Category Archives: spiritual growth

The Top Ten Boldest Quotations From The Book Of Acts

Would you like to read some really bold statements?  The Book of Acts is full of them.  After reading through Acts 6 times in 3 months, I have picked out my The Top Ten Boldest Quotations From The Book Of … Continue reading

Posted in Acts, bold statements, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, church history, conscience, courage, gifts of the Spirit, God's government, guilt, history, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, lifestyles, making decisions, miracles, morality, mystery, mysticism, non-material reality, normal Christianity, organic church, Paul of Tarsus, Peter, Peter and John, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, repent, repentance, revelation, salvation, Sanhedrin, simple church, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, surrender to God, Top Ten, Uncategorized, wages of sin, What is church?, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

I Found A Book That Describes Nashville’s Berry Street Church

I “stumbled upon” a book in a used book store called The Rabbit And The Elephant.  It is written by Tony and Felicity Dale and George Barna. As I began to read the book, I was amazed.  It perfectly describes our … Continue reading

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Felicity Dale, George Barna, gifts of the Spirit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, prayer, prayer walking, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, repent, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, The Rabbit and the Elephant, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Tony Dale, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

What’s the purpose of a church meeting? According to the New Testament the goal of a church meeting is not to listen to a featured preacher, but to bring together a group of hungry seekers who support, challenge, and share God’s love with one another. (See I Corinthians 14:26)

Experience I Corinthians 14 26 in action (“26What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.”) at The Salvation Army … Continue reading

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, congregational, early church, East Nashville, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, praise and worship, prayer, religion, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, What is church?, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Power Of Hearing Your Name

Sometimes I tell God; “Lord, I love you,” and then I hear these words in my spirit; “I love you, Steve Simms.”  Am I crazy?  Not according to the Bible. Four different people, in chapters 9 & 10 of the … Continue reading

Posted in Acts, acts of God, alternative lifestyle, Amazing Grace, Ananias, ancient history, Apostle Paul, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, church history, conversion, Cornelius, courage, Damascus, disciple making, disciples, discipling, early church, Gentile, gift of God, glory, God, God's government, guidance, hate, hate speech, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, Jewish, kingdom of God, lifestyles, Mary Magdalene, miracles, movement, mystery, mysticism, normal Christianity, Oh my God, Paul of Tarsus, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, repent, revelation, Roman, salvation, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, Syria, The Salvation Army, The Voice, tradition, vision, worship | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Bud’s Boldly Chasing Manning, But As For Me . . .

Observing the media circus of Bud Adams & the Tennessee Titans in hot pursuit of Peyton Manning makes me wonder . . . What would it be like if a group of people in Nashville began to publicly pursue Jesus … Continue reading

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bud Adams, Christ, Christianity, East Nashville, football, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyles, media circus, Nashville, National Football League, NFL, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, Peyton Manning, popular culture, presence of Christ, presence of God, religion, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, Super Bowl, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Meeting God’s Gathering (Ekklesia) Instead Of Religion’s Church

One night I wandered into a group gathered in a college dorm and heard regular people sincerely telling how Jesus had changed their lives.  Later the group joined hands in a large circle, pulled me in, and began to talk … Continue reading

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, compassion, conversion, disciple making, disciples, discipling, early church, ekklesia, evidence for God, freedom, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, God's government, Greek, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, hope, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improvisation, kingdom of God, life, lifestyles, meaning, movement, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, non-material reality, non-traditional church, nones, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, outreach ministry, participatory church, peace, praise and worship, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, recovery, religion, revelation, right conduct, salvation, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, stumble upon, testimonies, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Time magazine, voice of God, What is church?, Why be a Christian?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Drenched With God / Soaked With HIs Presence

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you . . .”  As I read those words yesterday morning, the picture of a man drenched with water popped into my mind.  I’ve always thought about the Holy Spirit … Continue reading

Posted in Acts, acts of God, Bible, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church history, early church, evidence for God, General Linda Bond, gifts of the Spirit, glory, God, having a form of godliness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, kingdom of God, movement, mystery, mysticism, New Testament, normal Christianity, Oh my God, organic church, powerhouse, presence of Christ, presence of God, quench the Spirit, religion, revelation, sermons, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural, The Salvation Army, tradition, voice of God, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Happy Birthday, Berry Street!

We are celebrating our 4th birthday today at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Thank You, Lord, for 4 years of seeing You transform, disciple, and work through a diverse group of amazing people and for … Continue reading

Posted in awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, birthday, birthday present, blessings, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, compassion, disciples, discipling, East Nashville, gift of God, grace, gratitude, history, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, joy, kingdom of God, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, participatory church, religion, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, testimonies, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Fresh Nashville Experience — Sontaneous, Powerful Prayer On Tuesday Nights hts

A spontaneous prayer meeting has begun in Nashville.  It meets on Tuesday nights at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center.  People gather at 6:30 pm. and begin to pray as they feel led by the Holy Spirit. This is … Continue reading

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, Holy Spirit, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, prayer, recovery, religion, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Nashville Dream Fulfilled After 121 Years

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