Category Archives: open sharing

A closed heart creates “I-solatioion” & “lone-me-ness”

Posted on December 22, 2022 by Steve Simms

Heart wallsPrevent usFrom hearingHeart calls. When a human heart breaks insight enters into it, but too often people cling to the pain and push out the light. Jealously indicates a closed heart. Being happy for other people’s good fortune reveals … Continue reading →

Posted in broken heart, from the heart, heart care, heart connection, heart monitor, human heart, open sharing, openness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A “Jesus 12” testimony time

Posted on April 1, 2018 by Steve Simms

I grew up passively watching TV and learning by quietly listening to lectures. However, technology has transitioned our culture from passive listening to active involvement. Perhaps we’re catching up with Benjamin Franklin who is often quoted as saying: “Tell me … Continue reading →

Posted in open sharing, personal testimony, salvation testimony, sharing, sharing Christ, sharing in church, sharing your faith, testifying, testifying in church, testimony of Jesus, Uncategorized, word of their testimony | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A one-man talk or dynamic interaction?

Posted on December 3, 2017 by Steve Simms

Billions of Christians advocate for sermons. So why shouldn’t a few of us advocate for open sharing instead?  What God is doing inside of you is important. You need to be allowed to share it! If we don’t think the … Continue reading →

Posted in church programming, church programs, control, control in church, controlling pastors, open sharing, pastors, sharing in church, spiritual gifts, thinking too small, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

12 steps for one another groups

Posted on July 8, 2017 by Steve Simms

The founders of Alcoholics Anonymous established 12 steps to help people overcome an addiction to alcohol. As the program gained success, various support groups for other addictions began to apply the steps for their own needs. In 50-something places the … Continue reading →

Posted in celebrate recovery, cell groups, encounter group, encouragement, house church, Love one another, NA, NA meetings, Narcotics Anonymous, one another, one anothering, open sharing, organic chruch, overcoming depression, Overeaters Anonymous, recovery quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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

Pastor Challenge For 2015 (#1)

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Steve Simms

Pastor Challenge 2015 #1 (Please share this with your pastor and/or pastor friends.) —Every Week Let A Different Person Share A 5 to 10 Minute Salvation Testimony During Sunday Worship— * This is extremely powerful as ordinary people share from … Continue reading →

Posted in challenge to pastors, excitement in church, Jesus, multivoiced church, open mic, open sharing, participatory church, Salvation Army, salvation testimony, simple church | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

America has lots of talk radio — perhaps we need talk church!

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Steve Simms

If people are not allowed to talk about Jesus in church meetings how will they get the courage and confidence to talk about Jesus in secular settings? I don’t need to hear another talk about God in church.  I’ve heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, BNA, East Nashville, multi-racial, multi-racial church, multi-voiced church, Music City, Nashville charity, Nashville church, non-church, open church, open mic, open mike, open sharing, order of worship, organic church, simple church, Spirit directed, Spirit prompting, Trevecca, Trevecca Nazarene University | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Preaching In My Dreams–Boy, I Miss It! (A Nashville Story)

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Steve Simms

I miss preaching . . . I woke up this morning dreaming that I was preaching. Although I haven’t preached a “traditional” sermon in several years, I really miss it. When I preach, I feel the Holy Spirit surging through … Continue reading →

Posted in BNA, Christian conferences, fresh expressions, Fresh Expressions movement, messy church, Music City, Nashville adventure, Nashville charity, open forum, open mic, open sharing, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, religion, renewal, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Nashville, simple church | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Leaf Blower Church

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Steve Simms

Leaf Blower Church Here’s my view of a church meeting: We are all leaves who want to line up in nice, neat rows, And appoint a Pastor Leaf to preach to us. However, God wants to blow on each of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, participants, participation, participation in church, participatory church, participatory culture, participatory sermons, preacher, preaching, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, sharing, sharing Christ, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, Spirit-led interaction, Spirit-prompted, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

When we have a conversation with a friend or family member, we don’t want every word to be scripted. We want a two-way conversation that is spontaneous and from the heart. Why should church be any different?

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, participatory church, simple church, Spirit-led church, Spirit-prompted, unprogrammed church | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment