Category Archives: church services

Perhaps church needs to demonstrate the real presence of the Higher Power (Jesus Christ) by letting ordinary people show and tell what God has done; rather than being confined to a 1-man human presentation and a handy program.

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Steve Simms

Since Jesus said; “Shout from the housetops,” perhaps we could start by allowing people the freedom to share and testify in church.

Posted in 12 step meeting, 12 steps, AA, church in decline, church programs, church services, freedom, Jesus, Jesus Christ, NA, participation in AA meetings, participatory church, participatory sermons, Quotations, Quotes, sermon, sermons, shout it from the housetops, testifying, testimonies, testimony | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

E pluribus unum church . . .

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Steve Simms

E pluribus unum is much more than just a Latin motto of the USA meaning “from many one.“ E pluribus unum is what happens when Christ-followers gather according to 1 Corinthians 14:26 and many ordinary people share testimonies, Scriptures, needs, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, America, American, Christ followers, church, church meetings, church services, from many one, gifts of the Spirit, gives grace to the humble, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, Nashville, Nashville charity, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, The Voice, unity, USA, voice of God | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

C.H.U.R.C.H — A Poetic Acrostic

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Steve Simms

A poetic acrostic defining church: C — Christ-followers H — Hanging out together U — Under the influence of the Spirit, R — Responding directly to His promptings, C — Celebrating the glory of H — His holy Presence! Check … Continue reading →

Posted in acrostic, C H U R C H, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church services, church structure, definition, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit promptings, organic church, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Conversermons — Spirit-Led Conversations About God

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

The concept of conversermons is based on the idea that you can hear talk after talk about God; but you will never really know Him until you experience Him for yourself.  Transformation is more important than theology. Rather than a … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church meetings, church services, conversermons, internet, Louis L'Amour, participatory church, participatory sermons, preach without words, preacher, preaching the Word, quotation, quote, Quotes, radio, sermon, sermon-hearing, sermons, spiritual formation, TV, Yaholo Hoyt | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Quaker Style Meetings In The Salvation Army

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Steve Simms

The early Quakers believed that the living, resurrected Jesus was present with them when they met together in His name and that He, Himself, could lead the meeting without the need for a human leader or a human program. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, church format, church programs, church services, denominations, Friends meeting, George Fox, God with us, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, nineteenth century, presence of Christ, presence of God, Quakers, quotation, Quotations, Quotes, real presence, Richard Munn, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army General, Salvationism, Salvationists, Society of Friends, W.T. Stead, Wilfred Kitching, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Creative Texting Ideas

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Steve Simms

Here’s a great texting idea.  Text this: U R needed to actively participate in chURch. Or this:  When the preacher is the only one allowed to speak out in church, u r left out, so perhaps we should spell one-speaker … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, church, church services, ch__ch, creative texting, participants, participation, participators, participatory church, passivity, preacher, preaching, religiious texting, religion, spectators, texting ideas, texting in church, u r, What's missing in ch__ch? u r | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A choir is more than only one person singing. Perhaps a church service should be more than only one person speaking. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26)

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, church structure, one person singing, participation, participatory church | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

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

God ideas or God demonstrations?

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

Participatory church presents God as a present reality as ordinary people are filled with wisdom, love, power, eloquence, faith, demonstrations of the Spirit, and the glory of God!  It moves beyond God ideas to God demonstrations. When hot coals are … Continue reading →

Posted in active participants, care enough to send the very best, church services, congregations, demonstrations of the Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, Jesus Take The Wheel, membership, open church, order of worship, participants, participation, participatory church, quotation, quote, Quotes, Scott Thumma, spiritual fire, spiritual gifts, spontaneity, The Other 80%, Turning Your Church's Spectators, ways of doing church, wisdom, words on fire, worship | Tagged , , , , | 7 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