When Jesus Joins Your WALK (Sermon Audio)
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When Jesus Joins Your WALK (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the April 4, 2021 Resurrection Sunday sermon, “When Jesus Joins Your Walk”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Mark 16:12-13, Luke 24:13-35

If you’ve experienced any times of worry, asking questions, life that’s routine, or knowledge that doesn’t make sense then perhaps it is time to consider what can happen when Jesus joins your Worry, Asking, Living, and Knowledge.

Because of the resurrection, you can have hope as Jesus joins your:

  • Worry.  Luke 24:13-17, John 14:1
    • As the two followers of Jesus return home from Jerusalem following the death and burial of Jesus, they are filled with great concern and worry.  It is in the midst of this worry that Jesus shows up to join them in their walk.  When we trust God with our worry, He is always willing to walk with us through it as He longs to bring us to the other side.
  • Asking.  Luke 24:18-24, John 16:17-19
    • For these followers of Jesus, nothing had turned out like it should have . . . at least not from their perspective.  They got caught up in the “what-if” game of being filled with questions that had no answers.  It is in their asking that Jesus shows up to join them with a few questions of His own designed to get them to think.  When we allow Jesus to join our walk, He not only knows the questions we are asking, He also knows the ones we don’t know how to ask.
  • Living.  Luke 24:28-30, Colossians 3:17
    • Even with worry and questions, there was a life to be lived and these followers of Jesus went about that normal routine upon arriving home.  Yet they did not do life alone . . . they invited this stranger who had walked with them to join them for the night.  It was in doing life together that the realized who Jesus was.  When we include Jesus in every part of our life, we find that He has joined our walk in a way that makes Him real to us.
  • Knowledge.  Luke 24:31-35, 1 Corinthians 13:12
    • It was when their eyes were opened to who Jesus was that these followers could see how Jesus had joined them in their longing for knowledge.  The things that they knew, things that had spend their walk talking about with Jesus, were all made clear when they became aware of the presence of Jesus.

And now for the part we skipped, Luke 24:25-27.  When Jesus joins your Worry, your Asking, your Living, and your Knowledge, He always brings truth.  As you consider all of the elements of your daily life, will you invite Jesus to join your WALK and fill it with His truth?

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Encouragement and Prayer: Go Because of God’s Command (04/04/21)

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This is the audio from the April 4, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Serving God: Go Because of God’s Command
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Serving God: Go Because of God’s Command

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day one in the final week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Go Because of God’s Command

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’“
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

Do you like to go places?  How do you decide where to go?  Has there ever been a time in your life when someone in authority would set your schedule and tell you where you had to be and when you had to be there?  Did you like it?  Did you do it?  Why?  What do you think would happen if you took a job delivering pizza but would only go to the addresses that you were familiar with?  Would your boss be okay with that, or would he expect you to go everywhere he tells you?

As Jesus was finishing His ministry on earth, He commands those who would follow Him to go and make disciples.  Some say the emphasis in the command is on going and others claim it is on making disciples.  I’m not convinced Jesus had any intention for us to separate the two parts of the command.  The idea is that those needing to be discipled aren’t usually going to come to you as you sit by and wait — you must be actively involved in living the gospel of Jesus and taking it with you everywhere you go.

As you pray, ask God to fill you with the courage to go when He commands.  Pray that your obedience to His command would involve you in the act of serving everywhere you go.

In prayer,

Tom

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Encouragement and Prayer: Purity Of Actions (04/03/21)

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This is the audio from the April 3, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Serving God: Purity Of Actions
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Serving God: Purity Of Actions

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day seven in the twelfth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Purity Of Actions

“Differing weights and differing measures — the LORD detests them both.
Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.“
Proverbs 20:10-11 (NIV)

Why do you do what you do?  What motives compel you to serve, or keep you from doing so?  What do you think your actions reveal about you?  What would your closest friends say about your purity based on your actions?  What would strangers say?  Should those answers be the same?  Why?  What standard do you use to determine “good and right” actions?  How will having purity in your actions help you as you serve? 

While our thoughts influence our actions, it is our actions that influence our character — what people think about us.  Whether we like it or not, people are watching and they make judgments about what kind of person we are based on what they see us doing, or not doing.  When those we are serving watch us, they decide rather quickly if we can be trusted as they observe our actions with others and experience our actions toward them.  When our actions honor God, we find ourselves serving others in ways that honor God as well.  As you pray, ask God to help you see how well your actions are reflecting Him to those you serve.  Pray that the people around you will know you as God’s child by the way you live.

In prayer,

Tom

A TIME to Remember (Sermon Audio)
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A TIME to Remember (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the Good Friday, April 2, 2021 sermon, “A TIME to Remember”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text:  Matthew 27:32-50

Good Friday is a time to remember the great price which Jesus paid to cover the penalty of sin we each owe.  As we look at the events of the crucifixion, I find four things which I believe are important for us to remember.

The message of the cross has a:

  • Truth to remember.  Matthew 27:37
    • The guy who asked Jesus the question, “What is truth”, is responsible for posting the great truth of the cross — “This is Jesus, King of the Jews.”  The message of the cross proclaims the truth of Jesus as King — not necessarily the king we want, but the King we need.
  • Invitation to remember.  Mark 15:29-30
    • Never forget the invitation offered to Jesus by nearly everyone witnessing the crucifixion — “Save yourself.”  It was the same invitation offered by Satan as Jesus was tempted following His forty days in the wilderness.  Jesus chose to stay on the cross and turn down the invitation of the world.
  • Motive to remember.  Luke 23:42-43
    • As Jesus taught those who followed Him, He made it clear that the “Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”  His interaction with the criminal beside Him who asked to be remembered gives us a clear view into the motives which held Him in place.
  • Exclamation to remember.  John 19:30
    • After suffering the horrendous experience of the crucifixion and taking on the weight of sin from all mankind, Jesus exclaims, “It is finished!”  The message of the cross calls us to remember the completed work of God in redeeming us from our slavery to sin.

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Encouragement and Prayer: Purity Of Thoughts (04/02/21)

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This is the audio from the April 2, 2021 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Serving God: Purity Of Thoughts
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Serving God: Purity Of Thoughts

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day six in the twelfth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Purity Of Thoughts

“The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.“
Proverbs 15:26 (NIV)

What do you think about most?  What things would make a thought impure?  Do you think that list is larger or smaller than most people imagine?  Why?  How does your intent, or motives, influence the purity of your thoughts?  How often are your thoughts pleasing to the Lord?  Do you think He agrees with your answer?  What would make a thought pleasing or displeasing to God?  How will having pure thoughts help you serve others more effectively?

As with most aspects of purity, sexual temptation is an area that can quickly overtake a person’s thoughts and wreak havoc in their ability to serve.  Because it is so predominant in our culture, it is easy to be on guard against impure sexual thoughts while completely ignoring the danger of other thoughts that are just as impure.  We have thoughts of selfishness, pride, and envy that can cause us to not serve as we ought if we let them take over our mind.  Any thought that doesn’t please God becomes a gateway for evil to take root.  As you pray, ask God to cleanse your thought life.  Pray that you would take captive every thought and make them obedient to Christ as you serve others.

In prayer,

Tom