Category Archives: preaching the Word

Perhaps church services could move beyond attenders silently sitting to hear sermons; and let them stand to share stories about how the living, resurrected Jesus Christ is actively working in their lives.

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in alternative to preaching, Jesus, Jesus Christ, listening, listening skills, preaching, preaching the Word, resurrection, resurrection of Jesus, sermon-hearing, silence, stories, story, testimonies, testimony, witness | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Think Outside The Sermon — Sermon-Free Church Quotations

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Steve Simms

“One filled with joy preaches without preaching.”  –Mother Teresa “Had Saul (who became Apostle Paul) met only a preacher and heard only a sermon, he might never have been heard of again. But Saul met Christ and heard His Voice.”  … Continue reading →

Posted in Adam Weishaupt, Apostle Paul, Ben Franklin, Benjamin Franklin, Christianity, Daphne D.C. Pochin Mould, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Duane Dewel, Edgar A. Guest, encounter with God, George F. Pentecost, God, Harvey Cox, joy, lecture, Leonard Ravenhill, ministers, ministry, Mother Teresa, obedience, order of worship, organic church, Paul of Tarsus, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, public speaking, pulpit, quotation, quote, Quotes, Saul of Tarsus, see a sermon, sermon, sermon series, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, Sinclair Lewis, truth | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Every Christ-follower is clergy & is called to be God’s minister/witness, regardless of his/her job.

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christian, Christian community, church, church leadership, clergy/laity, participatory church, pastor, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, simple church | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Church — A Showcase Of The Holy Spirit

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

All the people in a church service can speak (according to the Bible): “You can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.” (1 Corinthians 14:31).  So where did the idea of only one person speaking … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, gifts of the Spirit, idle knowledge, non-church, one-man sermon, open church, open mike, order of worship, organic church, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, sermon, sermon series, sermon-hearing, service, showcase, Tennessee, testimonies, testimony, W.E.B. DuBois, you can all prophesy | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Church of the Nazarene Leader Proclaimed Participatory Church

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

Early leader of the Church of the Nazarene, P.F. Bresee, proclaimed participatory church: “‘Pump handle’ religion has to give place to the ever-ready springing up and sending forth of testimony and praise. How often the ‘pump handle’ has to be … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, audience, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church fathers, church format, church history, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church roles, church services, church structure, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, history, Holy Ghost, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, participatory church, performance, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, religion, religious innovation, renewal, revival, sermon, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, sermons, spirit, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual innovation, spirituality, symphony, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Did Sermon-Free Church Begin At Pentecost?

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Steve Simms

Sermon-Free Church — Did It Begin At Pentecost?  Thoughts for Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2013 On Pentecost Sunday (May 19) the church in the Western world celebrates the beginning of sermon-free church. The events are recorded in Acts, chapter 2 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2013, Acts, Apostle Peter, bishops, Christ followers, church, church history, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, coming of the Holy Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, Gospel, Holy Spirit, Jerusalem, New Testament, non-church, non-church movement, non-liturgical, non-traditional church, one anothers, open church, open mike, openairs, organic church, origin of the church, overseers, participatory church, Peter, Peter preaching on Pentecost, praise, praising God, pray for one another, prayer, praying, preaching, preaching the Word, Roman, Roman Empire, sermon, sermon-free, sermons, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church, the Western church, This was that., Western world | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

You Can Hear The Voice Of The Spirit

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Steve Simms

We all need to hear it; The voice of the Spirit. There’s no need to fear it; All true hope is near it. He that has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says . . . — It’s easy … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Bible reading, Bible study, biblical, Biblical concept, condemning, fear, good sermon, he that has ears, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, hope, judge, judging, judgment, judgments, let him hear what the Spirit says, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, prophets, spirit, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Use Words! Talk About Religion! Testify!

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Steve Simms

Church is not carefully crafted and controlled ceremonies.  It is a symphony of spontaneous, heart-felt testimonies.  It’s not what we’ve planned, learned, and memorized; but what we have seen and heard! Unfortunately, the work of the living God in human … Continue reading →

Posted in If necessary use words, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, living out the Gospel, power, preach without words, preaching, preaching the Word, prompted by the Spirit, religion, religious ceremonies, religious information, religious talks, religious tradition, ritual, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, shout it from the housetops, speaking out, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual church, spiritual flow, spiritual formation, story, testimonies, testimony, TN, What I tell you in secret | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Powerful Way To Light Your Fire!

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Steve Simms

1) Unrehearsed, heart-felt, Spirit-prompted words connect hearts and ignite spiritual fires.* 2) Rehearsed, studied, formalized words leave hearts unconnected and minds muted; and promptly depart the human memory. * Light your fire!  Experience #1 with us @ The Salvation Army … Continue reading →

Posted in non-church, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, sermons, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual fire, spiritual flow, spiritual growth, spiritual innovation, spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

What Is “Effective Preaching?”

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Steve Simms

Information:  A message prepared and delivered by a mind, reaches a mind. Inspiration:  The testimony of a burning heart reaches a heart. God is looking for a burning heart; not for doctrinal charts. “I would rather teach one man to … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Spurgeon, Come Join Our Army, Crest Books, doctrinal charts, early Salvation Army, exhortations, how to pray, how to preach, information, inspiration, inspirational, learning to pray, mind, prayer, preaching the Word, R.G. Moyles, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, sermon series, testimonies, testimony, USA, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments