Category Archives: New Testament

Are There Conditions On God’s Grace?

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Steve Simms

According to the Bible, amazing grace seems to be conditional.  Grace is free, but it’s not unconditional. “God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God . . .” (1 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Peter, Bible, Bible quotes, Bible study, condition on grace, conditional grace, debt, definition, forgive us our trespasses, gives grace to the humble, God, God resists the proud, grace of God, Hebrews, New Testament, Quotations, quote, Quotes, root of bitterness, salvation, saved by grace, self-control, Titus, unforgiveness, ungodliness | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Did Sermon-Free Church Begin At Pentecost?

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Steve Simms

Sermon-Free Church — Did It Begin At Pentecost?  Thoughts for Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2013 On Pentecost Sunday (May 19) the church in the Western world celebrates the beginning of sermon-free church. The events are recorded in Acts, chapter 2 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2013, Acts, Apostle Peter, bishops, Christ followers, church, church history, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, coming of the Holy Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, Gospel, Holy Spirit, Jerusalem, New Testament, non-church, non-church movement, non-liturgical, non-traditional church, one anothers, open church, open mike, openairs, organic church, origin of the church, overseers, participatory church, Peter, Peter preaching on Pentecost, praise, praising God, pray for one another, prayer, praying, preaching, preaching the Word, Roman, Roman Empire, sermon, sermon-free, sermons, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church, the Western church, This was that., Western world | Tagged , , , , , | 6 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

Making Music With Body Parts (God’s Symphony)

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Steve Simms

This blog is not about finger snapping, hand clapping, knee slapping, toe tapping, and/or armpit playing.  It’s about the church, the body of Christ, functioning as God’s symphony. The New Testament teaches that the church is like a human body … Continue reading →

Posted in armpit, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, biblical, biblical Christianity, Biblical concept, church meetings, church services, clergy, conductor, finger snapping, God, God's symphony, hand clapping, instrumental, instrumental music, instruments, knee slapping, musical solo, New Testament, organic church, paralyzed, pastor, prayer, preacher, priest, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, solo, song, symphony, toe tapping | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The World’s Greatest Valentine

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Steve Simms

The World’s Greatest Valentine is regularly carried in East Nashville, Tennessee (The “Blood & Fire” Salvation Army Flag) — the red stands for the blood of Jesus; the yellow star represents the fire of the Holy Spirit; and the blue … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Bible reading, Biblical concept, blood and fire battle flag, blood of Jesus, Christ, Christ followers, Christianity, church, East Nashville, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, flag, holiday, holidays, holiness, Music City, New Testament, organic church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, simplicity, surrender, surrender to God, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag, the Word, the world for God, the world's greatest love letter, Why be a Christian?, world's greatest, worship gathering | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Men Gone Wild (Or Are They Just Free In The Spirit?)

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Steve Simms

Recently six men gathered in Nashville, Tennessee and were overcome by  spontaneous praise, worship, celebration, dancing, and prayer; for more than two hours.  Had these men gone wild?  Or were they just free in the Spirit? They were experiencing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Acts of the Apostles, Bible, New Testament, praise and worship, praying, praying community, radical, radical obedience, rare form of Christianity, real presence, religious ceremonies, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Fly The Flag! Rally ‘Round The Flag! (Like In Les Misérables)

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Steve Simms

In Les Misérables (the new movie, the Broadway play, and the book) people boldly and courageously wave and carry a revolutionary flag.  Perhaps it’s time to boldly carry and wave an even more revolutionary flag — a Christian flag. Why are … Continue reading →

Posted in armor, books, Broadway play, Christ followers, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, Christianity, church, church buildings, flag, flag pole, homes, Jesus, Jesus Christ, knights, Minnesota Historical Society, movie, New Testament, prayer walking, revolutionary flag, soldiers, special flags, spiritual battle, spiritual combat, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, the colors, The Salvation Flag, universal Christian flag | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Incredible Power of Christ Skills

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Steve Simms

How are your Christ skills? Many people live their lives without basic Christ skills — the abilities to connect with and release the life-transforming power of Christ in themselves and in others. However, when you look into history, you discover … Continue reading →

Posted in 24/7/365, addiction, addictions, anxiety, automatic, Christ, Christ followers, Christ in you, circumstances, contagion, counterfeit, emotional bondage, Greatest Teacher, guilt, history, life transforming, New Testament, peace, peace of mind, pie-in-the-sky, sainthood, saints, shame, spiritual bondage, spiritual leaders, stress, torment, tormenting thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A New (Emergent and/or Organic) Name For Christianity: Christimacy

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Steve Simms

These ideas came to my mind during the praise and worship meeting at The Salvation Army Berry Street this morning.  I shared them with the believers gathered there. The one word that most describes the difference between the Old and … Continue reading →

Posted in atonement, Christ, Christ followers, Christ in you, Christ in you the hope of glory, Christian, Christian values, emergent Christianity, emergent movement, God with us, having a form of godliness, He broke down the wall of hostility, house church, intimacy, Jesus Christ, lost and restored, Love one another, move of God, movement, new birth, new creation, New Testament, Old Testament, racial reconciliation, reconciliation, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, spirit, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual healing, spiritual innovation, spiritual interaction, spiritual kinship, spiritual transformation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

How To Surf Brainwaves To Hope, Health, & Happiness

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Steve Simms

Life is about surfing brainwaves.  Catch positive brainwaves and they will carry you to paradise-like beaches of hope, health, and happiness.  However, charging choppy brainwaves will cause you to wipe-out and deposit you among emotional riptides and maybe even men … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Bible, biblical, brain, brain chemistry, brain research, brainwashed, brainwashing, breaking waves, choice, choppy, counselor, cranium, cranking, cutback, good report, happiness, happy, health, hope, inner peace, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, medieval serf, men in grey suits, New Testament, out back, parties, party, partying, pastor, peace, peace of mind, Philippians 4:8, pipeline, rabbi, raked over, riptides, sea, seduction of self-destruction, self-destruction, sharks, suggestions, swell, therapist, thinking, thought pattern, thoughts, tormenting thoughts, tow in, Uncategorized, underwater, uplifting, values, virtues, washing machine, wave machine, wipe-out | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment