Category Archives: alternative church

Christians meeting with heart-felt awareness of Jesus

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Steve Simms

Acute awareness of the risen Jesus requires much more than hearing a talk about Him. It requires direct, personal, ongoing, and interactive encounter with Him. It requires a knowing beyond head knowledge that ignites the heart with awe-filled aha and … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, church, spiritual worship, the heart of worship, unprogrammed, unprogrammed church, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Religious bubble wrap can shrink wrap your relationship with God.

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Steve Simms

Don’t let religion shrink wrap your relationship with God. Show people religion and they get bored (at least after an hour). Show people the risen Jesus and they are captivated and transformed. Religion likes to interpret life. The risen Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, alternative to church, American church, bored in church, boredom in church, casual church, change in church, church burn out, church decline, church hurt, church leadership, church order, church programming, formal religion, organized religion, practical religion, religious innovation, religious meetings, religious questions, religious tradition, religious words, rocking religion, routine religion, true religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to hold a “house church” meeting in your home

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Steve Simms

I first wrote this blog for the ONE Body Life Blog at this link. If you have ever wanted to attend a house fellowship, but couldn’t find one, why not start one yourself? It’s easy. Any believer can do it … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, cell groups, changes in worship, contemporary worship, ekklesia, Friends' worship, heart of worship, Henry Hon, home church, ONE: Unfolding God's Eternal Purpose From House To House, order of worship, Quaker, Quaker worship, spiritual worship, Uncategorized, unconventional worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

#Makechurchekklesiaagain

Posted on February 18, 2018 by Steve Simms

Theologian Emil Brunner taught that Christianity drifted away from ekklesia & into church. “A hashtag does not change anything. It’s a hashtag.” –Shonda Rhimes Here’s a fresh, new hashtag for those who want to go beyond church as usual:  #Makechurchekklesiaagain … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, alternative to church, Beyond Church, change in church, Christian church, church experiment, ecclesia, ecclesiastical, ecclesiological, ecclesiologist, ekklesias, hashtags, house church, make church ekklesia again, organic church, organic church blogs, quotation, Quotations, quote, simple church, theologians, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Home again? Home again ecclesiology!

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Steve Simms

“Ecclesiology” is a big sounding word. It also has a really big sounding definition: “theology as applied to the nature and structure of the Christian Church.” However, Christianity didn’t begin as formal church (needing an academic course of study), tightly … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, alternative Christianity, alternative church, assembly of God, church history, early church, Henry Hon, house church, lost and restored, lost word of the Bible, New Testament church, ONE: Unfolding God's Eternal Purpose From House To House, rethink church, rethinking church, simple church, theologians, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What happened to The Salvation Army Berry Street?

Posted on October 14, 2017 by Steve Simms

Numerous people have asked Ernie (my wife) and me what happened to Berry Street and why we are no longer there. If you have read some of my blog posts, then you already know a lot about The Salvation Army Berry … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult Rehabilitation Center, alternative church, ARC, church, ekklesia, nontraditional church, organic chruch, Salvation Army, Salvation Army ARC, Salvation Army Berry Street, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Flag, Salvation Army Nashville, Salvation army officers, Salvation Army soldiers, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pics beyond the church norm

Posted on April 15, 2017 by Steve Simms

Searching for living water? Check out Beyond Church. It’s beautiful to go beyond church as usual and let the risen Jesus be the One in charge of the meeting!

Posted in agendaless church, alternative church, Christian spirituality, church, church reform, church refugees, church revitalization, church without a program, contemporary church, ekklesia, home church, institutional church, kinds of church, open church, open mic church, rivers of living water, speaking in church, spiritual church, spirituality, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus, be our CEO!

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Steve Simms

Let’s huddle up around Jesus & then let everybody do what He tells them to! Christians need to obey the risen Christ. A divided house can’t stand. Saying, “Jesus is Lord (Absolute Master),” we must let Him be Lord of His … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Beyond Church, church leadership, church order, Cindy Jacobs, communicating the Gospel, contemporary worship, ekklesia, Head of the church, house church, Jesus is Lord, Matthew 6:33, obey God rather than men, simple church, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Say, “So long,” to going solo

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Steve Simms

Church services are tame; but 1st century worship meetings were wild. (See Acts.) When Jesus got connected to religion in people’s minds, Christianity became passive. Religion is tame, but follow & obey the risen Jesus & you’ll never be the same! Team … Continue reading →

Posted in aggressive Christianity, alternative Christianity, alternative church, body of Christ, Christian community, Christianity, emergent Christianity, normal Christianity, organic chruch, the laborers are few, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Insider ideas for innerpreneurs

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Steve Simms

Christ-followers need to be innerpreneurs & find fresh ways to shine God’s light. He who thinks he is an expert at Christianity, misunderstands what it is. Beginner Christ-followers just love on Jesus, experts get caught up in religion. When an expert runs a … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative Christianity, alternative church, alternative to church, alternatives to sermons, Holy Spirit, innovation, ordination, preaching credentials, priesthood of all believers, Quotations, releasing creativity, religious innovation, spiritual innovation, Uncategorized, universal priesthood, worship innovation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment