Category Archives: organic church

“The Four Points” Of The Great Welsh Revival

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Steve Simms

One of the greatest Christian spiritual awakenings in history began in Wales in 1904 and shook the world.  It was based on what became known as “The Four Points,” originally taught by Evan Roberts and became known as the Welsh … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, brokenness, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, conscience, contemplation, conviction of sin, East Nashville, forgiveness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, life, Music City, mysticism, organic church, reformation, relational church, religion, revival, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, unforgiveness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Did I See A Miracle Last Night? You Decide.

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

Last night I was in a home group of 9 adults (who I don’t know very well) who met to share, sing, support one another, and pray as led by the Spirit.  As someone was praying an image came into … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, Bible, Biblical concept, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church structure, community, confession, congregational, disciple making, ekklesia, forgiveness, freedom, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, kingdom of God, life, miracles, movement, non-church movement, non-material reality, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, participatory church, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, priesthood of the believer, prophesy, relational church, religion, repent, repentance, revelation, revival, show and tell, simple church, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, supernatural, support group, surrender to God, the cross, the way we do church, vision, voice of God, wages of sin, What is church?, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Getting Away From Church Is Not Easy In The Bible Belt

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Steve Simms

Church (although many polls have shown it to be in decline in America) still has quite the presence in the Bible Belt where church buildings abound on prominent real estate.  However, if you try hard, you can avoid religious buildings … Continue reading →

Posted in American, American church, Americans, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, kingdom of God, life, organic church, religion, simple church | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Non-Church — Discovered In Japan & Other Places

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

I recently read about non-church when I heard about a Japanese man named Uchimura Kanzo.  He  started meeting with a group of friends in a small Christian gathering in Japan in the early 1900s where everyone was equal and everybody … Continue reading →

Posted in burning heart, China, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church roles, church structure, congregational, East Nashville, heart-felt love, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, Japan, Methodist class meeting, Methodists, movement, non-church movement, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, priesthood of the believer, relational church, religion, simple church, spiritual formation, support group, the way we do church, Uncategorized, unprogrammed church, What is church?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Who Da Best Preacher/Bible Teacher?

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Steve Simms

If Christ is really alive and present when we gather in His name (as the New Testament says He is) why can’t He direct a church meeting, without human programming and control?  Perhaps the answer is: We won’t let Him. … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Biblical concept, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church roles, church structure, congregational, DeVern Fromke, devotion, East Nashville, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, improvisation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, Jesus Take The Wheel, movement, mysticism, non-material reality, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, presence of Christ, presence of God, quench the Spirit, Quotations, quote, Quotes, relational church, religion, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, surrender to God, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, voice activated, voice of God, Western religion, What is church?, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Apply These Apps For Spiritual Strength

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Steve Simms

God’s not like a TV where you passively sit back, like a couch potato, and watch professionals put-on religious performances. He’s got more apps for you than there are for your iPhone. So listen directly to the living God.  Load … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, alternative lifestyle, apps, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, church, church roles, community, download, downloads, East Nashville, gifts of the Spirit, guidance, iPhone, joy, kindness, kingdom of God, love, Music City, mysticism, non-traditional church, operationg system, organic church, participatory church, patience, peace, priesthood of the believer, reality TV, religion, religious ceremonies, simple church, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural, support group, television, TV, TV network, voice activated | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Good Sermon Or Burning Words?

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Steve Simms

When people hear a sermon they often go up to the preacher and say:  “Good message,” or “Good sermon.”  However when the early disciples heard the word, they said:  “Didn’t his words burn in our hearts!” When Peter preached on … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, burning heart, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, conviction of sin, early church, East Nashville, gifts of the Spirit, good sermon, inward change, language, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, organic church, preaching, religion, sermon, sermons, spiritual formation, teaching, Uncategorized, Western religion, words, words on fire | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Can The Contempory Church Say “This Is That”?

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

Can the contemporary church say, like Peter did in the Book of Acts, “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel,” as we point, like Peter did, to something supernatural that God is doing in our midst? It … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Acts, acts of God, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Biblical concept, church, church structure, denominations, discipling, early church, evidence for God, eyewitness, gifts of the Spirit, house church, Jerusalem, lifestyles, missional, movement, Music City, mystery, mysticism, New Testament, non-traditional church, order of worship, organic church, Paul of Tarsus, Peter, popular culture, priesthood of the believer, proof of God, prophesy, prophet, prophet Joel, relational church, religion, show and tell, speaking in tongues, spiritual growth, supernatural, testimonies, the way we do church, this is that, tradition, which was spoken by the prophet Joel | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Relational Church — What A Great & Powerful Idea — Experience It For Yourself

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Steve Simms

Relational church is powerful and life changing.  It shows people that the love of God isn’t just a religious idea, but a present, almost tangible, reality. When God’s love is demonstrably present and visible in a gathering, people’s lives are … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church roles, East Nashville, glory, hearts unfold like flowers, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, inward change, kingdom of God, Music City, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, relational church, simple church, spiritual growth, support group, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

500 Years Ago Martin Luther Posted 95 Shocking Statements About Church — Here Are My 95 . . .

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Steve Simms

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed a piece of paper, listing 95 revolutionary statements, to the door of Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany.  This act marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation of the church. Inspired by Martin Luther’s courageous act, … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, belief, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Biblical concept, blog, bold statements, Bubba Watson, burning heart, challenges, change, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church roles, church structure, clergy, conscience, conviction of sin, courage, dancing, dancing with God, deliverance, demons, disciple making, East Nashville, family gathering, football, forgiveness, formal, freedom, gifts of the Spirit, God's government, grace, guidance, guilt, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart-felt love, Heaven, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, improvisation, Jeremy Lin, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, laymen, lecture, lifestyles, Linsanity, Martin Luther, miracles, missional, morality, morals, movement, multi-racial, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, prayer, prayer walking, presence of Christ, presence of God, priesthood of the believer, prophesy, quench the Spirit, recovery, reformation, religion, religious ceremonies, repent, repentance, simple church, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual, support group, Taiwan Tebow, tears, tebow, tebowing, Tim Tebow, voice of God, wages of sin, Western religion, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments