Monthly Archives: September 2013

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

A choir is more than only one person singing. Perhaps a church service should be more than only one person speaking. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26)

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, church structure, one person singing, participation, participatory church | Tagged , , | 3 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

“You’re a victim of disorganized thinking.” –The Wizard of Oz

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Steve Simms

Watching The Wizard of Oz in IMAX 3D in 2013, the wizard’s words to the Scarecrow seemed prophetic from this 1939 movie:  “You’re a victim of disorganized thinking.” Our contemporary culture “is a victim of disorganized thinking.”  “Intellectual freedom” has … Continue reading →

Posted in biblical, biblical morality, conscience, contemporary, contemporary society, entertainment, ethics, evil, feelings, film, God, hedonism, historic moral standards, moral decision, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral restraints, morality, movie, movies, Paul of Tarsus, Philippians 4:8, positive thinking, right and wrong, right conduct, right from wrong, right living, think on these things, victim of disorganized thinking, whatsoeverthings are true | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Absolutely amazing special effects occur when the living, resurrected Jesus Christ is personally allowed to direct a church meeting and to speak through ordinary men and women.

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit promptings, house church, open church, participatory church, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

3 ducks, 2 buzzards & some God thoughts

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

3 ducks & 2 buzzards . . . –Earlier this morning I was on a walk in the woods and felt a prompting to go down a short, narrow path to a creek. However, I didn’t want to do that, … Continue reading →

Posted in and Holy Spirit, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, buzzards, Duck Dynasty show, ducks, hearing God, hearing the Holy Spirit, listening, listening prayer, listening skills, listening to nature, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, promptings, spiritual prompting, The Voice, Trinity, walk in the woods, walking | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

God ideas or God demonstrations?

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

Participatory church presents God as a present reality as ordinary people are filled with wisdom, love, power, eloquence, faith, demonstrations of the Spirit, and the glory of God!  It moves beyond God ideas to God demonstrations. When hot coals are … Continue reading →

Posted in active participants, care enough to send the very best, church services, congregations, demonstrations of the Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, Jesus Take The Wheel, membership, open church, order of worship, participants, participation, participatory church, quotation, quote, Quotes, Scott Thumma, spiritual fire, spiritual gifts, spontaneity, The Other 80%, Turning Your Church's Spectators, ways of doing church, wisdom, words on fire, worship | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

“There is something evil in our society . . .” –a Washington DC doctor.

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Steve Simms

“There is something evil in our society . . . ” –a Washington DC doctor after a mass shooting in her city in 2013.. Perhaps it is time to admit that something is terribly wrong with contemporary Western society that … Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Chronicles 7:14, America, American, chief medical officer, Dr. Janis Orlowski, ethics, evil in our society, facebook, hate, hatred, heal their land, MedStar Washington Hospital, murders, prayer, prayers, praying, problem of evil, repent, repentance, Thou shall not, why mass shootings | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hearts can explain God so much more effectively that minds can. If you can’t figure God out, slip down 18 inches and let your heart have a try!

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Steve Simms

 

Posted in 18 inches between the head and the heart, encounter with God, encountering God, experiencing God, explaining God, faith in God, God calling, God with us, God-given, hearing God, hearing the Holy Spirit, heart, heart care, heart connection, heart of worship, still small voice, study of God, understanding God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Right To Grab Some Grace (Is An Oxymoron)

Posted on September 14, 2013 by Steve Simms

In a culture that continually demands its rights, it is important to remember that there is not a right to grace.  (That’s an oxymoron.)  You can’t just grab some grace and have it your way, like a fast food burger.  … Continue reading →

Posted in book of James, contemporary society, corrupt culture, culture, fast food, fast food burger, have it your way, have mercy on me a sinner, human rights, If grace is an ocean, Jesus, Jesus prayer, McKay Books, McKay Bookstore, mercy, Nashville, New Testament, on demand, Orthodox, Orthodox monks, parable, Pharisee and the publican, pride, quotation, quote, Quotes, rights, sense of entitlement, sinner, streaming, The Practice of The Presence of God | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments