Category Archives: church

“The Christmas Candle” Confirms The Concept Of Sermon-Free Church

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Steve Simms

The new movie The Christmas Candle is an amazing confirmation of The Salvation Army Berry Street’s participatory worship where everyday people show and tell what God has done.  I’ve been writing and posting, on my blog and on Facebook, for … Continue reading →

Posted in angels, angels watching over you, burning heart, Christmas candles, church, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, church services, cynicism, demonstrations of the Spirit, glory, glory of God, interrupting a sermon, interrupting in church, miracles, miraculous, Music City, Nashville, Nashville charity, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationism, Salvationists, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, testifying, testimonies, testimonies in church, testimony, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

What Can Jesus Do?

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Steve Simms

What can Jesus do today — in the 21st Century? If Jesus is still alive and truly present when believers gather in His name (like the Bible says He is), then He can still . . . * transform lives; … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, casting out demons, Christ, church, church format, church leader, church meetings, demons, drive out demons, heal the sick, healing, health, health care, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is alive, Jesus is Lord, order of worship, organic church, set the captives free, transform lives, transformation, voice of God | Tagged , , , , | 5 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

The Dangerous 21st Century Needs Spiritual Trailblazers

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Steve Simms

The way ahead in the 21st Century is no yellow brick road. It is a dangerous wilderness and we Christ-followers need to cast aside our comfort zone, come out of our church customs, and cut a new trail — following … Continue reading →

Posted in Adam S. McHugh, church, Gideon, John the Baptist, open church, order of worship, organic church, overseer, overseers, oversight, politics, politics and religion, quotation, quote, Quotes, Solomon, unpredictable, unprogrammed church | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Teleconferencing (Prophetically) Predicted in 1881

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

An early Salvation Army leader appears to have predicted teleconferencing, webinars, live streaming, and social media links — George Scott Railton wrote this in The Salvation Army’s ” War Cry” of September of 1881: “Let us hope that the telephone … Continue reading →

Posted in church, church history, DNA, George Scott Railton, innovation, innovators, live streaming, predictions, quotation, quote, Quotes, social media, The History of The Salvation Army, War Cry, webinars | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Every Christ-follower is clergy & is called to be God’s minister/witness, regardless of his/her job.

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christian, Christian community, church, church leadership, clergy/laity, participatory church, pastor, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, simple church | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Priesthood of the Believer Church (Church Meetings Without A Dominating Leader)

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

Can churches meet without one person dominating the meeting?  History says they can! When the Protestant Reformation broke with the Roman Catholic Church, one of the doctrines they embraced become known as “the priesthood of the believer.”  The Reformers acknowledged … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic, Catholic Church, Catholicism, China, Chinese, church, church history, church in China, church leader, church meetings, Communists, holy priesthood, kingdom of priests, Laymen's prayer revival, laymen's prayer revival of 1857, Martin Luther, Methodism, Methodist class meeting, Methodists, participatory church, pastor, Peter Wagner, priest, Quaker meetings, Quakers, quote, Quotes, Ray Stedman, Roman Catholic, simple church, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , | 23 Comments

The Pope & The General

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

Quotations from Pope Francis of the Catholic Church and General Linda Bond of The Salvation Army: First General Bond: “A Spirit-filled Army tells the gospel story faithfully and trustingly, believing that there is power in the name of Jesus, power … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, Christian history, church, church leader, church leadership, clergy, commitment, communion, faith, faith in God, faith-based, faithfulness, God, godliness, Holy Father, Holy see, Holy Spirit, human leadership, humility, Jesus, Jesus Christ, quote, Quotes, religion, religious information, religious talks, religious tradition, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army church, viewpoint, views, witness, word of wisdom, words | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Did Sermon-Free Church Begin At Pentecost?

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Steve Simms

Sermon-Free Church — Did It Begin At Pentecost?  Thoughts for Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2013 On Pentecost Sunday (May 19) the church in the Western world celebrates the beginning of sermon-free church. The events are recorded in Acts, chapter 2 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2013, Acts, Apostle Peter, bishops, Christ followers, church, church history, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, coming of the Holy Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, Gospel, Holy Spirit, Jerusalem, New Testament, non-church, non-church movement, non-liturgical, non-traditional church, one anothers, open church, open mike, openairs, organic church, origin of the church, overseers, participatory church, Peter, Peter preaching on Pentecost, praise, praising God, pray for one another, prayer, praying, preaching, preaching the Word, Roman, Roman Empire, sermon, sermon-free, sermons, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church, the Western church, This was that., Western world | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments