Category Archives: institutional church

Religious privacy goes against biblical Christianity

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Steve Simms

Little Jack HornerWent to churchAnd sat in the cornerHe stayed on his bumTill he felt numbAnd said,“What a good boy am I.” Church is too often a form of gathered individualism. People assemble in one place but there’s little openness … Continue reading →

Posted in church, discipleship, formal religion, institutional church, routine religion, state of religion, true religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christianity is about individuals, not clones in religious institutions

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Steve Simms

Until we gather with and spiritually connect with Christ-transformed individuals, there will be little unity among Christians. When Christ-transformed individuals recognize each other there’s an instant sense of kinship and community. I sold black history books during college summers and … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian living, Christian recovery, institutional church, life transforming, spiritual formation, transformation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A preacher’s tweak once a week isn’t enough

Posted on August 15, 2018 by Steve Simms

Christianity has to be more than a preacher’s little tweak once a week. All Christians (not just one per church) are called and ordained to preach the Gospel–to tell people the good news about Christ! The traditional church  service typically doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in fanfare, Holy Spirit, house church, hype, institutional church, non-traditional church, nontraditional church, organic church, organic church blogs, Uncategorized, unprogrammed church | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unconventional thoughts about Palm Sunday, Holy Week, & Easter

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Steve Simms

Jesus didn’t sit in an office and study all week so He could preach a good sermon. He got out among people and served them. Bob Goff, author of the books, Love Does and Everybody Always, puts it this way: … Continue reading →

Posted in 12 step group, 12 step meeting, Bible, church, commentaries, Easter blogs, ekklesia, holiness, institutional church, Jesus rose, March Madness, preaching, resurrection, Resurrection Day, resurrection of Jesus, resurrection power, sermons, Spirit-led, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Some religious things Billy Graham didn’t do

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Steve Simms

Billy Graham didn’t go to seminary, but look how God used him. He wasn’t a pastor or an official in a church or denomination, but he sure let God him. Too many church leaders are grasping the throat of the body … Continue reading →

Posted in body of Christ, bread of life, institutional church, obedience, obedience to God, rebellion, rebellion against God, sermons, spiritual authority, spiritual formation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus said “Follow Me,” not “Follow a 501c3!”

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Steve Simms

Christian disciples turn the world upside down; but religious adherents are often swept along with the world’s viewpoints. Jesus said: “Follow Me!” Not: “Follow a 501c3.” The risen Jesus lives inside of all His followers, so He doesn’t need a hierarchy … Continue reading →

Posted in apest, body of Christ, Christian organizations, church history, church movements, church organization, institutional church, Jesus Movement, Let the redeemed of the Lord, organizational chart, persecution, reform movements, religious persecution, spiritual life, spiritual movement, transformation movements, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Let’s run Christ’s plays as a team!

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Steve Simms

Christ’s body consists of all who have Jesus living within them, not just the members of the many organizations called church. Anybody can organize and run a church; but Jesus wants to build His body on the rock of supernatural revelation … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian Denominations, denominations, ekklesia, homiletics, I am of Paul., institutional church, interdenominational, It's Supernatural, obedience, obedience to God, revelation, sermon, sermon material, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pics beyond the church norm

Posted on April 15, 2017 by Steve Simms

Searching for living water? Check out Beyond Church. It’s beautiful to go beyond church as usual and let the risen Jesus be the One in charge of the meeting!

Posted in agendaless church, alternative church, Christian spirituality, church, church reform, church refugees, church revitalization, church without a program, contemporary church, ekklesia, home church, institutional church, kinds of church, open church, open mic church, rivers of living water, speaking in church, spiritual church, spirituality, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Set a fire down in the church that we can’t contain, that we can’t control . . .”

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Steve Simms

Should a church meeting look like this? Or like this? The more wood you put on a fire, the brighter it burns. –The more people who are allowed to share burning words from their heart in a church meeting, the … Continue reading →

Posted in I have come to bring fire on the earth, institutional church, Is not my word like fire?, Jeremiah, Jesus, John White, led by the Spirit, Luke, lyrics, New Testament, Romans 8:14, sermons | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

2 Models Of Church (The Organizational Model Or The Organic Model)

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Steve Simms

Historically there have been two primary models of church — the organizational model and the organic model. The organizational model has been the dominate of the two and has resisted (and often persecuted) the organic model. The organizational model sees … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, corporate church, institutional church, Jerusalem church, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, Paul, priesthood of the believer, quote, Salvation Army, simple church, Tennessee | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments