Category Archives: church

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

Hereeeeeeee’s Jesus!

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Steve Simms

Would you like to see God’s glory in your life and in your church?  The key is not a conference or a curriculum, not a program or a performance, not marketing or methods, not a better strategy or harder work.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christianity, church, East Nashville, Ed McMahon, glory, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, Johnny Carson, miracles, Music City, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, presence of Christ, religion, simple church, spiritual growth, supernatural, The Salvation Army, The Tonight Show, the way we do church, Uncategorized, What is church?, What would Jesus do?, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Words

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Steve Simms

When I was a boy my dad had a book called:  Eloquence in Public Speaking: How To Set Your Words On Fire by Kenneth McFarland.  It was about how to put sparks in human hearts and it helped to create … Continue reading →

Posted in a hunka hunka burnin', Acts, alternative lifestyle, apologists, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, burning heart, change, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, early church, Jesus Christ, Kenneth McFarland, message, Music City, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, religion, revival, riot, simple church, spiritual combat, spiritual warfare, testimonies, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, turned the world upsidedown, witness, words on fire | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Questions A Reporter Could Ask Mitt Romney About Mormonism

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

Recently on ABC News, Mitt Romney told Diane Sawyer that he would be glad to answer questions about his Mormon faith.  Here are some questions about Mormonism that Dianne (or other reporters) could ask him: * Did your God make … Continue reading →

Posted in ABC News, American media, celestial wives, Christ, church, Creator, denominations, Diane Sawyer, having a form of godliness, interview ideas, interview questions, Mitt Romeny, Mormon faith, Mormon Temple, Mormormism, political issue, politics, politics and religion, Presidential politics, questions, race for President, religion, religious ceremonies, Romney's religion, saints, secret activities, spiritual combat, spiritual warfare, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, tradition, Uncategorized, values, virgin Mary, Western religion | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Jesus Christ — Dead Or Alive?

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Steve Simms

Easter celebrations are over — the traditions, the religious ceremonies, the decorations, the egg hunts, the dress-up, the family gatherings, the greeting cards, the candy.  So what do you do after Easter?  Here are two choices: 1)  You can send … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, adventure, alternative lifestyle, Bible, celebrations, challenges, choice, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church, dead man walking, deciision making, early church, East Nashville, God, greeting cards, hearing Jesus, holiday, holidays, jail, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, meaning, Music City, mysticism, non-material reality, non-traditional church, opportunity, organic church, participatory church, presence of Christ, religion, religious ceremonies, spiritual, spiritual growth, supernatural | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

E.A.S.T.E.R.

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Steve Simms

E. — Encounter the dead Jesus who now lives A. — And reveals Himself to humble hears. S. — Stand in awe of His glorious Presence T. — Taking the time to E. — Experience His R. — Reality! Come … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, Easter, glory, God, miracles, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, organic church, religion, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, supernatural, The Salvation Army, The Voice, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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