If Easter is true, then . . .

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Steve Simms

If Easter is more than fashion, rabbits, and eggs then perhaps we should . . .

If Easter is true–give control to Christ!
–Is Christ alive in the 21st Century? If not, then do your thing. If yes, then step aside and let Him lead! Let Him control your thinking, your saying, and your doing. “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
–If Christ is really alive, then let Him be the Head of His church! Let Him be the Senior Pastor! Allow Him the freedom to set aside our human programming and control the service Himself, by prompting whoever He pleases to share Scriptures, songs, testimonies, insights, words of instruction, etc.

Easter 2

Lord, send an easterly wind — the living, resurrected Jesus Christ blowing through our churches and our hearts!  Read the book of Acts & see:

Ordinary people
Say and do
Extraordinary things
When they are allowed
To show and tell
What God has done!

William Booth, co-founder of The Salvation Army was ready to try radical and creative approaches to win souls. He said: ‘If I thought I could win one more soul to the Lord by walking on my head and playing the tambourine with my toes, I’d learn how!”
–Here is a radical approach that really works as proven by this example: A 50-something Hindu man began attending our corps (Salvation Army church). He had been in the states since he was 16 and had been witnessed to by many Christians, however, he rejected every approach. Our corps has open, participatory, testimony-based meetings with no program. After attending about a year, he declared that he had become a Christian because he saw Christ so clearly as people shared from their heart as prompted by the Spirit. He has been one of our strongest soldiers (members) for several years now.
–Here’s a link to his full story: https://stevesimms.wordpress.com/…/from-hinduism-to-jesus-…/

Check out The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center, where instead of a featured sermon, everyday people share from their heart as moved by the Spirit:  Sunday mornings at 10:45, 225 Berry St., Nashville, Tennessee 37207.

Posted in church programming, dead man walking, eggs, empty tomb, fashion, Head of the church, Hinduism, Holy Spirit, Nashville, organic church, rabbits, Salvation Army, Senior Pastors, simple church, who rolled the stone | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Revival Needs New Wineskins!

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Steve Simms

Is it time for new wineskins?
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.” –Luke 5:37-38

new wineskins

The coming revival needs new wine skins!
–The traditional way of religious meetings will wear the coming revival down and cut it off. Spiritual awakening won’t last long if we don’t begin to step into a new wine skin.
–God is calling us out of the ordinary into His extraordinary — out of one man control of church meetings and into Spirit-prompted participation — away from dominant human headship and into the supernatural Headship of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.
–It is not just about church meetings, but how we do meetings will either quench the Spirit or stir up the Spirit. A stirred up Holy Spirit can’t be maintained under human control — can’t be programmed and regulated! Only a quenched Holy Spirit will fit nicely into our programming and control.
–Revival won’t long continue if we organize it, control it, regulate it, and center it around human personalities.

Experience a participatory new wine skin at The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, Tennessee, 37207 every Sunday morning @ 10:45.

Posted in great awakening, Luke 5:37, Nashville, organic church, Quench not the Spirit, quenching the Spirit, spiritual promtings, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Does the new normal make us anomie zombies?

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Steve Simms

Does the new normal mean that we are becoming anomie zombies? Are anomic attitudes and assessments making you zombic — so oblivious to moral constraints that you are mesmerized by confusion, restlessness, and unhappiness?

Anomie basically means “normless” and “purposeless.” It comes from the Greek word anomia which means “without law.”

Encyclopedia Britannica defines anomie as “in societies or individuals, a condition of instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and values or from a lack of purpose or ideals.” They also say:

“The term was introduced by the French sociologist Émile Durkheim in his study of suicide. He believed that one type of suicide (anomic) resulted from the breakdown of the social standards necessary for regulating behavior. When a social system is in a state of anomie, common values and common meanings are no longer understood or accepted, and new values and meanings have not developed. According to Durkheim, such a society produces, in many of its members, psychological states characterized by a sense of futility, lack of purpose, and emotional emptiness and despair. Striving is considered useless, because there is no accepted definition of what is desirable.”

