Category Archives: control in church

Exchanging the love of power for the power of love!

Posted on December 21, 2017 by Steve Simms

Religion is based on programmed meetings about God. Christianity is based on authentic experiences with the risen Jesus. The kingdom of God is about letting the living God be the leader, instead of human leadership. God’s order isn’t about human … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior modification, Christ the Head of the church, Christian community, Christian leadership, Christian organizations, church leadership, community, control in church, Crazy Love, discipleship, Emmanuel, Head of the church, hierarchy, humility, leadership, love, mystery, organization, oxymoron, servant leadership, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A one-man talk or dynamic interaction?

Posted on December 3, 2017 by Steve Simms

Billions of Christians advocate for sermons. So why shouldn’t a few of us advocate for open sharing instead?  What God is doing inside of you is important. You need to be allowed to share it! If we don’t think the … Continue reading →

Posted in church programming, church programs, control, control in church, controlling pastors, open sharing, pastors, sharing in church, spiritual gifts, thinking too small, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to deal with controlling, self-promoting Christian leaders

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Steve Simms

There have always been controlling and self-promoting Christian leaders, who want to be top dog, even in the first century. But how are Christ followers supposed to deal with them? John (the disciple Jesus loved) gives us an example in … Continue reading →

Posted in CEO, CEO pastor, control, control in church, controlling pastors, Head of the church, Jesus CEO, Jesus is the Head, pastor, the disciple Jesus loved, Uncategorized, World English Bible | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

There’s no room for bullying in democracy (or church)

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Steve Simms

Want to go beyond the bullying and 1-man control that can be common in church? There’s no room for bullying in democracy or in church! –Modern democracy depends on decisions developed by deliberation, diplomacy, and consensus; not on the dictatorship … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, American values, ancient Greeks, back to church, Berry Street, church, community, control, control in church, controlling pastors, dictatorship, ekklesia, English, government, Greek city-states, Greek history, Greek New Testament, house church, I will build my church, love, making church more participatory, Nashville, On this rock I will build My church, organic chruch, participatory church, participatory culture, recovery groups, Salvation Army, simple church, support group, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ Release Centers release the living Jesus through testimonies

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Steve Simms

A Christ Release Center (CRC) lets the living Jesus flow through many people, not just one person! It brings Christ out of concealment and into God’s community by allowing ordinary people to testify — to show and tell what God has … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ in you, Christian community, church community, community building, control, control in church, Creating Community, Donald Bloesch, Easter, ekklesia, He is risen, Nashville, power, power of God, Release the power of Jesus, risen, Salvation Army, Uncategorized, We serve a risen Savior | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Your heart’s condition is more important than how you worship . . .

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Steve Simms

The most important thing in worship . . . –Writing about Christ-followers meeting according to 1 Corinthians 14:26 where ordinary people are free to share as they feel prompted by the Spirit, I can get overly enthusiastic and perhaps come … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church organization, church program, church programming, contemporary church, control in church, going to church, how to do church, how to get involved in church, kinds of church, making church interesting, messy church, religiious texting, rethinking church, seeker-church, texting, texting in church, the perfect church, types of church, Uncategorized, What is church?, worship planning, worship service, worship wars | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Fresh Definition Of Ekklesia

Posted on October 24, 2015 by Steve Simms

“Ekklesia (the Greek New Testament word that was replaced by the English word ‘church’) is a gathering of people called out of human effort, agendas, and control, so that they can freely open up to their spiritual gifts and use … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 12, church, control in church, God's fire, Greek words, New Testament, Send the fire, sermons, Tyler Edwards | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments