Tag Archives: spiritual formation

A Powerful Way To Light Your Fire!

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Steve Simms

1) Unrehearsed, heart-felt, Spirit-prompted words connect hearts and ignite spiritual fires.* 2) Rehearsed, studied, formalized words leave hearts unconnected and minds muted; and promptly depart the human memory. * Light your fire!  Experience #1 with us @ The Salvation Army … Continue reading →

Posted in non-church, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, sermons, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual fire, spiritual flow, spiritual growth, spiritual innovation, spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

The human heart is a fireplace. It can burn clean and pure with the love of God. Or smoke and choke on selfish desires.

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Steve Simms

The human heart is a fireplace. It can burn clean and pure with the love of God. Or smoke and choke on selfish desires putting a damper on all of life. A deployed damper is deeply damaging. Perhaps we need … Continue reading →

Posted in choke, Christianity, damper, deployed, faith, faith-based, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, fire place, gas, heart, heart care, heart-felt, heart-felt love, human heart, human life, human nature, human psyche, natural gas, set ablaze, smoke, smoking, smoking fireplace, soul, spirit, spiritual, spiritual experience, spiritual fire, spiritual flow, spiritual life, spiritual power, spiritual transformation, spirituality, supernatural, surrender, surrender to God | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Rocket science can’t reinvent the thrill in your life — but Christ can!

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Steve Simms

Rocket science can’t reinvent the thrill (or the wheel) in your life — but Christ can! All you need is Christimacy — living in continual intimacy with the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. Why not become a Christimate — an obedient … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, biblical, bold statements, burning heart, Christ, Christ followers, Christ in you, Christ skills, Christ-centered, Christian values, Christimacy, Christimate, faith-based, God with us, God-intoxicated, intimacy, It's not rocket science, Jesus, Jesus Christ, life, life skills, life transforming, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, relevation, religion, religious innovation, resurrection, resurrection of Jesus, revival, revolution, rivers of living water, spirit, Spirit-filled, spiritual, thrill in your life, wheel | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Holding Hands In Prayer — It’s Not For Sissies.

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Steve Simms

Holding hands in prayer is not for sissies.  It is an amazing connect with the living God and His power. I grew up going to church but never saw people hold hands in prayer.  I think my church was too … Continue reading →

Posted in agreeing in prayer, college experiences, funeral homes, holding hands in a circle, Holy Spirit, hospitals, inner city streets, not for sissies, prayer, praying, praying community, rehabs, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, spiritual growth, spiritual power, Tennessee, touching, unity, University of Tennessee Martin, worship gathering | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Incredible Power of Christ Skills

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Steve Simms

How are your Christ skills? Many people live their lives without basic Christ skills — the abilities to connect with and release the life-transforming power of Christ in themselves and in others. However, when you look into history, you discover … Continue reading →

Posted in 24/7/365, addiction, addictions, anxiety, automatic, Christ, Christ followers, Christ in you, circumstances, contagion, counterfeit, emotional bondage, Greatest Teacher, guilt, history, life transforming, New Testament, peace, peace of mind, pie-in-the-sky, sainthood, saints, shame, spiritual bondage, spiritual leaders, stress, torment, tormenting thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

My Soul Needs Fracking (Frack Me, Lord.)

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Steve Simms

I woke up this morning with the word fracking in my mind?  What does that mean? Fracking is the procedure of blasting pressurized water (along with sand and chemicals) down a well so as to fracture the rock deep beneath the … Continue reading →

Posted in aquifer, Bible, Biblical concept, drilling for oil, God, God calling, God-shaped vacuum, healing, hearing Jesus, heart, heart care, mining techniques, oil drilling, oil well, rivers of living water, Scriptures, search for significance, self, self-denial, self-will, selfish desires, sin, sins, soul, spiritual, spiritual growth, spiritual healing, spiritual power, spiritual transformation, submission, surrender, surrender to God, we have turned everyone to his own way | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Optimize Your Faith With Participatory Church

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Faith can be enhanced or it can be diminished.  It is the responsibility of each individual to cultivate, nourish, and grow her/his faith or to allow it to wither away and possibly die.  Jesus illustrated this principle in the Parable … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, Alcoholics Anonymous, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian organizations, Christian values, church, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, corps, encouragement, faith, faith-based, followers of Christ, freedom, honesty, Houston, improv, improvisation, insight, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, mysticism, Nashville, New Testament, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, spiritual athletes, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, spiritual growth, spiritual interaction, spiritual training, spiritual warfare, testimonies, testimony | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Which Burns In You — Hellfire Or Holy Fire?

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Steve Simms

Which burns in you, hellfire or holy fire? Hellfire — the burning passions of pride, cravings, compulsions, anger, addictions, revenge, lust, greed, guilt, vulgarity, violence, insecurity, disrespect, hatred, selfishness, shame. Holy fire — the flaming light of insight, revelation, love, … Continue reading →

Posted in addiction, addictions, attitude, compassion, compulsion, conviction of sin, cravings, deny yourself, disrespect, ethics, evil, evil entities, evil spirits, feelings, fight the good fight of faith, filled with the Spirit, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, godly sorrow, guidance, guide, harmful thinking, hate, hdden sin, holy, Holy Holy Holy, inward change, justice, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, love, lust, meaning, meaninglessness, mercy, moral failures, obedience, partying, philosophical, philosophy, pull of evil, rebellion, reconnect, recovery, red hot, religion, repent, repentance, revelation, revival, sacrifice, seduction, self-control, self-denial, self-destruction, self-focus, self-inflicted, self-produced, self-respect, self-will, selfish desires, sin, soul, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual growth, surrender, surrender to God, thinking | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

“I’ll Fight” — How To Be A Spiritual Soldier

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

A famous quotation by William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, boldly repeats the words “I’ll fight!”  His wife, Catherine Booth, preached Aggressive Christianity. They challenged their followers to be spiritual soldiers, not passive spectators.  But how do you fight … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, army, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Bible reading, Bible type revival, blog, blog readers, Blood and Fire, blood of Jesus, burning heart, choice, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, church, combat, courage, creativity, darkness, demons, denial, devils, ekklesia, faith-based, fight the good fight of faith, flag, guidance, guide, Holy Spirit, I'll fight!, inner coach, inner peace, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, makes change, meaning, media, media circus, military, moral failures, moral restraints, morality, move of God, movement, Music City, Nashville, New Testament, normal Christianity, obedience, organic church, out of the closet, soldiers, spectators, spirit, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, temptation, testimonies, testimony, the offensive, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag, thoughts, tradition, training, training camp, trials, truth, values, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Watching Your “Old Man” Die

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

Three quotes from Paul of Tarsus:  “You have put off the old man with his deeds.”  Colossians 3:9  And, “I die daily.”  1 Corinthians 15:31  And, “I am crucified with Christ.”  Galatians 2:20 Believers are called to die to self … Continue reading →

Posted in afflict the comfortable, Apostle Paul, Bible, biblical, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian values, Colossians, crucify yourself, denial, die to self, Galatians, hearing God, hearing Jesus, I am crucified with Christ, life, lifestyle Christianity, live to please God, normal Christianity, Paul of Tarsus, put off the old man, religion, repent, repentance, self-denial, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual athletes, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual growth, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, surrender, surrender to God, true Christian life, trust | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments