Category Archives: church format

Nodding heads aren’t a sign of spiritual awakening!

Posted on December 8, 2022 by Steve Simms

It’s sad that in most churches spontaneous sleeping is permitted, but spontaneous testifying about the living Jesus isn’t. Perhaps we’ve cultivated the wrong kind of spontaneity. How many nodding heads does it take before we realize that church is putting … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian spirituality, church attendance, church format, revival, spiritual awakening, testifying in church | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus didn’t say to follow a preacher, a program, or a curriculum. He said: “Follow Me.”

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Steve Simms

Doing my daily Bible reading, I saw Paul describe a Christ-led support group in Romans 1:11-12. He wrote: “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible one anothers, Bible teaching, church format, church program, church programming, curriculum, curriculum-free, encouragement, faith, mutual ministry, one anothers, preacher, teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ-seminar or Christ-encounter?

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Steve Simms

Let’s trade Sunday morning Christ-seminars for Christ-encounters. Why should we meet for a weekly Christ-seminar when we can meet to encounter Christ through one another? This is described in 1 Corinthians 14:26. When a person in a pulpit replaces the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, CEO pastor, Christian conferences, church format, church services, church structure, house church, organic chruch, pastor, pastoring, preaching, seminars, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, traditional church, Uncategorized, When you come together | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Your heart’s condition is more important than how you worship . . .

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Steve Simms

The most important thing in worship . . . –Writing about Christ-followers meeting according to 1 Corinthians 14:26 where ordinary people are free to share as they feel prompted by the Spirit, I can get overly enthusiastic and perhaps come … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church organization, church program, church programming, contemporary church, control in church, going to church, how to do church, how to get involved in church, kinds of church, making church interesting, messy church, religiious texting, rethinking church, seeker-church, texting, texting in church, the perfect church, types of church, Uncategorized, What is church?, worship planning, worship service, worship wars | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Some things the Bible never said:

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Steve Simms

The Bible never said: “When you come together, everyone sits quietly and listens to the same man speak, week after week.” However, the Bible did say: “When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, church, church format, church meetings, church program, church programming, church roles, clergy, clergy laity, Jeff Hurt, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Meetings magazine, plan your meetings, priesthood of the believer, royal priesthood, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Why do churches ignore this Scripture?

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Steve Simms

Our intention at The Salvation Army Berry Street is to implement the Bible’s mostly ignored instructions, introduced in 1 Corinthians 14:26, that inform Christ-followers what to do “When you come together.” We believe that this inspired idea of participatory interaction … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14, 1 Corinthians 14:26, bored in church, church format, making church more participatory, participatory church, participatory sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Steve Simms

Audience-style church keeps people passive and contained. –Testimony-style church (ekklesia) allows people to flow in the Spirit according to 1 Corinthians 14:26. (Check out this article about testimony church in Priority! magazine, the magazine of The Salvation Army USA Eastern Territory: The Berry … Continue reading →

Posted in agendaless church, attending church, audience, back to church, church format, church order, organic chruch, simple church, testimonies in church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

got God’s glory? (Let the Spirit steer it!)

Posted on October 25, 2014 by Steve Simms

got God’s glory? (Let the Spirit steer it!) With despair everywhere, we desperately need a perspective that peers past the pain that persistently pounds us and beholds the glory of God! But flesh and blood cannot reveal God’s glory to … Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Corinthians 3:8, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, glory, glory of God, glory on Moses' face, God's presence, got God?, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit promptings, leading of the Spirit, ministry of the Spirit, miracles, Music City, organic church, Spirit-led, unplanned church, unprogrammed church | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Soccer church? Or American football church?

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Steve Simms

  American football style church = the quarterback (pastor) is responsible for getting the ball (the Gospel) to others. Soccer style church = any player can move the ball and/or pass it to others.

Posted in church community, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church structure, interactive church, interactive learning, interactive sermons, interactivity, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, participatory sermons, pastor, quarterback, simple church | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Safe Church — Unlocking God’s Glory!

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Steve Simms

In the New Testament church was awesomely filled with the Presence of God.  How can the 21st Century church recover the lost combination for God’s glory in our meetings? While thinking about this, a scene suddenly came to my mind.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, church community, church format, church meetings, church safe, early church, experiencing God, experiential worship, God, God's glory, how to recover a lost combination, lost combination, mysticism, New Testament, New Testament church, organic church, Paul of Tarsus, releasing God's glory, religion, safe in church, tradition, traditional church, worship, worship innovation | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments