Category Archives: spiritual formation

Should People Who Have Left Church Come Back? Or Try Something Different?

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

American churches are in decline, losing members.  In an attempt to slow or stop this decline a group called, National Back to Church Sunday,  has set a day for church members to invite their friends to come back to church.  … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2012, alternative lifestyle, American, American church, American history, Americans, Apostle Paul, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Biblical concept, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, Christianity, church history, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church structure, evangelism, evangelistic meetings, followers of Christ, I Corinthians 14:26, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Take The Wheel, lifestyle Christianity, move of God, movement, Music City, Nashville, non-church movement, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, popular culture, post-Christianity, salvation, Salvationists, Savior, show and tell, simple church, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, testimonies, The Salvation Army, We serve a risen Savior | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

The “Forgive Yourself” Myth

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Steve Simms

“Love yourself–accept yourself–forgive yourself–and be good to yourself.”  –a quote from popular American speaker and writer, Leo Buscaglia.  However, Jesus said:  “Deny yourself.”  Here’s why the popular idea of “forgiving yourself” is a myth: *  You are not the judge.  … Continue reading →

Posted in accept yourself, Against You only have I sinned, American, belief, Bible, boundaries, brokenhearted, brokenness, change, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, comfort, compassion, condemnation, confession, conscience, conversion, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, courtroom, deception, denial, deny yourself, devotion, disciple making, evil, false assurance, gift of God, God, God calling, God-shaped vacuum, godly sorrow, harmful habit, harmful thinking, hearing God, hearing Jesus, How do you plead?, Jesus, Jesus Christ, judge, judgment, justice, Les Brown, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, love yourself, moral principles, morality, morals, motivational speaker, myths, natural laws, pull of evil, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, self-esteem, self-focus, self-forgiveness, self-image, self-will, shame, sin, spiritual formation, surrender, surrender to God, wages of sin | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Are Your Selfish Desires Evil?

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Steve Simms

Peter (who once was Jesus’ most impulsive disciple, but overcame it to become one of the most solid apostles) wrote that believers have “escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Have you? Or have you bought the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Peter, alternative lifestyle, Apostle Peter, apostles, brain, brainwashed, brainwashing, challenges, Christ, Christ followers, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, compulsion, conscience, conversion, corrupt culture, deliverance, depravity, disciple making, disciples, escaped the corruption in the world, faith, free will, freedom, harmful thinking, holiness, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Take The Wheel, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, makes change, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, obedience, pull of evil, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, selfish desires, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, the Word, thoughts, values, wages of sin | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Experiences Prayer Walking Around Dickerson Road In East Nashville

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Steve Simms

My wife and I have been regularly prayer walking with The Salvation Army Flag in the McFerrin Park Neighborhood of East Nashville and along Dickerson Road for 6 years.  We’ve had some amazing and exciting experiences.  Today she couldn’t come … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Biblical concept, Christian flag, Christian values, church, church programs, comfort, compassion, contemplation, East Nashville, evangelism, faith-based, God calling, Gospel, hope, intercession, interview, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, meaning, message, missional, Music City, Oprah Show, organic church, participatory church, prayer, prayer without ceasing, salvation, sermons, simple church, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, testimonies, testimony, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Life’s Biggest Problem? Self!

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Steve Simms

Life’s biggest difficulty isn’t overcoming negative circumstances.  It is getting free from bondage to self.  Self-interest, self-promotion, self-fulfillment, self-esteem, self-protection — these things get in our way and hold us in bondage to the torment of our own thoughts, feelings, … Continue reading →

Posted in anxious thoughts, brain chemistry, brokenness, Christian values, Christianity, comfort, crucified with Christ, denial, feelings, followers of Christ, harmful habit, harmful thinking, immaturity, ineffectiveness, inner peace, Jesus Christ, lifestyles, making decisions, morality, obedience, obeying orders, personal pleasure, philosophy, right conduct, right living, self, self-control, self-denial, self-destruction, self-discipline, self-esteem, self-help, self-image, self-produced, self-will, Spirit-led, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, surrender, surrender to God, thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Awesome Power Of Spiritual Interaction

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

*  One of the most powerful tools for personal transformation is spiritual interaction, openly sharing your faith, spiritual experiences, struggles, and concerns with others in a loving and compassionate environment.  (I have personally seen spiritual interaction produce life-changing results both … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, addiction, addictions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Berry Street, Christ followers, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, church, church history, church meetings, church programs, church roles, early church, His story, history, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, inspiration, Methodist class meeting, Methodists, missional, move of God, movement, NA, Narcotics Anonymous, Nashville, Neil Cole, non-church movement, open church, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, pentecostals, Quakers, religious ceremonies, Revelation 12:11, revival, sermon, sermons, simple church, sobriety, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual interaction, support group, the 12 Steps, The Salvation Army, the Walk to Emmaus, tradition, Tres Dias, unprogrammed church, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Prayer That’s Not For Wimps

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Steve Simms

Here are two prayers that take great courage.  Most people, when things get desperate in their life, will pray to God for immediate help, however, only the bravest people will pray these two powerful prayers. The first one is a … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, answer to God, anxious thoughts, Bible, Biblical concept, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, commands, conscience, conviction of sin, courage, deeds, denial, God, God calling, God's authority, God-shaped vacuum, godly sorrow, hard-hearted, harmful habit, harmful thinking, hdden sin, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart care, humility, inner peace, Israel, King David, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, obedience, offensive, prayer without ceasing, Psalm 139:23, Psalm 141:4, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, Renaissance, repent, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, self-destruction, self-will, sin, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, thoughts, values, voice of God, wake-up call | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Perhaps It Is Time To Start “Speaking The Truth In Love”

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Steve Simms

Our corrupt culture, built on mountains of denial and the pursuit of personal pleasure, desperately needs to hear and to heed truth.  Yet where are those today, who will like the apostles, lovingly and boldly speak and write the truth? … Continue reading →

Posted in apostles, born again, brokenness, call a spade a spade, compassion, corrupt culture, Ephesians 4:15, humility, immaturity, opinion, Paul of Tarsus, personal pleasure, Quotations, quote, Quotes, sacrifice, salvation, saved, seduction, seduction of self-destruction, self-help, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, subconscious, tradition | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Logic Can’t Show You Love

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Steve Simms

Intellect can’t inspire you.  Inspiration is a matter of the heart. Logic can’t show you love.  Love comes from the heart.  (It’s even symbolized by a tiny heart, not by a tiny brain.) Mind can’t make mysticism.  Only insight in … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, brain, compassion, conscience, God, God calling, God-shaped vacuum, godly sorrow, heart care, heart-felt love, hearts unfold like flowers, insight, inspiration, intellect, intelligence, justice, mind, miracles, reason, Reason Rally, relevation, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, soul, soul food, spirit, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual walk | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Everyday Olympics — The Call To Glory For Regular People

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

Missy Franklin, Gabby Douglas, Michael Phelps — these are a few of the names of the athletes who soaked up Olympic glory at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.  But there is also a call to glory for everyday people like … Continue reading →

Posted in ascetics, call to preach, champions, Christian, Christian history, church history, current events, discipline, discipling, glory, God, God calling, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, inner peace, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, meaning, monks, mysticism, normal Christianity, Olympic athletes, Olympic challenge, Olympic glory, Olympic heroes, Olympic medals, repent, repentance, right conduct, right living, saints, salvation, self-control, self-denial, self-discipline, spiritual athletes, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, still small voice, The Voice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments