Category Archives: open forum

God Is Really With You Guys (1 Corinthians 14:25-26)

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Steve Simms

God Really Is With You Guys! (1 Corinthians 14:25-26) Who is this group of people? I hear them sharing from their heart. Their unrehearsed words move me, I feel my sin and shame depart. Chorus God is really here in … Continue reading →

Posted in open church, open forum, open mike, open sharing, organic church | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Church Is Like A Swiss Army Knife

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Steve Simms

A church service is like a Swiss Army Knife — full of spiritually gifted people.  It can use the same person to speak, week after week, while the others are closed down (pic 1).  Or it can allow everybody to … Continue reading →

Posted in How many blads in a Swiss Army Knife?, interactive, interactive church, interactive learning, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, non-church, non-liturgical, non-traditional church, nonconforming, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual giftings, spiritual gifts, spontaneous church, Uncategorized, What is a Swiss Army Knife | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

1 Speaker Church Is Like A 1 Channel TV . . .

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Steve Simms

If church has the same speaker every week, it is like a TV that only gets one channel. Maybe Christian ministry would be more effective at changing lives and transforming our culture if it flowed from one ordinary believer to … Continue reading →

Posted in Behold the Lamb of God, Christian ministry, church programs, church services, clergy, clericalism, house church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, multi-voiced church, non-church, one anothering, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, organic church, participation in church, participatory church, participatory culture, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermon, simple church, Spirit-led, takes away the sins of the world, Tennessee | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 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

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

Perhaps God can speak through anybody, not just a preacher!

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Steve Simms

Perhaps we miss out on much wisdom in the average church service, because only one person is permitted to speak week after week. We can all learn from anybody; not just from experts or professionals. Maybe during a church service, … Continue reading →

Posted in church meetings, church programs, church services, non-church, one anothering, open church, open forum, open mic, organic church, participatory church, simple church | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

It’s Time For Interactive Church Services!

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Steve Simms

People living in our 21st Century culture of constant interactive media, need more than a passive, authoritarian, spectator church service.  Maybe they need engagement and participation!  Perhaps a church service needs to be more than a Sunday morning love lecture.  … Continue reading →

Posted in interactivity, love lecture, Nashville, Nashville church, non-church, non-church movement, non-liturgical, non-traditional church, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, participation, participation in church, participatory church, participatory culture, participatory sermons, sermon, sermon-free, simple church, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

What if Sunday morning church had less infrastructure and more networking? It could be transformed from a Sunday morning love lecture into a group of people actively living love with one another!

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in church format, church meetings, church program, church services, life, life together, one another, one anothering, open church, open forum, open sharing, participatory church, participatory sermons, share, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church, spiritual formation, spiritual gifts | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Open Forum Church!

Posted on December 25, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps church should be an open forum where everybody participates rather than a formal lecture where everybody spectates.  Here are a few quotations to back up my statement: “In organic church everyone is called to participate, not just the select … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Breaking Tradition To Accomplish Vision, interactivity, ministers, ministry, Myron Horst, Nicole Cottrell, open forum, out of the box, Paul R. Gupta, quotation, quote, Quotes, stepping out of the box, Tim Lokot, unconventional church, unconventional worship | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments