Category Archives: Christian

E.A.S.T.E.R.

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Steve Simms

E. — Encounter the dead Jesus who now lives A. — And reveals Himself to humble hears. S. — Stand in awe of His glorious Presence T. — Taking the time to E. — Experience His R. — Reality! Come … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, Easter, glory, God, miracles, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, organic church, religion, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, supernatural, The Salvation Army, The Voice, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“He Rose” By The Puny “Easter” Name Is Not The Same

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

Why do we hide the shocking concept of Jesus of Nazareth coming back to life never to die again, behind the weak words, “Happy Easter,” and then weaken it even more by throwing in eggs, a bunny, baskets, shopping, decorative … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, alternative lifestyle, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, cyberworld, dead man walking, death-defeating, East Nashville, gift of God, Happy Easter, hearing God, hearing Jesus, holiday, holidays, Jesus, Jesus Christ, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, non-material reality, non-traditional church, popular culture, presence of Christ, presence of God, rejecting Christ, religion, repentance, resurrection, smartphones, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, stuff, supernatural, The Salvation Army, up from the grave He arose, Western religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

What Do People Hunt During Easter Week?

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

It’s Easter week!  What should we be hunting for? 1) Eggs? or 2) The risen Jesus Christ? Well, if the resurrection is merely a myth, then I guess the only things we have to hunt for are eggs, or fancy … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christianity, Easter, Happy Easter, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Christ, mystery, mysticism, myths, non-material reality, religion, resurrection, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Is The Living Christ Allowed To Lead Easter Sunday Church Services?

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

Since all Christian denominations claim and proclaim that Jesus Christ is actually risen from the dead and is still alive, shouldn’t Christ be allowed to control and direct an Easter Sunday church service?  In other words, should an Easter Sunday … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, early church, East Nashville, Easter, gifts of the Spirit, Happy Easter, hearing God, hearing Jesus, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, Jesus Christ, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, presence of Christ, priesthood of the believer, religion, simple church, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Uncategorized, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What does the contemporary American church have that the early church in the Book of Acts didn’t have? Here are some possibilities . . . Christian tradition, ministries that people named with their own name, hierarchy, money, church buildings, self-confidence, freedom, one person in control of a church, denominations, laymen, the separation of life into sacred and secular, Bible schools and seminaries, conferences, religious TV networks, televangelists, tax-free status, clergy, a high level of organization, the fear of witnessing to others. Can you think of more things that we have that the early church didn’t have?

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Acts, American, American church, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, clergy, denominations, early church, ekklesia, freedom, laymen, non-traditional church, organic church, religion, sacred and secular, simple church, televangelists, the way we do church, Uncategorized, values, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wake Up Church! Present The Pervading Holy Presence!

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Steve Simms

Should church consist of: A pre-arranged program or a pervading Holy Presence? A man-made message or God-breathed spiritual life? Passively watching a pastor or priest perform or people passionately pursuing God’s Presence and Person? Religious head-knowledge or radical heart-transformation? Being conformed … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, American church, Bible, bold statements, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, corrupt culture, early church, ekklesia, going viral, guts and glory, kingdom of God, lifestyles, missional, movement, mysticism, Oh my God, organic church, people of God, religion, revolution, sermon, sermons, simple church, the way we do church, Uncategorized, Viral Jesus, wake up, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Sports reporters are asking lots of Final Four questions. Here’s mine: If a few college guys randomly throwing around a basketball won’t produce a trip to the Final Four; how in the world could a random Big Bang and a whole bunch of time have produced the incredible complexity and details of nature’s living organisms?

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Steve Simms

Perhaps the denial of God is the real anti-intellectualism — the real delusion. Has science discovered the spiritual world?  Read about “spooky action.”

Posted in apologists, basketball, big bang, Christian, college, college basketball, college students, creationism, Creator, evolution, life, mystery, popular culture, Richard Dawkins, spiritual growth, spooky action, The God Delusion | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What’s More Exciting Than March Madness?

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Steve Simms

If you think that the Kentucky & Louisville and the Ohio State & Kansas games in this year’s college basketball Final Four are going to be exciting tomorrow night, here’s some great news for you. Church can be even more … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, college, college basketball, college students, congregational, conversion, disciple making, disciples, East Nashville, ekklesia, Final Four, gifts of the Spirit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, In Jesus' Name I Play, Jeremy Lin, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, March Madness, National Football League, NBA, NCAA, NHL, Ohio State, Olympics, organic church, participatory church, presence of Christ, presence of God, religion, show and tell, simple church, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, sporting event, Taiwan Tebow, tebow, tebowing, tebowing.com, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Tim Tebow, Uncategorized, What is church?, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What is church? 1) A place where people passively sit in chairs? Or 2) A gathering where everyone shares? (See the Bible’s answer @ I Corinthians 14:26.)

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

Here’s a one question quiz:  What is church? 1) A place where people passively sit in chairs? Or 2) A gathering where everyone shares? (See the Bible’s answer @ I Corinthians 14:26.) I want to be a Christianitypreneur (I made … Continue reading →

Posted in American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, children of God, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianitypreneur, Christianpreneur, Christpreneur, church, church history, church structure, disciple making, discipling, early church, God's government, I Corinthians 14:26, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, prayer, presence of God, religion, simple church, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

An Opportunity To Make A Real Difference In Nashville

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

Would you like to make a real difference in Nashville?  The Salvation Army has a unique ministry in East Nashville that is changing lives and helping to transform the urban neighborhood of McFerrin Park. At The Salvation Army Berry Street … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, change, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, compassion, concerned about the very poor, conversion, deliverance, disciple making, discipling, East Nashville, ekklesia, freedom, Holy Spirit, lifestyles, manliest city, McFerrin Park, miracles, missional, movement, Music City, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, outreach ministry, participatory church, recovery, religion, repent, repentance, salvation, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Uncategorized, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments