Category Archives: church programming

Can a church service do more harm than good?

Posted on October 8, 2022 by Steve Simms

Paul told the Corinthian Christians, “Your meetings do more harm than good.’ (1 Corinthians 11:17.) When does a church service do more harm than good? Perhaps . . . 1) When it makes people think they are saved and right … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian church, church, church burn out, church community, church of your choice, church programming, church reform | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Religious curriculum can make you numb, but Christ will give you life!

Posted on October 8, 2022 by Steve Simms

When life weariesAnd overwhelms me,A sermon seriesFull of theoriesIsn’t enoughTo feed my soulAnd make me whole.The risen Jesus is! AwarenessOf swirling aweOpens the wayTo ExperienceThe incomprehensible God. You don’t develop a relationship with Jesus by learning information about Him, but … Continue reading →

Posted in church program, church programming, curriculum, programming worship, unprogrammed, unprogrammed church | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Religious bubble wrap can shrink wrap your relationship with God.

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Steve Simms

Don’t let religion shrink wrap your relationship with God. Show people religion and they get bored (at least after an hour). Show people the risen Jesus and they are captivated and transformed. Religion likes to interpret life. The risen Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, alternative to church, American church, bored in church, boredom in church, casual church, change in church, church burn out, church decline, church hurt, church leadership, church order, church programming, formal religion, organized religion, practical religion, religious innovation, religious meetings, religious questions, religious tradition, religious words, rocking religion, routine religion, true religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church of low expectations

Posted on September 27, 2018 by Steve Simms

First century Christianity filled people with hopeful expectations, supernatural surprises, and life transformation. Why not today? A Christian meeting should freely demonstrate both the humility of the fruit of the Spirit and the power of the gifts of the Spirit. Christianity … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, church programming, church programs, comfort zone, creativity, denial, first century, First Century Church, fruit of the Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, releasing creativity, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Go off the map — Jesus is the way!

Posted on June 14, 2018 by Steve Simms

Go off the map. Break out of your programming. Be led by the risen Jesus. He is the way. Follow Him! Church sits in idle. But ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to start your engines! True Christianity isn’t a cold … Continue reading →

Posted in choice of lifestyle, church, church programming, getting fed in church, Give a man a fish and you feed him, lecture, lifestyle evangelism, lifestyles, not being fed in church, preaching, priesthood of all believers, priesthood of the believer, royal priesthood, see a sermon, sermon, sermon material, true Christianity, Uncategorized, universal priesthood | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A meeting of Jesus’ people should be like a mighty waterfall

Posted on May 6, 2018 by Steve Simms

The “gifts of the Spirit” are really “flows” of the Spirt–not handed to you externally, but flowing from within you. (John 7:38) You can’t grow strong in Christ if you have given a no-go to the Spirit’s inner flow. Jesus said; … Continue reading →

Posted in church programming, church services, God's flow, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit flow, inner flow, sermons, Spirit's flow, spiritual flow, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual innovation, spiritual intoxication, spiritual movement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bible Belt question: “Where do you go to church?”

Posted on April 15, 2018 by Steve Simms

I grew up in the part of the United States called the Bible Belt where people in casual conversation would ask: “Where do you go to church?” Like church around the Western World, church attendance in the Bible Belt has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian history, Christianity, church decline, church history, church of your choice, church programming, fruit of the Spirit, history, the Western church, Uncategorized, Western Europe, Western religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Would Jesus say: “Religion forgot Me for monotony.”

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Steve Simms

Christians often meet like robots–tightly programmed and controlled. Christians need to be allowed to freely express Christ, not just to contain Him locked down in their hearts. After all, it’s hard to be a passive lump on a church pew when … Continue reading →

Posted in audience, audience of One, Bible, church programming, church programs, ecclesia, ecclesiastical, ecclesiological, ecclesiology, ekklesia, fire in church, fire in the heart, inner Light, let your light shine, light, light of Christ, ministry, ministry of the Spirit, spiritual fire, Uncategorized, work of the ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

A one-man talk or dynamic interaction?

Posted on December 3, 2017 by Steve Simms

Billions of Christians advocate for sermons. So why shouldn’t a few of us advocate for open sharing instead?  What God is doing inside of you is important. You need to be allowed to share it! If we don’t think the … Continue reading →

Posted in church programming, church programs, control, control in church, controlling pastors, open sharing, pastors, sharing in church, spiritual gifts, thinking too small, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment