Category Archives: simple church

Christmas Lights

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

No man puts up dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of Christmas lights and then only lets one light shine.  He turns on all the lights and if any light or lights don’t shine, he replaces the bulbs. Perhaps God wants … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ followers, Christmas tree lights, church, church services, light, light bulbs, Nashville, Nashville church, open church, open sharing, organic church, participation in church, participatory church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, simple church, Sunday, Sunday morning, support group, you are the light of the world | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Church is not for sponges; it’s for sparks!

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Steve Simms

You are not simply a sponge, supposed to sit in a “service” and silently soak up a preacher’s ideas. You are someone who has spiritual insight to share.  Church is not for sponges, it’s for sparks! Our desire at The … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church fire, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, church structure, Little Rock, Music City, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, order of worship, organic church, simple church, sparks, sponges, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

C.H.U.R.C.H — A Poetic Acrostic

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Steve Simms

A poetic acrostic defining church: C — Christ-followers H — Hanging out together U — Under the influence of the Spirit, R — Responding directly to His promptings, C — Celebrating the glory of H — His holy Presence! Check … Continue reading →

Posted in acrostic, C H U R C H, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church services, church structure, definition, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit promptings, organic church, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Absolutely amazing special effects occur when the living, resurrected Jesus Christ is personally allowed to direct a church meeting and to speak through ordinary men and women.

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit promptings, house church, open church, participatory church, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

12 B&Bs of PC (Benefits & Blessings of Participatory Church)

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

12 (B&Bs) Benefits & Blessings of (PC) Participatory church: 1) is exciting and never the same ole, same ole.  It breaks the boredom cycle of customary church. 2) releases the living, resurrected Jesus Christ and allows Him to personally direct … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, accountability, Bible, boredom, Christ, Christian organizations, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, commandments, commands, community, customary, customs, faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Nashville, Nashville church, New Testament, non-church, non-traditional church, one another, one anothers, participators, participatory church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

#organicchurch When a church meeting is released from human control and turned over to the Holy Spirit’s direct leadership, the meeting unfolds beautifully, revealing God’s unseen hand.

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in church format, church leadership, church meetings, church services, God's unseen hand, participatory church, simple church, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Multivoiced Church — A Spiritual Sprinkler System

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps a church service is like a sprinkler system on a golf course in Arizona. If only one sprinkler works and all the rest are shut down, almost all the grass dries up and withers. However, if every sprinkler shares … Continue reading →

Posted in active participants, Arizona, Berry Street, Building a Multivoiced Church, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church programs, church services, community, discipleship, golf, golf course, living water, multi-voiced church, Nashville, Nashville church, Nashville news, organic church, participants, participatory church, quotation, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermon, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, sermons, Sian Williams, simple church, sprinkler system, Tennessee, The Power of All, The Salvation Army, voices | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Church — Spiritual Training Camp? Or Spectator Religion?

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Steve Simms

Like an NFL Training Camp, church should be hands-on training — not passive lecture. Through rigorous involvement and interaction, church should train believers in the spiritual skills and attitudes necessary to make a powerful, victorious, and godly impact in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bishop Charles H. Mason, COGIC, dodge ball, game of life, God, God calling, God experiment, God is truly among you, God with us, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, lecture, NFL, organic church, Paul of Tarsus, prompting of the Spirit, quotation, quote, Quotes, science, science lab, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-prompted, spiritual athletes, spiritual training, spiritual transformation, Train yourself unto godliness., training camp, voice of God | Tagged , , , | 2 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

Perhaps A Pastor Should Oversee, Not Direct Church Services

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Steve Simms

–“Overseer” — that’s how the word for Christian leader is translated in some versions of the New Testament.  That translation fits Jesus’ command that leaders be “servants.” –A great example of an overseer is a basketball or football official.  He/she … Continue reading →

Posted in agenda, agendaless, agendaless church, basketball officials, Bible, boundaries, Christianity, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, church overseers, church roles, church structure, clergy, clergy/laity, football officials, God's authority, God's government, hearing the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, impact of church, Jesus, kingdom of God, leaders, leadership, led by the Spirit, Music City, order of worship, organic church, oversight, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments