Category Archives: church meetings

A led life or a life of lead?

Posted on January 6, 2018 by Steve Simms

Live a led life! Jesus said, “Follow Me,” calling us to be directly led by Him. When Christ lives in us, we don’t need a script, a technique, or a church program because we have His presence directing us from within! … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ followers, church, church meetings, church program, church programming, ekklesia, family of God, God's army, Holy Spirit promptings, inner prompting, prompted by the Spirit, spiritual promptings, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beyond “services” to meetings . . .

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Steve Simms

It’s time to let God go & let Him take control both of your life & of His gathered people. Churches have services; but ekklesia & AA & NA & Al-Anon have meetings. Practicing the presence of God by yourself … Continue reading →

Posted in AA meetings, Al-Anon, alcohol rehab, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, Berry Street, body of Christ, celebrate recovery, Christ-centered recovery, Christian meetings, Christian recovery, Christian support group, church meetings, class meetings, effective meetings, NA meetings, organic chruch, recovery groups, recovery quotes, religious meetings, support groups, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Group dynamics & community meetings

Posted on April 26, 2017 by Steve Simms

Group dynamics is the process of people in a group interacting with one another. When one person controls a meeting it completely shuts down group dynamics. Let’s go beyond merely instructing spectators to facilitating good group dynamics. Group dynamics are … Continue reading →

Posted in AA meetings, church meetings, ekklesia, group interaction, leadership training, NA meetings, participation in meetings, spiritual training, training, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Letting church cruise on Christ-contol

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Steve Simms

Across the USA church is in decline. Perhaps it is time to set church on Christ-control and let Jesus freely cruise trough the meeting. There’s nothing like a Christ-led gathering when we put aside human agendas and control and simply let … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, alternative to church, Christ control, church meetings, church services, churching, contemporary church, ekklesia, Greek city-states, house church, House of Prayer, how to do church, open church, open forum, praise and worship, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, town meeting, Uncategorized, When you come together, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gloria Gaither reviewed “Beyond Church”

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Steve Simms

In the current issue of Homecoming Magazine, Gloria Gaither reviewed Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible — Ekklesia. Here are some excerpts from Gloria’s Library column: “The way we worship and get our souls fed is changing. Oh, I … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Acts, Because He Lives, body of Christ, book of Acts, church, church meetings, family of God, Gospel, Gospel music, Greek New Testament, Greek word, I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God, kingdom of God, music, organic church, participatory church, persecution, simple church, Southern Gospel, Sweet Sweet Spirit, Uncategorized, Western Christianity, Western culture, Western society, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Are sermons working or just keeping up appearances?

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Steve Simms

Are sermons working or just keeping up appearances? Will a talk about religion give you the personal power to walk out your faith in daily life? * When church people recommend sleazy entertainment on social media; sermons aren’t working; * … Continue reading →

Posted in church decline, church meetings, church refugees, church services, church speakers, church teachers, homiletics, homily, house church, lecture, lecture in church, message, message in church, organic chruch, religious talks, sermon series, simple church, Uncategorized | 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

Meet Ekklesia (and never be the same)

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Steve Simms

Church is a group of people meeting to  passively watch a religious program. Ekklesia is a Spirit-directed family gathering of Christ-followers.  = a God-gathering. Church tries to function as a 1-man team (which is an oxymoron). However, ekklesia makes every … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts 2, alternative to church, awe, Bert M. Farias, Catherine Booth, church meetings, organic church, religion, Smith Wigglesworth, spirituality | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Does AA Have Something That Churches Need?

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Steve Simms

Does AA have something that churches need? Perhaps. Why should AA have all the good participatory meetings? –Alcoholics Anonymous has proven that meetings based on open sharing and participation are powerful tools that set people free! They just celebrated their … Continue reading →

Posted in church meetings, free, gladiators, happy, Joyous, organic church, participatory church, revival | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is a one-man sermon like one-man soccer? (Getting a kick out of soccer.)

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Steve Simms

Getting a kick out of soccer . . . While watching a soccer (football) game, I noticed that no one person kept constant control of the soccer ball. Instead the ball was being headed, kicked, passed, run, and rolled all over the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, church meetings, church program, creativity, Desmond Tutu, French horns, get a kick out of soccer, goalies, goalkeepers, interactive church, lessons from soccer, open church, organic church, participatory church, players, popularity of soccer, Richard Foster, sermon, simple church, soccer ball, soccer game, Tiffeny Milbrfett | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments