Category Archives: Salvationists

Use Words! Talk About Religion! Testify!

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Steve Simms

Church is not carefully crafted and controlled ceremonies.  It is a symphony of spontaneous, heart-felt testimonies.  It’s not what we’ve planned, learned, and memorized; but what we have seen and heard! Unfortunately, the work of the living God in human … Continue reading →

Posted in If necessary use words, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, living out the Gospel, power, preach without words, preaching, preaching the Word, prompted by the Spirit, religion, religious ceremonies, religious information, religious talks, religious tradition, ritual, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, shout it from the housetops, speaking out, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual church, spiritual flow, spiritual formation, story, testimonies, testimony, TN, What I tell you in secret | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What Happens Where There Is Spirit-Led Participation In A Church Service?

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

When ordinary people participate in a church service and show and tell (as led by the Spirit) what God has done in their lives, things happen: 1) The atmosphere is charged with excitement and anticipation; 2) There is a sense of awe … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church, church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, churching, flow of the Spirit, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Freedom of Speech — In Church Services

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Steve Simms

A Creative Church Concept — Apply the First Amendment of the US Constitution (the Freedom of Speech) to church services. At The Salvation Army Berry Street everyday people are free to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, church, church meetings, church services, mysticism, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

What Is “Effective Preaching?”

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Steve Simms

Information:  A message prepared and delivered by a mind, reaches a mind. Inspiration:  The testimony of a burning heart reaches a heart. God is looking for a burning heart; not for doctrinal charts. “I would rather teach one man to … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Spurgeon, Come Join Our Army, Crest Books, doctrinal charts, early Salvation Army, exhortations, how to pray, how to preach, information, inspiration, inspirational, learning to pray, mind, prayer, preaching the Word, R.G. Moyles, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, sermon series, testimonies, testimony, USA, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

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

Dr. Seuss Put The Juice To Unloose & Produce Innovation

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Steve Simms

A thought on Dr. Seuss’ birthday:  Perhaps Christ-followers should be as creative in presenting the living, resurrected Jesus Christ as Dr. Seuss was in his books.  (Or as William Booth and the first members of The Salvation Army were.) I … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Dr. Seuss' birthday, innovators, organic church, out of the box, outside the lines, Quotations, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, The Ten Faces of Innovation, Tom Kelley, verbs, William Booth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Church — A Man-Led Pulpet Show Or A Supernatural Puppet Show?

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Steve Simms

Church is a like puppet show. God attempts to animate His people by releasing His Spirit through them. If they resist and/or ignore the promptings of God, not much happens — the puppets remain lifeless and blank-faced in their places. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians:14, animated, animation, anointed, anointing, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, First Century Church, God is truly among you, laying on hands, led by the Spirit, move of God, movement, Music City, platform, prayer, praying, praying community, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, prophesy, prophesying, pulpit, puppet show, puppeteer, puppets, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, secret, sermon-free, sermons, simple church, spectators, speech making, spirit, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spirituality, The Salvation Army, unbeliever, uneducated | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Searching For A Different Way Of Churching? (Try Facebook-Style Church)

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Steve Simms

Think Facebook is exciting? You should try Facebook-style church! You’re not on Facebook so you can hear from only one person . . . You’re on Facebook so you can connect with and hear from many different people. You’re on … Continue reading →

Posted in Facebook-style, like, Music City, Nashville adventure, Nashville charity, Nashville events, Nashville projects, Nashville tourist attractions, new kind of church, open church, order of worship, participatory church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, searching, share, simple church, social media, spiritual church, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 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

A Red Flag On Nashville Streets

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Steve Simms

My wife and I (and sometimes others) have felt called to carry a red, yellow, and blue flag on the streets of Nashville for the past 7 years.  It is the official flag of The Salvation Army:  The red represents … Continue reading →

Posted in blood, Blood and Fire, blood of Jesus, Christian flag, corps, creativity, Dickerson Road, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, flag, innovation, Music City, Nashville adventure, Nashville charity, Nashville events, Nashville housing, Nashville streets, New York, prayer, prayer walking, praying, red flag, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag, what to do in Nashville, yellow and blue | Tagged , , | 5 Comments