Tag Archives: The Salvation Army

Founder Of The Salvation Army Believed In Participatory Church

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Steve Simms

William Booth, co-founder (along with his wife) of The Salvation Army, believed that church meetings should be participatory and not just involve one person running the meeting and doing all the ministry.  Here’s what he said: “Some murmurs have reached … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church history, church leader, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, organic church, preaching, sermons | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

What Happens Where There Is Spirit-Led Participation In A Church Service?

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

When ordinary people participate in a church service and show and tell (as led by the Spirit) what God has done in their lives, things happen: 1) The atmosphere is charged with excitement and anticipation; 2) There is a sense of awe … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church, church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, churching, flow of the Spirit, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

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

Passive Church or Participatory Church? (Rest or Revival?)

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Steve Simms

Passive or participatory church?  Rest or revival? Is church passive or is it participatory? Is it structured or is it Spirit-led? Is it forced or is it flowing? Is it lifeless or is it lively? Is it dull or is … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Christianity, church structure, Music City, religion, Spirit's flow, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, TN | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Setting The Clock Back To Pentecost

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Steve Simms

We set our clocks back one hour last night. However, let’s don’t just turn the clock back one hour . . . Let’s go all out (whole hog) And turn it back about 1,975 years To another Pentecost — A … Continue reading →

Posted in changing society, Christian, Christian values, Christianity, clocks, daylight savings time, great awakening, move of God, religion, religious innovation, revival, song, soul music, sound of, sound of God, spiritual fire, standard time | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Faithtastic Investment — Venture Faith

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

Venture capital is money invested in upstart, high-potential, high-risk businesses. Venture faith is an investment of trust and obedience in Spirit-led ventures, even when they appear to be very high-risk. Venture faith always produces great spiritual adventure — never religious … Continue reading →

Posted in bored in church, boredom, Christianity, Christianitypreneur, Christianpreneur, faith-based, faithtastic, high risk investment, high-potential, riches, Spirit-led, spiritual adventure, spiritual innovation, venture capital definition, venture faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Drink The Water!

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Steve Simms

Drink the living water of the Spirit. Don’t keep it bottled up. Surrender, taste, and see how amazing and life-transforming is the free-flowing fountain of spiritual life. “I wish Christians would weep the Gospel into people; it would often go … Continue reading →

Posted in battle flag, blood and fire battle flag, bottled water, fountain, from the heart, hurting ones, quench the Spirit, quote, Quotes, real men, shut-down, spiritual life, supernatural, surrender, surrender to God, tears, The Salvation Flag, water, weeping | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Men Gone Wild (Or Are They Just Free In The Spirit?)

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Steve Simms

Recently six men gathered in Nashville, Tennessee and were overcome by  spontaneous praise, worship, celebration, dancing, and prayer; for more than two hours.  Had these men gone wild?  Or were they just free in the Spirit? They were experiencing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Acts of the Apostles, Bible, New Testament, praise and worship, praying, praying community, radical, radical obedience, rare form of Christianity, real presence, religious ceremonies, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Worst Religious Advice I Was Ever Given

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Steve Simms

The worst religious advice I was ever given came when I was a student at Memphis Theological Seminary.  A professor in a preaching class said:  “You need to spend one hour of study for every minute you preach.” Since then … Continue reading →

Posted in academics, Bible study, burning heart, change, change agent, Christ followers, Christian, epidemic, expect change commercial, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, glory days, God, how you catch the flu, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, kingdom of God, kingdom values, Memphis Theological Seminary, moral failure, moral foundations, morality, Music City, religious academics, religious innovation, religious tradition, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, study one hour for every minute you preach | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Is The Church Trying To Teach People To Swim Without Letting Them Get Wet?

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Steve Simms

I heard a very good sermon today.  But while passively sitting and listening to the sermon, I began to think my own thoughts instead. I pondered to myself:  Which is more effective in changing lives —  studied and prepared sermons … Continue reading →

Posted in attention holding, challenging, God, gripping, Holy Spirit, informative, inspirational, instructive, learning to swim, life transforming, living words, Quotations, quote, Quotes, relevation, religion, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments