Tag Archives: church history

2 Models Of Church (The Organizational Model Or The Organic Model)

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Steve Simms

Historically there have been two primary models of church — the organizational model and the organic model. The organizational model has been the dominate of the two and has resisted (and often persecuted) the organic model. The organizational model sees … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, corporate church, institutional church, Jerusalem church, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, Paul, priesthood of the believer, quote, Salvation Army, simple church, Tennessee | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Christaholics Out Of The Closet, Shouting It From The Housetops

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Steve Simms

What if salvation isn’t an emotional experience with God at an altar?  What if it isn’t choosing to respond to an altar call and/or repeating a prayer that someone else feeds you the words? What if , instead, salvation is an ongoing, … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, Catherine Booth, Christaholic, COC, early Christians, early church, founding of the church, Galilee, Jerusalem, out of the closet, prayer, Quotations, quote, Quotes, renewal, revival, salvation, Salvation Army, Salvationism, Salvationists, shout it from the housetops, Son of Man, thrust the truth, what does it mean to be saved | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

If there are no demons . . .

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Steve Simms

If there are no demons . . . then why are so many of us humans tormented by fears, worries, anger, bitterness, frustration, self-doubt, self-condemnation, distress, depression, and too many other negative emotions to list? If there are no demons … Continue reading →

Posted in addiction, addictions, Catholic mystics, Christian history, Christian spirituality, demon possession, desert fathers, devils, evil, evil entities, evil in our society, evil spirits, mysticism, mystics, Orthodox, Orthodox monks, Oswald Chambers, pentecostals, Pentecostialism, Philokalia, quotation, Quotations, Quotes, recovery, source of evil, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual healing, spiritual health, war | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Will We Let God Drive His Car? (Oops, I Mean Church?)

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Steve Simms

If someone had the only keys to your car and they always drove your car and sometimes let you ride along with them, but they wouldn’t let you drive, direct, control, or steer your very own car; would you like … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, organic church, religion, simple church, spiritual | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Years of studying church history have shown me that during times of great spiritual awakening, church meetings are more about experiencing and obeying a Presence, than about sitting and listening to a program.

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christ, Christ in you, Christ's presence, church, church program, church programs, God's presence, great awakening, history, move of God, movement, non-church, non-liturgical, normal Christianity, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, participatory church, simple church, spiritual awakening, spiritual church, spiritual experience, spiritual gifts, spiritual movement, spiritual transformation, spiritual worship, spirituality, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Quaker Style Meetings In The Salvation Army

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Steve Simms

The early Quakers believed that the living, resurrected Jesus was present with them when they met together in His name and that He, Himself, could lead the meeting without the need for a human leader or a human program. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, church format, church programs, church services, denominations, Friends meeting, George Fox, God with us, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, nineteenth century, presence of Christ, presence of God, Quakers, quotation, Quotations, Quotes, real presence, Richard Munn, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army General, Salvationism, Salvationists, Society of Friends, W.T. Stead, Wilfred Kitching, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Teleconferencing (Prophetically) Predicted in 1881

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

An early Salvation Army leader appears to have predicted teleconferencing, webinars, live streaming, and social media links — George Scott Railton wrote this in The Salvation Army’s ” War Cry” of September of 1881: “Let us hope that the telephone … Continue reading →

Posted in church, church history, DNA, George Scott Railton, innovation, innovators, live streaming, predictions, quotation, quote, Quotes, social media, The History of The Salvation Army, War Cry, webinars | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“No Conformity To Any Church Forms Shall Hinders Us!”

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Steve Simms

Quotes from:  The History of The Salvation Army, Volume One, by Robert Sandall “We have been trying and, we thank God, with no little success, to break loose from all the trammels of custom and propriety which may in any degree … Continue reading →

Posted in Bramwell Booth, creativity, Elijah Cadman, quotation, quote, Quotes, Robert Sandall, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Protestant Reformation — A Half-Way Measure?

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Steve Simms

Did the Protestant Reformation only go 1/2 way?  Two of the main Bible doctrines that were brought to light by Protestant Reformers (Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and others) were:  1) justification by faith (which was enthusiastically embraced); and  … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, doctrines, history, John Calvin, justification by faith, leaders, leaders of the Reformation, leadership, ministers, ministry, Nashville, Nashville church, ordaination, pastor, preacher, priest, priesthood, quotation, Quotations, quote, reformation, religion, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Ulrich Zwingli | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Church Seating — Beyond The Pew And Theater Seating

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Steve Simms

[U] From the pew to the U — church seating makes a difference. I grew up sitting in church pews (long, uncomfortable, wooden benches) and seeing the backs of people’s heads in front of me — not much interaction in … Continue reading →

Posted in backs of people's heads, church benches, church furniture, glory, glory on each face, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Nashville, Nashville church, Nashville projects, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, The Salvation Army, theater seating | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments