Category Archives: spiritual growth

Hearing God’s Voice Made Me An Agnostic

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Steve Simms

I believed that I was a believer when I was an unbeliever.  What I thought I knew about God and about Christ (doctrines that I had been taught as a passive listener); I didn’t really know. So how do you … Continue reading →

Posted in agnostic, apologists, Christ, Christianity, church, conversion, East Nashville, evidence for God, gift of God, God, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Hindu, Hinduism, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus freaks, Jesus Movement, lifestyles, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, non-traditional church, organic church, prayer, rejecting Christ, religion, revelation, salvation, simple church, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, supernatural, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, tradition, Uncategorized, University of Tennessee Martin, values, voice of God, What is church?, Why be a Christian?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

What If A Beach Party Was Conducted Like A Church Service?

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Steve Simms

On a beautiful, sunny day at the beach, would you rather:  1) Sit with a bunch of dressed up people in benches lined up in perfect rows while you formally sing Beach Boys songs together, then passively hear a less-than-exciting, … Continue reading →

Posted in beach, Beach Boys, Beach Boys songs, beach party, beach songs, Christ, Christianity, church, church structure, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, I Corinthians 14:26, joy, non-traditional church, organic church, simple church, Son-shine, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, support group, the way we do church, Uncategorized, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.” –C.S. Lewis. Since Christianity is so important how about some all out, wide open, fired up, no looking back, unending pursuit of Christ in Nashville? Anybody interested?

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christ, Christianity, Jesus, Jesus Christ, religion, salvation, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tag-Team Church — A Nashville Prototype

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Steve Simms

Exploring Tag-Team Church: Definition of tag-team:  Tag-team is an activity where people take turns participating as team members.  The best known use of the term tag-team is in reference to wrestling where it refers to wrestlers who fight as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church, church structure, congregational, disciple making, discipling, evidence for God, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, house church, improv, improvisation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, organic church, proof of God, prototype, revelation, simple church, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural, support group, tag team, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, voice activated, voice of God, wrestling | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

“Race For The Cure” or “A Cure For The Human Race”?

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Steve Simms

Sin is not a wager — a rolling of the dice with uncertain outcome.  The wages of sin are certain.  Short Term:  “There is pleasure in sin for a season.”  Long term:  “The wages of sin is death.” Fortunately there … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christianity, deliverance, eternal life, forgiveness, gift of God, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyles, New Testament, Oh my God, Race For The Cure, rejecting Christ, repent, rolling of the dice, salvation, sin, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, Uncategorized, wager, wages of sin | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Christ is not just comfort in a crisis, but a wake-up call crying out in your complacency!

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Steve Simms

Christ is not just comfort in a crisis, but a wake-up call crying out in your complacency! Every now and then I think about the by and by, but I prefer to focus on the here and now.  We can … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christ, Christianity, complacency, evidence for God, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Jesus Christ, life, new birth, Oh my God, prayer, recovery, religion, repent, revelation, salvation, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, supernatural, The Voice, voice activated, voice of God, voices, wake-up call | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Voice! Hearing It Transforms Your Life

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Have you heard The Voice? The Prince of Peace said: “My sheep hear My Voice.” Listen . . . Hearing Jesus Personally speak to you Is life transforming. I once asked God why He spoke to people in Bible times … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, alternative lifestyle, Angels We Have Heard On High, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, East Nashville, evidence for God, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, lifestyles, miracles, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, normal Christianity, organic church, prayer, proof of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, salvation, simple church, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, The Voice, Uncategorized, voice activated, voice of God, voices, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Acting Out Acts — Sound Bites From The First Christians . . .

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Steve Simms

“Filled with awe . . .” “Filled with wonder and amazement . . .” “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” “Performing  many signs and wonders among the people.” “We must obey God … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Acts 5:29, alternative lifestyle, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, church, church history, disciple making, early church, history, house church, Music City, Nashville, normal Christianity, organic church, Quotes, repent, simple church, spiritual growth | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

What The Church Can Learn From Romney’s “Not Concerned About The Very Poor” Goof

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

Is there a lesson that the church can learn from Mitt Romney’s statement:  “I’m not concerned about the very poor,”?  Perhaps. *  The outrage that has been demonstrated by Romney’s words shows that there is a belief that the living … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, church, church structure, concerned about the very poor, Creator, East Nashville, God, house church, kingdom of God, Mitt Romney, Music City, Nashville, organic church, religion, simple church, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Overcoming Boredom In Church

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Steve Simms

Church is considered to be boring by many millions of people. Meanwhile, the Super Bowl is considered to be one of the most exciting annual events in the USA. Why? Let’s think about it . . . What if every … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, Christianity, church, church structure, East Nashville, evidence for God, glory, God, hearing God, hearing Jesus, house church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, lifestyles, Music City, mystery, mysticism, NFL, normal Christianity, organic church, Playoffs, popular culture, proof of God, religion, simple church, spiritual, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, Super Bowl, The Salvation Army, tradition, voice of God, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments