Category Archives: church services

Church? A Preacher Performing or People Participating

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Steve Simms

Should there be more than one way to hold a church service? Perhaps we should allow many ways of having a church meeting; instead of the one (almost universal) way of church based on sermon-hearing. Christians invite people to church … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, church meetings, church services, creating an environment, interactive church, John Heider, multi-voiced church, Music City, Nashville, Nashville church, organic church, participatory church, quotation, Quotations, quote, religion, religious meetings, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvationism, sermon-hearing, Spirit-led church, unprogrammed church, Warren Bennis | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Broom Church or Single Straw Sermons

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Steve Simms

Which is more effective at releasing the Holy Spirit’s power and presence — broom church or single straw sermons? All our focus on one straw can’t sweep a floor clean; but many straws, led together as a broom, can transform … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, church structure, house church, multi-voiced church, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, order of worship, organic church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, sweeping, worship, worship center, worship gathering, worship service | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Simple Church & Everyday People

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Steve Simms

Everyday people are eloquent when they are allowed in church to express their heart-felt excitement about and experiences with the everlasting God! Simple Church” — To encourage the congregation to listen to Jesus and then allow them to say and … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church speakers, one another, one anothering, one anothers, open church, open sharing, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, testimonies, testimonies in church, testimony, witness, witnesses | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Genuine Seeker-Friendly Church Is Simple (Organic)

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Steve Simms

What is seeker-friendly church?  Here are some ideas: Spiritual seekers are desperate for God. Therefore the seeker-sensitive church surrenders to and demonstrates the actual presence of the living God (rather than providing religious entertainment and a motivational speech). Spiritual seekers … Continue reading →

Posted in attractional, church format, church history, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, churching, freedom, freedom from sin, house church, how to do church, one another, open church, order of worship, organic church, participation in church, participatory church, participatory culture, seeker model, seeker-church, seeker-driven, seeker-oriented, simple church, simplicity, sin, spirituality, unchurched | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Live from the empty tomb, it’s Jesus Christ!

Posted on April 20, 2014 by Steve Simms

Live from the empty tomb, it’s Jesus Christ!  Is Jesus in the room or in the tomb? When Christ-followers gather in His name, the living, resurrected Jesus is in the room. We can 1) talk about Him like He’s still … Continue reading →

Posted in church, church meetings, church services, gathering, He is risen, He lives, He rose, He's alive, Head of the church, how to celebrate Easter, obey God rather than men, obeying Jesus, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual church, Uncategorized, When you come together, worship, worship gathering, worship service | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Participatory Church (acrostic)

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Steve Simms

PARTICIPATORY CHURCH (acrostic) P–People A–Attentively R–Responding T–To God’s I–Inner C–Callings I–In order to P–Participate A–Actively T–Together, O–Obeying God’s R–Righteous Y–Yearnings. C–Christ H–Having U–Unhindered & R–Real C–Control in H–His hands. Experience participatory church at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church roles, church services, church structure, churching, house church, how to do church, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Nashville events, Nashville tourist attractions, non-church, non-traditional church, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, order of worship, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Nashville, Salvationism, sermon-free, tag team church, Team Church, Tennessee, the heart of worship, worship center, worship service, worship styles | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Søren Kierkegaard Promoted Sermon-Free, Participatory Church

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Steve Simms

Søren Kierkegaard Promoted Sermon-Free, Participatory Church “Christianity should not be lectured about. Christ says, my teaching is food. Christ has not appointed assistant-professors — but followers.” –Søren Kierkegaard “The greatest possible error arises when we reduce the clergy to teachers. … Continue reading →

Posted in acting, Christian community, church format, church meetings, church programs, church services, clergy, clergy/laity, clericalism, doctrine, dogma, eloquence, lecture, life, lifestyle Christianity, non-traditional church, nonconforming, obedience, open church, oratory, order of worship, organic church, participation in church, participatory church, preach without words, preacher, preaching, professors, quotation, quote, Quotes, reasoning, religion, religious academics, religious tradition, Søren Kierkegaard, sermon, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, sermons, simple church, teaching, witnesses | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Just Like A Body — 1 Corinthians 12

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Steve Simms

Just Like A Body — 1 Corinthians 12 by Steve & Ernie Simms Just like a body Is made of many parts The body of Christ Is made of many hearts; And when hearts open, The Spirit starts to flow; … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church meetings, church services, participation in church, participatory church, simple church | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Talking About Jesus Like He’s Not In The Room

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Steve Simms

This was inspired by Kim Walker with Jesus Culture lyrics to You Won’t Relent:  “I don’t want to talk about You like You’re not in the room.  I want to look right at You, I want to sing right to … Continue reading →

Posted in Alphonsus Liguori, Christ, Christ in you, Christ in you the hope of glory, Christ's presence, Christ-centered, Christian community, Church of Christ, church programs, church services, church structure, hearing God, hearing Jesus, historical Jesus, I don't want to talk about You like You're not in the room, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is alive, Jesus rose, live and unrehearsed, live church, living words, lyrics, open church, open sharing, organic church, presence of Christ, presence of God, quotation, quote, Quotes, real presence, religious ceremonies, resurrection of Jesus, seek God's face, simple church, spiritual combat, spiritual flow, spiritual power, spiritual presence, spiritual reality, testifying, testimonies, testimonies in church, testimony, voice of God | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

March Madness Style Excitement In Church

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Steve Simms

March Madness boring?   If basketball officials acted like pastors; personally planned and programmed each play, prompted those present when to stand and when to sit, and then presented a 30 minute talk; March Madness would be boring. I’m glad that … Continue reading →

Posted in basketball officials, basketball players, basketball plyaers, boredom, church format, church leadership, church services, clergy, clergy/laity, coaches, Jesus, Jesus Christ, ministers, Nashville, Nashville church, officials, officiating, organic church, pastor, preacher, priest, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, worship, worship service | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments