Category Archives: simple church

Nashville church that meets like AA, Al-Anon, & NA

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Steve Simms

Millions of people have found comfort, help, & serenity from various types of support groups, such as, AA, Al-Anon, and NA. Al-Anon’s web site states: “Everyone at the meeting shares as an equal.” It also says: “We help each other … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, celebrate recovery, Christian recovery, recovery, recovery quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Berry Street, Salvation Army Nashville, self-help, self-help group, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Theology without testimony is like learning about ice cream without eating it

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Steve Simms

Many people have never discovered that when people open up and begin to testify to one another about their love for Jesus, they experience an amazing sense of kinship. Christianity isn’t just about dispensing information about God. It’s about making … Continue reading →

Posted in by the word of their testimony, house church, lay testimonies, Lay Witness Missions, lay witness movement, Martin Luther King, organic chruch, personal testimonies, salvation testimonies, simple church, testimonials, testimonies in church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ekklesia’s worth 1,000 words (#UnconferenceNashville quotes)

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Steve Simms

Church looks to one person for ministry; ekklesia looks to one another. Here are a few quotes from people who attended UnconferenceNashville @ The Salvation Army Berry Street June 23-25. “Who knew? I thought that I would learn about ekklesia. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, Christ the Head of the church, Christian conferences, Christianity, experiencing God, fellowship, house church, organic church, Quotations, simple church, Uncategorized, worship, worth a thousand words | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A poem about an altar call

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Steve Simms

The beauty of an altar call, When people open their hearts And respond in obedience to God, Doesn’t have to be confined To a few minutes at the end Of a church service. Why not open up the meeting From … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, ekklesia, house church, organic chruch, simple church, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Preachers interesting & ordinary people boring?

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Steve Simms

Church acts like preachers are interesting & ordinary people are boring. (It could be the opposite.) Protestants made church a classroom. Perhaps church would be more effective as a prayer closet! The body of Christ is a team ministering together; … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, church reform, church refugees, ekklesia, house church, preachers, simple church, social media, testimony, Uncategorized, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meetings | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Emil Brunner Quotes about ekklesia

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Steve Simms

Ever since I encountered the risen Jesus in a Spirit-led meeting on a college campus, I’ve wanted to go beyond the formal way of doing church and meet the way Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 14:26. In 2008, The Salvation … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, books, church government, church leadership, church services, Dones, house church, organic chruch, participation in church, participatory church, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Are you happy now?

Posted on April 19, 2017 by Steve Simms

Self-focus forfeits happiness. Asking, “Am I happy?” opens the door to unhappiness. A key ingredient in the pursuit of happiness is self-forgetting. You are the one who is painting the canvas of your life. How you doing with it? Could … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian support group, ekklesias, hope, hope in Christ, house church, organic chuch, organic church, recovery groups, self-denial, self-focus, self-forgetting, simple church, support groups, Train yourself unto godliness., training, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UnconferenceNashville–hands on ekklesia June 23-25.

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Steve Simms

You’ve read books, articles, & blogs about open, participatory, interactive church (what I believe the Greek New Testament calls ekklesia). Now experience it for 3 days in Nashville. Are you a Christian who’s done with organized church, but still wants … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, downtown Nashville, East Nashville, house church, Nashville churches, Nashville events, Nashville tourism, Nashville tourist attractions, Salvation Army Berry Street, simple church, Uncategorized, visiting Nashville, what to do in Nashville, witnessing in Nashville | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A refuge for church fugitives

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Steve Simms

Give me your tired church refugees, done with church as usual, and yearning to breathe free. (A paraphrase of Emma Lazarus’ words on the Statue of Liberty.) Refugees from church: we’ll take you in & let you speak out as led by … Continue reading →

Posted in home church, house church, Nashville church, organic church, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

How church can grow into the mature body of Christ.

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Steve Simms

We live in a time when millions of Christ-followers are leaving church because they long to see the risen Jesus directing His body and because they are weary of complying with religious systems. Some are meeting in small groups. Others … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, house church, non-church, organic church, simple church, small groups, Uncategorized, unchurched, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment