Pastor Tom's Journal

   When the Questions Become Ours Matthew 22:15–46 Questions can open doors. They can help us examine our assumptions and discover truths we might otherwise miss. Questions can also become traps. In Matthew 22, three questions are directed toward Jesus. They are intended to test, manipulate, or discredit him. Jesus refuses to remain confined within them. He turns each question into a question for us. Then Jesus asks a fourth question—and all the others converge upon it. This is a brief introduction to the message. For the synopsis, complete article, full sermon, historical background, Gospel comparisons, and subscriber Deep Dive, visit Bible Chat on YouTube or Substack: ttps://tomsims.substack.com/p/when-the-questions-become-ours Who owns what? The Pharisees and Herodians ask Jesus whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. They want a yes-or-no answer. Either answer could create trouble. Jesus asks to see the coin. “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” “Caesar’s.” “...

  Matthew 22:1–14 There is a kingdom party. A king prepares a wedding banquet for his son. The food is ready, the tables are set, and the invitations have been delivered. It should be a story about joy. But Jesus tells it during a moment of crisis. He has entered Jerusalem, confronted the religious leaders, and challenged their assumptions about authority and faithfulness. The kingdom for which people had prayed was arriving in the person of Jesus. The invitation had become immediate: “Everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.” Too Busy to Come The first guests had already been invited. The servants were simply announcing that the anticipated moment had arrived. But the guests refused to come. Some returned to their fields and businesses. Their activities were not necessarily evil. Work had to be done. Responsibilities had to be met. But something can be legitimate and still become the reason we miss the most important moment of our lives. The kingdom had come, and they had...

Courage, Confrontation, and Crisis | Matthew 21:18–46 Jesus walks into the fire. As the conflict in Jerusalem intensifies, Jesus does not retreat. Through the fruitless fig tree, the challenge to his authority, the parable of the two sons, the wicked tenants, and the rejected cornerstone, Jesus exposes the danger of profession without practice. He does not manufacture trouble or stir up contention for its own sake. He uncovers contradictions that are already present and directs attention toward their true sources. Then he brings everyone to a defining moment—a crisis of truth and choice centered upon himself. Courage enters the danger. Confrontation uncovers the truth. Crisis demands a decision about the Cornerstone. Read the complete reflection, subscriber Bible study, personal inventory, and small-group discussion guide: https://tomsims.substack.com/p/courage-confrontation-and-crisis

  THE LORD NEEDS THIS Matthew 21:1–17 Jesus entered Jerusalem as a humble King, riding a borrowed donkey. He overturned the tables that obstructed prayer, made room for wounded people to receive healing, and welcomed the praise of children. The Lord needed a donkey, two obedient disciples, and someone willing to release what had been tied up. What might the Lord need from us? Watch the full sermon: https://www.facebook.com/tomsims/videos/1625032299151069/ Read the sermon and expanded subscriber study: https://tomsims.substack.com/p/the-lord-needs-this Join the Fellowship of Joy discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fellowshipofjoy/ Short Version Discussion questions: What might God be asking you to untie, release, or make available? What “table” may need to be overturned because it is obstructing prayer, mercy, healing, or welcome? Who needs more room to approach Jesus through your life or community? Share your response in the comments or join us in the Fellowship of Jo...