Category Archives: spiritual gifts

36 ingredients to another Pentecost . . .

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Steve Simms

We need another Pentecost! (Acts 2) * A storm of the Spirit; * Holy fire; * Spirit-driven life; * Spirit-prompted words; * Uninhibited praise; * Contagious courage; * Public proclamation; * Depression & defeat destroyed; * Holy Spirit intoxication; * … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Acts 2, Acts chapter 2, Acts of the Apostles, another Pentecost, drunk in the spirit, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, inner flow, inner prompting, inner rivers, inner teacher, inspiration, Jesus Movement, mighty rushing wind, praising God, prayer, prayer without ceasing, prayers, praying, praying community, praying in the Spirit, praying in tongues, renewal, repent, repentance, revival history, spirit, spirit fire, Spirit of Truth, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual fire, spiritual gifts, spiritual listening, spiritual movement, spiritual prompting, spiritual reality, spiritual transformation, spiritual worship, this is that, This is that spoken by the prophet Joel, tongues, tongues of fire | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Years of studying church history have shown me that during times of great spiritual awakening, church meetings are more about experiencing and obeying a Presence, than about sitting and listening to a program.

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christ, Christ in you, Christ's presence, church, church program, church programs, God's presence, great awakening, history, move of God, movement, non-church, non-liturgical, normal Christianity, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, participatory church, simple church, spiritual awakening, spiritual church, spiritual experience, spiritual gifts, spiritual movement, spiritual transformation, spiritual worship, spirituality, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

St. Patrick’s Supernatural Vision And Radical Obedience

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Steve Simms

1 person’s courageous obedience to a spiritual vision can change the world!  A runaway slave named Patrick who was living in England saw a vision 1 day. This is how he describes it: “I saw a man coming, as it … Continue reading →

Posted in demonstrations of the Spirit, dreams and visions, evangelism, Patrick of Ireland, radical, radical Christianity, radical obedience, Spirit-led, spiritual awakening, spiritual gifts, spiritual hunger, spiritual movement, spiritual warfare, spirituality, St. Paddy's Day, visions | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Church Is Like A Swiss Army Knife

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Steve Simms

A church service is like a Swiss Army Knife — full of spiritually gifted people.  It can use the same person to speak, week after week, while the others are closed down (pic 1).  Or it can allow everybody to … Continue reading →

Posted in How many blads in a Swiss Army Knife?, interactive, interactive church, interactive learning, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, non-church, non-liturgical, non-traditional church, nonconforming, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual giftings, spiritual gifts, spontaneous church, Uncategorized, What is a Swiss Army Knife | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

What if Sunday morning church had less infrastructure and more networking? It could be transformed from a Sunday morning love lecture into a group of people actively living love with one another!

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in church format, church meetings, church program, church services, life, life together, one another, one anothering, open church, open forum, open sharing, participatory church, participatory sermons, share, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church, spiritual formation, spiritual gifts | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Your Church Has Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, & Teachers

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

Every church is full of gifts that God has given — apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (see Eph. 4:11). There is not just one pastor in a church and none of the other gifts.  There are many of these … Continue reading →

Posted in church leader, church leadership, church meetings, church services, clergy/laity, Ephesians 4:11, evangelism, finding your gift, gifts, gifts to the church, giving, living out your faith, ministry, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, organic church, participation, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationism, Salvationists, sent ones, simple church, spiritual gifts, you can all prophesy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

God ideas or God demonstrations?

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

Participatory church presents God as a present reality as ordinary people are filled with wisdom, love, power, eloquence, faith, demonstrations of the Spirit, and the glory of God!  It moves beyond God ideas to God demonstrations. When hot coals are … Continue reading →

Posted in active participants, care enough to send the very best, church services, congregations, demonstrations of the Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, Jesus Take The Wheel, membership, open church, order of worship, participants, participation, participatory church, quotation, quote, Quotes, Scott Thumma, spiritual fire, spiritual gifts, spontaneity, The Other 80%, Turning Your Church's Spectators, ways of doing church, wisdom, words on fire, worship | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

A Jigsaw Puzzle Has No Featured Piece!

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Steve Simms

If the same piece of a jigsaw puzzle is held up week after week, no one will get the picture. However, if all the pieces work together, as directed by a wise hand, an awesome picture comes into view!  “If … Continue reading →

Posted in #1, 1 Corinthians:14, Christ followers, Christian, Christianity, church format, Commissioner, gifts of the Spirit, jigsaw puzzle, Music City, Nashville, Nashville church, organic church, Phil Needham, priest, priesthood of the believer, quotation, quote, Quotes, religion, retired Salvation Army officer, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Commissioner, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, spiritual gifts, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Sunday Holy Spirit Science Lab?

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps a church service could be like a high school science lab where ordinary people experiment with hearing and obeying the Holy Spirit.  What would happen if people showed up for Sunday church ready to share with and minister to … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church meetings, experiencing God, experiment, experimental church, Holy Spirit, organic church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, science, scientific model, sermon, sermon-hearing, sermons, service, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual formation, spiritual gifts, The Salvation Army, unprogrammed church | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

My Favorite Prayer

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Steve Simms

Famous prayers include:  the Lord’s Prayer, the Serenity Prayer, the Prayer of St. Francis, Jesus’ Prayer On The Cross, the Sinner’s Prayer, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, and The Jesus Prayer. Once the Tennessean asked me what is … Continue reading →

Posted in forgive them for they know not what they do, Holy Spirit, Jesus' prayer on the cross, list, Lord's Prayer, Now I lay me down to sleep, pray for one another, prayer list, Prayer of St. Francis, praying in the Spirit, praying in tongues, Serenity Prayer, Sinner's Prayer, speaking in tongues, spirit, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual gifts, spiritual skills, supernatural praying, Tennessean, The Jesus Prayer, unknown tongues | Tagged , , | 3 Comments