knowledge

A NEW Command! (Sermon Audio)
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A NEW Command! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the February 19, 2023 sermon, “A NEW Command!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: John 13:34-35

“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)

Today continued a sermon series with a focus on being Made New In Christ.  When Jesus addresses His disciples, including you and I, he issues a new command — a command to love one another.  Since God’s desire has always been that mankind would love Him and love one another, we must gaze into God’s Word to see what makes this command . . .

  • Necessary.  John 13:34a, 1 John 2:3-4
    • While the very nature of commanding something ought to convey the necessity of obedience, sometimes we fail to grasp the importance of actually doing what God says.  God says the real proof of us actually knowing Him is found in our obedience to His commands.  When we live as those who are being made new in Christ, we find that the knowing and doing of God’s Word is not simply a good idea, it is necessary.
  • Expensive.  John 13:34b, 1 John 3:16-17
    • Perhaps one of the reasons we struggle with accepting the necessity of God’s commands is doing so would cost us more than we are willing to invest.  The very nature of this new command involves not simply loving others, but loving them in the same way that Jesus loves.  When we live as those who are being made new in Christ, we find that loving like Jesus will cost us everything — but only everything that would eventually perish.
  • Witnessing.  John 13:35, 1 John 4:12
    • When we live as those who view the command to love one another as both necessary and expensive, the result is a life that shows we belong to Jesus.  It is the witness of our life that makes the presence of God visible in this world and gives us a real answer when people notice the hope we live with.  When we live as those who are being made new in Christ, we shine like stars in the universe and witness to the world that we are disciples of Christ.

Today, how will you respond to a command that is NEW?

Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Patience! (2/17/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Patience! (2/17/23)

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This is the audio from the February 17, 2023 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 is focused on living as one who has put on a new self in Christ.  The image of who we are is represented by our thoughts and practices.  So, putting on a new self requires that we think and live in a new way — a way that is clothed with Christ.  When we take off the practices of life that clothed us in the way of sin, we find Christ has prepared for us the clothing of righteousness.

“And we urge you; warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)

As  you pray this week, ask God to help you consider what a new self should look like.  Pray for God’s help in overcoming the human frustrations that accompany dealing with people . . .including yourself.  Pray that you would learn to be patient with everyone, especially those who are struggling in their life.

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 Self of Gentleness! (2/16/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Gentleness! (2/16/23)

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This is the audio from the February 16, 2023 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 is focused on living as one who has put on a new self in Christ.  The image of who we are is represented by our thoughts and practices.  So, putting on a new self requires that we think and live in a new way — a way that is clothed with Christ.  When we take off the practices of life that clothed us in the way of sin, we find Christ has prepared for us the clothing of righteousness.

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
Philippians 4:5 (NIV)

As  you pray this week, ask God to help you consider what a new self should look like.  Pray that being chosen by God would lead you to a life of gentleness.  Pray that you would grow in gentleness as you grow in your relationship with God.  Pray that the people around you would see God at work in your life as you live with a gentleness that is obvious to all.

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 Self of Humility! (2/15/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Humility! (2/15/23)

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This is the audio from the February 15, 2023 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 is focused on living as one who has put on a new self in Christ.  The image of who we are is represented by our thoughts and practices.  So, putting on a new self requires that we think and live in a new way — a way that is clothed with Christ.  When we take off the practices of life that clothed us in the way of sin, we find Christ has prepared for us the clothing of righteousness.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”
Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

As  you pray this week, ask God to help you consider what a new self should look like.  Pray that God would help you to accurately examine your motives.  Pray for the humility that considers others to be better than yourself.  Pray that you would represent God well as you reflect the humility that has been shown to us by Jesus.

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 Self of Kindness! (2/14/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Kindness! (2/14/23)

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This is the audio from the February 14, 2023 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 is focused on living as one who has put on a new self in Christ.  The image of who we are is represented by our thoughts and practices.  So, putting on a new self requires that we think and live in a new way — a way that is clothed with Christ.  When we take off the practices of life that clothed us in the way of sin, we find Christ has prepared for us the clothing of righteousness.

“And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”
2 Timothy 2:24 (NIV)

As  you pray this week, ask God to help you consider what a new self should look like.  Pray that the Lord’s kindness to you would be your example in how you treat others.  Pray for the courage to treat others with kindness, especially when you disagree.  Pray that a practice of kindness would guide how you instruct others.

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 Self of Compassion! (2/13/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: A Self of Compassion! (2/13/23)

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This is the audio from the February 13, 2023 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 is focused on living as one who has put on a new self in Christ.  The image of who we are is represented by our thoughts and practices.  So, putting on a new self requires that we think and live in a new way — a way that is clothed with Christ.  When we take off the practices of life that clothed us in the way of sin, we find Christ has prepared for us the clothing of righteousness.  As  you pray this week, ask God to help you consider what a new self should look like.  Pray that you would continually grow in the characteristics that represent Christ accurately.  Pray that you would daily know the renewal that comes through the presence of Christ dwelling within you.  Pray for the courage to live in such a way that the people around you recognize how God can make them new.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
Luke 15:20 (NIV)

Pray that God’s compassion toward you would lead you to have compassion for others.  Pray that you would live as one chosen by God to be compassionate to everyone who chooses to return home to God.

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

In prayer,
Tom

A New SELF! (Sermon Audio)
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A New SELF! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the February 12, 2023 sermon, “A New SELF!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Colossians 3:1-17

“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)

Today continued a sermon series with a focus on being Made New In Christ. Being made new in Christ will change who we are because it involves dying to self and living for Christ.  While there is so much that God wants to clothe us with, for that to change us, we must put off the old self before we put on the new . . .

  • Seriousness.  Colossians 3:1-4
    • When we put on a new seriousness, it’s all about changing the things we are serious about.  We must put off the serious pursuit of self and the things of this world in order to put on a seriousness about the things of God.
  • Example.  Colossians 3:5-11
    • When we put on a new example, it’s all about changing what people see in us.  It’s not so much that the things of this world bother us when they’re done by the people of this world, but rather they appall us when they are done by us.  We must put off the deeds of the flesh in order to put on the example of Christ for others to see.
  • Love.  Colossians 3:12-14
    • When we put on a new love, it’s all about changing who we value most.  We must put off the worldly love that is really all about self so that we can put on the godly love that pursues God above all else and considers others better than ourselves.
  • Focus.  Colossians 3:15-17
    • When we put on a new focus, it’s all about changing the direction of our gaze.  We must put off the old focus that kept us looking at our self and the things we desire so that we can put on a new focus to see Christ as the purpose in all we do.

Today, how will you put off the old self in order to put on a new SELF?

Encouragement and Prayer: Covenant of Freedom! (2/10/23)
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Encouragement and Prayer: Covenant of Freedom! (2/10/23)

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This is the audio from the February 10, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”
1 Corinthians 11:25 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis is focused on living under a new covenant as one who is made new in Christ.  The Bible teaches that the old covenant was a covenant of law designed to show mankind their need for something different.  The blood of Jesus not only fulfilled all the demands of the old covenant, it became the living document of the new covenant.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you learn and know the lessons taught by the old covenant.  Pray that you would know the freedom that comes from being released from the penalty demanded by law.  Pray that you would live with a freedom that can only come through the Spirit of God.  Pray that freedom would be the foundation of how you interact with others.

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

In prayer,
Tom