Category Archives: church programs

Discovery Church — Continually Discovering God & His Ways

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps church should create a discovery environment, where people make ongoing discoveries about God, themselves, other people, love, joy, and truth.  Maybe we should move beyond precise explanations by an expert that take away our desire for discovery. Church is … Continue reading →

Posted in Arthur Schopenhauer, church program, church programs, church services, Daniel J. Boorstin, discovery group, Henri Poincare, Intuition, Jerry Trousdale, Miraculous Movements, quotation, Quotations, quote, spiritual church, spiritual discovery, spiritual formation, Tom Shadyac | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Multivoiced Church — A Spiritual Sprinkler System

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps a church service is like a sprinkler system on a golf course in Arizona. If only one sprinkler works and all the rest are shut down, almost all the grass dries up and withers. However, if every sprinkler shares … Continue reading →

Posted in active participants, Arizona, Berry Street, Building a Multivoiced Church, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church programs, church services, community, discipleship, golf, golf course, living water, multi-voiced church, Nashville, Nashville church, Nashville news, organic church, participants, participatory church, quotation, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermon, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, sermons, Sian Williams, simple church, sprinkler system, Tennessee, The Power of All, The Salvation Army, voices | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

The Historical Jesus Can Be The Present-Day Jesus

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Steve Simms

Study and religion tend to keep Jesus tucked away in the past, as a historical figure.  However, we desperately need Him to be living and working in the present, not stuck in the past. The world needs Jesus’ presence, His … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christ, church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, contemporary, contemporary church, contemporary society, glory, glory of God, God calling, God with us, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, how to hear God's voice, Western society, Western world | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The Real Measure Of A Church

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Steve Simms

What if the real measure of a church is: Not size, but surrender to God; Not coolness, but compassion; Not preaching, but participation; Not programs, but the power and Presence of God; Not bragging, but brokenness; Not the offering, but … Continue reading →

Posted in brokenness, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, cool church, heart, heart of worship, heart-felt, humility, kinds of church, Nashville, Nashville church, non-church, non-traditional church, organic church, participators, participatory church, user friendly | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Church — A Showcase Of The Holy Spirit

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

All the people in a church service can speak (according to the Bible): “You can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.” (1 Corinthians 14:31).  So where did the idea of only one person speaking … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, gifts of the Spirit, idle knowledge, non-church, one-man sermon, open church, open mike, order of worship, organic church, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, sermon, sermon series, sermon-hearing, service, showcase, Tennessee, testimonies, testimony, W.E.B. DuBois, you can all prophesy | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

The Right To Speak Out (In Church)

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps it’s time for church members (according to 1 Corinthians 14:26) to revive their right to speak out in church services.

Posted in church format, church meetings, church programs, church services, non-church, non-liturgical, non-traditional church, nonconforming, open church, open mike, order of worship, organic church, participants, participators, participatory church, religious ceremonies, rights, share, sharing, simple church, simplicity, speaking, speaking out, speech making, testimonies, testimony | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

God’s voice is heard in humble, human hearts.

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Steve Simms

God’s voice is not heard through hype, hoopla, or hierarchy; it is heard in humble, human hearts.  In the Bible, church is not a preplanned program, but God’s powerful presence being poured out on people! (See Acts 2).  When believers … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church leader, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, God, God calling, God's voice, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, Music City, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Salvation Army church, sermon, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, The Voice, tradition, voice of God | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Church Piano or Piano Church?

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Steve Simms

Church is like a piano.  Here is a piano lesson for the church. A piano has 88 keys, 52 white & 36 black. But what if 87 keys are stuck and only one key is free to make a sound? … Continue reading →

Posted in black keys, church format, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, Holy Spirit, How many keys on a piano?, keys, music, Music City, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Nashville events, non-church, non-traditional church, piano keys, piano lessons, religion, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, The Salvation Army, tickle the ivories, white keys | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Is Christ Preempted In Church Services?

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Steve Simms

Is Christ preempted in church services? What would you think if you went to a meeting to hear a special speaker and the person who was supposed to introduce the speaker stood up and spoke for 30 minutes and then … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, church format, church leader, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, preempted, role of Christ in church, sermon, sermon-hearing, sermons, special speaker, speech making, Team Church | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Normal Christian Fire = Church Ablaze

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Steve Simms

Faith is God’s fire roaring in your heart; not religious ideas resting in the back of your brain. The normal condition of a Christ-follower is to have a heart constantly ablaze with love for God. When normal believers, full of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, church fire, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, faith, faith in God, faith-based, filled with the Spirit, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, organic church, Quench not the Spirit, quench the Spirit, Tennessee | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments