Category Archives: spiritual formation

Does a dash of devotion do a living, omnipresent God justice? Doesn’t a living, present God deserve more than that? Does He who made us not have a right to 24/7/365 devotion — to an ongoing, continual expression of our heart-felt love and adoration to Him? Paul of Tarsus put it this way: “Pray without ceasing.”

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in 24/7/365, adoration, Christian, Christianity, creation, creationism, Creator, devotion, disciple making, disciples, evidence for God, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart-felt love, justice, lifestyles, mystery, mysticism, normal Christianity, praise and worship, prayer, prayer walking, prayer without ceasing, presence of Christ, presence of God, religion, revelation, salvation, self-denial, Son-shine, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, supernatural, Western religion, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Materialistic Evolutionists Are Missing Out On Mighty Self-Improvement Methods

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Steve Simms

Materialistic evolutionists are missing out on some of the most effective self-improvement methods in existence.  Why?  Because they have chosen to categorically eliminate the entire area of spirituality from their life and from their consideration. Materialistic evolutionists are people who … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, addiction, Alcoholics Anonymous, atheism, Atheists, belief, choice, creation, creationism, Creator, evolution, hearing God, hearing Jesus, joy, materialistic evolution, mystery, mysticism, prayer, rejecting Christ, religion, religious ceremonies, science, self-esteem, self-help, self-image, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, surrender to God, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Spirit Of Prophecy Is Still Working In God’s People

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Steve Simms

Easter’s over — the marketing hype; the retail rituals of buying baskets, bunnies, cards and clothes; and the religious rites.  Easter candy’s cheap — 50%, 75%, or even 90% off now.  We’ve moved on . . . but Jesus Christ … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christianity, conscience, conviction of sin, Easter, empty tomb, Happy Easter, hearing God, hearing Jesus, holiday, holidays, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Culture, Jesus freaks, Jesus Movement, Jesus Take The Wheel, life, mystery, mysticism, non-material reality, prophesy, religion, religious ceremonies, resurrection, revelation, spiritual, spiritual formation, supernatural, The Voice, Uncategorized, voice activated, voice of God, voices, wake-up call | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A rock that rolled — an empty tomb — angels — a dead Man walking — Jesus risen to live forever, seeking to show Himself to you — May you have an Easter encounter with Him today; a glorious resurrection relevation. Happy Easter.

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in ancient history, angels, Angels We Have Heard On High, awe, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church history, dead man walking, empty tomb, glory, God, grace, history, humility, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Take The Wheel, kingdom of God, Lord, miracles, mystery, mysticism, new birth, non-material reality, presence of Christ, religion, resurrection, revelation, revolution, rock that rolled, salvation, Savior, show and tell, Son-shine, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual warfare, supernatural, surrender to God, voice of God, Western religion | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

E.A.S.T.E.R.

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Steve Simms

E. — Encounter the dead Jesus who now lives A. — And reveals Himself to humble hears. S. — Stand in awe of His glorious Presence T. — Taking the time to E. — Experience His R. — Reality! Come … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, Easter, glory, God, miracles, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, organic church, religion, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, supernatural, The Salvation Army, The Voice, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“He Rose” By The Puny “Easter” Name Is Not The Same

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

Why do we hide the shocking concept of Jesus of Nazareth coming back to life never to die again, behind the weak words, “Happy Easter,” and then weaken it even more by throwing in eggs, a bunny, baskets, shopping, decorative … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, alternative lifestyle, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, cyberworld, dead man walking, death-defeating, East Nashville, gift of God, Happy Easter, hearing God, hearing Jesus, holiday, holidays, Jesus, Jesus Christ, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, non-material reality, non-traditional church, popular culture, presence of Christ, presence of God, rejecting Christ, religion, repentance, resurrection, smartphones, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, stuff, supernatural, The Salvation Army, up from the grave He arose, Western religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

What Do People Hunt During Easter Week?

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

It’s Easter week!  What should we be hunting for? 1) Eggs? or 2) The risen Jesus Christ? Well, if the resurrection is merely a myth, then I guess the only things we have to hunt for are eggs, or fancy … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christianity, Easter, Happy Easter, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Christ, mystery, mysticism, myths, non-material reality, religion, resurrection, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Is The Living Christ Allowed To Lead Easter Sunday Church Services?

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

Since all Christian denominations claim and proclaim that Jesus Christ is actually risen from the dead and is still alive, shouldn’t Christ be allowed to control and direct an Easter Sunday church service?  In other words, should an Easter Sunday … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, early church, East Nashville, Easter, gifts of the Spirit, Happy Easter, hearing God, hearing Jesus, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, Jesus Christ, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, presence of Christ, priesthood of the believer, religion, simple church, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Uncategorized, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Why have multitudes given up on church? What’s missing in our contemporary American church that the early church had in Acts? Here are some possibilities . . . Humility, brokenness, awe, tears, passion, conviction of sin, excitement, self-denial, testimonies, openness, the priesthood of the believer, repentance, persecution, confession, participation, boldness, power, deliverance, miracles, opportunities to minister to one another, healing. Can you think of more things the early church had that we seem to be lacking?

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Acts, American church, Americans, ancient history, awe, brokenness, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, conviction of sin, crying, deliverance, early church, ekklesia, forgiveness, humility, lifestyles, miracles, non-traditional church, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, persecution, priesthood of the believer, religion, repent, repentance, self-denial, simple church, sin, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual skills, tears, the way we do church, Uncategorized, Western religion, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

What’s More Exciting Than March Madness?

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Steve Simms

If you think that the Kentucky & Louisville and the Ohio State & Kansas games in this year’s college basketball Final Four are going to be exciting tomorrow night, here’s some great news for you. Church can be even more … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, college, college basketball, college students, congregational, conversion, disciple making, disciples, East Nashville, ekklesia, Final Four, gifts of the Spirit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, In Jesus' Name I Play, Jeremy Lin, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, March Madness, National Football League, NBA, NCAA, NHL, Ohio State, Olympics, organic church, participatory church, presence of Christ, presence of God, religion, show and tell, simple church, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, sporting event, Taiwan Tebow, tebow, tebowing, tebowing.com, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Tim Tebow, Uncategorized, What is church?, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment