Category Archives: alternative church

416 unprogrammed worship meetings @ Berry Street

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Steve Simms

I am amazed and deeply moved to be a part of celebrating 416 unprogrammed worship gatherings at The Salvation Army Berry Street this Sunday! What a joy it has been to go beyond church with so many dear brothers and sisters … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, East Nashville, ekklesia, house church, open church, participatory church, simple church, Tennessee, Uncategorized, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meetings, worship | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Cereal, cars, & church alternatives . . .

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Steve Simms

If for many centuries, almost everyone in the world who ate breakfast always had some brand of cereal, we would think it strange if a few people started talking and writing about having pancakes for breakfast. Breakfast cereal eaters might … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Beyond Church, change in church, change management, changes in worship, ekklesia, fresh expressions, house church, lay testimonies, messy church, nontraditional church, personal testimonies, Quakers, salvation testimonies, simple church, Spirit-led, Uncategorized, unprogrammed meetings | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The ministry of the Holy Spirit

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Steve Simms

Have you experienced the glorious ministry of the Holy Spirit? –The Bible says that the ministry of the Spirit is greater than the glory on Mt. Sinai as the mountain burned and Moses’ face glowed! “Now if the ministry that … Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Corinthians, alternative Christianity, alternative church, Beyonds, church burn out, dechurched, ekklesia, glory of God, house church, It's Supernatural, nones, organic chruch, simple church, supernatural, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Posted on January 23, 2016 by Steve Simms

–“Nones have said, “No church.” –“Dones” have said, “Goodbye, church.” –“Beyonds” have said, “Hello, ekklesia!” For those who want to reach the “Nones, the “Dones,” and the “Beyonds:” –Peter and John, whom the Bible calls “unschooled, ordinary men,” said: “We … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative Christianity, alternative church, Beyond Church, book of Acts, ekklesia, people leaving church, Peter and John, the things that we have seen and heard, Uncategorized, We cannot help but speak | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Church is not a place to hide your light

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Steve Simms

How did church become a place to hide the light that shines in your heart? Why do we bring our light to church and then keep it hidden “under a bowl” in our heart? “He (Jesus) said to them, ‘Do … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Beyond Church, house church, how we do church, open church, open mic church, organic church, organic church blogs, participatory church, purpose of church, questioning church, rethinking church, sharing in church, simple church, Spirit-led church, testimonies in church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Tag Team Blog # 2 — Your questions about participatory church . . .

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Steve Simms

I would appreciate you helping me write this Tag Team Blog. Please post any questions and/concerns you have about participatory church in the comments. I will do my best to answer them. Thanks for your help!

Posted in alternative church, fresh expressions, messy church, organic church, pagan Christianity, participatory church, questions, tag team | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Have We Put Christ In Jail?

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Steve Simms

Perhaps we have locked Christ up with our logic, with our logistics, and with our liturgies (both formal and informal) to the point that we have lost His direct leading both in church meetings and in our individual lives. Have we … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, church programming, God-gatherings, organic church, religious meetings, Spirit-led | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Guess Who Came From Arkansas 2 Visit Nashville’s Berry Street?

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Steve Simms

A Facebook friend, William Pratt, wrote this about his visit to a participatory worship service at The Salvation Army Berry Street: Last fall my wife and I had the privilege of visiting a church in Nashville, TN on a Sunday … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, church, Nashville tourism, participatory church, visiting Nashville | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Challenge & Encouragement From The New Book: “Building Blocks of Spiritual Leadership”

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Steve Simms

Yesterday I received a gift in the mail.  It is a new book called Building Blocks of Spiritual Leadership by Commissioner William W. Francis (retired commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory of The Salvation Army) published by Triumph Publishing and Crest Books. As … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, books, building blocks of spiritual leadership, Canada, Commissioner William Francis, Crest Books, Nashville, Quotations, Salvation Army Corps, territory, Triumph Publishing, USA, William W. Francis | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church Orbiting The Son!

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Steve Simms

(I wrote this poem this morning about 7 years at Berry Street and [to my surprise] it made the shape of a “leaning 7” on the right hand side. The 3 plus signs at the end [+++] represent the 3 … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Berry Street, Egypt, Jerrico, Joseph, Lara Landon, promptings of the Spirit, Quotes, simple church, Spirit-led, testimonies in church, the walls fall down | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments