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!

Ok, so how many of you guessed that we'd open our Prayer series with "Livin' On A Prayer"? Thanks to Jason Sartain and the band for opening us up with that song and for leading us in worship.

Prayer is so vital to the Christian life, yet many of us just don't pray enough. How about you? Do you have a strong prayer life? Or does your prayer life need a boost? Are you completely honest with God when you pray? Do you pray throughout your day? Do you pray about everything that's important to you?

Since we're talking about prayer, here's something important that we'd like to ask you to pray about. We're currently blessed to be meeting at New Covenant Church, a church who has opened her arms wide to us and to whom we're so grateful. We still view this location, however, as a temporary one, and we're praying and searching for property that will allow us to move back to a Sunday morning meeting time.

But not just any property. We want to create an irresistible foyer environment. So would you consider praying this prayer on a daily basis? "Heavenly Father, please provide us with a Sunday morning environment where we're comfortable inviting unchurched people to attend." 

If you'd be willing to pray that prayer with us, let me know by adding your comment to this post. I am pumped about what God has in store for us!

Why Worry, part 3

Do you worry too much? Do you have friends who worry? Are you worried about something right now?

This Sunday at Tapestry we close out the Why Worry series with a look at the Old Testament. One individual was asked a very powerful question by God, and this one question may allow you to conquer worry in your life.

Bring someone with you this Sunday at 6:00pm for Part 3 of Why Worry.

We're Back...

We're back in business at Tapestry Church after a weekend off. This Sunday, May 3rd, 6pm, we'll continue with part 2 of Why Worry.

In part 2, we'll look at a couple of questions: Where does worry come from? Is worrying synonymous with caring? We'll also be challenged to consider the relationship between our faith and our worry.

There are so many reasons to worry today, from the economy to the swine flu. Are you worried? Do you have a friend who is worried? Bring them with you to Tapestry this Sunday night!

Are You Worried?

Last Sunday, April 19th, we started the series Why Worry, and we were challenged to read Matthew 6:24-34 every morning last week.

I did, and it was great. Oh, I had some challenges, like a problem with our house that's going to cost me money that I don't have right now. But I'm trusting God to come through with that. So I had a great week of not worrying.

But then, over the weekend, two words stopped me in my tracks: swine flu. Oh my goodness. Will it be a pandemic? How serious is it? How deadly is it? Will my children get sick?

Yes, I worried. I'm still wrestling with worry, especially when it comes to my children. (Hey, I'm a pastor, but I'm not perfect). So you know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to read Matthew 6:24-34 every morning this week. Again. But this week, it seems more alive, like God is speaking directly to me. That's how the Bible tends to work, isn't it?

Listen to these key words: "and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern."

Wow - what a sweet deal! So here's my prayer this week: "God, I'm trusting you to take care of the things that are out of my control. Help me to focus on the things that concern you and on my part in furthering your kingdom, and help me to let you focus on the things in my life that only you can handle."

That's what I'll be doing this week. If you're dealing with worry, let me hear from you. And then share with us how God has worked in your life this week.

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...

Time Alone with God

I really enjoy when my folks come up to visit and when I travel to Warner Robins to visit down there. When we see each other, we spend a lot of time talking and getting caught up. But sometimes during those visits, we just sit. We may watch a movie, or sit on my front porch or their sun room and drink coffee. Or maybe we tackle a chore together.

Sometimes those times are the best times, because they aren't about conversation. They're about just spending time with each other, just being around each other and relishing that time alone together.

Each day, usually about the same time and in the same place, I block out time to spend alone with God. I usually spend that time in prayer, reading the Bible, meditating on what I've read, and just trying to listen to anything God may be trying to say to me.

Some days, though, God doesn't have anything profound to say to me. I read the Scripture, but God doesn't speak to me there. Some days God just wants me to enjoy sitting with him, spending time with him, just enjoying being with him and relishing that time alone together.

This Sunday at Tapestry we close out the series Text. We're going to focus on finding a specific time, a specific place and a specific plan for you to read the Bible. But please don't get frustrated if you read your Bible and God doesn't speak to you in a loud, unmistakable way. Sometimes he's more excited about the fact that you've chosen to sit down with him and spend some time alone with him. It isn't always about talking and listening. Sometimes it's just about being there.

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?

"Text" Starts This Sunday

I'm really looking forward to this Sunday and the beginning of the "Text" series!

Over the years I've come across a lot of church people who, for whatever reason, just don't read the Bible. Maybe they think they're too busy, or maybe they just leave it to their preacher or their
Sunday School teacher to read it to them, or maybe they "just don't like to read."

The Bible is God's message to us. When your phone "dings" and tells you that you have a text message, chances are you read it. We have the ultimate text message, a message of love, hope and reconciliation from our Heavenly Father. Are you reading it?

In "Text," we'll look closely at God's Word and be challenged to read it regularly. Invite someone who doesn't usually attend church. They'll learn tons about the Bible and be encouraged to get one and start reading it themselves.

A "text" has bee sent to us. What are we doing with it?

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