Category Archives: controlling pastors

What pastors can learn from dance instructors.

Posted on March 31, 2023 by Steve Simms

Dance instructors and disciple-makers find lecture to be ineffective. Instead, they demonstrate, involve people, and coach them. I believe that church would be much more effective at making Spirit-led disciples if pastors would teach like dance instructors instead of like … Continue reading →

Posted in controlling pastors, dancing, how to be a pastor, spiritual training, worship dancing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Not a perfect church but a perfect Shepherd

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Steve Simms

I follow an unseen leader, the perfect Shepherd. Although He’s invisible, He guides me from within. Grazing on the unseen glory of God flowing from within me I begin to gaze on His beauty and to taste and see that … Continue reading →

Posted in Chief Shepherd, controlling pastors, pastor, pastoring, shepherds | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

If you feel the need to go through a minister to get to God, you’ve missed the good news of what Jesus did.

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Steve Simms
Posted in CEO pastor, controlling pastors, everyday minister, faith-based, Gospel, Jesus Senior Pastor, living out the Gospel, ministers, pastor, pastoring, priesthood of the believer, royal priesthood, Senior Pastors, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, TV ministers, Uncategorized, universal priesthood | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

When sermon-hearers aren’t allowed to make a peep, they easily fall asleep

Posted on July 8, 2018 by Steve Simms

When people fall asleep in church, instead of asking what church is doing to bore people, we make jokes about it. Church too often gives people this message: “If you don’t like the Sunday morning rap, you can always take … Continue reading →

Posted in awake you that sleep, challenge to pastors, congregations, controlling pastors, First Great Awakening, frozen, getting enough sleep, great awakening, insomnia, long-winded sermon, pastor, pastor dependency, rap, rapper, rapping, sermon material, sermon topics, sermons, sleep disorder, sleep epidemic, sleep number bed, spiritual awakening, Uncategorized, wake up, wake-up call, We must wake our selves up | 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

Whose Control Should Church Be Under?

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Steve Simms

To congregate under Christ’s direct control (to come together and allow the living Jesus, Himself, to lovingly lead us without the aid of a human program or agenda) releases the power and presence of God, like nothing else on earth. … Continue reading →

Posted in controlling pastors, Eddie Hyatt, ekklesia, Nashville, organic church, Rick Joyner, taking control | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment