Pastor Tom's Journal

   In Matthew 7, Jesus speaks about the “narrow gate” and the “hard road that leads to life.” For many readers, the phrase  narrow way  raises immediate questions. Is Jesus describing exclusion? Is this about narrow-mindedness? Is it about rigid spiritual guardrails? Or is the narrow gate something deeper — something formational? The Narrow Way as Focus Across every dimension of life, narrowing produces depth. We narrow our attention to complete meaningful work. We narrow our language to communicate clearly. We narrow our priorities to reach important goals. Why would spiritual growth be any different? In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), Jesus narrows our focus in very specific ways: Examine yourself before judging others. Ask, seek, and knock in prayerful dependence. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Enter the narrow gate. The narrowing is not about reducing compassion. It is about concentrating character. The Wide Road Is Distracted The wide road...

John 6 — I Am the Bread of Life | Bible Chat with Tom Sims Description: Bread is ordinary. Essential. Shared. That is why Jesus chose it. In John 6:35, Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life.” Drawing on the long biblical story of manna, wilderness provision, and the breaking of bread at the table, this Bible Chat reflection explores what it means to depend on Christ not just for inspiration—but for sustenance. This is a meditation on hunger, grace, provision, and daily trust. 📖 Read the full Bible Chat reflection and companion resources on Substack: https://tomsims.substack.com/p/bread-of-life-and-living 🔗 More from Tom Sims: https://linktr.ee/tomsims #BibleChat #John6 #BreadOfLife #ChristianFormation #FaithInPractice #DailyBread #GospelOfJohn #Discipleship

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“I cannot give up on the world—because Jesus didn’t.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls his followers salt and light because he believed faithful people could make a real difference in the world. 📘 Go deeper with the full sermon text, prayer, and study guide on Substack: 👉 https://open.substack.com/pub/tomsims/p/salt-and-light-why-jesus-didnt-give 🎥 Watch the full sermon on YouTube: 👉 https://youtu.be/a1_mXyOTH2M 💬 Join the conversation: – Where do you see the world most in need of hope right now? – What might it look like for you to be salt or light this week? 🌍 The Fellowship of Joy An online community connecting individuals and small groups around the world for ongoing faith, conversation, and encouragement. 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/fellowshipofjoy/ #SaltAndLight #ChristianHope #SermonOnTheMount #FaithInAction #BibleReflection #ChristianShorts

Voices Heard — Phillips Brooks: Writing Beyond Our Lives Phillips Brooks (1835–1893) believed that preaching was not performance but pastoral care, and that truth only becomes transformative when it passes through a living person. In this Voices Heard episode, I reflect on Brooks as: A pastor first, whose preaching was itself a form of care A voice who spoke in, with, and against the tides of his time A preacher who understood that writing extends ministry beyond a lifetime A hymn writer whose theology could be sung, remembered, and prayed A leader who spoke where the human condition meets the voice of God At the center is Brooks’s enduring prayer: Do not pray for easy lives… pray for powers equal to your tasks. Beyond the paywall, six extended reflections explore how writing becomes a form of leadership, how influence outlives position, and how faithfulness—not ambition—is what gives words their staying power. This is an invitation to think about what kind of voice you are leaving beh...

Psalm 31 gives voice to prayer spoken from inside vulnerability, pressure, and time itself. This extended Bible Chat conversation reflects on what it means to pray honestly—without polish or pretense—and to trust God when life feels unfinished. At the heart of Psalm 31 is a steady confession: “My times are in Your hand.” This reflection explores how prayer matures over time, how faith learns to tell the truth, and how trust is practiced not by escaping difficulty but by placing our lives—past, present, and future—into God’s care. If you’d like to go deeper, you’ll find expanded written reflections, a longer prayer, individual journaling questions, and group study resources on Substack: 👉 https://tomsims.substack.com/p/psalm-31-my-times-are-in-your-hand If you’d like to continue the conversation, explore coaching or mentoring, or connect around Bible Chat: 📅 Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/tomsims 🔗 More resources: https://linktr.ee/tomsims

Tom Sims — Bible Chat “I need a prayer song—and I need it now.” (Psalm 38) Full video: https://fb.watch/EMM0gd3NCm/ Companion reflection: https://open.substack.com/pub/tomsims/p/i-need-a-prayer-songand-i-need-it?r=2m40s&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true https://linktr.ee/tomsims