Émile Durkheim taught that when clear moral values and standards for individuals disappear into anomie (normlessness), life becomes empty and meaningless for people. Without “clear rules, norms, or standards of value” people become anxious, alienated, confused, and sometimes suicidal.

Emilie

Here are a few quotes from Durkheim:

“Sadness is a product of our own thought.”

“It is inadmissible that systems of ideas like religions, which have held so considerable a place in history, and to which, in all times, men have come to receive the energy which they must have to live, should be made up of a tissue of illusions.”

“Although our moral conscience is a part of our consciousness, we do not feel ourselves on an equality with it. In this voice which makes itself heard only to give us orders and establish prohibitions, we cannot recognize our own voices; the very tone in which it speaks to us warns us that it expresses something within us that is not of ourselves.”

“A loose morality is appropriate only to decadent peoples and is found only among them.”

Posted in anomaly, conscience, decadence, definition, Encyclopedia Britannica, ethics, family values, Greek words, meaninglessness, moral relativism, morality, normless, purposeless, Quotations, religion, right and worng, sadness, suicide | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Humility or Human Hotshots? (Who is the celebrity in church?)

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Steve Simms

God is looking for humility, not human hotshots with big names. “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” When we glory in, focus on, and/or follow exalted people, when we attach men’s names to the work of God, we hinder the Holy Spirit.

Christ is the only Christian celebrity! All the rest of us are His servants. It’s time to take men’s names off of Christ’s ministries and out of Christ’s churches! God is searching for the humble. “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” You can’t be captivated by a religious celebrity and fully committed to Christ at the same time! “I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.”

“Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.'” Beware of people who promote their own name and/or allow others to exalt them.

It’s time to turn our attention, our focus, our interest, our desire for approval, our passion, our obedience, our commitment; away from human beings, and put it solidly on the living, resurrected Jesus Christ!

I will not yield My glory

Posted in 2 Chronicles 16:9, Bible quotes, celebrities, church, ego in church, eyes of the Lord, God resists the proud, God's glory, Isaiah 42:8, James 4:6, Lord it over, Luke 22:25, Mark 10:42, Matthew 20:25, naming ministries after yourself, revival, self-exaltation | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Training Ordinary Christians 2 Do Ministry! (A Pastor’s Job)

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Steve Simms

Perhaps a pastor/minister’s job is not to focus people’s attention on himself, on his plans, or on his performance; but instead to focus people’s attention on the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.

–John the Baptist put it this way: “He (Jesus) must increase but I must decrease.”

He must increase

Paul of Tarsus taught that a minister’s job is to train ordinary Christians to do “the work of the ministry.”

“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ,” –Ephesians 4:11-12

In other words, a minister should work himself out of a job by training, empowering, and releasing others to do the ministry.  It works like this:

equiping the saints

Can you imagine a church meeting where everybody present is able and willing to teach and minister to one another as the Spirit leads them?  There is such a meeting in Nashville, Tennesse every Sunday morning at 10:45 am. at The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., 37207.  Come see!

Posted in apostles, Berry Street, body of Christ, discipleship, evangelists, He must increase, I must decrease, John 3:30, John the Baptist, pastoring, pastors, Paul of Tarsus, prophets, Salvation Army, shepherding, teachers, work of the ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Does The Bible Teach That Everyone Should Be Free To Teach In Church Meetings?

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Steve Simms

“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again.” –Hebrews 5:12

Perhaps church members should teach one another, rather than having one professional parson do all the teaching and preaching every week.
–The Bible teaches that a church should be filled with people who are “competent to instruct one another.”
–Paul of Tarsus puts it this way: “I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” –Romans 15:14. (Is that true about your church?)

You can’t lecture people into competence in teaching one another.  That requires hands on experience in a safe, forgiving environment.  The Sunday morning church meeting is the perfect place to learn competence in teaching one another.  In that safe environment people can share short teachings as they are led by the Spirit and they will be loved and accepted by their brothers and sisters in Christ.  Thus, by being free to express themselves in church, they will grow both in confidence and competence.

