Category Archives: kingdom of God

When God gets shut out of daily life; joy gets shut down and life limps along.

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christianity, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, religion, spiritual life, spirituality, surrender to God | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Worst Religious Advice I Was Ever Given

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Steve Simms

The worst religious advice I was ever given came when I was a student at Memphis Theological Seminary.  A professor in a preaching class said:  “You need to spend one hour of study for every minute you preach.” Since then … Continue reading →

Posted in academics, Bible study, burning heart, change, change agent, Christ followers, Christian, epidemic, expect change commercial, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, glory days, God, how you catch the flu, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, kingdom of God, kingdom values, Memphis Theological Seminary, moral failure, moral foundations, morality, Music City, religious academics, religious innovation, religious tradition, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, study one hour for every minute you preach | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Church? Prevading Presence or Prearranged Program?

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

Church is the powerful and permeating Presence of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ; not just the mere presentation of a prearranged religious program. Church is a group of people actively engaging God; not a group passively listening to a talk … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christian community, church meetings, church program, church roles, church services, church structure, conformed, contemporary, contemporary society, corrupt culture, countercultural, do church, Do not conform, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, kingdom values, lecture, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, meaning, non-church, non-church movement, non-traditional church, power, religious innovation, resurrection, sermon, sermons, Spirit-led, spiritual innovation, spiritual interaction, spiritual power, the way we do church, values | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Are You Ready For Some Bordom Bustin’ In 2013?

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Steve Simms

Begin 2013 by busting out of your boredom box; rerouting the routine of your rut; surpassing the same ole, same ole! Do something new and different for the kingdom of God today. No need to repeat what isn’t working. Step … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013, biblical, Biblical concept, bored in church, boredom, Catherine Booth, cross, crucified with Christ, crucify yourself, deny yourself, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, kingdom of God, obedience is better than sacrifice, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual fire, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, supernatural, The Salvation Army, the world for God, theology, truth, voice of God | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Radical (Back To The Roots) Church Is . . .

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Steve Simms

Church is a living message: *Christ alive from the dead; * actually present with us when we gather in His name; * personally directing the meeting and leading various people to share testimonies, gifts of the Spirit, Scriptures, prayers, etc. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, alternative church, alternative lifestyle, Emmanuel, faith, faith-based, family gathering, God with us, healing, intimacy, kingdom of God, National Football League, NFL, NFL Playoffs, recovery, religion, religious ceremonies, religious innovation, religious tradition, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Scriptures, sermons, simple church, sold out, spiritual healing, surrender, surrender to God, unprogrammed church, What is church?, When you come together, witness | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Optimize Your Faith With Participatory Church

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Faith can be enhanced or it can be diminished.  It is the responsibility of each individual to cultivate, nourish, and grow her/his faith or to allow it to wither away and possibly die.  Jesus illustrated this principle in the Parable … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, Alcoholics Anonymous, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian organizations, Christian values, church, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, corps, encouragement, faith, faith-based, followers of Christ, freedom, honesty, Houston, improv, improvisation, insight, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, mysticism, Nashville, New Testament, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, spiritual athletes, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, spiritual growth, spiritual interaction, spiritual training, spiritual warfare, testimonies, testimony | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Which Burns In You — Hellfire Or Holy Fire?

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Steve Simms

Which burns in you, hellfire or holy fire? Hellfire — the burning passions of pride, cravings, compulsions, anger, addictions, revenge, lust, greed, guilt, vulgarity, violence, insecurity, disrespect, hatred, selfishness, shame. Holy fire — the flaming light of insight, revelation, love, … Continue reading →

Posted in addiction, addictions, attitude, compassion, compulsion, conviction of sin, cravings, deny yourself, disrespect, ethics, evil, evil entities, evil spirits, feelings, fight the good fight of faith, filled with the Spirit, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, godly sorrow, guidance, guide, harmful thinking, hate, hdden sin, holy, Holy Holy Holy, inward change, justice, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, love, lust, meaning, meaninglessness, mercy, moral failures, obedience, partying, philosophical, philosophy, pull of evil, rebellion, reconnect, recovery, red hot, religion, repent, repentance, revelation, revival, sacrifice, seduction, self-control, self-denial, self-destruction, self-focus, self-inflicted, self-produced, self-respect, self-will, selfish desires, sin, soul, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual growth, surrender, surrender to God, thinking | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

“I’ll Fight” — How To Be A Spiritual Soldier

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

A famous quotation by William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, boldly repeats the words “I’ll fight!”  His wife, Catherine Booth, preached Aggressive Christianity. They challenged their followers to be spiritual soldiers, not passive spectators.  But how do you fight … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, army, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Bible reading, Bible type revival, blog, blog readers, Blood and Fire, blood of Jesus, burning heart, choice, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, church, combat, courage, creativity, darkness, demons, denial, devils, ekklesia, faith-based, fight the good fight of faith, flag, guidance, guide, Holy Spirit, I'll fight!, inner coach, inner peace, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, makes change, meaning, media, media circus, military, moral failures, moral restraints, morality, move of God, movement, Music City, Nashville, New Testament, normal Christianity, obedience, organic church, out of the closet, soldiers, spectators, spirit, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, temptation, testimonies, testimony, the offensive, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag, thoughts, tradition, training, training camp, trials, truth, values, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

What Would William Booth Say Today? (WWWBST?)

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

William Booth was the founder of The Salvation Army.  He was a man with a passionate love for God and a deep love for humanity.  He died 100 years ago this year.  What would William Booth say to us today … Continue reading →

Posted in authority, Bible type revival, Biblical concept, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian flag, Christian history, Christian organizations, combat, deliverance, devotion, die to self, disciple making, disciples, discipline, discipling, England, faith, faith-based, fear, feelings, fight the good fight of faith, flag, followers, followers of Christ, freedom, glory, glory days, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart-felt love, heroes, history, inner city, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, ministry, miracles, missional, modeling, moral failures, moral principles, move of God, movement, mysticism, normal Christianity, obedience, open airs, openairs, prayer, prayer walking, prayer without ceasing, praying, quote, Quotes, red hot, relevation, religion, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, seduction, self-control, self-denial, self-destruction, self-discipline, self-focus, sex, soul, spirit, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual walk, surrender, surrender to God, temptation, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Was Jeremiah A Holy Shock Jock?

Posted on November 11, 2012 by Steve Simms

A shock jock can be defined as:  A radio personality who uses provocative or inflammatory words to make offensive and/or controversial comments in order to get people’s attention and build ratings for his program. A modern example of a shock jock … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Bible reading, Bible type revival, biblical, Biblical concept, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, Christianity, conscience, contemporary society, controversial, conviction, conviction of sin, faith, faith-based, fatherless children, God, God's authority, God's government, godly sorrow, greed, guilt, Israel, Judeo-Christian, judgment, judgments, justice, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, live to please God, meaning, moral failures, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morality-phobic, morals, natural laws, nature of God, obedience, offensive, prostitute, radio, refuse to blush, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, self-focus, selfish desires, shocking statements, sin, spiritual combat, spiritual warfare, values, wickedness | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments