goals

Encouragement and Prayer: Rise As a New Creation! (4/25/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Rise As a New Creation! (4/25/25)

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

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”
Revelation 21:5 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will return to a focus on the resurrection of Jesus and the new life we have in Him.  In considering a time to rise, we will focus on some of the aspects of living a risen life which is made new by Christ.  Whether you feel new or not, if you have been adopted into God’s family He has made, and continues to make, you new!  Pray that you would rise from the deadness of sin and live a new life each day.  Pray that the power of God’s Spirit within you would help you to rise above the distractions and cares of this world as you reflect Christ in the way you live.  Pray that the power of the resurrection of Jesus would be on display in your life as you live a life that has been made new.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you not only experience the newness of being in Christ but that you would share that newness with the people around you on a daily basis.  Pray that you would know the power of the resurrection in making you a new creation in Christ.  Pray that your life as a new creation in Christ would not be held back by a past that has been forgiven.  Pray that you would rise above the old in order to live as new.

You can find the live video feeds of these 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: Rise To a New Covenant! (4/24/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Rise To a New Covenant! (4/24/25)

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This is the audio from the April 24, 2025 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”
Revelation 21:5 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will return to a focus on the resurrection of Jesus and the new life we have in Him.  In considering a time to rise, we will focus on some of the aspects of living a risen life which is made new by Christ.  Whether you feel new or not, if you have been adopted into God’s family He has made, and continues to make, you new!  Pray that you would rise from the deadness of sin and live a new life each day.  Pray that the power of God’s Spirit within you would help you to rise above the distractions and cares of this world as you reflect Christ in the way you live.  Pray that the power of the resurrection of Jesus would be on display in your life as you live a life that has been made new.

“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
2 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you not only experience the newness of being in Christ but that you would share that newness with the people around you on a daily basis.  Pray that you would fully live by the Spirit which gives life according to the covenant God has made with His people.  Pray that you understand fully rise to the competence you have been given to share the new covenant with others.

You can find the live video feeds of these 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: Rise To a New Teaching! (4/23/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Rise To a New Teaching! (4/23/25)

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This is the audio from the April 23, 2025 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”
Revelation 21:5 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will return to a focus on the resurrection of Jesus and the new life we have in Him.  In considering a time to rise, we will focus on some of the aspects of living a risen life which is made new by Christ.  Whether you feel new or not, if you have been adopted into God’s family He has made, and continues to make, you new!  Pray that you would rise from the deadness of sin and live a new life each day.  Pray that the power of God’s Spirit within you would help you to rise above the distractions and cares of this world as you reflect Christ in the way you live.  Pray that the power of the resurrection of Jesus would be on display in your life as you live a life that has been made new.

“Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, ‘May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?’”
Acts 17:19 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you not only experience the newness of being in Christ but that you would share that newness with the people around you on a daily basis.  Pray that you would always be prepared to give an explanation of the teaching of Jesus that you follow.  Pray  that you would live in a way that others would want to rise and follow the new teaching that you follow.

You can find the live video feeds of these 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: Rise To a New Life! (4/22/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Rise To a New Life! (4/22/25)

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This is the audio from the April 22, 2025 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”
Revelation 21:5 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will return to a focus on the resurrection of Jesus and the new life we have in Him.  In considering a time to rise, we will focus on some of the aspects of living a risen life which is made new by Christ.  Whether you feel new or not, if you have been adopted into God’s family He has made, and continues to make, you new!  Pray that you would rise from the deadness of sin and live a new life each day.  Pray that the power of God’s Spirit within you would help you to rise above the distractions and cares of this world as you reflect Christ in the way you live.  Pray that the power of the resurrection of Jesus would be on display in your life as you live a life that has been made new.

“‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people the full message of this new life.’”
Acts 5:20 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you not only experience the newness of being in Christ but that you would share that newness with the people around you on a daily basis.  Pray that the new life you experience in Christ would help you to rise above the things which would keep you from sharing the message of that new life with others.  Pray that your life and your words would always tell the full message of the resurrected life you live.

You can find the live video feeds of these 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: Rise To a New Command! (4/21/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Rise To a New Command! (4/21/25)

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This is the audio from the April 21, 2025 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”
Revelation 21:5 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will return to a focus on the resurrection of Jesus and the new life we have in Him.  In considering a time to rise, we will focus on some of the aspects of living a risen life which is made new by Christ.  Whether you feel new or not, if you have been adopted into God’s family He has made, and continues to make, you new!  Pray that you would rise from the deadness of sin and live a new life each day.  Pray that the power of God’s Spirit within you would help you to rise above the distractions and cares of this world as you reflect Christ in the way you live.  Pray that the power of the resurrection of Jesus would be on display in your life as you live a life that has been made new.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you not only experience the newness of being in Christ but that you would share that newness with the people around you on a daily basis.  Pray that you would live out this new command in a way that your love rises above the ordinary in order to be Christ-like.  Pray that your obedience to the command to love one another would help others see you as a disciple of Jesus.

You can find the live video feeds of these 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

Following Jesus – A Time For LIFE! (Sermon Audio)
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Following Jesus – A Time For LIFE! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the April 20, 2025 sermon, “Following Jesus: A Time For LIFE!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Matthew 28

 

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”
Revelation 21:5 (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.  It is in the resurrection of Jesus that we discover true life, and have the opportunity to have life to the full.  It is in that fullness of the resurrection, we too can experience a time for . . .

  • Love:  Matthew 28:1-4

    • At the heart of the resurrection was the fullness of God’s love being shown to mankind through the life of His Son, Jesus.  Love will always compel us to do things which nothing else could motivate us to do.  As the women head to the tomb early on the first day of the week, they do so motivated by love.  Even when the circumstances become so frightening that the Roman guards pass out as dead men, the love of Mary Magdalene and Mary drive them forward to the tomb where they discover there is not a dead body present for them to finish burial preparations.  When we follow Jesus in a fullness of life, we discover a time for love which overcomes all fear. 

  • Insight:  Matthew 28:5-10

    • The life of Jesus continually gave insight into the kingdom of God through everything that was being said and done.  His resurrection gives us an insight into the wonderful teaching Jesus would share about Him being the resurrection and the life.  As the women encountered an angel at the tomb, they were given insight into what they were experiencing being just as Jesus said it would be.  When we follow Jesus in the fullness of life, we find that He gives us greater insight into His Word as His Spirit helps us to both understand and practice the truth of all its commands and instructions.

  • Faith:  Matthew 28:11-15

    • The Bible makes it clear that without faith it is impossible to please God.  As Jesus lived among mankind, He consistently called His followers to grow in faith as they would choose to believe in the unseen.  Because it would mean disaster for the religious leaders to admit Jesus had indeed resurrected from the dead, they used their influence and money to spread a story about the body of Jesus being stolen.  While this story spread and gained popularity among the Jews, those who had not personally seen the resurrected person of Jesus would have to believe by faith that He indeed was alive.  When we follow Jesus in the fullness of life, we must do so by a living faith which trusts that the Word of God is true and that Jesus not only rose from the dead but that He has ascended back into heaven to prepare a place for all who would put their faith in Him.

  • Expansion:  Matthew 28:16-20

    • Much of the life of Jesus was spent proclaiming the kingdom of God to be near and calling people everywhere to believe and be saved.  In Biblical context, belief is more than just agreeing that something is true — it is an obedient response to that which is true and a response which is reflected in our actions.  It was the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus which opened wide the invitation for all who are thirsty to come and drink of the living water.  The expansion of the kingdom of God was at hand and Jesus calls all who would follow Him to be involved in taking the good news of the resurrection everywhere they went.  When we follow Jesus in the fullness of life, we are called by Him to join in the expansion of the kingdom as we go and make disciples according to His instructions.

Today, how will you live a risen LIFE?

Following Jesus – A Time To DIE! (Sermon Audio)
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Following Jesus – A Time To DIE! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the April 18, 2025 Good Friday sermon, “Following Jesus: A Time To DIE!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the West Side Church of Christ.

Text: Matthew 27:22-54

 

“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 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.  As we look at the crucifixion of Jesus, we find for our self a time to . . .

  • Decide:  Matthew 27:22-26

    • The time to die was a time to decide for Jesus long before the cross.  He made the decision while in heaven with His Father to humble himself and become obedient even to death on a  cross.  Our time to die is also a time for us to decide whether we choose Barabbas (sin) or Jesus. 

  • Invite:  Matthew 27:32-43, Luke 23:39-43

    • Jesus used His time to die as a time to invite a thief to join Him in paradise.  But it wasn’t only a thief who confessed the appropriateness of his own punishment who has been invited by Jesus — His invitation is to all who would agree with Him about our sin and choose to call upon His name in obedience.  When we choose to die to sin and self, we also find a time to invite all who would come to experience the goodness of Jesus that we know.

  • Exclaim:  Matthew 27:45-54

    • For Jesus, the time to die was a time to exclaim to the world that His work was finished.  The seed of the gospel was about to fall into the ground only to germinate and burst forth three days later.  Even the soldiers on duty at the crucifixion couldn’t help but to exclaim that this surely was the Son of God.  It it through joining with Christ in His death that our life is able to exclaim to the world that Jesus is indeed Lord and Savior.

 

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?  Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.  For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin —  because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”
Romans 6:1-7

Today, how will you choose to DIE?

Encouragement and Prayer: I Thirst! (4/18/25)
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Encouragement and Prayer: I Thirst! (4/18/25)

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This is the audio from the April 18, 2025 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)

Our “Lifestyle of Prayer” emphasis this week will return to a focus on the words of Jesus from the cross.  As we spend the week preparing to celebrate Resurrection Sunday, it is fitting to not only consider the sacrifice Jesus made, but to apply His very words to how we pray.  Pray for a greater awareness of the things Jesus went through to bring salvation to you.  Pray about how the words of Jesus will help you know the fullness of His love for you.  Pray that you would realize how you are part of the joy that was set before Jesus as He endured the cross.  Pray that your life would reflect the message of the cross to the people around you.

“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’”
John 19:28 (NIV)

As you pray this week, use the topics to help you pray through difficulties, through weakness, through loneliness, through concern for others, and most importantly through the eyes of Jesus.  Pray that you would always hunger and thirst for righteousness so that you would be satisfied.  Pray that you would know the value of God’s completed work in satisfying your thirst.  Pray that the people you see today would have a real thirst for the things of God.

You can find the live video feeds of these 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