Category Archives: simple church

Organic Church — Spirit-Led Assembly Required!

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Steve Simms

Love is not taught by a sermon or a lesson.  Love is caught when hearts are in Spirit-led connection. Church — Spirit-led assembly required!  A church meeting should be a spiritual people-mover — connecting people to God and to one … Continue reading →

Posted in assembly, Christianity, Christianity with Power, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, God, led by the Spirit, organic church, participation in church, participatory church, participatory culture, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationism, simple church, Spirit-led | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Church — An Alternative Lifestyle To Popular Culture . . . Not A Religious Talk

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Steve Simms

A church meeting is supposed to be the prototype of an alternative lifestyle to popular culture, an actual demonstration of the values of the Kingdom of God, equipping people to live life like lights in the darkness–a spiritual support-group for … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 1 Corinthians:14, communion, community, Jim Van Yperen, monologue, organic church, passivity, pastor, prototype, pulpit ministry, quotation, Quotations, Quotes, simple church, spiritual, support group | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Purpose of Church — Running Religious Programs or Connecting People With Christ?

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Steve Simms

The purpose of church is not to run religious programs.  The purpose of church is to help people connect with, follow, and daily obey the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. When people begin to listen to Jesus and do what He … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church structure, organic church, prompting of the Spirit, promptings, purpose of church, simple church, Spirit-led interaction | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Pope Francis & Participatory Church

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Steve Simms

Pope Francis has made several statements that indicate that he wants church meetings to be more than passively listening to sermons. We need to allow the living, resurrected Jesus to come out in church meetings and use ordinary people. Pope … Continue reading →

Posted in Bergoglio, Bergogolio, Chris Lowney, clergy, clericalism, dialogue, God's surprises, Jesuit Pope, Jesuits, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Nashville, organic church, Quotations, quote, Quotes, Roman Catholic, Rome, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermons, simple church, Tennessean, witness, witnesses | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

New Page Church = Purch/Participatory Church

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Steve Simms

Perhaps it is time for the 21st Century Western church to turn the page and flip through the Bible, stopping at the one place in the New Testament where we are told how to do church:  “When you come together, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Chinua Achebe, cleansing the temple, David James Duncan, Hillary Clinton, It takes a village, kingdom of God, narrow is the way, Nashville, Nashville church, New Testament, participatory church, participatory culture, simple church, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, the Western church, Things Fall Apart | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Church — A Flow Or A Show?

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Steve Simms

Is church more of a show or more of a flow?  Wind and rivers are symbols of the Holy Spirit. The wind blows, a river flows; but the church tends to show what it knows through programs and presentations rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church format, church leadership, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, flo, flow, flow of the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, lecture, lecture series, led by the Spirit, life, Music City, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, Romans 8:14, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual flow, spiritual life, spiritual worship, TN, tree of life, tree of the knowledge of good and evil | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Has The Gospel Lost It’s Power In The 21st Century?

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Steve Simms

Has the Gospel lost its pull on people’s hearts? No, the church has lost the passion to powerfully present the Gospel. “Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof, from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5 When ordinary … Continue reading →

Posted in 70 AD, Bible, Bible quotes, Biblical concept, church format, church meetings, church programs, church services, dating the Bible, denying the power thereof, destruction of Jerusalem, Gospel of Matthew, having a form of godliness, history, organic church, Roman history, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

New Ideas, Worn Out Ideas, & Re-engineering Church

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Steve Simms

A live electric wire on the ground is not boring. It is attention grabbing, powerful, full of sparks, exciting, indescribable, and unpredictable.  A live church service of people flowing together in God’s current is the same. About God? Or by … Continue reading →

Posted in change, change agent, change management, church meetings, church services, electric wire on the ground, finish well, interactive learning, Joe Calloway, learning environment, Lennie Scott-Webber, live church, live electric wire, Model-T, organic church, quotation, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Tom Griner, worn out ideas | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

How (I Was Taught) To Act In Church

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Steve Simms

How I was taught to act in church:  Be quiet, sit still, behave, just listen, be passive, don’t talk, watch the preacher, be like everyone one else, don’t ask questions, only do what the program says, don’t laugh, don’t be … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Bible quotes, biblical, church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, community, Music City, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, participatory church, religious ceremonies, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Perhaps God can speak through anybody, not just a preacher!

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Steve Simms

Perhaps we miss out on much wisdom in the average church service, because only one person is permitted to speak week after week. We can all learn from anybody; not just from experts or professionals. Maybe during a church service, … Continue reading →

Posted in church meetings, church programs, church services, non-church, one anothering, open church, open forum, open mic, organic church, participatory church, simple church | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments