Category Archives: clergy/laity

Anybody like repeating words after a preacher?

Posted on August 9, 2018 by Steve Simms

Some preachers’ idea of participation in church is this: “Everybody say: ‘This message is gonna be good.” If preachers want people to say a one-liner to their “neighbor,” why don’t they say: “Turn to your neighbor and quote a Bible … Continue reading →

Posted in clergy, clergy laity, clergy/laity, clergy/laity split, hype, priesthood, priesthood of all believers, priesthood of the believer, religion, religious ceremonies, religious nuts, religious quotes, religious tradition, routine religion, Uncategorized, universal priesthood | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What church can learn from card playing.

Posted on January 7, 2018 by Steve Simms

Church sometimes seems like staring an hour at one card, while leaving the rest of the deck in the box. However, when a preacher holds all the cards on Sunday morning, it tends to shut down the rest of the … Continue reading →

Posted in card playing, card shark, cards, clergy, clergy/laity, ekklesia, house church, layman, Quotations, simple church, stacked deck, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus Christ MC (emcee)

Posted on April 23, 2017 by Steve Simms

Let’s come together & let Christ, the Invisible Choreographer, take direct control. When Christians meet to all follow the Invisible Choreographer, miracles happen. The risen Jesus is the uncurriculum. He’s the Way–follow Him. A program, agenda, or curriculum should never … Continue reading →

Posted in body of Christ, Call to Worship, church programming, church programs, clergy, clergy laity, clergy/laity, how the body of Christ functions, I am the way, organic chruch, priesthood of the believer, the way the truth the life, Uncategorized, unchurching, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Learn to whitewater raft on Holy Spirit rivers

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Steve Simms

Jesus said: “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” This book is about learning how to whitewater raft on the rivers of the Holy Spirit. Leon Fontaine boldly proclaims “It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in body of Christ, Christian spirituality, Christianity, clergy, clergy/laity, Ephesians 4:12, hearing God, hearing the Holy Spirit, hearing the Spirit, Holy Spirit a person, how the body of Christ functions, how to grow spiritually, John 7:38, rivers of living water, spiritual adventure, spiritual church, spirituality, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Religion/Grace/Church Without Laymen

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Steve Simms

Religion asks: “What’s the least I can do and still go to Heaven?” —Recipients of grace ask: “What’s the most I can do to love, honor, serve, and obey the One who died on the Cross to save me from … Continue reading →

Posted in clergy, clergy/laity, clericalism, cross, equality, going to Heaven, grace, grace card, grace definition, grace of God, inequality, lay speakers, lay testimonies, layman, laymen, laywomen, open church, open forum, open mic, organic church, royal priesthood, simple church, sin, Spirit prompting | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Is a 1-Man Sermon Like A Centipede With Only One Functioning Leg?

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Steve Simms

A church where 1 man does all the talking is like a centipede where only one leg does all the walking.  (See 1 Corinthians 14:26)

Posted in alternative church, alternative to preaching, alternatives to sermons, church meetings, clergy, clergy/laity, clericalism, message, message in church, multi-voiced church, open church, open forum, open mic, organic church, participatory church, participatory sermons, preaching styles, pulpit, pulpit ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Zip Line To God

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Steve Simms

Participatory church is a zip line to God.  (So don’t sit in the tree; step out and soar in the Spirit.) “Our faith should not be in the sermon, it should be in the Holy Spirit Himself.” ~Martyn Lloyd-Jones “Being … Continue reading →

Posted in A. M. Renwick, Chistopher W. Goff, clergy, clergy/laity, Heidi Baker, James Stewart, John Drane, laity, laymen, laywomen, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Michael Clark, organic church, priesthood of the believer, quotation, Quotations, quote, simple church, The Silencing of the Lambs, Thomas W. Hudgins | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Quotes & Notes on Spirit-Prompted Church Meetings

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Steve Simms

Hear God where you are.  Follow Him to where He is.  D.L. Moody said:  “The preaching that this world needs most is the sermons in shoes that are walking with Jesus Christ.” Within every person is a spiritual cell phone … Continue reading →

Posted in Azusa Street, Bob Kuhn, C.H. Mackintosh, church services, church structure, clergy, clergy/laity, clericalism, D.L. Moody, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, G. Campbell Morgan, Nashville, Nashville church, ordaination, ordained, order of worship, organic church, out of the box, outpouring of the Spirit, participation in church, participatory church, preaching, priesthood of the believer, religion, ringtone, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Nashville, sermon-hearing, sermons, Tennessee, The Apostolic Faith | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

We Don’t Have To Just Watch Church — We Can Do Church!

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Steve Simms

I’ve always found sitting and watching church to be boring (whether on TV or in person). However, I’ve found being actively involved in a meeting of Christians ministering to one another as prompted by the Spirit to be one of … Continue reading →

Posted in call to ministry, call to missions, call to preach, called to preach, church on television, clergy, clergy/laity, clericalism, EM Bounds, Graham Cray, laity, layman, laymen, Michael Kelley, Michael Marshall, priest, priesthood, priesthood of the believer, quotation, Quotations, Quotes, TV evangelists, TV ministers, Watchman Nee, William Booth | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Beyond Spectatorship To Discipleship

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Steve Simms

Every Christ-follower is called to preach. Every believer is a minister ordained by God. The clergy/laity concept is not in the New Testament. Instead all believers are expected to minister to one another, to openly testify about their faith, and … Continue reading →

Posted in André Cox, called to preach, calling, clergy, clergy/laity, clericalism, layman, laymen, laymen preaching, laywomen, ministers, ministry, ordaination, ordained, priest, priesthood of the believer, Protestant, Protestant Reformation, quotation, Quotations, quote, salvation war, universal priesthood | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments