Category Archives: church history

Powerful Words From The Book “Viral Jesus”

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Steve Simms

Here are some quotations from the book, Viral Jesus — Rediscovering The Contagious Power Of The Gospel by Ross Rohde: “Read through the eyes of a modern Christian, the behavior of the believers in the Book of Acts seems a … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Christ, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, deciision making, disciple making, discipling, early church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, movement, Viral Jesus | Tagged church, decision making, Jesus is Lord, listening to God, structures, values, Viral Jesus | Leave a comment

The Legitimate Reason For Rejecting Christ

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Steve Simms

There are two ways to reject Jesus Christ. The first is verbal and direct — to openly declare your disbelief. The second way is more subtle — to reject Christ by the way you live your life, even though you … Continue reading →

Posted in apologists, atheism, Atheists, Bible, Christ, Christian history, Christianity, church history, evidence for God, God, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, New Testament, proof of God, rejecting Christ, religion, religious wars, spiritual formation, spiritual skills, war | Tagged Christians, church, Gandhi, historical evidence, Jesus Christ, New Testament, rejecting Christ, spiritual, truth | 10 Comments

Acting Out Acts — Sound Bites From The First Christians . . .

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Steve Simms

“Filled with awe . . .” “Filled with wonder and amazement . . .” “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” “Performing many signs and wonders among the people.” “We must obey God … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Acts 5:29, alternative lifestyle, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, church, church history, disciple making, early church, history, house church, Music City, Nashville, normal Christianity, organic church, Quotes, repent, simple church, spiritual growth | Tagged book of Acts, first Christians, Nashville, normal Christians, prayed, sound bites | 11 Comments

What Western Religion And Atheism Have In Common

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

There is a popular video on youtube called: Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus. In its first two weeks, it has been viewed more than 17 million times. So why would a lover of Jesus hate religion? Perhaps it … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, anti-war, atheism, Atheists, China, Christ, Christian history, Christianity, church history, communism, Crusades, Cuba, Europe, evil, hate, hate speech, hearing Jesus, history, human rights, Inquisition, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, lifestyles, morals, Nazis, political correctness, religion, religious wars, Richard Dawkins, Soviet Union, Uncategorized, values, war, Western religion | Tagged 17, a lover of Jesus, a popular video on youtube, against, and/or, atheism, atheist, atrocities in Europe, attacking, base their opinions, both, called, China, Christians, comumunistic governments, cruel atheistic governments, crusades, Cuba, demoninations in Germany, don't agree, eagerly supported, everybody else's is wrong, first two weeks, fortunately, genuine spiritual movements, God, has been view more than, hate, heart experience, heart-felt, heretical, historic use of force, horrific, influence over governments, Inquisition, insincere, intellectual analysis, Jesus, killed millions of, led, living, logic of their doctrine, love, million times, modern slavery, obedient relationship with, other religions, participated in extreme brutality, perhaps, persecute, persecuted, religion, religious wars, resurrected Jesus Christ, Richard Dawkins, righ, self-proclaimed, shares in common, sincere, so what is the answer, some of the things that, Soviet Union, sponsored, submissive, supported the Nazis, tend to, the authority, their view of God, there is a better choice, think, through the, tortured, traditionally, trans-Atlantic slave trade, turn away, unleashed extreme, Western religion, Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus, why would, world-wide, worte a book | 4 Comments

A Type Of Christianity That’s More Exciting Than Sports, Rock Concerts, & Parties Put Together!

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Steve Simms

For me, the most amazing book in the Bible is the book of Acts. It is full of action and advancement of the Good News about Jesus Christ. Acts shows the early followers of Jesus, unlike the Christians of today, … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Acts 5:29, alternative lifestyle, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Christ, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, disciple making, discipling, early church, East Nashville, forgiveness, Great Commission, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus freaks, Jesus Movement, kingdom of God, lifestyles, miracles, Music City, Nashville, new birth, New Testament, normal Christianity, organic church, religion, salvation, simple church, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, values, voice of God, worship | Tagged 225 Berry St., 37207, a faded copy, a short book, aberration, abnormal form of Christianity, abound in our country, action and advancement, Acts, anointed action, appendage of life, authentic Christianity, Berry Street, Bible, Bible's, boring, brushed aside as irrelevant, buried in the, calling forth a response, challenge, come and visit, could not be ignored, deviation form God's norm, died, doctrine over lifestyle, early followers, either a revival or a riot, Every year, everywhere, faith became intellectual rather than Spirit-led, faith environment, fiery faith, find the, followers of Christ, for me, fullnes, have an open mind, history, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lethargic liturgy, life's all-consuming passion, lifestyle, live in, millions are leaving churches, millions now reject Christianity, Nashville, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, not an, not passed on, nowadays, over generations, passionate believers, people who call themselves Christians, polarizing, presented, read, read about church, rejected Christ, rejecting, seeking to follow the lifestyle, shows, Sunday-go-to-meeting, Sundays, surrounds us, the book of Acts, the Christians of today, the earliest believers, the Good News, the handbook, the most amazing book in the Bible, the place to, the real deal, the real thing, The Salvation Army, the world upside down, those who reject faith in Christ, Thursdays, to be fair, tradition bound, traditional rather than heart-felt, turning, unaware, uninspiring, we live in an abnormal, what you have seen, words, Worship Center, you need to learn about, zeal for God | 7 Comments

The Tim Tebow Denver/Pittsburg 3:16 Stats, Berry Street, & God

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

What do you do when you encounter incredible statistical improbabilities (wow, that’s 3 words with 14 syllables)? 1) Write them off as coincidence? Or 2) Seriously ponder the mystery and awe behind them? For example, have you read or heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Catherine Booth, children of God, church, church history, conscience, Denver Broncos, East Nashville, evangelicals, freedom, God, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, impossible odds, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, John Berry McFerrin, miracles, movement, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, NFL, organic church, Parnassus Books, Playoffs, prayer, prayer walking, Quotations, Quotes, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, supernatural, tebow, tebowing, tebowing.com, The Salvation Army, Tim Tebow, TV, Uncategorized, What is church?, Why be a Christian?, William Booth | Tagged a legion of devils, agent, Area Commander, averaged 31.6 yards per pass, awe, behind, Berry St., Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, bigorty, bio, blood of Jesus, Board of Missions, burned in our hearts, camp meetings, cast the all out at once, changing lives, chapel, childrren of God, Christian Advocate, coincidence, consciences, denomination, Denver Broncos, East Nashville, ecumenical conference, edited, encounter, example, experience, eye black, fail to do the work, fire of the Holy Spirit, forms and ceremonies, free from bondage to drugs, glorious realization in our hearts, God confirming the vision, God is using Tebow, God's convicting, God's Spirit bears witness with our spirit, googled, hardness of heart, impossible, independent bookstore, it is a fearful thing, John 3:16, John Berry McFerrin, led by the holy Spirit, listen to God, livin my dream in nashville, London, lover of christ, many times every year, many turned to the lord, MCFerrin Park Neighborhood, Methodist Episcopal Church, Methodist leader, Middle Tennesse, mighty move of God, miraculously set, moved, multitudes, mystery, Nashville, nationally known, NFL, Nielson rating was 31.6, non-traditional church, obduracy, once in a lifetime, opposition, outward observances, Parnassus Books, periodicals, Pittsburg Steelers, ponser, post season game, pray, prejudice, prejudices, presence, quotation, quote, religious excitement, religious secular, resist the Spirit of God, secreatry, sensibilites stirred, seriously ponder, share, something beyond nature at work, statistical improbabilities, stats, Sudnay morning peetings, syllables, Tebow had thrown for 316 yeards, testify, the Christian religion, The History of Methodism in Tennessee, The Salvation Army Flag, Tim Tebow, to the depths, transforming a neighborhood, University of Florida quarterback, wake up the neighborhood, wicked, wide influence | 8 Comments

WWJD? So What Did Jesus Do?

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Steve Simms

WWJD? Jesus wept . . . humbled Himself . . . washed His disciples’ feet . . . fasted from food . . . boldly spoke about God . . . broke traditions . . . challenged people to repent … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, awe, challenges, Christ, Christian history, Christianity, church history, conscience, crying, disciple making, forgiveness, God, Gospels, Great Commission, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, Jesus Take The Wheel, kingdom of God, life, lifestyles, Lord, miracles, morality, mystery, mysticism, negro spirituals, new birth, New Testament, non-material reality, nonviolence, peace, praise and worship, prayer, prayer walking, religion, repent, revelation, Savior, sin, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, supernatural, tears, Uncategorized, values, Why be a Christian?, words, WWJD? | Tagged about God, befriended outcasts, blessed those who cursed, boldly spoke, broke traditions, calmed, challenged people, demons, drove out, fasted from food, for others, forgave, healed the sick, humbled Himself, Jesus wept, laid down His life, prayed, repent, storms, washed His disciples' feet, WWJD | 2 Comments

WDJSM? What Did Jesus Say Most?

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Steve Simms

What did Jesus say most (WDJSM)? The phrase most frequently used by Jesus in the Bible seems to be: “He who has ears, let him hear.” Jesus is quoted as saying those words 7 times in the Gospels (8 if … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, Bible, Christ, Christian history, Christianity, church history, Gospels, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene, Matthew, miracles, Moses, mystery, mysticism, Peter, Quotations, Quotes, religion, revelation, saints, sermons, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, television, TV ministers, Uncategorized, words | Tagged accepted, Acts, all along, an ear, Anyone who does not listen to, around the world, asked, Behold I stand at the door and knock, Bible, called her by name, Christian, common, completely cut off, converse, courageous, crucified, cultures, deeply moved, denominations, dine with him, even though, first disciples, followers, for example, from their people, Gospels, He walks with me, He who has ears, he with Me, heard Jesus speak, how many, I love you, I will come in to him, if anyone hears my voice, If you have taken Him away, immediately, it was Jesus, Jesus, language groups, let him hear, listening, man, Mary Magdalene, Matthew, millions of people, modern translations, Moses, most, most frequently used, My sheep hear My voice, nothing like, nowadays, one of his sermons, opens the door, personally, Peter, phrase, present day, quoted, quotes, realized, recorded in, referring, religious, revelation, say, saying, seriously, sermons, shown, since the beginning, song, speaking, still speaks, strange theology, sung, surprise, take, talks with me, tell me where you put, tells me I am His own, the gardener, tomb, TV shows, variation, various denominations, various time periods, voice, What did Jesus, words, zealous | 2 Comments

New Years’ Eve Ponderings

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Steve Simms

It is New Years’ Eve of 2011. The New Year, 2012, is arriving tonight. I find myself this morning, yearning for the fire of God, for a great spiritual awakening, for a mighty move of God right here in Nashville, … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian history, church history, conversion, disciple making, East Nashville, fire, glory, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, kingdom of God, movement, mysticism, New Year, New Years' Eve, non-material reality, Oh my God, pentecostals, praise and worship, prayer, Quotations, Quotes, recovery, religion, repent, revelation, soul, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, What is church?, William Booth | Tagged 2011, 2012, 225 Berry St., 37207, a great move, a mighty move of God, anytime, arriving tonight, beautiful, Berry Street, blessed, blood-bought, bright, bring in the New Year, bring the light, burn up every trace of sin, burning, celebration, claim, cleansing flame, co-founder, deeply, demonstration, Elijah, full of hope, gift, glory in, God of, great spiritual awakening, hear our cry, Holy Ghost, host, I find mysfelf, It goes, it is, life-transforming, live or die, look down, make us fit, may, most powerful, moves my heart, Nashville, New Year, New Years' Eve, now begin, O God, power of God, pray, rewarding, right here, safe, Send the fire, song, Tennessee, the beginning, the fire of God, the promised, the revolution, The Salvation Army, this morning, TN, today, tonight, waiting, way, we need another Pentedost, welcome, what is the, William Booth, Worship Center, wrote, yearning for | 1 Comment

My Top 12 Blogs For 2011

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Steve Simms

Here are links to my Top 12 Blogs For 2o11: #1) Did Oprah Read My Book #2) Who’s My #1 Greatest American? William Lloyd Garrison #3) Talk About Expensive Gas #4) Where Did Sojourner Truth Get Her Name? #5) Church … Continue reading →

Posted in American, Americans, Bible, black history, champions, Christ, Christianity, Christmas, church, church history, church structure, history, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, life, lifestyles, Lord, morality, motivation, movement, mystery, mysticism, Occupy Wall Street, Oh my God, Oprah, organic church, popular culture, praise and worship, prayer, race, racism, religion, repent, self-help, sex, sex in marriage, simple church, sin, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, thinking, thoughts, Uncategorized, values, What is church?, words, worship | Tagged 1, 3rd, 70 AD, academic, Antioch, book, Christmas, church, claims, did, epidemic, expensive gas, Free Gas, from, get, great missionary, greatest American, history's most important dates, how did, intellect votech, lab, launch, leader, lecture, name, New Testament, Occupy till I come, Occupy Wall Street, one of, Oprah, read, reading, revival, Scriptures, Sojourner Truth, talk about, tank, ten most disobeyed, thank you, the best kind of sex, think, Virgin Birth, what the church can learn, where did, Who's, William J. Seymour, William Lloyd Garrison, work, world-wide | Leave a comment

Category Archives: church history

Powerful Words From The Book “Viral Jesus”

The Legitimate Reason For Rejecting Christ

Acting Out Acts — Sound Bites From The First Christians . . .

What Western Religion And Atheism Have In Common

A Type Of Christianity That’s More Exciting Than Sports, Rock Concerts, & Parties Put Together!

WWJD? So What Did Jesus Do?

WDJSM? What Did Jesus Say Most?

New Years’ Eve Ponderings

My Top 12 Blogs For 2011

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Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible

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