Category Archives: faith

Martin Luther King, Jr. On Liberalism (& Other Forgotten MLK Quotes)

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Steve Simms

“I began to question the liberal doctrine of man. The more I observed the tragedies of history and man’s shameful inclination to choose the low road, the more I came to see the depths and strength of sin. . . … Continue reading →

Posted in A.D., African American experience, African Americans, American history, B.C., black history, blacks, Caesar, faith, faith in God, faith-based, God, God's authority, God's presence, God's protection, God's voice, idealism, optimism, philosophical, philosophy, political views, politics, politics and religion, racism, reason, religion, religious beliefs, religious talks, sentimentalism, sin, thinking | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

What The Church Can Learn From A Muppet Movie

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Steve Simms

One animated Muppet with all the other Muppets immobile and neatly placed in rows, would not make much of a Muppet movie. Instead, all the Muppets need to be animated and participating interactively with one another. No one Muppet dominates … Continue reading →

Posted in animated, animation, Berry Street, Bible, Bible concepts, church format, church leadership, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, faith, faith in God, faith-based, freedom, Nashville, Nashville church, open mic, open mike, organic church, participation, participatory church, puppets, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, soul, speaking, speaking out, spiritual formation, spirituality, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

12 B&Bs of PC (Benefits & Blessings of Participatory Church)

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

12 (B&Bs) Benefits & Blessings of (PC) Participatory church: 1) is exciting and never the same ole, same ole.  It breaks the boredom cycle of customary church. 2) releases the living, resurrected Jesus Christ and allows Him to personally direct … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, accountability, Bible, boredom, Christ, Christian organizations, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, commandments, commands, community, customary, customs, faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Nashville, Nashville church, New Testament, non-church, non-traditional church, one another, one anothers, participators, participatory church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

Frustrated With Preaching? Try Sermon-Free Church

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Steve Simms

I (the sermon-free church guy) love to preach. I miss preaching. I preached regularly on Sunday mornings for about 10 years. However, I got frustrated with preaching because I was growing spiritually, but I didn’t see much spiritual growth in … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church services, faith, faith-based, God's power, non-traditional church, organic church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, spiritual formation, spirituality, the power of God, witness | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Normal Christian Fire = Church Ablaze

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Steve Simms

Faith is God’s fire roaring in your heart; not religious ideas resting in the back of your brain. The normal condition of a Christ-follower is to have a heart constantly ablaze with love for God. When normal believers, full of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, church fire, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, faith, faith in God, faith-based, filled with the Spirit, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, organic church, Quench not the Spirit, quench the Spirit, Tennessee | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

What’s streaming in your heart? Raw desire? Or Spiritual Fire?

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Steve Simms

What’s streaming in your heart? Raw desire?  Or Spiritual Fire? Lust and disgust?  Or love from above? Thoughts that annoy?  Or real time joy? Spiritual blindness?  Or lovingkindness? What do you find flowing through your mind? So, what’s innernet streaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Be still and know that I am God, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, belief, belief system, Bible, Bible study, deny yourself, discipline, faith, faith in God, faith-based, feelings, heart is deceitful, heart is desperately wicked, joy, love, Love one another, love your enemies, lovingkindness, lust, Old Testament, radical obedience, searching, seduction, seduction of self-destruction, self, self-control, self-denial, self-destruction, self-discipline, self-focus, self-will, selfish desires, selfishness, Spirit surfing, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, spiritual adventure, spiritual blindness, spiritual disciplines, spiritual drunkenness, spiritual experience, spiritual fire, spiritual flow, thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Pope & The General

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

Quotations from Pope Francis of the Catholic Church and General Linda Bond of The Salvation Army: First General Bond: “A Spirit-filled Army tells the gospel story faithfully and trustingly, believing that there is power in the name of Jesus, power … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, Christian history, church, church leader, church leadership, clergy, commitment, communion, faith, faith in God, faith-based, faithfulness, God, godliness, Holy Father, Holy see, Holy Spirit, human leadership, humility, Jesus, Jesus Christ, quote, Quotes, religion, religious information, religious talks, religious tradition, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army church, viewpoint, views, witness, word of wisdom, words | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Talk Church Is Better Than Talk Radio

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Steve Simms

Talk church is better than talk radio.  Its talking points are about the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. Sit-back-and-listen-church makes people passive.  Open line, talk church makes people powerful in God as they show and tell what God has done on … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church format, church history, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, faith, faith in God, faith-based, great awakening, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, improv, improvisation, Jesus Christ, John Miley, led by the Spirit, listening, Methodism, Methodist class meeting, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, non-church, open church, participants, participators, participatory church, power, powerful, quote, Quotes, religious innovation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church, spiritual flow, spiritual formation, spiritual innovation, spirituality, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Coming Out For Jesus!

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

Spiritual fire carriers Should come out And tell the world About their red-hot faith And passionate love For the living, resurrected Jesus Christ! I am consumed with love for Jesus! How about you?

Posted in faith, red hot, religion | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Marathon Of A Lifetime!

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Steve Simms

The St. Jude Country Music Marathon (formerly the Music City Marathon) takes place tomorrow in Nashville, Tennessee.  Many will put themselves to the test as they run, yet they find the testing to be thrilling.  They love the challenge. “The … Continue reading →

Posted in faith, faith-based, foot race, George Sheehan, glory, heartbreak hill, marathon, marathon of a lifetime, music, Music City, New Testament, organic church, Paul of Tarsus, pursuit of God, quote, Quotes, runners, running shoes, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, tunes | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment