Category Archives: church roles

Dorothy In Oz, Wheels, Soul Train, TEAM, Yall, Lights, & A Quiz (Examples/Metaphors of Participatory Church)

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

Some metaphors for participatory church: Experiencing participatory church at Berry Street is like Dorothy stepping into a world of living color when she enters the land of Oz in “The Wizard of Oz.” Church is often like a unicycle, focused … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, big wheel, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church organizational chart, church program, church programs, church quiz, church roles, church services, Dorothy Wizard of Oz, New Testament, plural for you, religion, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationism, Salvationists, soul, soul train, Southern English, team, Team Church, Tennessee, Together Everyone Accomplishes More, unicycle, yall | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Church Ledership — Hierarchy or Humility?

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Steve Simms

Should leadership in the church be based on hierarchy or humility?   Well, according to Jesus leadership is not established by human authority, official position, titles, rank, strength, or hierarchy; but by humility, service, weakness, brokenness before God, and submission … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church leadership, church meetings, church organizational chart, church programs, church roles, denominations, do it, facebook, God resists the proud, God's authority, have mercy on me a sinner, hymn, hymns, ministers, ministry, Mother Mary, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, pastor, Quench not the Spirit, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, spirit, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, theology, web, website | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

What The Church Can Learn From A Muppet Movie

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Steve Simms

One animated Muppet with all the other Muppets immobile and neatly placed in rows, would not make much of a Muppet movie. Instead, all the Muppets need to be animated and participating interactively with one another. No one Muppet dominates … Continue reading →

Posted in animated, animation, Berry Street, Bible, Bible concepts, church format, church leadership, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, faith, faith in God, faith-based, freedom, Nashville, Nashville church, open mic, open mike, organic church, participation, participatory church, puppets, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, soul, speaking, speaking out, spiritual formation, spirituality, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Perhaps A Pastor Should Oversee, Not Direct Church Services

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Steve Simms

–“Overseer” — that’s how the word for Christian leader is translated in some versions of the New Testament.  That translation fits Jesus’ command that leaders be “servants.” –A great example of an overseer is a basketball or football official.  He/she … Continue reading →

Posted in agenda, agendaless, agendaless church, basketball officials, Bible, boundaries, Christianity, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, church overseers, church roles, church structure, clergy, clergy/laity, football officials, God's authority, God's government, hearing the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, impact of church, Jesus, kingdom of God, leaders, leadership, led by the Spirit, Music City, order of worship, organic church, oversight, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 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

Lights of the Round Table / Spirit-Prompted Church Meetings

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Steve Simms

King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table reveal a biblical way of holding church meetings. 1)  The knights set at a round table so that no one, not even the king, could be at the head of the table and … Continue reading →

Posted in Camelot, Christ, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church roles, church services, church structure, Code of Chivalry, equality, Head, Head of the church, hiearchy, Jesus, Jesus Christ, King Arthur, knighthood, knights, Matthew 20, moral, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral leaders, moral principles, moral reformer, moral restraints, morality, organic church, Round Table, simple church, values | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Thoughts & Quotes — Church Outside The Box

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

An open mic in church opens hearts, and allows the Holy Spirit to speak through anyone present. If the outcome hasn’t been planned ahead of time, church has all the anticipation and excitement of a championship sporting event! When we … Continue reading →

Posted in Brian Anderson, Christianity, church format, church leadership, church roles, church services, church structure, creativity, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, innovation, innovators, Myles Horton, mystery, mysticism, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church, spiritual fire, spiritual flow, spiritual gifts, spiritual interaction, spiritual life, spiritual movement, spiritual power, voice of God | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

An Anglican & A Baptist Describe Participatory Church

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

Anglican priest, Robert Wild, describes participatory church: “God can speak to each person through the others and guide the entire assembly toward a common mind, toward consensus.” Baptist pastor, Ed Stetzer describes participatory church: “In all of our research on … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglican priest, church format, church leader, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, clergy, clergy/laity, consensus, Ed Stetzer, laity, layman, laymen, ministry, missional, missionary, pastor, preacher, quote, Quotes, Robert Wild, simple church | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments