Pastor Tom's Journal

  The Pharisees ask what the law permits a man to do. Jesus redirects them toward what God intends. In Matthew 19:1–15, Jesus moves us: • From control to covenant • From disposability to dignity • From conformity to calling • From exclusion to welcome Jesus will not allow law, marriage, singleness, or religious custom to become a mechanism for controlling, discarding, or excluding people. He calls us away from hard-heartedness and toward covenant faithfulness, human dignity, and openhearted welcome. His teaching must never be used to excuse cruelty, protect abuse, silence wounded people, or exclude those whose relationships have ended. The same Jesus who honors covenant also protects human dignity and opens his arms to wounded people. Read the sermon companion and access the subscriber study and reflection guides: https://tomsims.substack.com/p/the-hard-heart-and-the-open-arms Hard Questions:   https://pastortom.blog/2026/08/16/hard-hearts-or-open-arms/ Join the Conversat...

 

   Who can we welcome? How can we welcome them? What makes us "great?"

 One generation remembered God’s works. A later generation forgot. The journey from Joshua to Judges reminds us that faith cannot simply be assumed or inherited. It must be remembered, practiced, taught, and renewed. Even in a forgetful generation, God raises leaders like Deborah. What are we giving the next generation that is worth remembering? Full Bible Chat: https://tomsims.substack.com/p/when-a-generation-forgets https://linktr.ee/tomsims #BibleChat #WhenAGenerationForgets #Deborah #Joshua #BookOfJudges #GenerationalFaith #PassingOnFaith #ChristianLiving #TomSims

  Strength is not permission to dominate, criticize, or win every argument. Strength is a calling to build people up. Romans 15 asks us to welcome one another as Christ welcomed us. That includes the beginner, the struggling believer, the person with unfinished theology, and the person who asks uncomfortable questions. May no one leave an encounter with us feeling crushed, hopeless, or unwanted. Use your strength to serve. Use your knowledge to encourage. Expand the welcome—and let hope overflow. Read and hear the fully study: https://tomsims.substack.com/p/welcome-one-another Bible Chat with Tom Sims https://biblechatonline.com https://linktr.ee/tomsims #BibleChat #Romans15 #WelcomeOneAnother #ChristianCommunity #ServantLeadership #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianEncouragement #AboundInHope

  We all appreciate mountaintop moments—times of inspiration, clarity, worship, and renewed vision. But Jesus does not invite us to build shelters and remain there. He leads us into the valley, where people suffer, disciples fail, and our strength proves inadequate. That is where mustard-seed faith becomes real. God does not give us the mountain so that we can escape the valley. He gives us glory for the valley. See Jesus in his glory. Listen to him on the mountain. Follow him into the valley. Trust him at the cross .Remember his resurrection.   Dive deeper and utilize small group tools: https://tomsims.substack.com (biblechatonline.com) You can also watch or share   the whole sermon on Facebook : https://fb.watch/IBULGpCibx/ or YouTube Five questions for reflection and conversation: 1. What mountaintop experience has helped sustain you through a difficult valley? 2. Is Jesus saying something to you that you have found difficult to hear or accept? 3....

Long before Zoom meetings and Slack, I learned an unforgettable lesson about divided attention. While waiting to support a live online conversation between Vice President Al Gore and my remarkable friend Georgia Griffith, I found a harmless way to pass the time—or so I thought. Unfortunately, everyone could see it. Sometimes our most embarrassing moments become our best stories... and our best teachers. Read the full story: https://medium.com/@tomsims/how-i-got-caught-playing-craps-with-the-vice-president-f7eee1f4f4b0?sk=f90a55be00521e5e98dac14055f50ada