Category Archives: church structure

Can The Contempory Church Say “This Is That”?

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

Can the contemporary church say, like Peter did in the Book of Acts, “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel,” as we point, like Peter did, to something supernatural that God is doing in our midst? It … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Acts, acts of God, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Biblical concept, church, church structure, denominations, discipling, early church, evidence for God, eyewitness, gifts of the Spirit, house church, Jerusalem, lifestyles, missional, movement, Music City, mystery, mysticism, New Testament, non-traditional church, order of worship, organic church, Paul of Tarsus, Peter, popular culture, priesthood of the believer, proof of God, prophesy, prophet, prophet Joel, relational church, religion, show and tell, speaking in tongues, spiritual growth, supernatural, testimonies, the way we do church, this is that, tradition, which was spoken by the prophet Joel | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 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

What’s Needed In Contemporary Ch__ch? u r (You Are Needed To Be An Active Participant Rather Than A Spectator!))

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Steve Simms

If you compare contemporary church meetings with how they did church in the New Testament, you will notice that something seems to be missing nowadays.  What’s the difference between the early church and the modern-day church? Paul compares the New … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, American church, announcements, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, church, church history, church roles, church structure, community, congregational, early church, East Nashville, entertainment, hearing God, house church, human body, I Corinthians 14:26, kingdom of God, Music City, mystery, mysticism, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, prototype, religion, religious ceremonies, revival, simple church, speaking, spiritual growth, surrender to God, symphony, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, tradition, What is church?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

What Involves Various People Speaking But Only 1 Person Talking?

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Steve Simms

What involves several people speaking but only one Person talking?  A Spirit-led, participatory church meeting. It is truly amazing.  Various people spontaneously (as led by the Spirit) share words of encouragement, insights, testimonies, Scriptures, prayer requests, spiritual gifts, prayers, and … Continue reading →

Posted in American church, awe, Bible, bold statements, burning heart, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church structure, God's government, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, improvisation, Jesus Christ, Methodist class meeting, Music City, Nashville, non-material reality, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, prayer | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Is The Living Christ Allowed To Lead Easter Sunday Church Services?

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

Since all Christian denominations claim and proclaim that Jesus Christ is actually risen from the dead and is still alive, shouldn’t Christ be allowed to control and direct an Easter Sunday church service?  In other words, should an Easter Sunday … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, early church, East Nashville, Easter, gifts of the Spirit, Happy Easter, hearing God, hearing Jesus, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, Jesus Christ, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, presence of Christ, priesthood of the believer, religion, simple church, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Uncategorized, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What does the contemporary American church have that the early church in the Book of Acts didn’t have? Here are some possibilities . . . Christian tradition, ministries that people named with their own name, hierarchy, money, church buildings, self-confidence, freedom, one person in control of a church, denominations, laymen, the separation of life into sacred and secular, Bible schools and seminaries, conferences, religious TV networks, televangelists, tax-free status, clergy, a high level of organization, the fear of witnessing to others. Can you think of more things that we have that the early church didn’t have?

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Acts, American, American church, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, clergy, denominations, early church, ekklesia, freedom, laymen, non-traditional church, organic church, religion, sacred and secular, simple church, televangelists, the way we do church, Uncategorized, values, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Why have multitudes given up on church? What’s missing in our contemporary American church that the early church had in Acts? Here are some possibilities . . . Humility, brokenness, awe, tears, passion, conviction of sin, excitement, self-denial, testimonies, openness, the priesthood of the believer, repentance, persecution, confession, participation, boldness, power, deliverance, miracles, opportunities to minister to one another, healing. Can you think of more things the early church had that we seem to be lacking?

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Acts, American church, Americans, ancient history, awe, brokenness, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, conviction of sin, crying, deliverance, early church, ekklesia, forgiveness, humility, lifestyles, miracles, non-traditional church, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, persecution, priesthood of the believer, religion, repent, repentance, self-denial, simple church, sin, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual skills, tears, the way we do church, Uncategorized, Western religion, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

What’s More Exciting Than March Madness?

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Steve Simms

If you think that the Kentucky & Louisville and the Ohio State & Kansas games in this year’s college basketball Final Four are going to be exciting tomorrow night, here’s some great news for you. Church can be even more … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, college, college basketball, college students, congregational, conversion, disciple making, disciples, East Nashville, ekklesia, Final Four, gifts of the Spirit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, In Jesus' Name I Play, Jeremy Lin, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, March Madness, National Football League, NBA, NCAA, NHL, Ohio State, Olympics, organic church, participatory church, presence of Christ, presence of God, religion, show and tell, simple church, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, sporting event, Taiwan Tebow, tebow, tebowing, tebowing.com, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Tim Tebow, Uncategorized, What is church?, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What is church? 1) A place where people passively sit in chairs? Or 2) A gathering where everyone shares? (See the Bible’s answer @ I Corinthians 14:26.)

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

Here’s a one question quiz:  What is church? 1) A place where people passively sit in chairs? Or 2) A gathering where everyone shares? (See the Bible’s answer @ I Corinthians 14:26.) I want to be a Christianitypreneur (I made … Continue reading →

Posted in American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, children of God, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianitypreneur, Christianpreneur, Christpreneur, church, church history, church structure, disciple making, discipling, early church, God's government, I Corinthians 14:26, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, prayer, presence of God, religion, simple church, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments