There is only 1 Head of a Christian church — the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christian church, church leadership, church organization, church structure, ecclesiology, Jesus Christ | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Catherine Booth Shows That Participatory/Organic Church Is In The Salvation Army DNA

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Steve Simms

Catherine Booth shows that participatory (organic) church is in the DNA of The Salvation Army:

“People contend that we must have quiet, proper, decorous services. I say, Where is your authority for this? I defy any man to show it. I have a great deal more authority for such a lively, gushing, spontaneous, and what you call disorderly , service, as our Salvation Army services sometimes are, in the fourteenth chapter of First Corinthians than you can find for yours. The best insight we have into the internal working of a religious service in apostolic times is in this chapter, and I ask you, Is it anything like the ordinary services of today? Here is abundant evidence that these Corinthian converts had opportunity to witness for Jesus, each one to give forth the gushing utterance of his soul, and tell other people of the experience which the Holy Ghost had wrought in him. Read your New Testament and you will be struck with the amazing amount of evidence for this unconventional kind of service. When shall Peters and Marys be so filled with the Spirit that they cannot help telling what God has done for them? The way in which our Lord is going to gather out His great and glorious kingdom in these latter days is by the power of testimony in the Holy Ghost. The Master Himself adopted these very measures.” –Catherine Booth in “The Highway of Our God” published in 1986 by The Salvation Army Southern Territory USA.

“I propose a move forward to our roots . . . To move forward to our roots requires radical reconstruction. We need to be renewed, refocused, and reorganized.” –Major Stephen Court of The Salvation Army in Armybarmy Blog.

Catherine booth disturb

Perhaps churches are full of people who ought to and need to be teaching one another in church meetings, instead of just sitting and listening to a professional teacher each week. “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 (Also, see 1 Corinthians 14:26.)

catherine booth what 2 do

If you are in the Nashville area and would like to experience the freedom to testify in church, visit us at The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, Tennessee 37207 on Sunday mornings at 10:45.

barry swanson

Perhaps it is time to courageously and boldly take a risk and step into participatory/organic church!

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14, alternative church, Armybarmy Blog, Berry Street, church, church services, Commissioner Barry Swanson, Hebrews 5:12, New Testament church, participatory church, Quotations, Stephen Court, Tennessee, testimony, unconventional church, you ought to be teachers | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Revelation & Revolution in the 21st Century

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Steve Simms

Christianity is a revelatory faith. What has God revealed to you today?
(“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in Heaven.” –Jesus Christ in Matthew 16:17)

Speaking from humility, love, and brokenness releases God’s revelation.
Speaking from position, title, or expertise replaces God’s revelation with human authority.

When the body of Christ meets and one part does everything, while the other parts are inactive and immobile, the diagnostic analysis is paralysis.
–Lord, heal Your body so that every part may freely, faithfully, and fearlessly function as prompted by revelation from the Head — the living, resurrected Jesus Christ!

The church is built by direct inward revelation from the living, resurrected Jesus to your heart.

The church is built by direct inward revelation from the living, resurrected Jesus to your heart.

1st Century Christians practiced seeker-disturbing church. (See how their spiritual revelations created a revolution & shook things up in the Book of Acts).
–21st Century Christians practice seeker-friendly church.
Which do you prefer?

Posted in 1st Century, 21st Century, brokenness, church, faith, Father in Heaven, Head of the church, human authority, humility, Jesus Christ the Head, not revealed by flesh and blood, Simon Peter, spiritual insight, spiritual revolution, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Kingdom of God & The Inner Light

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Steve Simms

I woke up this morning with a new definition of “the kingdom of God” (one of Jesus’ favorite subjects) running through my mind:

–All humans are called to follow and obey the inward King who rules on a throne of love (not by coercion) through the urging, prompting, leading, nudging, conviction, and guiding of His still, small voice in the human heart and conscience. If we learn daily to deny the rule of the dominating and destructive desires of self and to promptly and consistently obey the Inner Light of King Jesus, we will begin to enter into and live out the kingdom of God — on earth as it is in Heaven!

The idea of the “Inner Light” was taught by George Fox and others in the early days of the Society of Friends (the Quakers). After searching for a relationship with the living God through various English denominations, George Fox finally heard an inner voice speak to him: “There is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy condition.” Fox became convinced of the biblical truth that God’s Light is shinning in every person to give them the opportunity to follow the living Jesus Christ.

Quaker Michael Birkel (Earlham College, Richmond IN) puts it this way: “Early Friends got the expression from the first chapter of the Gospel of John, where we find in verse 9 the phrase, “the true light, which enlightens everyone coming into the world.” And Quaker Max Carter (Guilford College, Greensboro NC) writes: “Early Friends understood that to be the Light of Jesus Christ. It was not a metaphor, but it was the real presence of Christ within.”

Robert Barclay, one of the early Quakers, stated in 1678 that “the Inner Light is never separated from God nor Christ; but wherever it is, God and Christ are as wrapped up therein.”

George Fox quote

Posted in Christ in you, Christian doctrine, Earlham College, early Quakers, Friends, Guilford College, hearing God, hearing Jesus, John 1:9, listening to God, love, on earth as it is in heaven, Quotations, Robert Barclay, spiritual leadings, spirituality, still small voice, the living Christ, There is one even Christ Jesus | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Historical Jesus or Just Now Jesus?

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Steve Simms

Some scholars are trying to find the historical Jesus.

I prefer the “just now Jesus” who is present and active, right now, in the 21st Century (and much easier to find)!

Perhaps we crowd church meetings with too much control and contrivance, when all we really need is the living, just now Jesus in charge!

Posted in 1st Century Christ, 21st Century Christ, Christ in you, Christ with us, mysticism, presence of Christ | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Two hot questions (that may be t00 hot to handle) about God’s fire and church.

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Steve Simms

Are these two hot questions t00 hot to handle?

1) Do we program God’s fire out of church meetings and cover ourselves with spiritual flame retardant?

2) Or do we freely allow the flames to fall and God’s fire to flow flaming through church meetings?

“What is that fire? It is love. It is faith. It is hope. It is passion, purpose, determination–utter devotion. It is singleness of eye and a consecration unto death. It is God the Holy Ghost burning in and through a humble, holy, faithful person.” –Samuel Logan Brengle (an early leader of The Salvation Army)

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!” –the living, resurrected Jesus Christ speaking in Revelation 3:15

fire in my bones

Perhaps we crowd church meetings with too much clutter and control, when all we really need is just Jesus!

Have you connected with the contagious, combustible Jesus Christ?

Just Jesus 4 me!

Life can be a joyous, Jesus journey! Follow Him!

Posted in burn for God, fire in church, following Christ, Jesus Christ, on fire for God, spiritual fire | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Salvation Army: the Charity, the Church, Christmas, and the Controversies

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Steve Simms

In this blog, Jakob describes his experiences attending Hart Street Worship at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, which is a campus fellowship led by The Salvation Army Berry Street, a non-traditional Salvation Army corps (church).

jakobesaw's avatarJacob Esau

Jakob Esaw

[Author’s note: this blog entry, published simultaneously at DishMag.com, is a part of my semi-regular series Down the Rabbit Hole, Up the Human Interest. For each story in the series, I typically start my research somewhere in the infinite landscape of the Internet: on an official website, a more local site, or some other catch-all, like a wiki. Then I investigate the human elements of the story by going out and talking to the people behind the basic narrative. Nashville, it turns out, is a great place to collect stories. Read on!]

***

When thinking of the Salvation Army, most people immediately conjure up images of those happy-go-lucky bell ringers who stand beside their red kettle buckets outside shopping centers and grocery stores this time of year. It’s true: the people who brave the brutal cold wearing Santa hats and calling attention to the…

View original post 1,975 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Never give up! — If you retreat & don’t compete to delete self-imposed defeat, life will beat you and leave you incomplete.

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Steve Simms

This thought came to me in the night: If you retreat & don’t compete to delete self-imposed defeat, life will beat you and leave you incomplete.

“I love to compete. There is always someone trying to beat me.” –Mark Cuban

compete against yourself

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” –Paul of Tarsus

“The important thing in life is not to triumph but to compete.” –Pierre de Coubertin

“While it’s important to win, it’s imperative to compete.” –David Weinbaum

“You don’t have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things – to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated.” –Edmund Hillary

Posted in Apostle Paul, David Weinbaum, Edmund Hillary, Mark Cuban, Paul of Tarsus, Pierre de Coubertin, quotation, Quotations, quote, self-destructive behaviors, training | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Contagious, Combustible Christ!

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Steve Simms

Christ fire

The contemporary church concentrates on communicating calculated content.

–The early church concentrated on catching & carrying the contagious, combustible Christ!

Posted in baptized with fire, fire of God, Holy fire, organic church, spiritual fire | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Jeremiah Mandate Meetings — The Holy Spirit Teaches . . .

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Steve Simms

The Holy Spirit is the best Bible teacher ever–better than any preacher, sermon, conference, school, commentary, study guide! All those things have helped me but little and they have trouble keeping my interest..
–However, reading the Bible myself and sensing it come alive as I listen to the Spirit’s thoughts and ideas while I read, has revolutionized and energized my life. Even 5 minutes with the Word and the Spirit working together, without a human teacher, refreshes and revitalizes me! Try it and see!
–Paul of Tarsus put it this way: “I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” –Galatians 1:11-12

–Here’s an example: Right after I wrote the above words, I felt led to open the Bible and read the first chapter of Jeremiah. To my surprise, the Spirit began to teach me about something I had never heard of before: Jeremiah Mandate Meetings.
–Jeremiah was given a mandate from God to “say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will protect you.” He was not to follow religion or tradition or fear about what people might think about him; but to listen to and hear God speak to Him. Then, when prompted by the Spirit, Jeremiah was to speak whatever God told him, without concern about consequences, trusting in God’s presence and promises! Jeremiah’s obedience to his mandate produced a beautiful book of the Bible.
–What if a church began to meet based on Jeremiah’s mandate? If we listen to God and speak what He says when we gather in His name, surely God’s presence and promises will work in our gatherings! Why not try it and see?

jeremiah

–Here’s another quote from Jeremiah: “They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?'” Do we? Where is the Lord? Where is God working?

–What if church is not an audience watching one person performing; but a reflection of God’s radiance through many people participating? (See 1 Corinthians 14:26.)

Jeremiah Mandate Meetings turn on all the lights!
–A church meeting can be like a house with only one lonely porch light turned on; or it can be like a house with many multicolored Christmas lights all shinning together.

(You can experience a Jeremiah Mandate Meeting every Sunday morning at The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, 37207 at 10:45.)

Check out my post: Was Jeremiah A Holy Shock Jock? Was Jeremiah A Holy Shock Jock?

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, alternative church, alternative lifestyle, Apostle Paul, Bible, Christmas, Don't be afraid, Galatians, hearing God, Holy Spirit, Nashville, Old Testament, Paul of Tarsus, Quotations, Salvation Army, speaking by the Spirit, speaking from the heart, weeping prophet, Where is God? | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments