Category Archives: participatory church

The audience of One — (Who should be on the church platform?)

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Steve Simms

The audience of One!  Most churches have a platform or stage that lifts one person (or a few people) above the rest of the people and creates the atmosphere of an audience watching a performance.   However, the New Testament … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, audience, church architecture, church format, church furniture, church leadership, church meetings, church programs, church seating, New Testament, order of worship, organic church, participation in church, participatory church, stage | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

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

Unorthodox & Innovative Ideas For Christ-Followers!

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Steve Simms

Innovative & unorthodox ideas for 21st Century Christ-followers: 1) Get on the streets and regularly prayer walk with the Blood & Fire Battle Flag. 2) Regularly post bold declarations about the living, resurrected Jesus Christ on Facebook and other social … Continue reading →

Posted in André Cox, Barry Swanson, Blood and Fire, blood and fire battle flag, Jane Yoder-Short, organic church, outreach, outreach ministry, participatory church, quotation, Quotations, quote, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Commissioner, Salvation Army Flag, Salvation Army General, Salvation Army officer, salvation war | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hang & Praise Church

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Steve Simms

What is hang and praise church?  Hang-and-praise church is hanging out with a group of Christ-followers and sharing His praises with one another through song, stories, and Scriptures! It is based on this description of how Jesus’ earliest disciples met: … Continue reading →

Posted in casual church, East Nashville, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Nashville, simple church, unprogrammed church, unscripted 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

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

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

Church Desperately Needs The Energy Of The Holy Spirit’s Synergy

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Steve Simms

When God’s people come together to be led by the voice of the Spirit in their hearts, a synergy of God’s inner energy is released, His power and love flow among them as various individuals obey His promptings and it … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 1 Corinthians:14, Bible concepts, Bible quotes, church leadership, church program, church programs, flow of the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, living water, Matthew 18:20, open church, open mic, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, presence of Christ, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, promptings, quotation, Quotations, quote, release of the Spirit, religion, rivers of living water, simple church | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Amazing manifestations of God happen when church moves beyond performance, program, and presentation to people openly sharing their hearts with one another!

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, participatory church, simple church, Spirit-led church, spiritual church, spirituality | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Nashville Sounds in Participatory Church

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Steve Simms

Participatory church presents the profundity and wisdom of ordinary people as they show and tell what God is doing in their lives.  Here are some Nashville sounds from an organic church in Nashville — The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center … Continue reading →

Posted in God's voice, harpists, hearing, hearing God, hearing the Holy Spirit, listening, listening prayer, listening skills, listening to God, listening to the Spirit, music, Music City, organic church, participatory church, relevation, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Nashville, sermon-hearing, sharing, silence, silent worship, simple church, sound of His voice | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments