Category Archives: church programs

Sincere criticism can help make church better

Posted on May 29, 2023 by Steve Simms

Pastors don’t have a right to demand that they not be criticized. Wise pastors welcome criticism because they realize that they need the accountability. A pastor who demands that people in the congregation not disagree with Him has a lot … Continue reading →

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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

Beyond sermon-hearing to Spirit-hearing

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Steve Simms

Christ experienced is much more powerful than Christ explained. The “let the preacher do it” mentality has crippled contemporary Christianity. However, Jesus never said: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the preacher says.” (He said, “Let them hear what the … Continue reading →

Posted in art of listening, Bible reading, body of Christ, church programs, cost of discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, disciple making, discipleship, Great Commission, homiletics, homily, how the body of Christ functions, how to be a disciple, listening, listening to God, preaching, spiritual growth, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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 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

Jesus ain’t a program; He is Lord!

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Steve Simms

Christians usually meet to be passively instructed. Perhaps we could also meet to exercise our faith & spiritual gifts, with one another. Where there is no caring interaction there is no sense of community. (A church in Smyrna experienced life-changing … Continue reading →

Posted in apostles, Christian leadership, church elders, church leadership, church order, church programming, church programs, church teachers, evangelists, leadership, movies, pastor-teachers, pastors, prophets, servant leadership, shepherds, teachers, Uncategorized, you ought to be teachers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Road to 95: 95 Theses 4 Reformation #5: Set aside human agendas & programs & let the risen Jesus lead.

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Steve Simms
Posted in church programs, Uncategorized, unprogrammed, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meeting | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus Christ MC (emcee)

Posted on April 23, 2017 by Steve Simms

Let’s come together & let Christ, the Invisible Choreographer, take direct control. When Christians meet to all follow the Invisible Choreographer, miracles happen. The risen Jesus is the uncurriculum. He’s the Way–follow Him. A program, agenda, or curriculum should never … Continue reading →

Posted in body of Christ, Call to Worship, church programming, church programs, clergy, clergy laity, clergy/laity, how the body of Christ functions, I am the way, organic chruch, priesthood of the believer, the way the truth the life, Uncategorized, unchurching, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Release God’s showers through everyday people!

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Steve Simms

Here’s why we need to go beyond church as usual! The shower head in this picture has 42 nozzles. If we block 41 of them, we won’t get much of a shower. Now think of a church service with 42 … Continue reading →

Posted in agendaless church, Beyond Church, boredom in church, casual church, church community, church decline, church for the unchurched, church in decline, church organization, church programs, church reform, done with church, Jesus untangled, non-church, nontraditional church, Quaker meetings, Uncategorized, unprogrammed, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meeting | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Catchy sayings for church bulletins

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Steve Simms

Here are some of my original thoughts that you may (or may not) want to put in a church bulletin: Don’t keep doing what isn’t working to give you peace. Make a U-turn to God. Hostile words hold us hostage … Continue reading →

Posted in challenging, church bulletin, church program, church programs, fresh expressions, humor, ideas, inspiration, inspirational, messy church, proverbs, quotation, Quotations, quote, recovery quotes, religion, religious quotes, Uncategorized, words, words on fire | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment