Category Archives: participatory church

Jesus Christ — Dead Or Alive?

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Steve Simms

Easter celebrations are over — the traditions, the religious ceremonies, the decorations, the egg hunts, the dress-up, the family gatherings, the greeting cards, the candy.  So what do you do after Easter?  Here are two choices: 1)  You can send … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, adventure, alternative lifestyle, Bible, celebrations, challenges, choice, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church, dead man walking, deciision making, early church, East Nashville, God, greeting cards, hearing Jesus, holiday, holidays, jail, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, meaning, Music City, mysticism, non-material reality, non-traditional church, opportunity, organic church, participatory church, presence of Christ, religion, religious ceremonies, spiritual, spiritual growth, supernatural | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Is The Living Christ Allowed To Lead Easter Sunday Church Services?

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

Since all Christian denominations claim and proclaim that Jesus Christ is actually risen from the dead and is still alive, shouldn’t Christ be allowed to control and direct an Easter Sunday church service?  In other words, should an Easter Sunday … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, early church, East Nashville, Easter, gifts of the Spirit, Happy Easter, hearing God, hearing Jesus, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, Jesus Christ, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, presence of Christ, priesthood of the believer, religion, simple church, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Uncategorized, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Why have multitudes given up on church? What’s missing in our contemporary American church that the early church had in Acts? Here are some possibilities . . . Humility, brokenness, awe, tears, passion, conviction of sin, excitement, self-denial, testimonies, openness, the priesthood of the believer, repentance, persecution, confession, participation, boldness, power, deliverance, miracles, opportunities to minister to one another, healing. Can you think of more things the early church had that we seem to be lacking?

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Acts, American church, Americans, ancient history, awe, brokenness, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, conviction of sin, crying, deliverance, early church, ekklesia, forgiveness, humility, lifestyles, miracles, non-traditional church, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, persecution, priesthood of the believer, religion, repent, repentance, self-denial, simple church, sin, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual skills, tears, the way we do church, Uncategorized, Western religion, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

What’s More Exciting Than March Madness?

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Steve Simms

If you think that the Kentucky & Louisville and the Ohio State & Kansas games in this year’s college basketball Final Four are going to be exciting tomorrow night, here’s some great news for you. Church can be even more … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, college, college basketball, college students, congregational, conversion, disciple making, disciples, East Nashville, ekklesia, Final Four, gifts of the Spirit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, In Jesus' Name I Play, Jeremy Lin, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, March Madness, National Football League, NBA, NCAA, NHL, Ohio State, Olympics, organic church, participatory church, presence of Christ, presence of God, religion, show and tell, simple church, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, sporting event, Taiwan Tebow, tebow, tebowing, tebowing.com, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Tim Tebow, Uncategorized, What is church?, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What is church? 1) A place where people passively sit in chairs? Or 2) A gathering where everyone shares? (See the Bible’s answer @ I Corinthians 14:26.)

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

Here’s a one question quiz:  What is church? 1) A place where people passively sit in chairs? Or 2) A gathering where everyone shares? (See the Bible’s answer @ I Corinthians 14:26.) I want to be a Christianitypreneur (I made … Continue reading →

Posted in American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, children of God, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianitypreneur, Christianpreneur, Christpreneur, church, church history, church structure, disciple making, discipling, early church, God's government, I Corinthians 14:26, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, prayer, presence of God, religion, simple church, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

An Opportunity To Make A Real Difference In Nashville

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

Would you like to make a real difference in Nashville?  The Salvation Army has a unique ministry in East Nashville that is changing lives and helping to transform the urban neighborhood of McFerrin Park. At The Salvation Army Berry Street … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, change, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, compassion, concerned about the very poor, conversion, deliverance, disciple making, discipling, East Nashville, ekklesia, freedom, Holy Spirit, lifestyles, manliest city, McFerrin Park, miracles, missional, movement, Music City, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, outreach ministry, participatory church, recovery, religion, repent, repentance, salvation, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Uncategorized, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

How To Avoid Being A Spiritual Wimp (Top 10 Ways To Grow Strong In The Lord)

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Steve Simms

In today’s tremendously tempting environment, it is important not to be a spiritual wimp.  Maintaining a consistent walk with the Lord requires great spiritual strength. Here are my Top Ten Ways To Grow Strong In The Lord.  However, because this … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Apostle Paul, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, books, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, compassion, conscience, disciple making, East Nashville, forgiveness, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, God, guidance, guilt, guts and glory, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, life, lifestyles, morality, morals, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, New Testament, New York Jets, non-material reality, non-traditional church, organic church, outreach ministry, participatory church, popular culture, praise and worship, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, proof of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, religion, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, salvation, self-help, simple church, sin, sobriety, speaking in tongues, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, tebow, tebowing, temptation, The Jesus Prayer, The Salvation Army, The Voice, Tim Tebow, Top Ten, Uncategorized, values, Viral Jesus, voice of God, Why be a Christian?, words | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

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