Category Archives: sermons

Sunday Holy Spirit Science Lab?

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps a church service could be like a high school science lab where ordinary people experiment with hearing and obeying the Holy Spirit.  What would happen if people showed up for Sunday church ready to share with and minister to … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church meetings, experiencing God, experiment, experimental church, Holy Spirit, organic church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, science, scientific model, sermon, sermon-hearing, sermons, service, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual formation, spiritual gifts, The Salvation Army, unprogrammed church | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Is Christ Preempted In Church Services?

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Steve Simms

Is Christ preempted in church services? What would you think if you went to a meeting to hear a special speaker and the person who was supposed to introduce the speaker stood up and spoke for 30 minutes and then … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, church format, church leader, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, preempted, role of Christ in church, sermon, sermon-hearing, sermons, special speaker, speech making, Team Church | Tagged , , , | 3 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

Benjamin Franklin & Sermon Free Church

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Steve Simms

I think Benjamin Franklin would have loved sermon-free church because it gets people actively involved and transforms them from passive pew-sitters to spiritual go-getters! Ben said: “I wish it (Christianity) were more productive of good works. I mean real good … Continue reading →

Posted in American history, American Literature, Ben Franklin, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church format, church meetings, church roles, church services, church structure, Doing the most good, good sermon, good works, history, involve me and I learn, memory, Nashville, organic church, pew, prayer, praying, preacher, preaching, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermon, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, sermons, simple church, teach me and I, Tennessee, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , | 7 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

Sermon-free church will irrigate your dry soul, flooding your heart with the power and presence of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ as everyday people, led by the Spirit, show and tell what God has done.

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Steve Simms

The Methodists used to practice sermon-free church. Sermon-Free church broke out across American in the late 1850s. The Quakers practiced sermon-free church. A prayer for sermon-free church from the late 1800s is being answered in Nashville.

Posted in church, church format, church history, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, churching, Methodism, Methodists, Nashville, Nashville church, preaching, Quakers, sermon, sermon series, sermons, simple church | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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

Church — A Man-Led Pulpet Show Or A Supernatural Puppet Show?

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Steve Simms

Church is a like puppet show. God attempts to animate His people by releasing His Spirit through them. If they resist and/or ignore the promptings of God, not much happens — the puppets remain lifeless and blank-faced in their places. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians:14, animated, animation, anointed, anointing, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, First Century Church, God is truly among you, laying on hands, led by the Spirit, move of God, movement, Music City, platform, prayer, praying, praying community, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, prophesy, prophesying, pulpit, puppet show, puppeteer, puppets, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, secret, sermon-free, sermons, simple church, spectators, speech making, spirit, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spirituality, The Salvation Army, unbeliever, uneducated | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Church — Massaging the Mind Or Harvesting The Heart?

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Steve Simms

Jesus taught that spiritual inspiration (revelation) is the harvest of the heart.  He said:  “Out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”  (John 7:38). The purpose of church (of believers gathering together) is to release the inner … Continue reading →

Posted in flow, flow of the Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John 7:38, massage, mental messages, message, mind, opinion, organic church, out of your innermost being, religious ceremonies, religious information, religious talks, sermon, sermons, simple church, What is church?, What is the true church? | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment