Category Archives: denominations

The Right Way To Have Church

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Steve Simms

Is there only one, correct way of doing church?  Sometimes it seems so. For five hundred years there has basically been only one, right way of doing church. Regardless of denomination or doctrine, church has almost universally contained a central, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 1 Corinthians:14, Bible, biblical, Biblical concept, church history, communion, denominations, doctrine, doctrines, Fresh Expressions movement, homiletics, homily, house church, Lord's supper, Martyn Atkins, Methodism, Methodist church, open church, organic church, participation in church, participatory church, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, Protestant, pulpit, pulpit ministry, sacrament, sacraments, sermon-hearing, sermons, the right way to do church, UK, ways of doing church, worship, worship gathering, worship service | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quaker Style Meetings In The Salvation Army

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Steve Simms

The early Quakers believed that the living, resurrected Jesus was present with them when they met together in His name and that He, Himself, could lead the meeting without the need for a human leader or a human program. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, church format, church programs, church services, denominations, Friends meeting, George Fox, God with us, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, nineteenth century, presence of Christ, presence of God, Quakers, quotation, Quotations, Quotes, real presence, Richard Munn, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army General, Salvationism, Salvationists, Society of Friends, W.T. Stead, Wilfred Kitching, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Church Ledership — Hierarchy or Humility?

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Steve Simms

Should leadership in the church be based on hierarchy or humility?   Well, according to Jesus leadership is not established by human authority, official position, titles, rank, strength, or hierarchy; but by humility, service, weakness, brokenness before God, and submission … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church leadership, church meetings, church organizational chart, church programs, church roles, denominations, do it, facebook, God resists the proud, God's authority, have mercy on me a sinner, hymn, hymns, ministers, ministry, Mother Mary, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, pastor, Quench not the Spirit, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, spirit, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, theology, web, website | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

If I Could Pick The Pope, I’d Pick . . .

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Steve Simms

If I could pick the Pope, I ‘d pick someone who is a passionate and obedient follower of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ — who puts intimacy with and obedience to the Holy Spirit, above every other consideration. If I … Continue reading →

Posted in Bishop of Rome, Catholic, Catholic Church, Catholic mystics, Catholicism, Chinese, Christ, Christian leadership, church, church leader, church meetings, church roles, church services, denominations, God, Holy Father, Holy see, Holy Spirit, Hong Kong, innovation, invisible church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leaders, leadership, new pope, Peter, Roman Catholic, Rome, Sistine Chapel, Son of God, spirit, Spirit-led, spiritual, Steve Jobs, the Vatican, Vatican City | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

12/12/12 — 12 Out Of The Box Thoughts About Church

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Steve Simms

Here are 12 out-of-the-box thoughts about church on 12/12/12. 1)  Church is not God in a noose, but God on the loose! 2)  Church is not spectators sitting, but believers battling the forces of darkness! 3)  Church is not a … Continue reading →

Posted in agenda, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian community, church meetings, church program, church programs, creeds, denominations, do church, early church, followers of Christ, freedom, furnace, gifts of the Spirit, God on the loose, godly sorrow, guide, hype, ice maker, idealism, improv, improvisation, inner coach, lecture, message, miracles, moral failure, move of God, movement, non-church, people of God, power, powerhouse, preaching, Protestant, repent, repentance, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, seduction, sermon, sermons, service, shocking statements, sin, soul food, speaking out, spectators, Spirit-led, spiritual fire, spiritual training, spiritual transformation, spiritual warfare, still small voice, submission, supernatural, surrender, surrender to God, testimonies, testimony, The Salvation Army, theology, thoughts, tradition, two or more, Western religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Religion Is Ritual — Faith Is Fire (How John Wesley Caught On Fire For God))

Posted on December 9, 2012 by Steve Simms

Religion is routine ritual, faith is flaming fire.  “I set myself on fire, and people come to see me burn.”  –John Wesley The fire that burned in John Wesley sparked the Holiness Movement that changed nations and led to many … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, change, Christ, Christianity, conversion, convert, conviction, denominations, doubts, England, English, evil, faith, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, fuel, God, godliness, having a form of godliness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, holy, I set myself on fire, inner peace, inner rivers, intimacy, Jesus, Jesus Christ, life, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, Methodist class meeting, Methodist revivalists, Methodists, Nazarene, pentecostals, recovery, red hot, relevation, religious ceremonies, religious tradition, repentance, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, saved, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, testimonies, testimony, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Can What You Know Prevent You From Learning?

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Steve Simms

Millions of Europeans knew that the world was flat.  They had no desire to sail off of the edge of the world.  So ships sailed close to shore and no one learned that there was a new world across the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic Ocean, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christian community, Christian organizations, Christian values, Christopher Columbus, church, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church structure, Claude Bernard, Columbus, courage, creativity, decision-making, denominations, do church, Europeans, Ferdinand and Isabella, followers of Christ, guidance, history, inspiration, religious ceremonies, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, Spain, the Americas, voyage of discovery | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

All Saints’ Day (November 1) — Celebrating The Jesus Team!

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Steve Simms

November 1 is All Saints’ Day.  It’s a day set aside to celebrate The Jesus Team. The Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches have reserved the name, saint, for men and women who gained great victory over spiritual enemies and consistently … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, anxious thoughts, athletes, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, biblical, Biblical concept, call to preach, canonization of saints, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian community, Christian organizations, church, corrupt culture, denominations, East Nashville, evil, faith-based, followers of Christ, house church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyles, ministry, missional, movement, New Testament, recovery, religion, sainthood, saints, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, self-will, simple church, spirit, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual athletes, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, Team Jesus, The Jesus Team | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Do We Need A More Effective Way Of Having Church?

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Steve Simms

In the West the church is not changing contemporary culture. Instead, church members are being swayed and swept along by society’s hedonism and the church appears to be powerless to prevent it.  We are a post Christian society. Perhaps we … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, Bible, biblical, Biblical concept, Christian, church, church meetings, church roles, church structure, contemporary society, controversy, corrupt culture, denominations, house church | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Let Jesus Run The Sunday Church Service

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Steve Simms

Come to Berry Street and see The Holy Spirit set free, No program, no plan led by man; Why should we run things when God can? We gather as “two or more” Then let Jesus have the floor; And He … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian organizations, Christian values, church, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church structure, corps, denominations, disciple making, disciples, East Nashville, followers of Christ, freedom, gifts of the Spirit, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Heaven's door, Holy Spirit, house church, improv, improvisation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, move of God, movement, Music City, non-church, non-traditional church, participatory church, relevation, religion, revival, revolution, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, soldiers, Spirit-led, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, surrender, surrender to God, testimonies, testimony, two or more, voice of God | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments