Category Archives: organic church

Focus Group Church

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Steve Simms

Have you ever experienced a focus group church? A focus group church is a group of believers who regularly gathered together to share with one another what the living, resurrected Jesus Christ is showing and telling them. (See 1 Corinthians … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, non-church, open church, organic church, participatory church, simple church | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Founder Of The Salvation Army Believed In Participatory Church

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Steve Simms

William Booth, co-founder (along with his wife) of The Salvation Army, believed that church meetings should be participatory and not just involve one person running the meeting and doing all the ministry.  Here’s what he said: “Some murmurs have reached … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church history, church leader, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, organic church, preaching, sermons | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

AA Church

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

An Innovative Idea For Sunday Morning Church — Function Like An AA Meeting! Here’s a description of a typical AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meeting from the AA of Australia web site: “AA meetings are very informal. Just take a seat and … Continue reading →

Posted in 12 step meeting, 12 steps, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, church format, church meetings, church program, church roles, church services, order of worship, organic church, participation in AA meetings, participatory church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, telling their stories, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Faucet Faith? vs. Free-Flowing Faith

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Steve Simms

Faucet faith is turned on and off as needed, but is mostly shut down and ignored. Free-flowing faith flows freely from the heart 24/7/365. Church based on 1 Corinthians 14:26 (open sharing and Spirit-led testimonies) releases a spiritual contagion factory … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 24/7/365, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, faucet, order of worship, organic church | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

One Anothering

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Steve Simms

God’s love we discover When we minister to one another. Church is not sitting in a pew, It’s doing what we do . . . One anothering; we’re one anothering. Singing songs to one another; Confessing to each other; Encouraging … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, church meetings, church program, church services, compassion, Love one another, organic church, pray for one another | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

Making Music With Body Parts (God’s Symphony)

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Steve Simms

This blog is not about finger snapping, hand clapping, knee slapping, toe tapping, and/or armpit playing.  It’s about the church, the body of Christ, functioning as God’s symphony. The New Testament teaches that the church is like a human body … Continue reading →

Posted in armpit, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, biblical, biblical Christianity, Biblical concept, church meetings, church services, clergy, conductor, finger snapping, God, God's symphony, hand clapping, instrumental, instrumental music, instruments, knee slapping, musical solo, New Testament, organic church, paralyzed, pastor, prayer, preacher, priest, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, solo, song, symphony, toe tapping | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Dr. Seuss Put The Juice To Unloose & Produce Innovation

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Steve Simms

A thought on Dr. Seuss’ birthday:  Perhaps Christ-followers should be as creative in presenting the living, resurrected Jesus Christ as Dr. Seuss was in his books.  (Or as William Booth and the first members of The Salvation Army were.) I … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century, Dr. Seuss' birthday, innovators, organic church, out of the box, outside the lines, Quotations, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, The Ten Faces of Innovation, Tom Kelley, verbs, William Booth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Believing Outside The Box — Creativity In Church

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Steve Simms

Thinking outside the box is a popular phrase.  Taco Bell even played on it in their commercial by encouraging people to think outside the bun.  Creative, out of the box thinking, has brought tremendous advancements to society.  However one group … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, alternative lifestyle, alternative names, biblical, biblical Christianity, Biblical concept, Christianity, established procedure, imagineering, innovation, Nashville, nonconforming, novel ideas, order of worship, ordinary, organic church, reinvent, reinventing, religion, religious innovation, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual innovation, Taco Bell, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, think outside the bun, visionary, Walt Disney | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

What The Church Can Learn From Basketball Officials

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Steve Simms

From preschool to the NBA Playoffs — from high school to March Madness — basketball officials could serve as great examples of an alternative way for pastors to conduct church services. Rather than being the center of attention and running … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, church format, church meetings, church program, church roles, church services, church structure, clergy, creativity, high school basketball, innovation, Nashville adventure, Nashville events, Nashville projects, officials, organic church, participatory church, pastor, simple church, spiritual growth, spiritual innovation, spiritual leaders, spiritual life, sporting event, sports, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The World’s Greatest Valentine

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Steve Simms

The World’s Greatest Valentine is regularly carried in East Nashville, Tennessee (The “Blood & Fire” Salvation Army Flag) — the red stands for the blood of Jesus; the yellow star represents the fire of the Holy Spirit; and the blue … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Bible reading, Biblical concept, blood and fire battle flag, blood of Jesus, Christ, Christ followers, Christianity, church, East Nashville, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, flag, holiday, holidays, holiness, Music City, New Testament, organic church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, simplicity, surrender, surrender to God, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag, the Word, the world for God, the world's greatest love letter, Why be a Christian?, world's greatest, worship gathering | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment