Monthly Archives: June 2013

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

Church — A Showcase Of The Holy Spirit

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

All the people in a church service can speak (according to the Bible): “You can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.” (1 Corinthians 14:31).  So where did the idea of only one person speaking … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, gifts of the Spirit, idle knowledge, non-church, one-man sermon, open church, open mike, order of worship, organic church, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, sermon, sermon series, sermon-hearing, service, showcase, Tennessee, testimonies, testimony, W.E.B. DuBois, you can all prophesy | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Deciding What To Do With Desires

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

Most people would agree that some human desires should be resisted (the desire to commit suicide, for instance).  However, how do you decide which human desires to obey and which to resist?  Here are some questions to ask: Is the … Continue reading →

Posted in accountability, approval, character, compliance, compromise, compulsion, contemporary society, cravings, debate, deceipt, decision-making, discipline, disrespect, family values, harmful habit, harmful thinking, holiness, Jesus, Jesus Christ, moral decision, moral failure, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral leaders, moral principles, moral restraints, morals, New Testament, purity, respect, respect for life, results, right and wrong, right conduct, right from wrong, right living, righteousness, selfish desires, selfishness, society, suicide, virtues, world religions | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Right To Speak Out (In Church)

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps it’s time for church members (according to 1 Corinthians 14:26) to revive their right to speak out in church services.

Posted in church format, church meetings, church programs, church services, non-church, non-liturgical, non-traditional church, nonconforming, open church, open mike, order of worship, organic church, participants, participators, participatory church, religious ceremonies, rights, share, sharing, simple church, simplicity, speaking, speaking out, speech making, testimonies, testimony | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

God’s voice is heard in humble, human hearts.

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Steve Simms

God’s voice is not heard through hype, hoopla, or hierarchy; it is heard in humble, human hearts.  In the Bible, church is not a preplanned program, but God’s powerful presence being poured out on people! (See Acts 2).  When believers … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church leader, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, God, God calling, God's voice, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, Music City, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Salvation Army church, sermon, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, The Voice, tradition, voice of God | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

My Favorite Prayer

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Steve Simms

Famous prayers include:  the Lord’s Prayer, the Serenity Prayer, the Prayer of St. Francis, Jesus’ Prayer On The Cross, the Sinner’s Prayer, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, and The Jesus Prayer. Once the Tennessean asked me what is … Continue reading →

Posted in forgive them for they know not what they do, Holy Spirit, Jesus' prayer on the cross, list, Lord's Prayer, Now I lay me down to sleep, pray for one another, prayer list, Prayer of St. Francis, praying in the Spirit, praying in tongues, Serenity Prayer, Sinner's Prayer, speaking in tongues, spirit, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual gifts, spiritual skills, supernatural praying, Tennessean, The Jesus Prayer, unknown tongues | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Church Piano or Piano Church?

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Steve Simms

Church is like a piano.  Here is a piano lesson for the church. A piano has 88 keys, 52 white & 36 black. But what if 87 keys are stuck and only one key is free to make a sound? … Continue reading →

Posted in black keys, church format, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, Holy Spirit, How many keys on a piano?, keys, music, Music City, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Nashville events, non-church, non-traditional church, piano keys, piano lessons, religion, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, The Salvation Army, tickle the ivories, white keys | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

We all need forgiveness and the freedom to “go and sin no more.”

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in gives grace to the humble, Go and sin no more, Gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Quotations, quote, Quotes, renewing your mind, repent, repentance, salvation, self-control, self-discipline, self-image, self-respect, self-will, selfish desires, selfishness, sin, spiritual formation, spiritual life, spiritual power, spiritual transformation, spiritual warfare, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is Christ Preempted In Church Services?

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Steve Simms

Is Christ preempted in church services? What would you think if you went to a meeting to hear a special speaker and the person who was supposed to introduce the speaker stood up and spoke for 30 minutes and then … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, church format, church leader, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, preempted, role of Christ in church, sermon, sermon-hearing, sermons, special speaker, speech making, Team Church | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Normal Christian Fire = Church Ablaze

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Steve Simms

Faith is God’s fire roaring in your heart; not religious ideas resting in the back of your brain. The normal condition of a Christ-follower is to have a heart constantly ablaze with love for God. When normal believers, full of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, church fire, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, faith, faith in God, faith-based, filled with the Spirit, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, organic church, Quench not the Spirit, quench the Spirit, Tennessee | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments