Category Archives: Scriptures

When People Say “God” Which God Do They Mean?

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

For most of American history, when people used the word “God” it was assumed that they meant the God of the Old and New Testaments.  However, nowadays, in our post-Christian society the name “God” doesn’t mean the same thing to … Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Corinthians 11:4, American, American church, American history, another gospel, another Jesus, Apostle Paul, belief, Bible, Biblical concept, characteristics of God, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, controversy, conversion, cosmology, creation, creationism, Creator, DC, faith, faith-based, George Washington, God, monotheism, Mormon faith, Mormonism, Mormons, nature of God, political correctness, political issue, politics, politics and religion, polytheism, Scriptures, spirit, spiritual, theology, US president, Washington | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Respecting The Human Right To Disagree And/Or Disapprove

Posted on August 12, 2012 by Steve Simms

A human mind will sometimes disagree with the thoughts of other people.  A human conscience will at times disapprove of the behavior of others.  This is a basic fact and a fundamental human right that is accepted and understood by … Continue reading →

Posted in adultery, alcohol, alternative lifestyle, and/or, answer to God, attitude, belief, belief system, Bible, Biblical concept, booze it up, boundaries, Chic-Fil-A, choice, compliance, contemporary, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, cravings, darkness, deeds, discipline, drinking, drunk, drunkenness, habit, hate, heavy drinking, lifestyles, love, modern myths, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, myths, phobic, political correctness, popular culture, post-Christianity, reason, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, Scriptures, sin, sobriety, thinking, thoughts, tolerance, Uncategorized, values, we have turned everyone to his own way | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Was Matthias A Mistake? — The Human Need To Institutionalize Spirituality

Posted on July 22, 2012 by Steve Simms

Was replacing Judas (who had betrayed Jesus) with Matthias a mistake?  Was it a very early example of the human desire to institutionalize church?  Perhaps. The Book of Acts begins with the resurrected Jesus spending 40 days with the apostles … Continue reading →

Posted in 120 in upper room, Acts, acts of God, Bible, choice, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christian values, Christianity, church, church history, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church structure, disciples, ekklesia, empty tomb, faith, fire, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, God's authority, God's government, Gospel, Gospels, Greek word, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heirarchy, His story, history, Holy Spirit, house church, insight, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus' mother Mary, Judas, kingdom of God, life, lifestyle Christianity, Luke, Matthias, missional, move of God, movement, mysticism, non-church, organic church, Pentecost, pentecostals, presence of Christ, presence of God, quench the Spirit, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, revelation, revival, rivers of living water, Scriptures, speaking in tongues, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual warfare, supernatural, The Voice, tongues of fire, tradition, unprogrammed church, voice of God, voices, What is church?, words on fire | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Explaining Sin In A Post-Christian Culture

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Steve Simms

Post-Christian can be defined as:  the culture that emerges as the Christian faith loses influence in a society that has been somewhat shaped by Christian values.  The Western world is fast becoming post-Christian and popular culture has little understanding of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, Christianity, conviction of sin, current condition, current events, faith-based, God, God-shaped vacuum, Gospels, injustice, inward change, moral principles, morality, morals, New Testament, Oh Sinner Man, popular culture, post-Christianity, recovery, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, salvation, Scriptures, search for significance, self-denial, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, tolerance, Uncategorized, values, wages of sin, Western religion, Western world | Tagged , , , , , , | 46 Comments

Is the living current of Christ cruising within you, or do you have a dead battery under your hood?

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Steve Simms

Current events:  actions or words prompted by the flow of the Holy Spirit within you.  Don’t resist and/or quench the Spirit’s current, but go with His flow. Like electricity the Spirit of God flows through conductors.  Is the living current … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Bible, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, conductors, current events, dead battery, dunamis, dynamite, dynamo, electricity, faith, generator, gifts of the Spirit, Holy Spirit, inner rivers, inward change, lifestyles, mystery, mysticism, normal Christianity, prayer, proof of God, quench the Spirit, religion, religious ceremonies, salvation, Scriptures, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, testimonies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Powerful Pills Not Advertised On TV

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

Many American television commercials slowly parade feel-good images promoted by America’s pharmaceutical pill pushers.  Meanwhile an announcer races through their side effects. However, there is one type of extremely effective pills with no side effects.  And you won’t see them advertised … Continue reading →

Posted in addictions, advertising, alternative lifestyle, American media, Americans, Bible, Christianity, commercials, drug commercials, drugs, evidence for God, eyewitness, habit, hope, John, Luke, Mark, Matthew, New Testament, non-material reality, pharmaceutical, religion, salvation, Scriptures, selling, the Gospel, Uncategorized, values, wake-up call, Western religion, witness, words, words on fire | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Is There A Better Way To Study?

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Steve Simms

In the Western world we study to effect our intellect more than our heart.  Our minds swell while our hearts are shrink-wrapped in an endless roll of facts and figures.  Is there a better way to study?  Yes. Paul of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, burning heart, change, change management, choice, curriculum, disciple making, discipling, downloads, facts and figures, gifts of the Spirit, hunch, inner rivers, insight, inward change, joy, lifestyles, Paul of Tarsus, puffed up mind, Scriptures, self-denial, shrink-wrapped, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, Study, wireless | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tim Tebow, Jeremy Lin, & Now Bubba Watson — W.G.U.T.? (What’s God Up To?)

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Steve Simms

Bubba Watson was the surprise winner of the Masters’ Tournament on Easter Sunday.  After winning the green jacket, he said:  “I’d like to first thank Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior . . .”  Just before that moment, his Masters’ … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Bible, Bubba Watson, challenges, champions, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian history, Denver Broncos, East Nashville, ESPN, facebook, glory, golf, green jacket, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Jeremy Lin, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, lifestyles, Lord, Masters' Tournament, meaning, New York Knicks, non-material reality, normal Christianity, organic church, participatory church, PGA, religion, Savior, Scriptures, spiritual, spiritual growth, tebow, tebowing, testimonies, The Salvation Army, The Voice, Tim Tebow, TV network, twitter, Uncategorized, voice of God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 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

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