Category Archives: participation

Fitness, training, exercise, & working out?

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Steve Simms

Sports training testifies to what dedicated workouts do. Perhaps Christians should meet for dedicated spiritual workouts. Love life; keep spiritually fit! Bodybuilding is good. Soul building is better! You need the reps! Don’t settle for just praying once in a while! Keep … Continue reading →

Posted in accountability, coaches, coaching, depression, group interaction, inner coach, inner peace, interaction, overcoming depression, participation, peace, peace of mind, politics, spiritual training, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Validation Of Open Participation In Church Meetings

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Steve Simms

A Validation Of Open Participation In Church Meetings: Here’s an observation: Without an oration, the decentralization of church into Spirit-led participation, releases a saturation of fascination with the living, resurrected Jesus Christ that produces an amazing manifestation of revelation, cooperation, … Continue reading →

Posted in congregational participation, organic church, participation, revelation, Spirit-led, spirituality | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Live Like Hell? Or March Into Hell For A Heavenly Cause?

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Steve Simms

Why live like Hell when you can have a life of peace, joy, love and contentment? When the inner me runs wild, I become my enemy.  When I let Christ control me, I experience His glory.  Activism can sometimes change … Continue reading →

Posted in business speakers, Don Quixote, impossible dream lyrics, injustice, justice, management consultants, Nashville, open church, open mic, open mic church, participation, participatory church, right conduct, right living, righteousness, Salvation Army, self-destruction, self-hate, self-surrender, simple church, the impossible dream, we have seen the enemy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Man Up! (Participatory/Organic Church Reaches Men!)

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Steve Simms

“The typical U.S. Congregation draws an adult crowd that’s 61% female, 39% male. This gender gap shows up in all age categories.” –Churchformen.com.  Why does church in the U.S. not reach more men? “Men are hard-wired for risk taking—particularly young … Continue reading →

Posted in attracting men, BNA, churchformen, David Murrow, fresh expressions, marketing to men, men in chuch, men in church, messy church, Music City, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Nashville charity, Nashville church, organic church, participation, participatory church, quotation, Quotations, quote, reaching men, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

A highly planned program without personal interaction would make for a boring family gathering or party. What about church?

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Steve Simms

What about church?  A highly planned program without personal interaction would make for a boring family gathering or party!

Posted in creativity, innovation, multi-voiced church, participation, participation in church, participators, participatory church, participatory culture, participatory sermons | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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

Question/Answer About Participatory/Organic Church (from a Salvation Army officer)

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Steve Simms

Question:  I recently received this question from Bronwyn Barkmever, a Salvation Army officer in Australia on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleBerryStreet): “We are embarking upon an adventure of ‘out of the box’ worship and want to take this opportunity to explore different … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Canada, heart, heart-felt, lay testimonies, laying on hands, participation, participation in church, participatory church, pastor, Q&A, questions, questions and answers, quotation, Quotations, quote, Quotes, salvation, simple church, Speak Lord, speak the truth in love, testimonies, testimonies in church, testimony, Toronto, Whatever He says to you | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Have We Silenced God’s Lambs (Keeping Them Silent With Preaching)?

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Steve Simms

Have we silenced God’s lambs with a gag rule for church?  Perhaps. I believe that many people have powerful messages from God burning in their heart, but they are too intimidated to share them because: 1) They are never given … Continue reading →

Posted in lay preaching, laymen preaching, multi-voiced church, Music City, Nashville, Nashville charity, participation, participation in church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Nashville, shared sermon, speaking up, Who can preach? | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Let Jesus Lead Us! (Quotes About The Need For Organic/Participatory Church)

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Steve Simms

“How can you have a dead service with a living Christ?” –Leonard Ravenhill “What did first-century believers do in their worship meetings? Paul gives a description in 1 Corinthians 14:26: ‘When you come together, each of you has a hymn, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, David Walters, experiencing God, experiential worship, experimental church, Garth Lean, house church, Korea, Liquid Church, living Christ, Mark Batterson, Michael Morrison, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, Oxford Group, participation, participation in church, participatory church, participatory culture, Pete Ward, quotation, Quotations, quote, Robin Parry, spiritual prompting, spiritual training, spirituality, Sun Chae Hwang, worship, worship gathering, worship service | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The NFL Draft

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Steve Simms

Perhaps the church can learn from the NFL Draft! The NFL Draft is not looking for passive spectators to sit around and listen to the coach every week; but for game-changers who get off the bench and make plays!  (To … Continue reading →

Posted in Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, non-traditional church, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, participation, participators, participatory church, quotation, Quotations, quote, religion, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Nashville, Salvationism, Salvationists, simple church | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment