Category Archives: open church

Time to cut and remove the brush in church!

Posted on May 28, 2022 by Steve Simms

Here’s a picture of a pile of brush I cut and stacked. Whew! I’m tired. We need to remove the brush from church and prepare the way for the Lord so that the living Jesus can open His fire hydrant … Continue reading →

Posted in open church, organic church, Prepare the way of the Lord, rivers of living water, tree of life, 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

Humility & equality in church services . . .

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

 

Posted in body life, church organization, church structure, hierarchy, house church, multi-voiced church, one anothers, open church, organic church, participatory church, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Y’all-worship (1 Corinthians 14:26)

Posted on November 17, 2016 by Steve Simms

  An Observation About 1 Corinthians 14:26: Beyond the status quo We could all listen to Jesus And then go with His flow! Church consists of people passively listening to one man on a platform. 1 Corinthians 14:26 is people … Continue reading →

Posted in group interaction, house church, open church, open sharing, organic church, participatory church, personal testimonies, priesthood of the believer, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, Spirit-led interaction, spiritual interaction, testimonies, testimonies in church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Letting church cruise on Christ-contol

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Steve Simms

Across the USA church is in decline. Perhaps it is time to set church on Christ-control and let Jesus freely cruise trough the meeting. There’s nothing like a Christ-led gathering when we put aside human agendas and control and simply let … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, alternative to church, Christ control, church meetings, church services, churching, contemporary church, ekklesia, Greek city-states, house church, House of Prayer, how to do church, open church, open forum, praise and worship, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, town meeting, Uncategorized, When you come together, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

416 unprogrammed worship meetings @ Berry Street

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Steve Simms

I am amazed and deeply moved to be a part of celebrating 416 unprogrammed worship gatherings at The Salvation Army Berry Street this Sunday! What a joy it has been to go beyond church with so many dear brothers and sisters … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, East Nashville, ekklesia, house church, open church, participatory church, simple church, Tennessee, Uncategorized, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meetings, worship | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Church is not a place to hide your light

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Steve Simms

How did church become a place to hide the light that shines in your heart? Why do we bring our light to church and then keep it hidden “under a bowl” in our heart? “He (Jesus) said to them, ‘Do … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Beyond Church, house church, how we do church, open church, open mic church, organic church, organic church blogs, participatory church, purpose of church, questioning church, rethinking church, sharing in church, simple church, Spirit-led church, testimonies in church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

An experience while in ekklesia

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Steve Simms

Yesterday while meeting in ekklesia at The Salvation Army Berry Street, I kept feeling my phone vibrating in my pocket. I would then put my hand on the phone, but it wasn’t vibrating. This happened over and over. Finally words … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14, birth of Christ, birth of Jesus, Christmas, dropped calls, gifts of the Spirit, house church, Matthew 10:19, open church, organic church, organic church in institutional church, oxymorons, prophetic, prophetic insight, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

My Personal Search For Ekklesia (And I Still Long For More)

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Steve Simms

I have always had a longing for God. My parents who were non-religious and didn’t attend church told me that as soon as I learned to talk I began to talk to them about God and to ask them to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Adult Rehabilitation Center, Calvary Chapel, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, ecclesia, multivoiced church, open church, participatory church, Salvation Army, Vineyard | Tagged , , , , , | 7 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