Category Archives: participatory church

Creative Texting Ideas

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Steve Simms

Here’s a great texting idea.  Text this: U R needed to actively participate in chURch. Or this:  When the preacher is the only one allowed to speak out in church, u r left out, so perhaps we should spell one-speaker … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, church, church services, ch__ch, creative texting, participants, participation, participators, participatory church, passivity, preacher, preaching, religiious texting, religion, spectators, texting ideas, texting in church, u r, What's missing in ch__ch? u r | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A choir is more than only one person singing. Perhaps a church service should be more than only one person speaking. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26)

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, church structure, one person singing, participation, participatory church | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Absolutely amazing special effects occur when the living, resurrected Jesus Christ is personally allowed to direct a church meeting and to speak through ordinary men and women.

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit promptings, house church, open church, participatory church, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

God ideas or God demonstrations?

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

Participatory church presents God as a present reality as ordinary people are filled with wisdom, love, power, eloquence, faith, demonstrations of the Spirit, and the glory of God!  It moves beyond God ideas to God demonstrations. When hot coals are … Continue reading →

Posted in active participants, care enough to send the very best, church services, congregations, demonstrations of the Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, Jesus Take The Wheel, membership, open church, order of worship, participants, participation, participatory church, quotation, quote, Quotes, Scott Thumma, spiritual fire, spiritual gifts, spontaneity, The Other 80%, Turning Your Church's Spectators, ways of doing church, wisdom, words on fire, worship | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Two 19th Century Women Promoted Participatory Church

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Steve Simms

These two 19th Century women promoted participatory church: Florence Booth of The Salvation Army said:  “The greatest care is needed that a sense of the value of testimony should be preserved throughout The Army. Salvationism is neither comforting nor complete … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th Century, church history, converts, Ellen G. White, Florence Booth, gifts of the Spirit, Holy Spirit, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army women, Salvationism, sermon, sermons, Seventh Day Adventists, testimonies, testimony | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

What The Church Can Learn From A Muppet Movie

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Steve Simms

One animated Muppet with all the other Muppets immobile and neatly placed in rows, would not make much of a Muppet movie. Instead, all the Muppets need to be animated and participating interactively with one another. No one Muppet dominates … Continue reading →

Posted in animated, animation, Berry Street, Bible, Bible concepts, church format, church leadership, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, faith, faith in God, faith-based, freedom, Nashville, Nashville church, open mic, open mike, organic church, participation, participatory church, puppets, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, soul, speaking, speaking out, spiritual formation, spirituality, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

12 B&Bs of PC (Benefits & Blessings of Participatory Church)

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

12 (B&Bs) Benefits & Blessings of (PC) Participatory church: 1) is exciting and never the same ole, same ole.  It breaks the boredom cycle of customary church. 2) releases the living, resurrected Jesus Christ and allows Him to personally direct … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, accountability, Bible, boredom, Christ, Christian organizations, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, commandments, commands, community, customary, customs, faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Nashville, Nashville church, New Testament, non-church, non-traditional church, one another, one anothers, participators, participatory church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

#organicchurch When a church meeting is released from human control and turned over to the Holy Spirit’s direct leadership, the meeting unfolds beautifully, revealing God’s unseen hand.

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in church format, church leadership, church meetings, church services, God's unseen hand, participatory church, simple church, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Early Puritans Practiced Participatory Church

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Steve Simms

Reading a book this morning that I “randomly” found at McKay Books Nashville, I discovered that the early Puritans believed in participatory church. How exciting! “In the conduct of worship the Separatists (early Puritans) stressed spontaneity. Following the regular sermon, … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, British history, Christianity, church history, Edmund S. Morgan, English, English history, history, liturgies, McKay Books, Nashville, Nashville church, participatory church, prayer, prayers, praying, prophesying, Puritan ideas, quotation, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermon, sermon-hearing, sermons, speech making, speeches, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, Visible Saints | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Multivoiced Church — A Spiritual Sprinkler System

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps a church service is like a sprinkler system on a golf course in Arizona. If only one sprinkler works and all the rest are shut down, almost all the grass dries up and withers. However, if every sprinkler shares … Continue reading →

Posted in active participants, Arizona, Berry Street, Building a Multivoiced Church, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church programs, church services, community, discipleship, golf, golf course, living water, multi-voiced church, Nashville, Nashville church, Nashville news, organic church, participants, participatory church, quotation, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermon, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, sermons, Sian Williams, simple church, sprinkler system, Tennessee, The Power of All, The Salvation Army, voices | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments