you are not able to be with them in person.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom

Growing Together! (Sermon Audio)
by

Growing Together! (Sermon Audio)

~

This is the audio from the July 27, 2025 sermon, “Growing Together!”, shared by David Honeycutt and Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 1 Corinthians 3

 

“The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.  For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 
1 Corinthians 3:8-9 (NIV)

 

This message was team preached by David Honeycutt and Tom Lemler for the celebration of the 27th anniversary of the Deer Run Church of Christ and to recognize David’s years of service to Deer Run and the Michiana community as he moves from this area. 

Part One:
Planting the Seed

David Honeycutt

Good morning!  Welcome HOME!  It is so good to be here, worshiping together, praising together, One in Christ as we were created to be.  But sometimes . . . the church, as great as she is, forgets WHO she is.  It’s happened many times throughout history — including even here at times — AND even back in the very early days of the church as is described in our text, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9. 

  • Corinth was experiencing an identity crisis — they forgot who they were.  Unfortunately, there were times in our history we forgot who we were.
  • Ah . . . but God!  Which was Paul’s point . . God!  As His children we do what He assigns us to do, but in reality, He’s the one who gives it life!  Anything good from Deer Run is not due to human efforts alone.  No matter how hard any of us work, no one can take credit for what God has done . . . for what ONLY God can do! 
  • Christians, whether as individuals or as an entire church — we grow only by the power of God through His Holy Spirit, Who acts like a seed accomplishing far more than we could ever ask or imagine.  And frankly, far more than we could ever see or measure!

  • Working in you and through you, He can accomplish things beyond imagination.  And even things you deem small, like a seed, can produce without limit!  You just need to trust Him!  All God asks from any of us to be faithful. And remember, the seed of all faithfulness . . . is faith!  Simple faith!

Part Two:
Prepared to GROW!

Tom Lemler

When we take the seed provided by God and are faithful in doing our part in planting and watering, we find ourselves prepared to . . .

  • Give:  1 Corinthians 3:8-10

    • When the seed of faith is planted in us by God’s Spirit and nurtured by the faithful work of God’s servants, we grow in the way we give of our self.  Many times when we think of giving in the context of church teaching and practice, we focus on money.  God is more concerned about us giving our self fully to Him, and then all aspects of our life follow.  We learn to give in faith when we understand we are all working for the same Master and for the same purpose. 

  • Refine:  1 Corinthians 3:11-13

    • As the seed of faith grows in our life, we quickly learn that we need to refine our thoughts and actions.  As we submit to Christ, we discover an ongoing process of refinement which purifies us from the inside out.  It is in the process of refining that the weeds of this world are pulled . . . and we keep pulling the weeds and discarding them so the seed can both grow and produce a bountiful harvest.

  • Obey:  1 Corinthians 3:14-15

    • It is within this harvest of righteousness that we learn the value of obedience.  Even when our works are destroyed because they are not pure, it is our faith in Jesus which saves us.  Often times we learn obedience through an understanding of the consequences of disobedience,  yet as God prepares us to grow we learn to obey out of love.

  • Worship:  1 Corinthians 3:16-17

    • When we draw near to God and find Him preparing us to give, refine, and obey, we discover a place of worship is always available because we have become the very temple of God.  With the seed of faith empowered by God’s Spirit within us, we are being prepared as both a people of worship and a place of worship.  It is our life which is offered to God in worship which prepares us for an eternity of worshiping God and becomes a witness to the world.

Today, how will you GROW?

Encouragement and Prayer: Seeing the Sorrow! (7/25/25)
by

Encouragement and Prayer: Seeing the Sorrow! (7/25/25)

This is the audio from the July 25, 2025 social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

~

“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’”
Matthew 24:3 (NIV)

This week our prayer focus will be on our need to pay attention to the happenings of life from the view of an eternal perspective.  We often see in Scripture that Jesus noticed things which were different from what others paid attention to.  When we become distracted by the things of this world, Jesus desires to turn our attention to the things we ought to watch out for.  The goal is not to frighten us, but to challenge us with the need to be ready for eternity as we notice the signs of a failing world.  Pray that your relationship with Jesus would fill you with His presence in a way that gives you the strength, wisdom, and courage to always be watchful.  Pray that your desire to know Christ and the power of His resurrection would be greater than any other desire you have.  Pray that seeing the signs would encourage you rather than frighten you.

“He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 24:51 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you be aware of the attempts of the enemy to destroy you.  Pray that you would see, and avoid, the sorrow which will come upon all those who reject the Son.  Pray for a genuine faith in Jesus which obeys Him wholeheartedly so that no seeds of hypocrisy could grow.  Pray that your life would lead others to Jesus so they too can avoid the coming sorrow.

You can find the live video feeds of previous encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page or subscribe to the audio from the Tom’s Treasure podcast channel.

In prayer,
Tom