Category Archives: simple church

Christ is visibly manifested in the church not when we merely hold meetings about Him; but when we actually encounter His Presence in our midst, individually listen to Him, and then obediently do whatever He prompts us to do in the meeting.

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christ, Christianity, church, house church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, organic church, simple church, spiritual formation, worship | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The purpose of the church is not to present people information and songs about God but to visibly manifest the power and presence of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christianity, church, church history, church structure, house church, order of worship, organic church, simple church, spiritual, spiritual formation, What is church?, worship | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Show And Tell — A Powerful Tool For Improving Your Life

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Steve Simms

Show and tell —  it’s not just for kindergarten and early elementary school.  It is a powerful tool for improving your life that works wonders for people of all ages. For instance, when people are stressed out, caught up in … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, addiction, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, change, China, Chinese, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, disciple making, early church, East Nashville, elementary school, freedom, guidance, harmful habit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, kindergarten, lifestyles, Methodist class meeting, Music City, Narcotics Anonymous, New Testament, organic church, Overeaters Anonymous, praise and worship, Quakers, religion, Scriptures, sermons, show and tell, simple church, spiritual formation, Supreme Court, the way we do church, Uncategorized, values, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

A Nashville Dream Fulfilled After 121 Years

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Steve Simms

Nashville is a place where people come to seek their dreams of fame and fortune in country music.  However, have you ever heard of the Nashville man who dreamed a dream that wasn’t fulfilled until 121 years after his death?  … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, East Nashville, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, John Berry McFerrin, Methodist class meeting, Methodist revivalists, movement, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, religion, simple church, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, support group, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Uncategorized, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 60 Comments

Hearing God’s Voice Made Me An Agnostic

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Steve Simms

I believed that I was a believer when I was an unbeliever.  What I thought I knew about God and about Christ (doctrines that I had been taught as a passive listener); I didn’t really know. So how do you … Continue reading →

Posted in agnostic, apologists, Christ, Christianity, church, conversion, East Nashville, evidence for God, gift of God, God, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Hindu, Hinduism, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus freaks, Jesus Movement, lifestyles, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, non-traditional church, organic church, prayer, rejecting Christ, religion, revelation, salvation, simple church, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, supernatural, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, tradition, Uncategorized, University of Tennessee Martin, values, voice of God, What is church?, Why be a Christian?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

What If A Beach Party Was Conducted Like A Church Service?

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Steve Simms

On a beautiful, sunny day at the beach, would you rather:  1) Sit with a bunch of dressed up people in benches lined up in perfect rows while you formally sing Beach Boys songs together, then passively hear a less-than-exciting, … Continue reading →

Posted in beach, Beach Boys, Beach Boys songs, beach party, beach songs, Christ, Christianity, church, church structure, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, I Corinthians 14:26, joy, non-traditional church, organic church, simple church, Son-shine, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, support group, the way we do church, Uncategorized, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

If we allowed the living God to do whatever He wants to do (this is called the kingdom of God) would He change the way we do church meetings or would He simply stick with the routine of our bulletin, “order of worship,” and program?

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in church, God, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, kingdom of God, order of worship, organic church, program, simple church, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, the way we do church | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tag-Team Church — A Nashville Prototype

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Steve Simms

Exploring Tag-Team Church: Definition of tag-team:  Tag-team is an activity where people take turns participating as team members.  The best known use of the term tag-team is in reference to wrestling where it refers to wrestlers who fight as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church, church structure, congregational, disciple making, discipling, evidence for God, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, house church, improv, improvisation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, organic church, proof of God, prototype, revelation, simple church, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural, support group, tag team, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, voice activated, voice of God, wrestling | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

The Voice! Hearing It Transforms Your Life

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Have you heard The Voice? The Prince of Peace said: “My sheep hear My Voice.” Listen . . . Hearing Jesus Personally speak to you Is life transforming. I once asked God why He spoke to people in Bible times … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, alternative lifestyle, Angels We Have Heard On High, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, East Nashville, evidence for God, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, lifestyles, miracles, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, normal Christianity, organic church, prayer, proof of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, salvation, simple church, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, The Voice, Uncategorized, voice activated, voice of God, voices, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Acting Out Acts — Sound Bites From The First Christians . . .

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Steve Simms

“Filled with awe . . .” “Filled with wonder and amazement . . .” “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” “Performing  many signs and wonders among the people.” “We must obey God … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Acts 5:29, alternative lifestyle, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, church, church history, disciple making, early church, history, house church, Music City, Nashville, normal Christianity, organic church, Quotes, repent, simple church, spiritual growth | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments