Category Archives: Christianity

Does Western Christianity Disengage God

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Steve Simms

As an avid reader of church history, I’ve noticed a consistent trend in Western religion.  It seems to disengage God — treating Him as a figure to occasionally honor rather than as a living power source. Let me explain.  A … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Anabaptists, Catholic mystics, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, early church, Methodists, monastics, Moravians, Nashville, Quakers, religion, religious ceremonies, Salvationists, show and tell, spiritual, spiritual formation, the way we do church, Uncategorized, Waldensians | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

got a clear conscience?

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Steve Simms

got a clear conscience?  Without one life’s a pain. got forgiveness?  Guilt will tilt and wilt your soul. Want forgiveness and a clear conscience? The living, resurrected Jesus Christ is standing by, waiting to forgive you, if you will turn … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christianity, conviction of sin, disciples, discipling, ethics, forgiveness, guilt, hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, moral principles, morality, morals, recovery, religion | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Why Is Depression Rampant In America

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Why is depression rampant in America, a country known for freedom and prosperity? Perhaps the answer is in this quotation . . . “Many people look out into a meaningless world in which there is no afterlife, where all their … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, brainwashed, center of the universe, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christianity, clear conscience, depression, eternal life, faithfulness, freedom, gratitude, guidance, ideal, idealism, invisible, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, meaning, Morton T. Kelsey, motivation, non-material reality, Oh my God, presence of Christ, presence of God, prosperity, purpose, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, Savior, self-esteem, self-image, soul, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Have some Possibila Tea. Sip a cuppa hope. Get a sense of purpose. Savor some faith. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christ, Christian, Christianity, hope, ideal, idealism, insight, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyles, motivation, peace, religion, self-esteem, self-help, self-image, thoughts, Uncategorized, values, words, words on fire | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Good Sermon Or Burning Words?

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Steve Simms

When people hear a sermon they often go up to the preacher and say:  “Good message,” or “Good sermon.”  However when the early disciples heard the word, they said:  “Didn’t his words burn in our hearts!” When Peter preached on … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, burning heart, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, conviction of sin, early church, East Nashville, gifts of the Spirit, good sermon, inward change, language, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, organic church, preaching, religion, sermon, sermons, spiritual formation, teaching, Uncategorized, Western religion, words, words on fire | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

You Will Answer To God

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Steve Simms

Why is it such a popular thing to ignore and/or deny God nowadays?  Is it because of advancements in science?  Hardly.  Science cannot prove or disprove God. In a world gone awry with whims and cravings; self-interest and surrender to … Continue reading →

Posted in agnostic, atheism, Atheists, Christianity, clear conscience, compromise, conviction of sin, cravings, deny God, evidence for God, free will, genetic tendencies, God, guilt, juddgment, judgments, justice, materialism, morality, morals, natural laws, nature, non-traditional church, popular culture, presence of God, proof of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, religion, repent, repentance, science, self-esteem, self-image, Shawn Boonstra, Uncategorized, values, wake-up call, Western religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Powerful Pills Not Advertised On TV

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

Many American television commercials slowly parade feel-good images promoted by America’s pharmaceutical pill pushers.  Meanwhile an announcer races through their side effects. However, there is one type of extremely effective pills with no side effects.  And you won’t see them advertised … Continue reading →

Posted in addictions, advertising, alternative lifestyle, American media, Americans, Bible, Christianity, commercials, drug commercials, drugs, evidence for God, eyewitness, habit, hope, John, Luke, Mark, Matthew, New Testament, non-material reality, pharmaceutical, religion, salvation, Scriptures, selling, the Gospel, Uncategorized, values, wake-up call, Western religion, witness, words, words on fire | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Relational Church — What A Great & Powerful Idea — Experience It For Yourself

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Steve Simms

Relational church is powerful and life changing.  It shows people that the love of God isn’t just a religious idea, but a present, almost tangible, reality. When God’s love is demonstrably present and visible in a gathering, people’s lives are … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church roles, East Nashville, glory, hearts unfold like flowers, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, inward change, kingdom of God, Music City, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, relational church, simple church, spiritual growth, support group, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

500 Years Ago Martin Luther Posted 95 Shocking Statements About Church — Here Are My 95 . . .

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Steve Simms

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed a piece of paper, listing 95 revolutionary statements, to the door of Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany.  This act marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation of the church. Inspired by Martin Luther’s courageous act, … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, belief, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Biblical concept, blog, bold statements, Bubba Watson, burning heart, challenges, change, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church roles, church structure, clergy, conscience, conviction of sin, courage, dancing, dancing with God, deliverance, demons, disciple making, East Nashville, family gathering, football, forgiveness, formal, freedom, gifts of the Spirit, God's government, grace, guidance, guilt, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart-felt love, Heaven, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, improvisation, Jeremy Lin, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, laymen, lecture, lifestyles, Linsanity, Martin Luther, miracles, missional, morality, morals, movement, multi-racial, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, prayer, prayer walking, presence of Christ, presence of God, priesthood of the believer, prophesy, quench the Spirit, recovery, reformation, religion, religious ceremonies, repent, repentance, simple church, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual, support group, Taiwan Tebow, tears, tebow, tebowing, Tim Tebow, voice of God, wages of sin, Western religion, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

The Way To Grow Is To Go

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Steve Simms

People grow when they go into positive action.  If they sit still too long, they atrophy. The way to grow spiritually is to go with God’s flow — to hear and do what the Spirit of God says to you.  … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, Berry Street, celebrations, challenges, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church roles, church structure, community, congregational, devotion, disciple making, disciples, East Nashville, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart-felt love, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, improvisation, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, people of God, praise and worship, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, priesthood of the believer, quench the Spirit, religion, religious ceremonies | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments