Category Archives: spiritual formation

Non-Church — Discovered In Japan & Other Places

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

I recently read about non-church when I heard about a Japanese man named Uchimura Kanzo.  He  started meeting with a group of friends in a small Christian gathering in Japan in the early 1900s where everyone was equal and everybody … Continue reading →

Posted in burning heart, China, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church roles, church structure, congregational, East Nashville, heart-felt love, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, Japan, Methodist class meeting, Methodists, movement, non-church movement, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, priesthood of the believer, relational church, religion, simple church, spiritual formation, support group, the way we do church, Uncategorized, unprogrammed church, What is church?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

My Way Or The Most High’s Way?

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Steve Simms

Two highways, different directions:  Should I choose my way which is based on my wants, my feelings, my viewpoints, and/or my cravings?  Or should I choose the Most High’s way that requires me to live above the fog of self-focus, … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, alternative lifestyle, Bible, choice, Christian history, Christianity, conscience, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, cravings, deliverance, dishonesty, ethics, faithfulness, feelings, free will, freedom, godly sorrow, guidance, habit, harmful habit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, human life, insight, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, life, lifestyles, making decisions, modern myths, morality, morals, normal Christianity, Oh my God, presence of Christ, presence of God, pro choice, questions, recovery, religion, right and wrong, self-denial, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, thinking, thoughts, tradition, Uncategorized, values, voice of God, wages of sin | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Touching His Hem, According To Her Example, Heals Hurts

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Steve Simms

Touching His hem, according to her example, heals hurts.  Although this may sound like gender confusion, it’s not.  It refers to an actual event where an unnamed woman receives a supernatural healing when she touches the hem of Jesus’ robe.  … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, and forever, Bible, change, change management, Christ, Christian, Christianity, church, evidence for God, faith, good question, His story, history, In Jesus' Name I Play, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, kindness, kingdom of God, lifestyles, Lord, Mark, miracles, missional, Music City, mystery, Nashville, New Testament, non-material reality, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, prayer, prayer walking, questions, religion, salvation, Savior, spiritual formation, supernatural, testimonies, tradition | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Who Da Best Preacher/Bible Teacher?

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Steve Simms

If Christ is really alive and present when we gather in His name (as the New Testament says He is) why can’t He direct a church meeting, without human programming and control?  Perhaps the answer is: We won’t let Him. … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Biblical concept, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church roles, church structure, congregational, DeVern Fromke, devotion, East Nashville, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, improvisation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, Jesus Take The Wheel, movement, mysticism, non-material reality, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, presence of Christ, presence of God, quench the Spirit, Quotations, quote, Quotes, relational church, religion, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, surrender to God, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, voice activated, voice of God, Western religion, What is church?, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Does Western Christianity Disengage God

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Steve Simms

As an avid reader of church history, I’ve noticed a consistent trend in Western religion.  It seems to disengage God — treating Him as a figure to occasionally honor rather than as a living power source. Let me explain.  A … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Anabaptists, Catholic mystics, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, early church, Methodists, monastics, Moravians, Nashville, Quakers, religion, religious ceremonies, Salvationists, show and tell, spiritual, spiritual formation, the way we do church, Uncategorized, Waldensians | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Apply These Apps For Spiritual Strength

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Steve Simms

God’s not like a TV where you passively sit back, like a couch potato, and watch professionals put-on religious performances. He’s got more apps for you than there are for your iPhone. So listen directly to the living God.  Load … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, alternative lifestyle, apps, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, church, church roles, community, download, downloads, East Nashville, gifts of the Spirit, guidance, iPhone, joy, kindness, kingdom of God, love, Music City, mysticism, non-traditional church, operationg system, organic church, participatory church, patience, peace, priesthood of the believer, reality TV, religion, religious ceremonies, simple church, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural, support group, television, TV, TV network, voice activated | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Why Is Depression Rampant In America

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Why is depression rampant in America, a country known for freedom and prosperity? Perhaps the answer is in this quotation . . . “Many people look out into a meaningless world in which there is no afterlife, where all their … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, brainwashed, center of the universe, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christianity, clear conscience, depression, eternal life, faithfulness, freedom, gratitude, guidance, ideal, idealism, invisible, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, meaning, Morton T. Kelsey, motivation, non-material reality, Oh my God, presence of Christ, presence of God, prosperity, purpose, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, Savior, self-esteem, self-image, soul, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Good Sermon Or Burning Words?

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Steve Simms

When people hear a sermon they often go up to the preacher and say:  “Good message,” or “Good sermon.”  However when the early disciples heard the word, they said:  “Didn’t his words burn in our hearts!” When Peter preached on … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, burning heart, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, conviction of sin, early church, East Nashville, gifts of the Spirit, good sermon, inward change, language, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, organic church, preaching, religion, sermon, sermons, spiritual formation, teaching, Uncategorized, Western religion, words, words on fire | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A riddle: Other than the wind, name something invisible that can knock on your door? Look up the answer in the Book of Revelation; chapter 3, verse 20.

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in a riddle, Bible, Christ, Christianity, invisible, Jesus, Jesus Christ, knock, mystery, mysticism, non-material reality, prayer, religion, revelation, Revelation 3:20, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, supernatural, The Jesus Prayer, the wind | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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