Monthly Archives: April 2015

Is a 2017 Church Reformation Coming?

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Steve Simms

The Protestant Reformation began on Oct. 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of  All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany. A 500th anniversary is coming up in 2017. So here’s a challenge.  Complete this sentence: If … Continue reading →

Posted in 1517, 2017, Germany, Head of the church, history, one anothering, one anothers, priesthood of the believer, universal priesthood, Wittenbert | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Facilitating Group Surrender 2 The Risen Christ

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Steve Simms

Should church present programs about the religious Christ? Or surrender to the real presence of the risen Christ? What would happen if church leaders shifted from being public speakers under the spotlight, to being spiritual facilitators creating an environment where … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian support group, Holy Spirit teacher, I will build my church, improv, Mark Batterson, On this rock, Peter, support groups | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Tethered or Untethered?

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Steve Simms

Tethered or untethered? Should church be allowed to soar with the Spirit or be consistently contained and controlled by confining cables? I’ve been up in a tethered hot air balloon.  We went straight up to the end of the tether (about 50 … Continue reading →

Posted in balloon challenge, balloon flights, basket, fun with balloons, lighter than air, Nashville, organic church, Salvation Army, soaring in the Spirit, tethered, tethered balloon, untethered | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Words Written In A Nashville House Fulfilled More Than A Century Later

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Steve Simms

These words from the 1880s were written by a man who lived in this Nashville house. They describe John Berry McFerrin’s experience with a non-traditional style church meeting as a young man in the 1830s. He wrote: “The meetings were greatly … Continue reading →

Posted in Class meeting, historic Nashville homes, houses in Nashville, Methodist class meeting, Nashville, Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Game Fixing Breaks Sports Integrity — What About Church Fixing?

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Steve Simms

Game fixing occurs when a sporting event is made to follow a completely or partially predetermined result.  (When the same thing is done in church, is it “church fixing”?) So what’s wrong with game fixing? Game fixing drastically changes the nature … Continue reading →

Posted in doping, International Olympic Committee, IOC, Jacques Rogge, Olympics, Quotes | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

In the Bible is a church meeting a showcase for one man’s ministry or an interactive Christ-centered community?

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christ-centered community, interactive church, ministry showcase, one man ministry | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Let God’s Geysers Gush! (A 1-man monologue or mosaic of many messages?)

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Steve Simms

How may people should be allowed to talk in a church meeting? Did God design church meetings to be 1-man monologue?  Or mosaic of many messages? Perhaps we need tag team time — time for taking turns talking in church meetings. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, church mosaics, facilitation, Nashville, organic church, Salvation Army, tag team, unprogrammed meetings, you can all prophesy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

de Gaulle or de Bible?

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Steve Simms

de Gaulle or de Bible? Charles de Gaulle said: “Church is the only place where someone speaks to me and I do not have to answer back.” Here’s what de Bible says about that: “Two or three prophets should speak, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, France, French history, lost and found, Nashille, prophets, Quotations, Salvation Army, simple church | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Olive the reasons I took my picture with an olive.

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Steve Simms

Here are olive the reasons I posed for a picture with an olive. I needed to liven up my picture, so I put an olive in it! “Even when seen from near, the olive shows a hue of far away.”  –Richard … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonnie Lyn Smith, Habakkuk 3:17, olive branch, olive oil, olive puns, Olive Schreiner, Psalm 52, Quotations, Richard Wilbur, Romans 11, symbol of peace, Though the fig tree does not | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

American money says “In God we trust,” but do we?

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Steve Simms

America’s official motto is “In God we trust.” It’s even printed on American money? Do we trust in God? Do we really trust . . . In the Deity or in the dollar? In God or in government? In faith … Continue reading →

Posted in church programs, experiencing God, faith, God and country, God on money, government, justice, military, Spirit-promptings | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment