Category Archives: Music City

Karaoke Spoken From The Heart (Lay Witness Missions)

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Steve Simms

Before people in the USA sang karaoke, they spoke it spontaneously, from the heart as they told how the living, resurrected Jesus Christ had changed their life.  It was called Lay Witness Missions.  This spoken karaoke began in United Methodist … Continue reading →

Posted in a shout out, Ben Johnson, can I get a witness, Christian history, church history, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, evangelism, evangelistic meetings, Frank Billman, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lay evangelist, lay speakers, lay testimonies, lay witness coordinator, lay witness movement, lay witness team, layman, laymen, laywomen, Methodism, Methodist class meeting, Methodist revivalists, Methodists, Music City, Nashville, Nashville church, non-traditional church, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, religious karaoke, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, sharing, sharing Christ, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, spiritual experiences, spiritual karaoke, spoken karaoke, team, testimonies, testimonies in church, testimony, witness, witnesses, witnessing, worship, worship service | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Church? A Preacher Performing or People Participating

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Steve Simms

Should there be more than one way to hold a church service? Perhaps we should allow many ways of having a church meeting; instead of the one (almost universal) way of church based on sermon-hearing. Christians invite people to church … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, church meetings, church services, creating an environment, interactive church, John Heider, multi-voiced church, Music City, Nashville, Nashville church, organic church, participatory church, quotation, Quotations, quote, religion, religious meetings, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvationism, sermon-hearing, Spirit-led church, unprogrammed church, Warren Bennis | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Do Preplanned Church Programs “Ruin It” For People

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Steve Simms

If you tell people the storyline and outcome of a movie before they see it, many people will say that you have ruined it for them. They don’t want to know what happens in a movie before they see it. … Continue reading →

Posted in brackets, champions, church leadership, church meetings, movie, movies, Music City, Nashville, Nashville church, NCAA championship, predicting the NCAA tournament, ruin it, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, service, simple church, sporting event, sports, unprogrammed church, wait and see, why go to church, worship, worship gathering, worship service, worship styles | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Nashville — Time’s “Red-Hot Town”

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Steve Simms

Time magazine has named Nashville: “The South’s Red-Hot Town” in its upcoming March 17 issue. –“Red-hot men and women are those who have hungered and thirsted for God and have found Him. They have burst into flame. Holy fire kindles … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, God, God's fire, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Music City, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville news, Nashville times, Nashville tourist attractions, quotation, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Nashville, Samuel Logan Brengle, spirit fire, spiritual fire, The South's Red-Hot Town | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Rock On A Stage or Living Stones Built Into God’s House?

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Steve Simms

You can’t build something by simply setting one stone on a platform in front of a group of other stones. To build anything the stones must be assembled interactively. The same is true of living stones. “You also, like living … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Bible, Bible quotes, holy priesthood, Music City, Nashville church, New Testament, New Testament quote, organic church, participatory church, platform, priest, priesthood, rock church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, spiritual, spiritual church, spiritual sacrifices, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Unicycle Church or 18 Wheeler Church

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Steve Simms

Which is the most effective way to transport the Gospel to our 21st Century, participatory culture? * Clergy — Let one man do it all, like a unicycle?  (Unicycle church.) Or * Priesthood of the Believer — Let everybody participate … Continue reading →

Posted in church meetings, church program, church services, church speakers, clergy, clergy/laity, clericalism, laity, Music City, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, oratory, order of worship, organic church, participants, participation, participation in church, participatory church, participatory culture, pastor, priest, priesthood, priesthood of the believer, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, truck | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Church — A Flow Or A Show?

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Steve Simms

Is church more of a show or more of a flow?  Wind and rivers are symbols of the Holy Spirit. The wind blows, a river flows; but the church tends to show what it knows through programs and presentations rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church format, church leadership, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, flo, flow, flow of the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, lecture, lecture series, led by the Spirit, life, Music City, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, Romans 8:14, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual flow, spiritual life, spiritual worship, TN, tree of life, tree of the knowledge of good and evil | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Can A Church Meeting Be Full Of Awe?

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Steve Simms

In the Bible, early church meetings are described with these words: “everyone was filled with awe.” Awe is an overwhelming feeling of amazement, wonder, and respect. When was the last time you felt awe in a church service?  So how … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, awe inspiring, awesome, Christ's presence, flow, flow of the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 18:20, Music City, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, open church, open forum, open mic, open sharing, order of worship, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Tennessee, there am I in the midst of them, where two or three in My name | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

America — is it working?

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Steve Simms

America, how’s it working? Our American culture trains us to flow unrestrained with our feelings, our sensuality, and our desires. This training, however, releases hateful and evil behavior. For example, last night NBC News reported that 20% of American college … Continue reading →

Posted in American, American church, American values, Bible, Christ in you, Christ in you the hope of glory, culture, culture wars, joy, joy unspeakable, Music City, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, recreational drugs, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How (I Was Taught) To Act In Church

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Steve Simms

How I was taught to act in church:  Be quiet, sit still, behave, just listen, be passive, don’t talk, watch the preacher, be like everyone one else, don’t ask questions, only do what the program says, don’t laugh, don’t be … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Bible quotes, biblical, church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, community, Music City, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, participatory church, religious ceremonies, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments