Category Archives: organic church

Purpose of Church — Running Religious Programs or Connecting People With Christ?

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Steve Simms

The purpose of church is not to run religious programs.  The purpose of church is to help people connect with, follow, and daily obey the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. When people begin to listen to Jesus and do what He … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church structure, organic church, prompting of the Spirit, promptings, purpose of church, simple church, Spirit-led interaction | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Pope Francis & Participatory Church

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Steve Simms

Pope Francis has made several statements that indicate that he wants church meetings to be more than passively listening to sermons. We need to allow the living, resurrected Jesus to come out in church meetings and use ordinary people. Pope … Continue reading →

Posted in Bergoglio, Bergogolio, Chris Lowney, clergy, clericalism, dialogue, God's surprises, Jesuit Pope, Jesuits, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Nashville, organic church, Quotations, quote, Quotes, Roman Catholic, Rome, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermons, simple church, Tennessean, witness, witnesses | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Has The Gospel Lost It’s Power In The 21st Century?

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Steve Simms

Has the Gospel lost its pull on people’s hearts? No, the church has lost the passion to powerfully present the Gospel. “Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof, from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5 When ordinary … Continue reading →

Posted in 70 AD, Bible, Bible quotes, Biblical concept, church format, church meetings, church programs, church services, dating the Bible, denying the power thereof, destruction of Jerusalem, Gospel of Matthew, having a form of godliness, history, organic church, Roman history, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

New Ideas, Worn Out Ideas, & Re-engineering Church

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Steve Simms

A live electric wire on the ground is not boring. It is attention grabbing, powerful, full of sparks, exciting, indescribable, and unpredictable.  A live church service of people flowing together in God’s current is the same. About God? Or by … Continue reading →

Posted in change, change agent, change management, church meetings, church services, electric wire on the ground, finish well, interactive learning, Joe Calloway, learning environment, Lennie Scott-Webber, live church, live electric wire, Model-T, organic church, quotation, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Tom Griner, worn out ideas | 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

When The Nuns Came To The Salvation Army

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Steve Simms

My wife and I lead a participatory, sermon-free, non-traditional Salvation Army corps (church) called Berry Street Worship Center, located in a low-income neighborhood in Nashville, Tennessee.  Our daughter went to high school at St. Cecilia Academy, a Catholic girls’ school … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Catholic, Catholic girls school, Catholicism, Dominican nuns, durag, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, organic church, religion, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationism, Salvationists, simple church, St. Dominic, Tennessee | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The World’s Greatest Expert

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Steve Simms

Paying too much attention to what men say (and preach) can distract you from what God is saying to you.  The world’s greatest expert on God is the Holy Spirit.  And He is the world’s most effective preacher/Bible teacher.  Are … Continue reading →

Posted in Allen Willemsen, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, God, God talks, Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, Music City, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, One At A Time Ministries, organic church, quotation, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-prompted | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fire Hydrant Church

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps 2014 is the time for the church to open up like a fire hydrant and let the Holy Spirit flow! When I was a kid, the fire department in our neighborhood would sometimes open up a fire hydrant on … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic mass, church meetings, creativity, fire of the Holy Spirit, fire plug, flow, flow of the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, followers of Christ, free spirit, freedom, mysticism, Nashville, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, organic church, playing in a fire hydrant, Pope, religious innovation, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, spiritual flow, spiritual innovation, spiritual life, spiritual power, spiritual presence, spiritual worship | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Christmas Clause

Posted on December 25, 2013 by Steve Simms

The Christmas Clause: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son . . .“ Christmas is not just a holiday. It’s a continuous flow of inner peace. Carry Christmas in your heart! Christmas is not an … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013, Christ followers, Christ in you, Christ in you the hope of glory, Christmas Clause, church, church furniture, Creator, earth, For God so loved the world, holiday, Holiday season, holidays, inner flow, inner peace, organic church, Planet Earth, that He gave His only son, the year of our Lord | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What would happen if Chirst was allowed to control a church meeting?

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Steve Simms

What do you think would happen if we allowed Christ to enter a 21st Century church meeting, not as a sermon topic, or as a praise and worship theme, or as a distant religious figurehead; but as a living and … Continue reading →

Posted in interactive church, multi-voiced church, Music City, Nashville, Nashville church, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments