Monthly Archives: February 2014

3 Categories of “Church” in the 21st Century

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Steve Simms

3 Categories of “Church” Services in the 21st Century1) “Church” services that deny God’s existance (“atheist church”);2) Church services that present programs & talks about God;3) Church services that depend on and actively demonstrate God’s real presence and power.#s 1 … Continue reading →

Posted in atheistic church, church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, deny God, types of church | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Purpose of Church — Running Religious Programs or Connecting People With Christ?

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Steve Simms

The purpose of church is not to run religious programs.  The purpose of church is to help people connect with, follow, and daily obey the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. When people begin to listen to Jesus and do what He … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church structure, organic church, prompting of the Spirit, promptings, purpose of church, simple church, Spirit-led interaction | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Curriculum-Free Sunday School

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Steve Simms

Curriculum-free Sunday school?  Yes!  Why has church bound the Bible to Sunday school curriculum booklets, when it can speak directly to & through ordinary people? For years I have led curriculum-free adult Sunday school classes.  When this concept is first … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Bible study, book, booklet, curriculum-free, Ephesians, Holy Spirit, interactive Bible class, participatory Bible study, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Sunday school classes, Sunday school ideas | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tell it! Boldly Tell The Good News About Jesus Christ!

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Steve Simms

It is necessary to use words!  “Go tell it on the mountain and everywhere.”  “Speak the truth in love.”  “Shout it from the housetops.”  “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”  “The righteous are as … Continue reading →

Posted in as bold as a lion, eternal life, go into all the world and preach the gospel, go tell it on the mountain, good news, Gospel, Gospel of Matthew, Great Commission, If necessary use words, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love, Matthew 28, mission field, missional, missionary, missions, outreach, outreach ministry, shout it from the housetops, speak the truth in love | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Christ calls us to love those who disagree with us, because true love is not based on agreement.

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in hate, tolerance | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

God is not a seasoning to occasionally sprinkle on your life. God is the source of and the reason for your life — a 24/7/365 necessity.

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in 24/7/365, Christ's presence, Christianity, faith | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Mother Teresa Called Abortion “War Against The Child”

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Steve Simms

Mother Teresa once spoke at a Presidential Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC.  As Vice President Al Gore was seated on one side of her and President Bill Clinton and Hillary on the other, she said this: “I feel that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Al Gore, Bill Clinton, DC, hate, hatred, Hillary Clinton, Joseph M. Stowell, Meister Eckhart, President, pro choice, pro life, prochoice, prolife, quotation, quote, Quotes, right to life, rights, Washington | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Pope Francis & Participatory Church

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Steve Simms

Pope Francis has made several statements that indicate that he wants church meetings to be more than passively listening to sermons. We need to allow the living, resurrected Jesus to come out in church meetings and use ordinary people. Pope … Continue reading →

Posted in Bergoglio, Bergogolio, Chris Lowney, clergy, clericalism, dialogue, God's surprises, Jesuit Pope, Jesuits, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Nashville, organic church, Quotations, quote, Quotes, Roman Catholic, Rome, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermons, simple church, Tennessean, witness, witnesses | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The TruTh = 3 Crosses T T T

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Steve Simms

The TruTh was shown to the world by 3 crosses — T T T. On one side was an angry, bitter thief; On the other a remorseful thief seeking forgiveness; And in the center the One whose love transforms lives; … Continue reading →

Posted in crucified with Christ, crucifixion, death of Christ, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is alive, passion of Christ, the passion, thief on the cross | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

New Page Church = Purch/Participatory Church

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Steve Simms

Perhaps it is time for the 21st Century Western church to turn the page and flip through the Bible, stopping at the one place in the New Testament where we are told how to do church:  “When you come together, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Chinua Achebe, cleansing the temple, David James Duncan, Hillary Clinton, It takes a village, kingdom of God, narrow is the way, Nashville, Nashville church, New Testament, participatory church, participatory culture, simple church, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, the Western church, Things Fall Apart | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments