Category Archives: early church

Drenched With God / Soaked With HIs Presence

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Steve Simms

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you . . .”  As I read those words yesterday morning, the picture of a man drenched with water popped into my mind.  I’ve always thought about the Holy Spirit … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, acts of God, Bible, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church history, early church, evidence for God, General Linda Bond, gifts of the Spirit, glory, God, having a form of godliness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, kingdom of God, movement, mystery, mysticism, New Testament, normal Christianity, Oh my God, organic church, powerhouse, presence of Christ, presence of God, quench the Spirit, religion, revelation, sermons, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural, The Salvation Army, tradition, voice of God, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

PP Church — A Power House & A Pillar Of Fire

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Should church be more than people passively watching a program?  I found two quotations that say that church should be “a pillar of fire” and a “powerhouse.” “The Christian Church should be a pillar of fire leading the peoples of … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, ambulance corps, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, early church, East Nashville, Helen Shoemaker, history, Holy Spirit, house church, lifestyles, miracles, Music City, Nashville, New Testament, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, powerhouse, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, Samuel A. Eliot, simple church, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual warfare, supernatural, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, tradition, Uncategorized, What is church?, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

3 Questions For The American Church

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

1:  Which set of words bests describes a typical American church service: A) Lesson, lecture, liturgy, program, study about God, sermon, ritual, religion, boring, dull, routine, passive, solemn, humanly controlled; or B) Experience, encounter, presence of God, demonstration, manifestation, awe, … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, change, Christianity, church, church structure, early church, East Nashville, freedom, hearing God, house church, joy, mystery, mysticism, non-traditional church, organic church, presence of God, religion, sermon, simple church, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual, tradition, Uncategorized, words | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Dancing With God (The Holy Spirit 3-Step)

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Steve Simms

Dancing With God (The Holy Spirit Three-Step) I am reading through the Book of Acts for the fifth time in two months and asking God to show me why the early church had so much more passion and power than … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, acts of God, angels, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Book of Revelation, Christ, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, dancing, dancing with God, disciple making, disciples, discipling, early church, East Nashville, evidence for God, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, God, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Heaven, history, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, lifestyles, movement, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, New Testament, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, praise and worship, prayer, quench the Spirit, recovery, religion, repent, revelation, Scriptures, simple church, spiritual, spiritual formation, The Salvation Army, voice of God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Show And Tell — A Powerful Tool For Improving Your Life

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Steve Simms

Show and tell —  it’s not just for kindergarten and early elementary school.  It is a powerful tool for improving your life that works wonders for people of all ages. For instance, when people are stressed out, caught up in … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, addiction, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, change, China, Chinese, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, disciple making, early church, East Nashville, elementary school, freedom, guidance, harmful habit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, kindergarten, lifestyles, Methodist class meeting, Music City, Narcotics Anonymous, New Testament, organic church, Overeaters Anonymous, praise and worship, Quakers, religion, Scriptures, sermons, show and tell, simple church, spiritual formation, Supreme Court, the way we do church, Uncategorized, values, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Powerful Words From The Book “Viral Jesus”

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Steve Simms

Here are some quotations from the book, Viral Jesus — Rediscovering The Contagious Power Of The Gospel by Ross Rohde: “Read through the eyes of a modern Christian, the behavior of the believers in the Book of Acts seems a … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Christ, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, deciision making, disciple making, discipling, early church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, movement, Viral Jesus | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Acting Out Acts — Sound Bites From The First Christians . . .

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Steve Simms

“Filled with awe . . .” “Filled with wonder and amazement . . .” “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” “Performing  many signs and wonders among the people.” “We must obey God … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Acts 5:29, alternative lifestyle, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, church, church history, disciple making, early church, history, house church, Music City, Nashville, normal Christianity, organic church, Quotes, repent, simple church, spiritual growth | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

What The Church Can Learn From The Super Bowl

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Steve Simms

It is Super Bowl Week.  I just read an article about what people would give up to watch the Super Bowl.  Here’s an excerpt: “What exactly would you be willing to miss to be able to attend the big game … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Christianity, church, early church, football, house church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyles, NFL, Playoffs, religion, simple church, spiritual, Super Bowl, tradition, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

We need the 1st in the 21st! We desperately need soul-stirring, life-changing, earth-shaking, 1st Century style Christianity to be poured out in the 21st Century. O, Lord, we’ve read of Your great deeds in the “Acts of the Holy Spirit,” do them again, Lord, in our time, through 21st Century believers!

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Steve Simms

Read more about the First Century “Acts of the Holy Spirit” by clicking here.  

Posted in Uncategorized, Nashville, organic church, The Salvation Army, What is church?, prayer, prayer walking, mysticism, kingdom of God, simple church, recovery, Berry Street Worship Center, salvation, Christianity, spiritual, Berry Street, Music City, praise and worship, Acts, supernatural, Why be a Christian?, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual warfare, mystery, Tennessee, voice of God, early church | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why R Believers Brainwashed Into Applauding All Sorts Of Ungodliness?

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Steve Simms

3rd time through this month Reading the Book of Acts How’d those Acts believers Turn the world upside down While today we spiritually waste away Brainwashed into applauding All sorts of ungodliness? 1 thing I noticed — Acts believers were … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, alternative lifestyle, apologists, Bible, Christianity, disciple making, discipling, early church, facebook, God, Great Commission, lifestyles, movement, organic church, religion, revelation, social media, soul, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, tradition, twitter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments