Category Archives: church roles

Churches Are Shrinking–Is Christianity Fading Away Or Will It Come Roaring Back In A Creative Way?

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Steve Simms

In the Western world churches are shrinking.  A new survey by the Pew Research Center shows that Millennials (American’s in their twenties) are increasingly turning away from religion.  More and more writers and experts are saying that America is now … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, belief, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church roles, church structure, East Nashville, ekklesia, faith, faith-based, hearing God, hearing Jesus, I Corinthians 14:26, McKay Bookstore, Mike Bickle, Millennials, Music City, Nashville, non-church, non-church movement, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, post-Christianity, prototype, religion, simple church, spiritual awakening, the way we do church | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

New Poll Shows More Millennials Doubt God

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Steve Simms

A new poll by the Pew Research Center has found that doubts about the existence of God have increased by 15 points during the past 5 years among Millennials, Americans 30 and under.  Here’s a link to the survey: http://www.pewforum.org/Age/Religion-Among-the-Millennials.aspx … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, American, American church, American media, announcements, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church roles, church structure, doubts, faith, faith-based, gifts of the Spirit, Music City, mysticism, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, Pew Research, poll, popular culture, rejecting Christ, show and tell, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, supernatural, testimonies, testimony, The Salvation Army, unprogrammed church | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

2 Ways Of Having Church (One Widespread & The Other Very Rare)

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Steve Simms

There are thousands of brands of Christianity (called denominations).  However, if you look closer at all the denominational and non-denominational churches in the world, there are really only two ways of having church:  1) Spectative church & 2) Interactive church. … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Biblical concept, brands, China, Chinese, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church history, church roles, church structure, denominations, East Nashville, Holy Spirit, Music City, Nashville, organic church, relational church, religion, religious ceremonies, simple church, spiritual formation, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Does Hierarchy Hinder God? — How To “Prepare The Way For The Lord”

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

John the Baptist came to “prepare the way for the Lord” in his generation.  I, too, would like to prepare the way for the Lord.  I want to prepare the way for God to work powerfully in my life.  And … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, Apostle Paul, Bible, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church history, church roles, church structure, clergy, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, equality, free will, freedom, gifts of the Spirit, God, God's government, heirarchy, Holy Spirit, house church, improv, improvisation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, laity, organic church, participatory church, Paul of Tarsus, Quotations, quote, Quotes, race, relational church, simple church, unprogrammed church, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Non-Church — Discovered In Japan & Other Places

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

I recently read about non-church when I heard about a Japanese man named Uchimura Kanzo.  He  started meeting with a group of friends in a small Christian gathering in Japan in the early 1900s where everyone was equal and everybody … Continue reading →

Posted in burning heart, China, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church roles, church structure, congregational, East Nashville, heart-felt love, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, Japan, Methodist class meeting, Methodists, movement, non-church movement, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, priesthood of the believer, relational church, religion, simple church, spiritual formation, support group, the way we do church, Uncategorized, unprogrammed church, What is church?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Who Da Best Preacher/Bible Teacher?

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Steve Simms

If Christ is really alive and present when we gather in His name (as the New Testament says He is) why can’t He direct a church meeting, without human programming and control?  Perhaps the answer is: We won’t let Him. … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Biblical concept, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church roles, church structure, congregational, DeVern Fromke, devotion, East Nashville, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, improvisation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, Jesus Take The Wheel, movement, mysticism, non-material reality, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, presence of Christ, presence of God, quench the Spirit, Quotations, quote, Quotes, relational church, religion, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, surrender to God, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, voice activated, voice of God, Western religion, What is church?, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Apply These Apps For Spiritual Strength

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Steve Simms

God’s not like a TV where you passively sit back, like a couch potato, and watch professionals put-on religious performances. He’s got more apps for you than there are for your iPhone. So listen directly to the living God.  Load … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, alternative lifestyle, apps, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, church, church roles, community, download, downloads, East Nashville, gifts of the Spirit, guidance, iPhone, joy, kindness, kingdom of God, love, Music City, mysticism, non-traditional church, operationg system, organic church, participatory church, patience, peace, priesthood of the believer, reality TV, religion, religious ceremonies, simple church, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural, support group, television, TV, TV network, voice activated | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 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