Category Archives: kingdom of God

Perhaps A Pastor Should Oversee, Not Direct Church Services

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Steve Simms

–“Overseer” — that’s how the word for Christian leader is translated in some versions of the New Testament.  That translation fits Jesus’ command that leaders be “servants.” –A great example of an overseer is a basketball or football official.  He/she … Continue reading →

Posted in agenda, agendaless, agendaless church, basketball officials, Bible, boundaries, Christianity, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, church overseers, church roles, church structure, clergy, clergy/laity, football officials, God's authority, God's government, hearing the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, impact of church, Jesus, kingdom of God, leaders, leadership, led by the Spirit, Music City, order of worship, organic church, oversight, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

From Independence Day to Dependence Day

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Steve Simms

Most people around the world know that the 4th of July is American Independence Day — when we relish the thought of being free from reliance on others.  However, perhaps we need to get beyond July 4th and acknowledge July … Continue reading →

Posted in American patriotism, American values, Americans, Christian values, Christianity, freedom, history, holidays, humility, kingdom of God, kingdom values, religious innovation, religious tradition, spiritual, spiritual healing, spiritual life, spirituality, values | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

(God Math) Life – God = L0neliness / Life X God = L∞ve

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Steve Simms

Do the God math. With God factored out of life, there’s a big zero (0) in our life — a void of loneliness. When God is the major factor of life (the prime mover), there is infinite (∞) love (l∞ve)! … Continue reading →

Posted in apologists, belief, belief system, believer, Christianity, do the math, faith, faith-based, foundation, kingdom of God, life, life built on nothing, live to please God, love, Love one another, love yourself, mathematical calculation, prime mover, spirit, spiritual, spiritual innovation, spiritual life, spirituality, symbol for infinity, zero | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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