Category Archives: simple church

Holy Ghost (the movie) — Live it out in church meetings!

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Steve Simms

“Can the Holy Spirit direct a movie? In this fast-paced documentary, Darren Wilson sets out to make a movie that is completely led by the Holy Spirit. No plan, no script, no safety net–just go wherever he feels the Spirit … Continue reading →

Posted in christian movies, church, led by the Spirit, movie, movie review, organic church, participatory church, religious movies, simple church, Spirit directed, Spirit's flow, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, Spirit-prompted, spiritual adventure, spiritual fire, spirituality, Wanderlust, world primer | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Let’s Get Ecclesiological And Set The World On Fire For God!

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Steve Simms

Let’s get ecclesiological — not just with talk but with how we walk out being the church! Some people think that I think too much about church, but hey, I’m an ecclesiologist and we’re really into ecclesiology. (The word “ecclesiology” comes … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, church revitalization, church study, dead church walking, early church, ecclesiastical, ecclesiological, ecclesiologist, Greek, Greek language, Greek New Testament, Greek word, Harry Reeder, having a form of godliness, Matthew 18:20, Nashville church, New Testament, New Testament church, ology, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

When church is honest & raw, there will be awe!

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Steve Simms

When church is honest & raw, there will be awe!  It will be stunning. When the first Christians gathered, the Bible says: “Everyone was filled with awe” –Acts 2:43. Awe is a stirring and powerful sense of amazement, astonishment, bewilderment, … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, order of worship, organic church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Nashville, simple church, spiritual church | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Democracy, Ekklesia, & Church (It’s Greek to most of us.)

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Steve Simms

An ekklesia was the governing body of an ancient Greek city-state and the world’s first expression of democracy.   It was made up of all of the adult, male citizens in a particular city-state and met 40 times per year to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, ancient Greece, ancient Greek wisdom, assembly, church history, church meetings, early Christians, early church, first church, fresh expressions, Greek, Greek city state, Greek New Testament, Greek philosophy, Greek word, house church, I will build my church, Matthew, Matthew 16, messy church, movement, Nashville, Nashville church, New Testament, New Testament quote, one anothers, organic church, Roman Empire, Rome, Salvation Army, simple church | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Themes For Special Sundays

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Steve Simms

Some Creative Church-Themes For Special Sundays * Sermon Quiz Sunday (a quiz on the past 5 sermons). * Scripture Sunday (everybody shares a favorite Bible verse). * Physical Healing Sunday (people pray over each other to be healed). * Confession … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Divine healing, foot washing, Nashville church, Nashville events, organic church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Nashville, Send the fire, sermon quiz, sermons, simple church, Tennessee, testifying, testimonies | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

This Little Light Of Mine–What If We Let It Shine In Church Meetings?

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Steve Simms

Churches sometimes teach the children’s song, This Little Light Of Mine.  It goes:  “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine; let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.  Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let … Continue reading →

Posted in children's songs, Christ, church, church meetings, Luke 8:16, lyrics, music, Music City, Nashville church, Nashville news, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Nashville, simple church, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, This little light of mine | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

How to create community in church

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Steve Simms

When many speak and share in a meeting, community comes forth. Church is called to be community, not an audience. In a traditional church service, there is one person speaking on the platform and everybody else is in the audience … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 1 Corinthians:14, 21st Century, ancient ruins, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church community, early Christians, early church, early Salvation Army, East Nashville, ekklesia, how to create community, Isaiah, Nashville adventure, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville think tank, Nashville tourist attractions, quotation, Quotations, quote, Quotes, Ross Parsley, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Flag, Salvation Army Nashville, simple church | Tagged , , , , , | 7 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