Category Archives: interactive church

Why doesn’t church let people take turns on Sunday morning?

Posted on November 3, 2016 by Steve Simms

Answers: All we have known is the clergy/laity system. We don’t like the idea of any other way of doing church. So we ignore the biblical doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Martin Luther set up the focus on one man … Continue reading →

Posted in a new reformation, alternative to preaching, Berry Street, body life, changes in worship, contemporary worship, group interaction, interaction, interactive, interactive church, interactive learning, interactive sermons, Luther, Martin Luther, multivoiced church, preaching, Protestant Reformation, simple church, Uncategorized, worship wars | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are Christians dying for dialogue in church services?

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Steve Simms

The most effective group communication depends on dialogue, sharing ideas, and personal interaction. A monologue reduces attempted communication to passively listening to one person’s ideas. That may work in an authoritarian environment, but it fails to build relationship. Nowadays churches … Continue reading →

Posted in 12 step group, bored in church, business communications, church programming, church revitalization, dialogue, Dones, group therapy, interaction, interactive church, monologue, nones, recovery groups, small groups, support groups, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Berry Street acrostic

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Steve Simms

A Berry Street acrostic: B — Beyond E — Entertainment, R — Religion or R — Ritual, Y — You can S — Share T — Testimonies, R — Revelations & E — Experiences, as E — Empowered by T … Continue reading →

Posted in comments, entertainment, Holy Spirit, interactive church, led by the Spirit, participatory sermons, promptings, questions, religion, revelations, sermon, sharing, spiritual, Tennessee, testimonies, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Could Church Can Can?

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Steve Simms

Could church can can? Here are some definitions of can — 1) to preserve in a metal container; 2) to prepare or script in advance in standardized form (a canned speech); 3) to fire an employee (The boss canned me); 4) to be able to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, become like a little child, Bible, I can do all things through Christ, interactive church, Matthew 18:13, Philippians 4:13, Quaker meetings, Quench not the Spirit, Quotes, Roger Green, Salvation Army, unprogrammed meetings, unscripted, Whatever He says to you do it | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Is a one-man sermon like one-man soccer? (Getting a kick out of soccer.)

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Steve Simms

Getting a kick out of soccer . . . While watching a soccer (football) game, I noticed that no one person kept constant control of the soccer ball. Instead the ball was being headed, kicked, passed, run, and rolled all over the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, church meetings, church program, creativity, Desmond Tutu, French horns, get a kick out of soccer, goalies, goalkeepers, interactive church, lessons from soccer, open church, organic church, participatory church, players, popularity of soccer, Richard Foster, sermon, simple church, soccer ball, soccer game, Tiffeny Milbrfett | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

In the Bible is a church meeting a showcase for one man’s ministry or an interactive Christ-centered community?

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christ-centered community, interactive church, ministry showcase, one man ministry | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

ABCs 4 Retooling Church 2 Reach The 21st Century 4 Christ:

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Steve Simms

The ABCs 4 retooling church 2 reach the 21st Century for Christ: * Avoid autocratic agendas. * Base it on the Biblical command in 1 Corinthians 14:26. * Connect with Christ as our contemporary rather than confining Christ to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian meetings, church collaboration, church experiment, church furniture, church meetings, church programs, church revitalization, church roles, church rules, church seating, church structure, church without a program, effective meetings, holding meetings, how to, interactive church, meaningful meetings, open church, organic church, rethinking church, simple church, Spirit-led church | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Did Jesus Teach Open Participation (& Hospitality) In Church Meetings?

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Steve Simms

“If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church . . .” –Jesus (Matthew 18:17) –Jesus expected His church to allow verbal input from those in the congregation. In the passage above Jesus is telling how He wants … Continue reading →

Posted in a heaping helping, Andy Miller, Christian hospitality, Christpitality, how to handle conflict, interactive church, Matthew 18, Nashville, Salvation Army, Spirit-led church, tell it to the church | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Meeting Not Only 2 Hear About The Bible, But Also 2 Do What It Says

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Steve Simms

We can meet to hear about the Bible and/or we can meet to do what the Bible says.  For example: “Blessed are the peacemakers . . .”  –We can hear a talk about the meaning of the word “peacemakers” and/or … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2 Timothy 1:6, ancient Israel, beattitudes, interactive church, James 1:22, James 5:16, John 13:34, Luke 9:23, Matthew 11:28, Matthew 5:9, organic church, Psalm 100:1, Salvation Army, simple church | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Letting God Have The Liberty To Use All His Letters! (Free The Keys!)

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Steve Simms

Participatory church is effective because it allows God to use all the keys on the keyboard, not just one kkkkkkkkkkkey! Church members are like the letters of the alphabet — when they all participate together (as led by a wise, … Continue reading →

Posted in analogy for church, interactive church, keys, mutual ministry, organic church, participation in church, priesthood of the believer | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment