Category Archives: spiritual growth

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

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Steve Simms

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

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Steve Simms

“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!

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Steve Simms

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

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

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

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Steve Simms

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

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