Category Archives: What is church?

The Top Ten Boldest Quotations From The Book Of Acts

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

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

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)

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Steve Simms

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

How To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day . . .

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

According to his own words, here’s the best way to celebrate Patrick, the mighty man of God who brought Christ to Ireland and transformed a nation: 1)  See your sins in the Light, experience godly sorrow for them, then go … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Acts 5:29, acts of God, alternative lifestyle, Amazing Grace, ancient history, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, blessings, challenges, Christ, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, college, courage, East Nashville, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, holy, Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, house church, Ireland, lifestyles, miracles, multi-racial, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, participatory church, popular culture, prayer, proof of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, resurrection, salvation, Scriptures, shamrock, simple church, Spirit-led, St. Patrick's Day, tebow, tebowing, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Tim Tebow, Uncategorized, voice of God, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Christian Rap — We’ve Gotta Live In The Spirit

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Steve Simms

(An original Christian rap.) Words are okay, but the Gospel’s a new way, of livin’. It’s not enough just to hear it, we’ve gotta live in the Spirit. We need to follow & obey the One who is the Way, … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christian community, Christian rap, Christianity, church, church structure, discipling, East Nashville, gifts of the Spirit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, lifestyles, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, quench the Spirit, recovery, religion, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, What is church?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

PP Church — A Power House & A Pillar Of Fire

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Should church be more than people passively watching a program?  I found two quotations that say that church should be “a pillar of fire” and a “powerhouse.” “The Christian Church should be a pillar of fire leading the peoples of … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, ambulance corps, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, early church, East Nashville, Helen Shoemaker, history, Holy Spirit, house church, lifestyles, miracles, Music City, Nashville, New Testament, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, powerhouse, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, Samuel A. Eliot, simple church, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual warfare, supernatural, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, tradition, Uncategorized, What is church?, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 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

News On The Street — (Sun., Feb. 26 @ Nashville’s Berry Street)

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Steve Simms

News On The Street from Sun., Feb. 26 @ B.S. Yesterday at Nashville’s Berry Street several people shared stories about how God has asked them to surrender various parts of their life to Him.  Near the end of the meeting … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, Christianity, church, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, Music City, Nashville, organic church, presence of Christ, religion, simple church, spiritual formation, surrender to God, testimonies, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The purpose of the church is not to present people information and songs about God but to visibly manifest the power and presence of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christianity, church, church history, church structure, house church, order of worship, organic church, simple church, spiritual, spiritual formation, What is church?, worship | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment