Pastor Tom's Journal

Overcoming in the Wilderness A Sermon on Temptation as Formation Matthew 4:1–11 Temptation is often treated as a moral failure in the church. Scripture treats it differently—as a place of formation. In this message,  Overcoming in the Wilderness , I reflect on Jesus’ temptation in Matthew 4:1–11 and why the wilderness is not a detour from God’s purposes, but often the place where identity, trust, and obedience are clarified. Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness—not because something has gone wrong, but because something essential is being formed. Later, the writer of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus was “tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” Temptation, then, is not sin itself. It is the arena in which faithfulness is practiced. Watch the Sermon You can watch the full video message here: ▶️  Overcoming in the Wilderness https://youtu.be/4BKXo4ZIZl8?si=Sr0qdhegVfH6Eobs Continue the Conversation Sermons often open a door. Formation usually happens afterward—th...

  https://tomsims.substack.com/p/fired-up for more All Wet or Fired Up Matthew 3:1–12 — John the Baptist Prepares the Way It was a time when religion, even good religion and theology, had become empty ritual for so many. It was a time when many were longing for something authentic in their communities of faith but not finding it. It was a time when masses of common folks were willing to go outside of the temples, synagogues, and traditional places of worship and religious instruction ti hear an uncredentialed and untitled teacher tell them some raw truth about living faith that actually plays out in lifestyle change while being genuinely and deeply spiritual. It was something practical and spiritual that John the Baptist referred to when he proclaimed. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: — Matthew 3:11 How did all of th...

The Jesus Journey - The Journey Begins by Tom Sims Galilee - Bethlehem-Egypt - Nazareth --- Matthew 2:12-21 Read on Substack

The truth is that I got to where I am by asking or anticipating certain questions and steps over and over and over and over until I was weary of the word, "over," and then some more. How I Got Where I Am  #destination #success #successstory #journey https://open.substack.com/pub/tomsims/p/how-did-i-get-here?r=2m40s&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

There is a new day that has come. There is a new King. There is new hope. The least has become the greatest and thrones are toppling over. The drama takes place with unlikely characters on unlikely stages of human experience in unlikely places. More at  Substack

More at https://medium.com/prayer-101/when-deserts-rejoice-5eebae86af23?sk=176ca137e45d794ffb86865e9f4b2f85

Hypocrisy or Humility , by @tomsims The admonition to humility is phrased as a promise. The humble will be exalted. The sanctified irony of the matter is that is exaltation is your motive for being humble, then you are faking it and hypocrisy is the danger you face. #Hypocrisy #hypocrite #proud #Humble #humility #leadership #matthew23 #woe https://medium.com/@tomsims/hypocrisy-or-humility-cce235bf82fa?sk=7e773d835e23cfd30b8aa7c47f61b9c2 or https://tomsims.substack.com/p/hypocrisy-or-humility or if you are a Medium Member, please use: https://medium.com/@tomsims/hypocrisy-or-humility-cce235bf82fa https://medium.com/@tomsims/hypocrisy-or-humility-cce235bf82fa?sk=7e773d835e23cfd30b8aa7c47f61b9c2

Read at  Friends Free Link on Medium Isaiah 2:1–5 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. “ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD! It is a dark world into which light has come and is coming. It is estimated that there are anywhere from dozens to over 100 wars bei...