Category Archives: Why be a Christian?

What’s More Exciting Than March Madness?

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Steve Simms

If you think that the Kentucky & Louisville and the Ohio State & Kansas games in this year’s college basketball Final Four are going to be exciting tomorrow night, here’s some great news for you. Church can be even more … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, college, college basketball, college students, congregational, conversion, disciple making, disciples, East Nashville, ekklesia, Final Four, gifts of the Spirit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, In Jesus' Name I Play, Jeremy Lin, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, March Madness, National Football League, NBA, NCAA, NHL, Ohio State, Olympics, organic church, participatory church, presence of Christ, presence of God, religion, show and tell, simple church, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, sporting event, Taiwan Tebow, tebow, tebowing, tebowing.com, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Tim Tebow, Uncategorized, What is church?, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How To Avoid Being A Spiritual Wimp (Top 10 Ways To Grow Strong In The Lord)

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Steve Simms

In today’s tremendously tempting environment, it is important not to be a spiritual wimp.  Maintaining a consistent walk with the Lord requires great spiritual strength. Here are my Top Ten Ways To Grow Strong In The Lord.  However, because this … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, Apostle Paul, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, books, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, compassion, conscience, disciple making, East Nashville, forgiveness, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, God, guidance, guilt, guts and glory, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, life, lifestyles, morality, morals, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, New Testament, New York Jets, non-material reality, non-traditional church, organic church, outreach ministry, participatory church, popular culture, praise and worship, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, proof of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, religion, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, salvation, self-help, simple church, sin, sobriety, speaking in tongues, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, tebow, tebowing, temptation, The Jesus Prayer, The Salvation Army, The Voice, Tim Tebow, Top Ten, Uncategorized, values, Viral Jesus, voice of God, Why be a Christian?, words | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Sometimes I Think I’m Very Wealthy

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Steve Simms

A few days ago I began to realize how wealthy I am.  However, it is not a wealth that Forbes magazine will recognize. Nevertheless, if the world’s billionaires knew how much peace, contentment, excitement, clear conscience, joy, and sweet, moment-by-moment companionship with … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, billionaires, Christian, Christianity, clear conscience, conscience, Forbes, Forbes magazine, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, glamorous trips, God, gratitude, hearing God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, jewels, joy, lifestyles, mysticism, non-material reality, normal Christianity, peace, positive thinking, presence of Christ, presence of God, recovery, religion, salvation, self-esteem, self-help, self-image, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, supernatural, thinking, thoughts, Uncategorized, wealth, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

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

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

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

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

The Most Significant Big Bang

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Steve Simms

What was the most significant Big Bang In the history of the universe? The sound of the hammer Driving the nails Into the hands and feet Of the Son of God! Bang . . . Bang . . . Bang … Continue reading →

Posted in big bang, Christ, Christian history, Christianity, Creator, God, Gospels, hearing Jesus, history of the universe, Jesus, Jesus Christ, miracles, mystery, mysticism, new birth, Oh my God, religion, salvation, Savior, spiritual, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, supernatural, Why be a Christian?, WWJD? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments