Category Archives: church history

Bible Belt question: “Where do you go to church?”

Posted on April 15, 2018 by Steve Simms

I grew up in the part of the United States called the Bible Belt where people in casual conversation would ask: “Where do you go to church?” Like church around the Western World, church attendance in the Bible Belt has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian history, Christianity, church decline, church history, church of your choice, church programming, fruit of the Spirit, history, the Western church, Uncategorized, Western Europe, Western religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Home again? Home again ecclesiology!

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Steve Simms

“Ecclesiology” is a big sounding word. It also has a really big sounding definition: “theology as applied to the nature and structure of the Christian Church.” However, Christianity didn’t begin as formal church (needing an academic course of study), tightly … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, alternative Christianity, alternative church, assembly of God, church history, early church, Henry Hon, house church, lost and restored, lost word of the Bible, New Testament church, ONE: Unfolding God's Eternal Purpose From House To House, rethink church, rethinking church, simple church, theologians, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus said “Follow Me,” not “Follow a 501c3!”

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Steve Simms

Christian disciples turn the world upside down; but religious adherents are often swept along with the world’s viewpoints. Jesus said: “Follow Me!” Not: “Follow a 501c3.” The risen Jesus lives inside of all His followers, so He doesn’t need a hierarchy … Continue reading →

Posted in apest, body of Christ, Christian organizations, church history, church movements, church organization, institutional church, Jesus Movement, Let the redeemed of the Lord, organizational chart, persecution, reform movements, religious persecution, spiritual life, spiritual movement, transformation movements, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dear Salvation Army: We need God’s fire more than ever!

Posted on March 6, 2017 by Steve Simms

Back in the day when The Salvation Army was young and was spreading the power, love, and presence of the living God around the world, General William Booth wrote a song that passionately cried out for God to send His … Continue reading →

Posted in another Pentecost, Bible type revival, church history, demonstration of the Spirit's power, early Salvation Army, God's power, greatness of a man's power, Pentecost, power, power of God, prayer walking with The Salvation Army Flag, revival fires, revival history, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Flag, Salvation Army General, Salvation Army soldiers, Salvation Army USA, spiritual awakening, spiritual fire, spiritual formation, spiritual revolution, The History of The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, wonder working power, You shall receive power | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are sermon points and systematic theology in the Bible?

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Steve Simms

Sermon points? Sermons frequently have numbered points. However, when you read through the New Testament, you can’t find even one incidence of number points. So how did such an unbiblical idea become so common in church services? (Perhaps it is … Continue reading →

Posted in All I have written, alternative to preaching, Christian history, church history, history, house church, New Testament, organic church, preaching, preaching the Word, preaching without words, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mother Teresa did this:

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Steve Simms

Mother Teresa traced the tracks of Christ with her feet and while doing so she transformed her life and the life of countless others. Now the Catholic Church has officially called her a saint. The truth is: All genuine Christ-followers … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic, Christ followers, Christian history, church history, examples of forgiveness, Follow Me, followers of Christ, following Christ, Footprints In The Sand, history, holiness, In His steps, India, Indian history, Indians, normal Christianity, Quotations, Roman Catholic, The Normal Christian Life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ-led support groups, an inner prompting & the Anabaptists

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Steve Simms

Unfortunately, many Christ-followers have never experienced Christ-led support groups like the ones Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 14. These groups are so powerful that Paul says: “If everyone is prophesying, when an unbeliever or an uneducated person comes in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14, 1 Corinthians 14:26, church history, ecclesiology, home church, house church, if all prophesy, organic church, priesthood of all believers, prophecy, prophesying, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, Swiss Anabaptists, Uncategorized, universal priesthood | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Foundation of democracy

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Steve Simms

Ekklesia was the foundation of democracy. Each of the ancient Greek, democratic city-states had held ekklesia through out the year. This was their government. Each city-state had its own ekklesia and was independent. However the city-states did cooperate militarily and … Continue reading →

Posted in ancient Greeks, ancient Olympics, Bible, casting your vote, church, church history, city council meeting, debate, democratic, Greek, Greek city state, Greek history, Greek language, Greek New Testament, Greek word, Olympic history, Olympic spirit, political environment, political views, recovery, recovery groups, sports, support group, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

7 6-word sentences 4 engracing your life

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Steve Simms

Grace is more than just a free gift. It’s freedom! Here are seven six-word sentences to help ingratiate your life: one — Grace is the place things change. two — Grace is the power to replace. three — Grace will erase sin’s … Continue reading →

Posted in cheap grace, Christian history, church history, extreme grace, for by grace your are saved, full of grace and truth, gives grace to the humble, God's Riches At Christ's Expense, grace card, grace definition, grace greater than all my sin, grace preachers, growing in grace, hypergrace, If grace is an ocean, living in grace, salvation, saved by grace, saving grace, Uncategorized, understanding grace, what is grace | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Black Friday vs. Good Friday

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Steve Simms

To miss out on Black Friday is no big deal! –To miss out on Good Friday is to miss out on the greatest pardon in world history. (You won’t find the best deal on Black Friday. You find the best … Continue reading →

Posted in church history, death on the cross, forgiveness, history, Jesus, marketing, pardon, sales, salvation, sin, Uncategorized, world history | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment