Open sharing and testimonies in a church service create a spiritual contagion that spreads from heart-to-heart, igniting passionate love for the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ (like the early Pentecostals used to say) is more caught than taught.

The real God visibly working in and through ordinary people, creating a sense of awe and amazement — now that’s church!  Before we “go tell it on the mountain,” maybe we should let ordinary people get out of their pews (chairs) and tell it in the church service!

According to the New Testament, church is which of these two: 1) An audience watching a professional preacher present; or 2) A body of believers encouraging, edifying, and ministering to one another?

Try this:  Gather with some Christ-followers.
Ask Jesus, Himself, to lead the meeting.
Then allow everybody time to listen to His voice
And to say and/or do whatever He tells them to.
–The results will amaze you and transform your life!

Participatory church is not a new thing. The early Quakers practiced it in the 1600s.

They really believed that Jesus was truly present with them when they met together, so they waited quietly, listening for the living Jesus to speak to them. When prompted by Jesus, they obeyed and shared what He told them, with the rest of the group.

In the 21st Century, this style of church still works (because Jesus is still, truly present when believers meet). Come see Jesus in action speaking through ordinary men and women at The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville 37207 on Sunday mornings at 10:45.

On Sunday’s Christians have traditionally liked to hear a sage on a stage; but perhaps it is even more important for us to hear the Guide inside. “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” –Jesus

God enters a hungry, surrendered soul, like a hand slipping into a glove.