Category Archives: non-traditional church

I Found A Book That Describes Nashville’s Berry Street Church

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

I “stumbled upon” a book in a used book store called The Rabbit And The Elephant.  It is written by Tony and Felicity Dale and George Barna. As I began to read the book, I was amazed.  It perfectly describes our … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Felicity Dale, George Barna, gifts of the Spirit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, prayer, prayer walking, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, repent, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, The Rabbit and the Elephant, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Tony Dale, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

What’s the purpose of a church meeting? According to the New Testament the goal of a church meeting is not to listen to a featured preacher, but to bring together a group of hungry seekers who support, challenge, and share God’s love with one another. (See I Corinthians 14:26)

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Steve Simms

Experience I Corinthians 14 26 in action (“26What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.”) at The Salvation Army … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, congregational, early church, East Nashville, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, prayer, religion, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, What is church?, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

How To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day . . .

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

According to his own words, here’s the best way to celebrate Patrick, the mighty man of God who brought Christ to Ireland and transformed a nation: 1)  See your sins in the Light, experience godly sorrow for them, then go … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Acts 5:29, acts of God, alternative lifestyle, Amazing Grace, ancient history, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, blessings, challenges, Christ, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, college, courage, East Nashville, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, holy, Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, house church, Ireland, lifestyles, miracles, multi-racial, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, participatory church, popular culture, prayer, proof of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, resurrection, salvation, Scriptures, shamrock, simple church, Spirit-led, St. Patrick's Day, tebow, tebowing, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Tim Tebow, Uncategorized, voice of God, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bud’s Boldly Chasing Manning, But As For Me . . .

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Steve Simms

Observing the media circus of Bud Adams & the Tennessee Titans in hot pursuit of Peyton Manning makes me wonder . . . What would it be like if a group of people in Nashville began to publicly pursue Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bud Adams, Christ, Christianity, East Nashville, football, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyles, media circus, Nashville, National Football League, NFL, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, Peyton Manning, popular culture, presence of Christ, presence of God, religion, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, Super Bowl, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Meeting God’s Gathering (Ekklesia) Instead Of Religion’s Church

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Steve Simms

One night I wandered into a group gathered in a college dorm and heard regular people sincerely telling how Jesus had changed their lives.  Later the group joined hands in a large circle, pulled me in, and began to talk … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, compassion, conversion, disciple making, disciples, discipling, early church, ekklesia, evidence for God, freedom, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, God's government, Greek, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, hope, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improvisation, kingdom of God, life, lifestyles, meaning, movement, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, non-material reality, non-traditional church, nones, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, outreach ministry, participatory church, peace, praise and worship, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, recovery, religion, revelation, right conduct, salvation, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, stumble upon, testimonies, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Time magazine, voice of God, What is church?, Why be a Christian?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

WWJDIYC? What would Jesus do in your church?

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Steve Simms

If Jesus visited the church you attend one Sunday morning, what would He do? Preach or weep? Congratulate everyone on the service or turn over tables and pews? Cast out demons or be asked to quietly leave? Sit down and talk … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christian, Christianity, hearing Jesus, house church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, presence of Christ, religion, repent, Savior, sermon, simple church, tears, the way we do church, Uncategorized, values, Western religion, WWJD? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Little-Known Story Of Nashville’s Original Grand Ole Opry House . . .

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

The building that helped Nashville become known as Music City was originally built in 1892 as a place for spiritual awakening — an interdenominational revival house.  The auditorium that spread Country Music around the world, was originally intended to spread … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church, country music, Grand Ole Opry House, history, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, organic church, outreach ministry, participatory church, presence of Christ, religion, Ryman Auditorium, Sam Jones, testimonies, The Salvation Army, Thomas Ryman, Uncategorized, Union Gospel Tabernacle | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Happy Birthday, Berry Street!

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Steve Simms

We are celebrating our 4th birthday today at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Thank You, Lord, for 4 years of seeing You transform, disciple, and work through a diverse group of amazing people and for … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, birthday, birthday present, blessings, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, compassion, disciples, discipling, East Nashville, gift of God, grace, gratitude, history, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, joy, kingdom of God, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, participatory church, religion, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, testimonies, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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