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.”  —Paul of Tarsus (Colossians 3:16)

So perhaps we should re-examine how we spell church?
What’s missing in most ch__ch meetings? UR!
Most ch_rch meetings leave U sitting passively and uninvolved.
However, The Salvation Army Berry Streets puts you in chUrch, not as a spectator, but as an active participant, free to hear from God and share what you hear.

The power of the Gospel
Is in people, not in programs!
“Christ in U, the hope of glory.”

Come, increase your competence in letting the living Christ flow through U @ The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, TN — on Sunday mornings @ 10:45.

teach one another

(One final Scripture:  Check out 1 Corinthians 14:26.)

Posted in alternative to preaching, Berry Street, church, church teachers, Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 5:12, mutual ministry, one anothers, Paul of Tarsus, Romans 15:14, Salvation Army, Spirit-led, who should teach in church | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Examining the S-word — sin.

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Steve Simms

It seems like the only sin left in American culture is calling something a sin. If you dare to use the s-word, you will promptly be accused of “judging.” You may even be called a “hater.”

Nowadays society demands that we all be like the people in the Hans Christian Andersen story The Emperor’s New Clothes and ignore the fact that sin is real and that it leaves us deceived, self-destructive, and morally disrobed.

emperor's new clothes

How can we expect
To walk in God’s light
When we choose wrong
Rather than right?

Here are 3 ways people deal with their own wrongdoing:
1) They deny that it is wrong and insist that other people agree with them;
2) They cover it up, hide it, and/or excuse it;
Or, 3) They don’t do it anymore and get God’s forgiveness.

The problem with #1 is that changing what you (and other people) call your sin, doesn’t change the fact that you have chosen to act against your conscience, the common moral principles of most of human history, and the living God. You can pontificate like the emperor and insist that others approve of your wrongful behavior, but that doesn’t change the fact that you are ignoring historical standards of decency and you are causing pain for  yourself and for the people who love you.

The problem with #2 is that you can’t hide from yourself.  Everybody else may be convinced that you have told the truth, but you still know that it is a lie.  And you can’t hide your sin from God.

The only effective way to deal with sin is #3.  Stop violating your conscience and God’s moral standards.  Humbly ask Him to forgive you.  Then as Jesus taught: “Go and sin no more,” by getting close to Him.. The living, resurrected Jesus will give you power to daily engage in spiritual warfare and overcome your sin.

It is more effective to bend yourself to fit God’s morality than to try to bend God’s morality to fit you.

Posted in dishonesty, family values, Go and sin no more, hate, hater, how to deal with sin, Jesus, moral standards, right and wrong, walk in the light, wrong doing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Opryland Fountain Show Lets All The Spouts Participate!

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Steve Simms

Opryland fountains

Opryland Hotel in Nashville has an amazing fountain show where hundreds of water spouts shoot streams of water high into the sky.  The flying water reflects colored lights. It is beautiful.  Don’t miss it if you are ever in Nashville.

The Salvation Army Berry Street in Nashville has an amazing Sunday morning meeting where everybody present is free to let the living Christ flow out of them as they show and tell what God has done.  The testimonies, Scriptures, and words of encouragement that people share reflect the light of Jesus.  It is beautiful.  Don’t miss it if you are ever in Nashville.

The Opryland Hotel fountain show doesn’t rely on just one water-spout.  Instead it uses many spouts and they are all coordinated to create breath-taking scenes.  One solitary spout, no matter how beautiful, couldn’t have the same effect.

The Salvation Army Berry Street also doesn’t rely on just one water-spout — just one person — to do all the talking in the meeting.  Instead it uses may spouts (many people) who, prompted by the Spirit, share from their heart what God is doing in their life.  One solitary preacher, no matter how talented, couldn’t have the same effect.

Come and see for yourself every Sunday morning at 10:45, 225 Berry St., 37207.

42

Posted in Berry Street, close to OpryMills Mall, Opryland, Opryland Resort, Salvation Army, Tennessee, tourism, what to do in Nashville | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Does Church Need The Energizer Bunny (Or The Risen Christ)?

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Steve Simms

–I’m Energized From Within—
If the Energizer Bunny
Was living in my heart,
It could not compare
To the power & presence
Of the resurrected Christ
Living in there!

People nowadays are not energized by talk and tradition (or even by gimmicks). Instead, they need to see first hand demonstrations of the real presence of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.

So why do churches try almost anything and everything else to reach people?  They try:
* Back To Church Sunday
* Trendy themes
* Andy Griffith Show Sunday School Lessons
* Positive thinking sermons
* Superbowl Parties
* Big name speakers,
* Laser lights, etc.

church gimmicks
So why not try the spiritual method presented in 1 Corinthians 14:26? That biblical method allows the living Jesus to manifest Himself through anybody present in the room. Rather than focusing all the attention on only one featured speaker; Spirit-led, participatory church gives God the freedom to use whosoever He pleases in a meeting. And the amazing thing is that it all comes together in beautiful harmony, clearly demonstrating the invisible Christ is orchestrating the meeting.

Come see the Spirit working more powerfully through ordinary people @ The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, TN 37207 on Sunday mornings at 10:45.

Posted in Andy Griffith Show Sunday School, Back to Church Sunday, big name speakers, church themes, Easter, how to celebrate Easter, laser lights, Nashville, organic church, poem, positive thinking in church, Salvation Army, Superbowl parties, worship | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Challenge & Encouragement From The New Book: “Building Blocks of Spiritual Leadership”

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Steve Simms

Yesterday I received a gift in the mail.  It is a new book called Building Blocks of Spiritual Leadership by Commissioner William W. Francis (retired commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory of The Salvation Army) published by Triumph Publishing and Crest Books. As I read it, I found several passages that inspired me in my vision of seeing the spiritual method of 1 Corinthians 14:26 released in The Salvation Army and in churches of every type around the world.

“As Jesus sacrificed His life for the redemption of creation, so the offering of our lives as His coworkers must be characterized by a divinely inspired zeal to accompany, lift up, support and nurture God’s people.  Such a leadership model is radical, countercultural, transformative, and ably articulated by Commissioner Francis, whose book I am most pleased to endorse.”  –General André Cox, International leader of The Salvation Army.

“Only Spirit-filled leaders who employ spiritual methods can accomplish spiritual goals. However, brilliant, gifted or charming, men and women who lack the power of the Holy Spirit have no place in church leadership.” –Commissioner William W. Francis (former commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory of The Salvation Army)

Nowadays Christianity desperately needs “Spirit-filled leaders who employ spiritual methods” and empower and release God’s people to reach and transform our 21st Century culture.  We’ve had enough of what Commissioner Francis calls “unfit leaders.”

He says: “An unfit leader: seeks to be first and to be noticed; refuses to submit to spiritual authority; gossips and enjoys defaming others; controls others; and drives away those who will not submit to his or her authority.”

spiritual leadership

Commissioner Francis says: “God is not concerned with keeping the status quo.”
–So why do we work so hard to defend the status quo and keep it from changing (especially in church)?
–Why not let ordinary people speak out in church meetings as they are led by the Holy Spirit, according to the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 14:26?

Participatory church is about pastors focusing on what ordinary people can share and accomplish in a church meeting, rather than keeping center focus on their own preaching.
–“Finding fulfillment in others’ accomplishments is the foundation of spiritual leadership. Such leadership opposes that of leaders who only find fulfillment in personal accomplishment. The practice of the Christian faith requires the exact opposite of wielding authority.” –Commissioner William W. Francis
–Here’s a challenge for pastors along those lines: A Challenge For Pastors In 2015 #2 (Let the living Jesus lead a church meeting).

What if we made the Holy Spirit our featured Sunday morning speaker? “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Perhaps a church meeting could have many mini messages by many different people rather than only one single sermon by only one ordained man called the pastor. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26.) That’s our goal at The Salvation Army Berry Street in Nashville, Tennessee. If you are ever in the area come see: Sunday mornings @ 10:45, 225 Berry St., 37207.

Posted in alternative church, books, building blocks of spiritual leadership, Canada, Commissioner William Francis, Crest Books, Nashville, Quotations, Salvation Army Corps, territory, Triumph Publishing, USA, William W. Francis | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment