Tag Archives: Nashville

Church is not for sponges; it’s for sparks!

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Steve Simms

You are not simply a sponge, supposed to sit in a “service” and silently soak up a preacher’s ideas. You are someone who has spiritual insight to share.  Church is not for sponges, it’s for sparks! Our desire at The … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church fire, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, church structure, Little Rock, Music City, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, order of worship, organic church, simple church, sparks, sponges, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Thoughts & Frustrations About Church Bulletins

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Steve Simms

I’ve never been overly fond of church bulletins.  In fact, they have always frustrated me.  I don’t like to know the details of a church service before it happens.  To me that’s like reading the plot of a movie or … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, church structure, program, programmed, programmed from the front, programming, public worship, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, seminary, Sunday bulletins | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

What I Want On My Tombstone (Graveyard; Not Pizza)

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

Tombstone Pizza asks:  “What do you want on your Tombstone?”  I’ve never really thought much about what I want on my tombstone. However, I recently lost my father-in-law and my parents and my mother-in-law are all very elderly, so I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in 50th wedding anniversary, cemetery, death, frozen pizza, funeral, grave, pizza, wedding, weddings and funerals, What do you want on your tombstone? | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Pre-traditional Church

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Steve Simms

Tradition (even church tradition) has not always existed.  The Christian church began as a mighty movement of the Holy Spirit with no tradition.  It was led by the Spirit rather than contained by tradition. The New Testament was written during the pre-tradition … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Irrigation, Living Water & New Wineskins

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Steve Simms

Our dry souls need to be irrigated with much Living Water.  An effective irrigation system has many waterspouts, not just one.  God’s living water flows lavishly in church meetings when many people are free to share the living water that … Continue reading →

Posted in creativity, flow, flow of the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, heart care, heart of worship, heart-felt, Holy Spirit, irrigation system, Jesus, Jesus Christ, no one pours new wine, preaching, preaching the Word, sermon, sermons | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dorothy In Oz, Wheels, Soul Train, TEAM, Yall, Lights, & A Quiz (Examples/Metaphors of Participatory Church)

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

Some metaphors for participatory church: Experiencing participatory church at Berry Street is like Dorothy stepping into a world of living color when she enters the land of Oz in “The Wizard of Oz.” Church is often like a unicycle, focused … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, big wheel, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church organizational chart, church program, church programs, church quiz, church roles, church services, Dorothy Wizard of Oz, New Testament, plural for you, religion, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationism, Salvationists, soul, soul train, Southern English, team, Team Church, Tennessee, Together Everyone Accomplishes More, unicycle, yall | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

When Hearts Speak

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Steve Simms

When a mind talks theology, people hear religious ideas.  When hearts speak in the Spirit, people learn love. A heart burning for God is a gift that is caught in His presence, not something just taught from a pulpit. I … Continue reading →

Posted in God's presence, hiking, in the Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love, Love one another, perfume on Jesus' feet, pulpit, Sonbeams, Tennessee, theology, University of Tennessee Martin | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Open Church / Open Hearts

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Steve Simms

Traditionally church has been . . . –One special man weekly instructing a passive group of ordinary people. Biblically church seems to be . . . –A Spirit-led group of ordinary people actively teaching and ministering to one another in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, college, college experiences, college students, one another, one anothering, one anothers, open church, perfume on Jesus' feet, pulpit, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual formation, tradition, traditional church, University of Tennessee Martin | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Real Royal Baby . . .

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Steve Simms

The Royal Baby was born just over 2,000 years ago and grew up to become the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Savior of the world. I was excited to invite people to surrender to The Real Royal Baby, the … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, British history, Christian, Christianity, Great Britain, Great Commission, Jesus, Jesus Christ, king, King of Kings, kingdom, new heir, news, rap, rapper, rapping, religion, religious beliefs, royal family, UK, United Kingdom, Viktory | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tennessee Titans & St. Thomas (From Doubt To Destiny)

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Steve Simms

The Tennessee Titans practice facility in Nashville, Tennessee (Baptist Sports Park) has been renamed “Saint Thomas Sports Park.”  St. Thomas has been known through the past two millennia as “Doubting Thomas” because he questioned the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in angst, anxiety, Apostle Thomas, destiny, devotion, doubt, doubting, doubts, fear, India, Iraq, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is Lord, Muslim, My Lord and my God, mysticism, Nashville church, practice facility, professional football, resurrection, Resurrection Day, resurrection of Jesus, Saddam Hussein, Saint Thomas, St. Thomas, torture, tortured | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments