Category Archives: Christian community

Defeated Christians are not part of God’s plan

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Steve Simms

Defeated Christians, overcome by the world and caught up in ungodly cravings and complusions, are not part of God’s plan. We can only be defeated when we walk away from God’s will. However, in the 21 Century, many of us … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian community, Christian living, comfort zone, community, Confess you sins, confession, confessional, defeated Christians, deny yourself, depression, freedom in Christ, holiness, overcoming depression, overcoming evil, overcoming obstacles, overcoming setbacks, overcoming temptation, personal testimonies, priesthood of the believer, Quotes, repentance, self-denial, sin, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Church = Audience? Or Team?

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Steve Simms

Is a church service with only one speaker like a band with only one instrument? (That’s an oxymoron, isn’t it?) Jesus said: “New wine must be poured into new wine skins.” If we want the new wine of the Holy Spirit, perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, agreeing in prayer, audience, Beyond Church, binding and loosing, Christian community, ekklesia, Greek city-states, Greek word for, house church, Matthew 18:20, organic chruch, simple church, team, the lost of the Bible, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

I’m amazed at how God leads me to books that confirm what He’s telling me . . .

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Steve Simms

I love how God leads me to books. It has happened regularly for decades. I feel like I’m on God’s reading program. About a week ago I was walking in Glascow, Kentucky and saw a Salvation Army Thrift Store that … Continue reading →

Posted in body of Christ, Book Cellar, Christian community, Crossville, Elton Trueblood, Future of the Church, Glascow, Howard H. Brinton, Jim Kallam, Kentucky, Salvation Army Thrift Store, small groups, teamwork, Tennessee, Tony Dungy | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“Dones” or “Beyonds”?

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Steve Simms

Meet the Beyonds —The Dones are people who have given up on church and dropped out. –The Beyonds are people who realize that biblically church is supposed to be so much more than what we have made it. Beyonds want to move beyond … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, back to church, Bible, Bible quotes, called out ones, Christ the Head of the church, Christian community, Come unto Me all you who are weary, Don Finto's books, ekklesia, gifts of the Spirit, Go into all the world, having a form of godliness but denying the power, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, led by the Spirit, Nashville, preach the gospel, Prepare, walk in the light, William Tyndale | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Church — Educational or Mystical?

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Steve Simms

Historically church has been seen as educational –communicating concepts about God (especially since the Protestant Reformation). –Biblically church is seen as a mystical portal — presenting the actual presence of the living Christ. (“Where two or three gather in my … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian community, Christian education, Christian mysticism, Christian spirituality, Matthew 18:20, Nashville, organic church, Salvation Army, Tom Robbins, Where two are three are gathered | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“God is continually calling us outside of our boxes.” –Nashville’s Most Unusual Church

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Steve Simms

Answer the call — experience community — at The Salvation Army Berry Street! –“God is continually calling us out of our boxes . . . To meet another person outside of our boxes is to experience genuine community.” —James C. … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Christian community, community organizer, gifts of the Spirit, organic church, revival, Salvation Army church, worship | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Puzzle Pieces, Potluck, & Permitting Every Person (Not Just The Parson) 2 Participate

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Steve Simms

“Daddy, look at my puzzle,” said a little boy carrying a single puzzle piece. “That’s not a puzzle, son,” the father replied. “That’s just one piece.” When we focus a church meeting on the performance of one, single piece, week … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian community, Christianity, organic church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Søren Kierkegaard Promoted Sermon-Free, Participatory Church

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Steve Simms

Søren Kierkegaard Promoted Sermon-Free, Participatory Church “Christianity should not be lectured about. Christ says, my teaching is food. Christ has not appointed assistant-professors — but followers.” –Søren Kierkegaard “The greatest possible error arises when we reduce the clergy to teachers. … Continue reading →

Posted in acting, Christian community, church format, church meetings, church programs, church services, clergy, clergy/laity, clericalism, doctrine, dogma, eloquence, lecture, life, lifestyle Christianity, non-traditional church, nonconforming, obedience, open church, oratory, order of worship, organic church, participation in church, participatory church, preach without words, preacher, preaching, professors, quotation, quote, Quotes, reasoning, religion, religious academics, religious tradition, Søren Kierkegaard, sermon, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, sermons, simple church, teaching, witnesses | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Talking About Jesus Like He’s Not In The Room

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Steve Simms

This was inspired by Kim Walker with Jesus Culture lyrics to You Won’t Relent:  “I don’t want to talk about You like You’re not in the room.  I want to look right at You, I want to sing right to … Continue reading →

Posted in Alphonsus Liguori, Christ, Christ in you, Christ in you the hope of glory, Christ's presence, Christ-centered, Christian community, Church of Christ, church programs, church services, church structure, hearing God, hearing Jesus, historical Jesus, I don't want to talk about You like You're not in the room, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is alive, Jesus rose, live and unrehearsed, live church, living words, lyrics, open church, open sharing, organic church, presence of Christ, presence of God, quotation, quote, Quotes, real presence, religious ceremonies, resurrection of Jesus, seek God's face, simple church, spiritual combat, spiritual flow, spiritual power, spiritual presence, spiritual reality, testifying, testimonies, testimonies in church, testimony, voice of God | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

1 Speaking to All? Or All Speaking To All?

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Steve Simms

Church is when a group of believers gathers together around the living, resurrected Jesus Christ and focuses their attention on listening to His voice and doing whatever He tells them to do. Church is when the living Christ, in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian community, church leadership, church programs, church services, church speakers, clergy/laity, community, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, how to do church, laity, laymen, laywomen, participation, participation in church, participatory church, participatory sermons, praying community, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, priesthood of the believer, sermons, simple church, speaking, speaking out, voice of God, What is church?, When you come together, where two or three in My name, why go to church, worship, worship service | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments