Category Archives: Holy Spirit

No man ever steps into the same organic church meeting twice!

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Steve Simms

No man ever steps into the same organic church meeting twice, for it’s not the same meeting and he’s not the same man. The Holy Spirit’s leading is always fresh, alive, creative, life-changing, and renewing! Many churches use the same … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church structure, Give a man a fish and you feed him, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit promptings, house church, how to grow spiritually, led by the Spirit, listening, listening prayer, listening skills, listening to God, Nashville charity, Nashville church, No man ever steps into the same river twice, organic church, participation in church, participatory church, participatory culture, participatory sermons, Quench not the Spirit, Quotations, Quotes, religious ceremonies, religious tradition, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sayings, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, What is church?, wisdom | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Bold (Transformational) Words From John The Baptist

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Steve Simms

John, God’s greatest prophet, led the way for the living Jesus Christ by telling groups of people to:  “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.” Perhaps the 21st Century church could obey John and make room … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Behold the Lamb of God, Bible, biblical, Christ, every mountain made low, Every valley shall be filled in, Father Abraham, forerunner, greatest prophet, He must increase, heirarchy, Holy Spirit, house church, I must decrease, Jesus, Jesus Christ, make straight paths, New International Version, New Testament, New Testament quote, organic church, out of stones God can raise up children of Abraham, Prepare the way of the Lord, quotation, Quotations, quote, religious tradition, simple church, sins, spirit, takes away the sins of the world, the ax is at the root of the trees | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Beyond Leadership To Overseership

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Steve Simms

The Bible refers to overseers in the body of Christ but never calls them leaders. “An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach . . .” –1 Timothy … Continue reading →

Posted in basketball, basketball officials, bishops, Christ followers, Christianity, church format, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, church organizational chart, church overseers, church program, church programs, church roles, church structure, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit flow, leading others, New Testament, organic church, overseers, oversight, prompting of the Spirit, Quench not the Spirit, quench the Spirit | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Too Many Surge Protectors Have Made Church Boring!

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Steve Simms

Perhaps our contemporary church services have too many surge protectors that prevent the current of the Holy Spirit from breaking out in the meeting. When everything that happens in a church service is planned and controlled by a man, that … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Christianity with Power, decaff, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit flow, how to do church, led by the Spirit, Spirit of Truth, Spirit surfing, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-led interaction, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, spiritual church, spiritual flow, spiritual innovation, spiritual power | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Church — A Bottled Water Plant? or A Mighty, Whitewater River

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Steve Simms

Church — A bottled water plant? or A mighty, whitewater river? Contemporary church is too often like a bottled water plant. People sit passively, like flimsy plastic bottles in a row, hoping to receive a single squirt of water from … Continue reading →

Posted in bottled water plant, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church seating, church services, church structure, Holy Spirit, house church, How is water bottled?, institutional church, Nashville adventure, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville news, participation in church, participatory church, participatory culture, plastic bottles, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual church, spontaneity, spontaneous church, whitewater river | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Curriculum-Free Sunday School

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Steve Simms

Curriculum-free Sunday school?  Yes!  Why has church bound the Bible to Sunday school curriculum booklets, when it can speak directly to & through ordinary people? For years I have led curriculum-free adult Sunday school classes.  When this concept is first … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Bible study, book, booklet, curriculum-free, Ephesians, Holy Spirit, interactive Bible class, participatory Bible study, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Sunday school classes, Sunday school ideas | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Non-Charismatic Seminary Professor Speaks Out For Participatory Church

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Steve Simms

Charles H. Kraft, professor of anthropology and intercultural communication at Fuller Theological Seminary, in Pasadena, California speaks out for participatory church.  In in his book, Christianity With Power:  Your Worldview and Your Experience of the Supernatural, although he says that … Continue reading →

Posted in anthropology, California, Calvin, charismatic, Charles H. Kraft, Christianity with Power, Holy Spirit, intercultural communication, interpretation, Luther, Nashville, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, non-charismatic, Pasadena, quotation, Quotations, quote, reformer, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermon, speaking in tongues, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Tennessee, the Reformers, worldview | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The World’s Greatest Expert

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Steve Simms

Paying too much attention to what men say (and preach) can distract you from what God is saying to you.  The world’s greatest expert on God is the Holy Spirit.  And He is the world’s most effective preacher/Bible teacher.  Are … Continue reading →

Posted in Allen Willemsen, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, God, God talks, Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, Music City, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, One At A Time Ministries, organic church, quotation, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-prompted | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

One-man sermons & the John the Baptist leadership principle

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Steve Simms

One-word sentences/One-man sermons. Limiting conversation to one-word sentences quenches communication. Example: Person A) Hello.  Person B) Hi.  A) Going?  B) Yes. A)  When?  B) Now.  A) Where?  B) There.   A) How?  B) Walking.  A) Good.  B) Thanks.  A) Bye.  … Continue reading →

Posted in automatic, Bible, communication, control, conversation, He must increase, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit promptings, I must decrease, John the Baptist, leaders, leadership, led by the Spirit, one word, one-word dialogue, pride, principle, Quench not the Spirit, quench the Spirit, Quotations, Quotes, sermon, sermons, spirit, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

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