Category Archives: church

Why Be Prejudice Against Prayer (Or Against Praying People)?

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Even if you don’t believe in (and/or don’t like) prayer, there is no reason to be prejudice against prayer or against people who pray.  Why?  Because . . . 1)  The vast majority of people who tell you they are … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, adoration, alternative lifestyle, American, Americans, anthropologist, belief, Brandeis University, Christian, Christianity, church, faith, faith-based, feelings, interview, joy, lifestyles, love, mystery, non-material reality, Of Two Minds, popular culture, prayer, prayer walking, prayer without ceasing, presence of Christ, presence of God, psychology, religion, soul, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, supernatural, surrender to God, T.M. Luhrmann, tension, The Jesus Prayer, The Voice, tolerance | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 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

What You’re Looking For

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

What are you looking for in life? Some people say they are looking for fun, parties, good times, happiness; Others for power, position, prestige, success, fame. Some people think they are looking for financial wealth–stocks, bonds, bank accounts, cash; Others … Continue reading →

Posted in all the wrong places, alternative lifestyle, bank accounts, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, casual sex, Christianity, church, cosmic accident, cravings, evidence for God, faith-based, free spirit, God, God-shaped vacuum, materialism, meaning, meaninglessness, modern myths, music, Music City, myths, parties, popular culture, purpose, religion, searching for significance, sermon, sermons, show and tell, simple church, spiritual formation, stuff, testimonies, unhappiness, values, wealth | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is the church paralyzed? “Unable to operate normally or effectively; stuck in a condition of helpless ineffectiveness; powerless; suffering from injury or disease that causes the inability to act in obedience to the brain.” Is the Western church, in its current condition, frozen in disobedience to its living Head (Jesus Christ)?

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in brain, brain chemistry, brain research, Christ, Christian, Christianity, church, church structure, compromise, current condition, disease, frozen, Head, helpless, inability to act, ineffectiveness, injury, Jesus, life, movement, obedience, powerless, religion, self-will, simple church, Spirit-led, stuck, suffering, Western world, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Key To Spiritual Awakening . . .

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Steve Simms

A key to a Christian spiritual awakening (revival)  in the 21st Century: No lording over others. Christian leaders are servants, not bosses. Their job is to help release the living Word of God in and through other believers, and not … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, bosses, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, community, disciple making, East Nashville, equality, freedom, kingdom of God, leaders, lifestyles, Lord, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, relational church, religion, revival, servants, show and tell, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, The Salvation Army, Western religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“The Four Points” Of The Great Welsh Revival

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Steve Simms

One of the greatest Christian spiritual awakenings in history began in Wales in 1904 and shook the world.  It was based on what became known as “The Four Points,” originally taught by Evan Roberts and became known as the Welsh … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, brokenness, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, conscience, contemplation, conviction of sin, East Nashville, forgiveness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, life, Music City, mysticism, organic church, reformation, relational church, religion, revival, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, unforgiveness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Did I See A Miracle Last Night? You Decide.

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

Last night I was in a home group of 9 adults (who I don’t know very well) who met to share, sing, support one another, and pray as led by the Spirit.  As someone was praying an image came into … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, Bible, Biblical concept, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church structure, community, confession, congregational, disciple making, ekklesia, forgiveness, freedom, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, kingdom of God, life, miracles, movement, non-church movement, non-material reality, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, participatory church, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, priesthood of the believer, prophesy, relational church, religion, repent, repentance, revelation, revival, show and tell, simple church, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, supernatural, support group, surrender to God, the cross, the way we do church, vision, voice of God, wages of sin, What is church?, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Getting Away From Church Is Not Easy In The Bible Belt

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Steve Simms

Church (although many polls have shown it to be in decline in America) still has quite the presence in the Bible Belt where church buildings abound on prominent real estate.  However, if you try hard, you can avoid religious buildings … Continue reading →

Posted in American, American church, Americans, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, kingdom of God, life, organic church, religion, simple church | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Touching His Hem, According To Her Example, Heals Hurts

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Steve Simms

Touching His hem, according to her example, heals hurts.  Although this may sound like gender confusion, it’s not.  It refers to an actual event where an unnamed woman receives a supernatural healing when she touches the hem of Jesus’ robe.  … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, and forever, Bible, change, change management, Christ, Christian, Christianity, church, evidence for God, faith, good question, His story, history, In Jesus' Name I Play, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, kindness, kingdom of God, lifestyles, Lord, Mark, miracles, missional, Music City, mystery, Nashville, New Testament, non-material reality, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, prayer, prayer walking, questions, religion, salvation, Savior, spiritual formation, supernatural, testimonies, tradition | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments