Category Archives: simple church

Are sermon points and systematic theology in the Bible?

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Steve Simms

Sermon points? Sermons frequently have numbered points. However, when you read through the New Testament, you can’t find even one incidence of number points. So how did such an unbiblical idea become so common in church services? (Perhaps it is … Continue reading →

Posted in All I have written, alternative to preaching, Christian history, church history, history, house church, New Testament, organic church, preaching, preaching the Word, preaching without words, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

No time for spectators in church –MLK

Posted on October 8, 2016 by Steve Simms

Martin Luther King, Jr. put it this way: “There are many people who have caught the dangerous disease of ‘spectatoritis.’ Such persons are only spectators or onlookers but not participants. Such persons watch the minister and choir indulge in prayer … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, African American church, Black history month, black-church, body life, creativity, house church, innovation, Martin Luther King Jr., MLK, MLK quotes, Quotations, Ray Stedman, religion, religious innovation, simple church, spectatoritis, spiritual innovation, Thom Schultz, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mr. Potato Head all ears? Or the Body of Christ?

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Steve Simms

Are you familiar with Mr. Potato Head — a Playskool/Hasbro toy that originally came out in the 1950s? Mr. Potato Head was so popular that he was included as a character in the Toy Story movies. He has also been … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 12, alternative church, church programming, church programs, house church, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army, simple church, thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

We cry out to dry bones, “Come alive!”

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Steve Simms

Church is no place for passivity! Biblically it’s a gathering for interactive, Christ-led involvement. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26 and http://amzn.to/2dvrvlz.) Far too many people believe that occasionally attending a highly structured and tightly controlled church service is Christianity. However, the 50+ … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, a new reformation, Berry Street, Bible type revival, church, house church, nontraditional church, organic chruch, revival, revival center, revival in Nashville, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, spiritual formation, spiritual revolution, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Will “Dones” go “Back to Church” as usual, in a post-Christian world?

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Steve Simms

Will “Dones” and others who have left the institutional church, go back to church as usual in a post-Christian society? National Back to Church Sunday (NBTCS) thinks they will. It was begun in the United States in 2009. Their website … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2 Timothy 3:5, Back to Church Sunday, back to the Bible, back to the future, denominations, denying the power, having a form of godliness, having a form of godliness but denying the power, house church, interdenominational, Jesus Movement, movement, National Back to Church Sunday, organic chruch, outreach, outreach ministry, Philip Yancy, post-Christianity, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Christ-led support groups, an inner prompting & the Anabaptists

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Steve Simms

Unfortunately, many Christ-followers have never experienced Christ-led support groups like the ones Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 14. These groups are so powerful that Paul says: “If everyone is prophesying, when an unbeliever or an uneducated person comes in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14, 1 Corinthians 14:26, church history, ecclesiology, home church, house church, if all prophesy, organic church, priesthood of all believers, prophecy, prophesying, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, Swiss Anabaptists, Uncategorized, universal priesthood | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Christ called audibles are transformational

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Steve Simms

An audible is when a quarterback in football calls out a change in the programmed play right before the ball is snapped. Perhaps churches should let the living, resurrected Jesus be our quarterback and call out audibles during worship meetings. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, art of listening, audible, calling audibles, changing plays, church programming, decline of the church, ekklesia, Elizabeth George, house church, inner listening, John 2:5, Kristian Goldmund Aumann, line of scrimmage, listening, listening prayer, listening skills, listening to God, listening to the Spirit, organic church, Quaker worship, Quotations, silence, simple church, spiritual listening, Uncategorized, Whatever He says to you do it | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Salvation Army “War Cry” Review of “Beyond Church”

Posted on August 28, 2016 by Steve Simms

War Cry, the national magazine of The Salvation Army USA wrote: Beyond Church Takes You Past Sunday Worship Have you ever wanted something more in life? Something more than religion? More than ‘church as usual?” In the Western world, traditional church is … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative Christianity, alternative church, ancient Greeks, Beyond Church, ekklesia, Greek city-states, Greek history, Greek language, organic chruch, practical religion, religion, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Stephen Court, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

If the Gaylord Opryland donkey could talk

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Steve Simms

(Get your copy here.) If the donkey in Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee could talk he might say . . .

Posted in advice, Beyond Church, creativity, Dones, house church, ideas, nones, nontraditional church, Quotations, Quotes, simple church, suggestions, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Does American religion deny the freedom of speech?

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Steve Simms

Does religion restrict the freedom of speech? –The First Amendment to the American Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. –So given such freedom, why do American churches almost universally follow a form or religion that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, church, form of godliness, freedom of conscience, having a form of godliness but denying the power, house church, organic chruch, simple church, testimonies, Uncategorized, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meeting, worship | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment