Category Archives: church history

Radical Quotations About Church (Can You Handle Them?)

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Steve Simms

Can you handle these radical quotations about church? “A Christian gathering controlled by one person cannot be controlled by the Holy Spirit.”  –Eddie L. Hyatt “Our great duty is diligently to wait on the motions of His Spirit in our … Continue reading →

Posted in ambulance corps, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, church history, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, evangelism, George Fox, non-church, pillar of fire, Quakers, quote, Quotes, religion, religious ceremonies, religious innovation, religious relic, religious tradition, William Booth | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Christmas Eve Eve — The Night Before The Day Before The Fiscal Cliff

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

“‘Twas the night before Christmas . . .”  — those are famous words, but what about the night before the day before Christmas?  Christmas Eve eve is seldom mentioned or thought about.  It’s just another holiday shopping day. However, on … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Twas the night before Christmas, Christ, Christ in you, Christian history, Christianity, Christmas Eve, Christmas gifts, Christmas shopping, Christmas shopping season, Christmas traditions, Christmas travel, church history, contemplation, God with us, holiday, holidays, little town of Bethlehem, Nazareth, new birth, Paul of Tarsus, presence of Christ, presence of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, self-denial, self-destruction, shopping, spiritual formation, submission, surrender, surrender to God, tradition, travel, virgin birth, virgin Mary | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Characteristics Of Compromised Christianity

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

Christianity is a challenging faith — a heavenly vision, a high calling — beckoning men and women to live life at a higher level than that of merely satisfying their cravings, compulsions, and self-interest. However, rising above our baser nature … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, church, church history, church program, church programs, compromise, conformed, convenience, convert, corrupt culture, criticism, culture, disciples, discipline, followers of Christ, idealism, immaturity, insight, instant oatmeal, institution, intimidation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, minute rice, mission field, missional, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, race, racism, reformation, regulations, religious ceremonies, religious relic, religious tradition, rules, service, spiritual warfare | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Participatory, Organic Church Ideas From Salvation Army Leaders

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Steve Simms

“There is a danger of the old clergy and laity idea creeping in amongst us. The common church idea is that of a minister doing all the fighting and feeding, while his congregation does all the looking on and swallowing. … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, church, church history, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church structure, Edward Higgins, Frederick Booth-Tucker, Phil Needham, quote, Quotes, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

How To Bring Back The Glory Days Of The Salvation Army

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Steve Simms

5 Keys To Bringing Back The Glory Days Of The Salvation Army 1) Get back to the streets. (Prayer walking with the Blood & Fire flag is a great, non-threatening way to do that.) 2) Get back to bold, public … Continue reading →

Posted in Blood and Fire, blood of Jesus, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian flag, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, church history, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church structure, glory, glory days, Holy Spirit, joy, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, move of God, movement, Music City, Nashville, Nashville projects, open airs, open church, openairs, order of worship, organic church, organization, outreach ministry, outside the box, participatory church, people of God, prayer, prayer walking, prayer without ceasing, preaching, Protestant, recovery, relevation, religion, religious ceremonies, repent, repentance, revelation, revival, revolution, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Aiming For Your Heart

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Steve Simms

Television and movies aim to reach your desire to be entertained.  Advertising aims to for your emotions.  Negative political advertisements aim to reach your fears.  Classes, seminars, and even sermons aim for your mind.  Love, however, aims to reach your … Continue reading →

Posted in advertising, alternative lifestyle, belief, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible reading, biblical, Biblical concept, burning heart, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian history, church, church history, curriculum, devotion, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, inner peace, inner rivers, inspiration, intellect, intelligence, invisible, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, joy, kingdom of God, lecture, Methodist class meeting, Methodist revivalists, Methodists, ministry, movement, Music City, Nashville, normal Christianity, relevation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, seminars, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, testimonies, testimony, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“That Flag Into This Neighborhood”

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Steve Simms

A group was prayer walking down a drug infested street in East Nashville when a tough looking man demanded: “What flag is that?” I told him that it stood for the blood of Jesus and the fire of the Holy … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Blood and Fire, blood of Jesus, bold statements, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian flag, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, church, church history, East Nashville, evangelism, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, meaning, movement, Music City, Nashville, non-church, organic church, prayer, prayer walking, prayer without ceasing, religion, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, self-denial, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual athletes, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Evangeline Booth, The Salvation Army, & Spiritual Fire

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Steve Simms

Evangeline believed that The Salvation Army represented an aggressive style of Christianity.  However, over the years, some of the early Army boldness has been lost.  Perhaps it is time to bring it back.  Here’s one step you can take to … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, army, attitude, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Catherine Booth, challenges, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian flag, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, church history, church roles, courage, denominations, East Nashville, Evangeline Booth, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, followers of Christ, God calling, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, missional, move of God, movement, Music City, organic church, quote, Quotes, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Make A Courageous Act Of Spiritual Warfare

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Steve Simms

The Salvation Army Flag is known as the Blood & Fire.  It’s not decor for a corps (a Salvation Army church); it’s for feet to walk a beat on the street praying and testifying to the glory of God. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Blood and Fire, blood of Jesus, burning heart, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian flag, Christianity, church, church history, corps, courage, evangelism, faith, faith-based, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, flag, flag pole, followers of Christ, forgiveness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, humility, invasion, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lake Junaluska, ministry, moon, national flags, nonviolence, North Carolina, Olympic athletes, Olympic challenge, Olympic glory, Olympic heroes, Olympic medals, Olympics, prayer, prayer walking, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, repent, repentance, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, sin, spiritual athletes, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual interaction, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, support group, surrender to God, The Salvation Flag, US Flag | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Spiritual Warfare & The Christian Battle Flag

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

The Salvation Army Flag is not a decoration to collect dust inside a chapel or church building.  It’s not a religious relic.  It is a battle flag that belongs on the streets of the world. The first “Blood & Fire” … Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Corinthians 10:4, alternative lifestyle, Bible, Biblical concept, Blood and Fire, blood of Jesus, Catherine Booth, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian flag, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, church, church history, country, Coventry, empire, England, fight the good fight of faith, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, holiness, Holy Spirit, invasion, kingdom, New Testament, nonviolence, purity, religious relic, salvation, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, soldiers, spiritual, spiritual walk, The Salvation Flag, violence | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments