Category Archives: alternative church

12 Reasons For Being Unchurched & The Berry Street Alternative!

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Steve Simms

12 reasons people give for being unchurched . . . & Nashville’s Salvation Army Berry Street alternative! 1) “Church is boring and repetitious.” — Every Sunday morning at Berry Street is unpredictable and exciting. 2) “Churches are unfriendly.” — People at … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, church for the unchurched, decline of the church, how to reach the unchurched, people leaving church, reaching the unchurched, Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 33 Comments

Dones, Nones, or Son-Runs? (Names For Leaving Church)

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Steve Simms

–Experience the refreshing of Son-run church. “Nones” are people who have no church affiliation. “Dones” are believers who are done with church. “Son-runs” are believers who are done with man-run church but have discovered the spiritual fun of church run … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, decline of the church, organic church, shrinking church, simple church, Spirit-led church | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Catherine Booth Shows That Participatory/Organic Church Is In The Salvation Army DNA

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Steve Simms

Catherine Booth shows that participatory (organic) church is in the DNA of The Salvation Army: “People contend that we must have quiet, proper, decorous services. I say, Where is your authority for this? I defy any man to show it. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14, alternative church, Armybarmy Blog, Berry Street, church, church services, Commissioner Barry Swanson, Hebrews 5:12, New Testament church, participatory church, Quotations, Stephen Court, Tennessee, testimony, unconventional church, you ought to be teachers | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Jeremiah Mandate Meetings — The Holy Spirit Teaches . . .

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Steve Simms

The Holy Spirit is the best Bible teacher ever–better than any preacher, sermon, conference, school, commentary, study guide! All those things have helped me but little and they have trouble keeping my interest.. –However, reading the Bible myself and sensing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, alternative church, alternative lifestyle, Apostle Paul, Bible, Christmas, Don't be afraid, Galatians, hearing God, Holy Spirit, Nashville, Old Testament, Paul of Tarsus, Quotations, Salvation Army, speaking by the Spirit, speaking from the heart, weeping prophet, Where is God? | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Maybe many mini-sermonettes would be a more effective way of doing church than only one 1-man sermon.

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in alternative church, alternative to sermon, mini-sermons, non-traditional church, participatory church, participatory sermons, simple church | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Seeing The Invisible In Organic Church

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Steve Simms

God’s not dead — He’s the world’s best at running church services. When human leadership steps aside and allows God to lead, church services enter into a dynamic new dimension as ordinary people, prompted by the Spirit, show and tell … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Annie Downs, Bill Samuel, church, church in China, interactive church, Jesus in China, Kevin D. Hendricks, mysticism, Quotations, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Nashville, seeing the invisible | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Is a 1-Man Sermon Like A Centipede With Only One Functioning Leg?

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Steve Simms

A church where 1 man does all the talking is like a centipede where only one leg does all the walking.  (See 1 Corinthians 14:26)

Posted in alternative church, alternative to preaching, alternatives to sermons, church meetings, clergy, clergy/laity, clericalism, message, message in church, multi-voiced church, open church, open forum, open mic, organic church, participatory church, participatory sermons, preaching styles, pulpit, pulpit ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The audience of One — (Who should be on the church platform?)

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Steve Simms

The audience of One!  Most churches have a platform or stage that lifts one person (or a few people) above the rest of the people and creates the atmosphere of an audience watching a performance.   However, the New Testament … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, audience, church architecture, church format, church furniture, church leadership, church meetings, church programs, church seating, New Testament, order of worship, organic church, participation in church, participatory church, stage | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

U-Share Church (U2U rather than Pastor2Pew)

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Steve Simms

U-Share church (not U-Haul) flows from U2U rather than from Pastor2Pew.  Here’s an example of U-Share church: When the Communists took over China in 1948 there were only about 2.5 million Christians (of all denominations) in China. In an attempt … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, alternative to preaching, Christianity, church history, church in China, church meetings, organic church, participatory church, participatory culture, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Participatory Church (acrostic)

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Steve Simms

PARTICIPATORY CHURCH (acrostic) P–People A–Attentively R–Responding T–To God’s I–Inner C–Callings I–In order to P–Participate A–Actively T–Together, O–Obeying God’s R–Righteous Y–Yearnings. C–Christ H–Having U–Unhindered & R–Real C–Control in H–His hands. Experience participatory church at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church roles, church services, church structure, churching, house church, how to do church, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Nashville events, Nashville tourist attractions, non-church, non-traditional church, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, order of worship, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Nashville, Salvationism, sermon-free, tag team church, Team Church, Tennessee, the heart of worship, worship center, worship service, worship styles | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments