Richard Sims

This Sunday, "Voices" part 2

I just put the finishing touches on this Sunday's message, part 2 of "Voices." I'm extremely excited about this message, mainly because I've been so challenged this week by the topic. 

We said last week that "the voices you listen to will influence what you do." So very true. And there are lots of voices out there that lead us astray.

So what voices should we listen to? We'll talk about one of those this Sunday, 10am at Gold's Gym. It isn't too late to invite someone to come with you!

Pivotal Circumstances

This Sunday, September 20, we'll close out the series Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith with the message "Pivotal Circumstances."

Every one of us has faced circumstances, both good experiences and bad, that have effected our faith. When we face one of these times, we get to decide whether our faith grows stronger or gets weaker.

In the great times, the times of celebration and joy, our faith grows when we decide to praise and thank our Heavenly Father and acknowledge that he is the source of our celebration. Our faith weakens when we pat ourselves on the back and give all the credit to our abilities, our wisdom, ourselves.

In the difficult times, our faith can grow weak very quickly. We begin to doubt that God loves us and that he could do anything to help us even if he wanted to. Or, our faith can grow huge, as we cling the One who created all things and who loves us more than we can comprehend and who is in absolute charge of our circumstances, whether or not we understand it.

God wants to grow your faith. Sometimes he chooses to do that through difficult circumstances. It's up to us how we respond.

Everyone you know is either going through a tough time or is heading toward one. Do everything you can to get them to Tapestry to hear this message. It's that important, and they'll thank you after the service.

I'll see you this Sunday at 6pm for our final worship service at New Covenant Church and to take a closer look at "Pivotal Circumstances."

Fruitcake and Ice Cream

I'm so excited about this Sunday's message, Fruitcake and Ice Cream. If you were h ere at Tapestry back in June 2008, then you may remember the Hope video series with Louie Giglio, and the story of Ashley, a young college student at the University of Florida. Well, in Fruitcake and Ice Cream, Louie speaks about grace while he reads from Ashley's personal journal. The message is encouraging and challenging to believers: the way we live our lives is crucial, and no matter how far away from God someone is, we can't give up on them.

Fruitcake and Ice Cream has so much to say for the unbeliever as well. They'll recognize a lot of themselves in Ashley's journal. This is a perfect opportunity to invite someone who doesn't usually attend church!  A lot of our regular attenders will be out of town or away this Sunday, so if you're anywhere near here, join us for this Sunday's service and invite someone to come with you. 

Easter!

I know, I know, I haven't blogged much this week. But it's EASTER WEEK!! And all of our energy is going into this Sunday's worship gathering. I am so pumped!!

We'll have lots of music, an Easter message, and baptism. You don't want to miss this one!

It's only Thursday, and there's still plenty of time: have you invited someone to come with you this Sunday night? Have you given away your two "Why Worry?" invite cards?

Get ready...EASTER'S ON ITS WAY!!!

Ready for Sunday!

I can't believe how fast this week has flown by! I've had a sick little one with me most of the week, but now he's back in school and almost back to normal.

I am jacked about this Sunday! The message is absolutely vital and our response to it is crucial. We're going to look at an obscure story about four unknown guys who stumble upon something amazing, and I believe their story parallels ours in many ways.

Keep in mind that Easter is on April 12 and our "Why Worry?" series begins on April 19. If you were at TC last Sunday, you were given 2 invite cards - have you given yours away yet this week??

See you for "Just Ask" this Sunday night at 6pm...

Sunday Recap

Last night was a great wrap-up of our Text series. Danny Dukes and Josh Fowler teamed up for a special time of worship, and Josh's closing song ("Word of God Speak") really ended the entire series on a special note.

Andy's message was so important. The Bible is alive, and sometimes we need to go to God not for what he can do for us, but because he might want to say something to us. In order for God to speak to us through the Bible, though, we have to read it. And in order to read it, we need to have a regular time, a regular place, and a regular plan for our time in the Bible.

There were several different plans mentioned in the message. One that was not mentioned, and which I'm following in 2009, is reading the Bible through this year at YouVersion.  Click on that link and check out the reading plan. You can even access the reading plan on your phone if that works best for you.

Whatever plan, place and time you choose, make 2009 the year you READ THE BIBLE!

Oh, and congrats to Michael, Rick and Ty, the three winners of Bibles during Text. Guess is pays to know "Right Round"!

Text, part 2

Tapestry is back this Sunday, March 15, with part 2 of Text. The whole idea of this series is to motivate us to read the Bible. This week you'll receive a really helpful handout, plus we'll give away another Bible (bring your phone, it's ok to text in church).

I grew up attending church, and I loved reading the Bible. In fact, I was great at Bible drills and Bible trivia. But somewhere along the way I drifted, got away from the Bible, got away from church, got away from God. I'll share the longer story one day, but in my mid-20s I turned back to God, and one of the first things I did was start reading the Bible again. It was amazing! As I read my Bible night after night, God spoke to me, shared his love for me, and changed my outlook, thoughts and opinions about so many things. That's because God's Word is alive, and through it he speaks to us.

I'd love to hear from you. What impact has the Bible had on your life?

Imagine, Part 2

 Seems like it's been a long time since our last worship gathering! I can't wait for this Sunday to get here. Andy Stanley's message this week is so important in the life of our church, but also for us as individuals and our spiritual growth.

The thing is, we talk in the church about wanting to be "more and more like Jesus," but when we read about his life, it's obvious  the people who were not the religious type, they liked Jesus. The religious type? Not so much.

What about us, the church? Do we like people who don't act like us, talk like us, or vote like us? Do we get excited when talk to somebody who obviously doesn't understand the "rules"? Or do we stay away from them and secretly hope they don't defile our churches by attending?

Let's start being more like Jesus. The people who were not like him, liked him. And he liked them. Can't wait for this Sunday!that

It's Christmas @ Tapestry

It'll be Christmas at Tapestry this Sunday!

• I've been waiting a while for this Sunday's worship leader to be able to lead at Tapestry. You'll hear lots of Christmas music!
• If you took ornaments off the tree, bring the gifts back this Sunday, wrapped and with the ornament attached. We'll start a pile in the lobby. You're going to make some children very happy!
• I get to speak (but don't let that keep you from attending...)
• This is our last gathering of the year! In fact, we'll meet next on Sunday, January 11 at Excel. 2009 is going to be a tremendous year at Tapestry!

This Sunday...

I'm really, really, really looking forward to this Sunday's Tapestry gathering, and for several reasons.

First, I love this church!  It's an incredible blessing to be a part of a church family like Tapestry!

Second, Andy's message this Sunday is extremely helpful. We've spent the last several Sundays talking about how we are and are not to judge others. But what about when you are judged by someone else? And what about when that judgment is unfair? That's what we'll talk about in part four of Judgment Call.

Third, the music will be different from anything we've done so far. But it'll just have to be a surprise...