Category Archives: reformation

Open Mic Sunday — A Church Experiment

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Steve Simms

Here is a wonderful experiment any church can try: Take just one Sunday and instead of having preaching, have an open mic service. Let anybody present share what God puts on their heart. If you have never experienced an open … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians:14, church experiment, church history, experimental church, Head, Head of the church, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit take over, Protestant Reformation, reformation, revelation | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Protestant Reformation — A Half-Way Measure?

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Steve Simms

Did the Protestant Reformation only go 1/2 way?  Two of the main Bible doctrines that were brought to light by Protestant Reformers (Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and others) were:  1) justification by faith (which was enthusiastically embraced); and  … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, doctrines, history, John Calvin, justification by faith, leaders, leaders of the Reformation, leadership, ministers, ministry, Nashville, Nashville church, ordaination, pastor, preacher, priest, priesthood, quotation, Quotations, quote, reformation, religion, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Ulrich Zwingli | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

God’s Spiritual Sprinkler Systems

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Steve Simms

According to the New Testament, God wants church services to be spiritual sprinkler systems where the Holy Spirit freely flows from everyone present. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26.)  This is God’s powerful “prophetic activation” (a phrase made popular by Sandy Powell … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 1 Corinthians:14, Christlike, church history, clergy, clergy/laity, God, Jesus Christ, laity, layman, laymen, laywomen, Martin Luther, Music City, organic church, prophesy, prophesying, quotation, Quotations, quote, reformation, reformer, round robin, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sprinkler system, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, TN, unbeliever, worship, worship gathering, worship leader | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Technology has brought about the paperless office. Spiritual awakening will bring about the agendaless church meeting. Go agendaless — let the Spirit lead!

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Steve Simms

“The Salvation Army was born in the superheated fires of revival, coming into being through obedience, dedication, and holy courage. . . Holy testimonies blistered our lips and knee drills (prayer meetings) were crowded with earnest, believing prayers. That sovereign, … Continue reading →

Posted in reformation, religion, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, spiritual awakening, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

2013 — A New Year? Or The Same Ole Same Ole?

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Steve Simms

Will 2013 be a new year for you or the same ole same ole of years gone by?   Does this new year mark the mere movement of time; or the development of character, the growth of love, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christ followers, Christ in you, Christian, Christianity, conversion, conviction, conviction of sin, forgiveness, God, honesty, hope, if anyone is in Christ, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lyrics, new birth, new creation, New Testament, obedience, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, recovery, reformation, relevation, religion, repent, repentance, revelation, revival, revolution, sin, sins, soul, spirit, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual healing, spiritual training, spiritual transformation, spiritual warfare, supernatural, surrender to God | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is Soicety Reaping The Violence It’s Been Showing?

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Steve Simms

Is society reaping the graphic violence it’s been showing for decades in movies, on TV, and in video games?  Can that be a factor in the evil acts of random mass murder being frequently committed in America? Does showing scenes … Continue reading →

Posted in agenda, censorship, cheating, choice, commercials, compliance, compromise, conscience, controversy, criticism, current events, cyber space, cyberworld, depravity, destruction of the family, destructive actions, dishonesty, disrespect, epidemic, evil spirits, feelings, graphic violence, guilt, heart-felt love, honesty, hope, injustice, lies, lifestyles, Maria Weston Chapman, media, media circus, mind, modeling, modern myths, moral failure, moral failures, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, movie, movies, MTV, nonviolence, peacemaking, popular culture, prayer, pull of evil, Quotations, quote, Quotes, real world, reality TV, recovery, reformation, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, self-destruction, self-inflicted, selfish desires, service, sex, sexual problems, sexually transmitted diseases, smoking, social media, societal, society, suffering, thoughts, TV, TV network, unhappiness, unkindness, video, video games, viewer discretion advised, wake-up call | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Characteristics Of Compromised Christianity

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

Christianity is a challenging faith — a heavenly vision, a high calling — beckoning men and women to live life at a higher level than that of merely satisfying their cravings, compulsions, and self-interest. However, rising above our baser nature … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, church, church history, church program, church programs, compromise, conformed, convenience, convert, corrupt culture, criticism, culture, disciples, discipline, followers of Christ, idealism, immaturity, insight, instant oatmeal, institution, intimidation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, minute rice, mission field, missional, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, race, racism, reformation, regulations, religious ceremonies, religious relic, religious tradition, rules, service, spiritual warfare | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Drunk Christians?

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

Some observers of the early Christians made fun of them and said:  “They have had too much wine.”  (Would you use the word “drunk” to describe a gathering of Christians, nowadays?) Here’s the response to that accusation, given by Jesus’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts 2, acts of God, alcohol, Alcoholics Anonymous, alternative lifestyle, Apostle Peter, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Biblical concept, booze it up, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, church, church history, church meetings, drinking, DUI, Ephesus, filled with the Spirit, free spirit, good sermon, guilt, hangover, inner peace, inner rivers, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus' mother Mary, life, lifestyle Christianity, makes change, miracles, missional, morality, morals, move of God, movement, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, New Testament, new wine, Oh my God, on the web, Paul of Tarsus, peace, persecution, Peter, preaching, presence of God, priesthood of the believer, prophesy, prophet, prophet Joel, quench the Spirit, quote, Quotes, reformation, salvation, sober up, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual drunkenness, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, testimony, This is that spoken by the prophet Joel, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

A Brief (Alternative) History Of Western Christianity

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Steve Simms

An alternative history of Western Christianity . . . The early Christians were passionate and obedient followers of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.  The government didn’t like them and put many of them to death. However, the love, lifestyle, and … Continue reading →

Posted in 95 theses, alternative lifestyle, Castle Church, church, Constantine, downline, early church, ekklesia, empire, Germany, heretic, house church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, life, lifestyles, love, Martin Luther, mullti-level, Muslims, mystery, mysticism, non-church, non-traditional church, open church, organic church, Orthodox, political issue, politics, Protestant Reformation, reformation, religious ceremonies, religious wars, Roman Catholic, simple church, true Christian life, turned the world upsidedown, values, Western religion, Western world, What is church?, Wittenburg Door | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“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