5 Simple Ways To Release More Love In Church/Corps Meetings

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Steve Simms
“Love one another.” –Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have a supernatural outbreak of God’s love in our church meetings? Control contorts, constricts, and collapses love. Love must be free to spontaneously flow.
Love's not a theory
–5 simple ways to increase love in church/corps* meetings:
1) Give ordinary people the opportunity to open up and share what is on their heart. When you hear people being sincere, transparent, and vulnerable, you can’t help but feel love for them.
2) Let people gather around, lay their hands on, and pray over one another. When people pray out loud for other people, supernatural love begins to flow from their heart. Another way to do this is to break the meeting into groups of about 3 to 6 people and let them share their concerns and then pray together for each other.
3) Arrange the seating for the meeting in a way that people can see each others faces (circle, semi-circle, or U-shape arrangements seem to work best for this). When you see the living Jesus shining through someone’s face, love wells up from inside you.
4) Create an environment that moves praise and worship beyond a rehearsed and controlled performance and allows people to passionately pour out their heart in abandoned adoration of Jesus. Worshiping in spirit and truth let’s love loose!
5) Keep the meeting real, honest, and heart-felt. “If we walk in the light, as He (God) is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” –1 John 1:7
–It takes great courage to be open and honest; and to humbly admit our faults, insecurities, struggles, and issues. Yet, God’s love calls us to nothing less. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” When sins are openly confessed, God’s miracle of mercy and love rises up in those who hear.
–Love’s not a theory taught through trained theological teachings. Love is a lifestyle learned by letting in God’s light!
*Corps is the term The Salvation Army uses instead of church. The Greek word that is used in the New Testament for gatherings of God’s people is ekklesia.  The earliest English Bible translators brought it into English as congregation. However, the King James translators rather than bringing the meaning of the word ekklesia into English, replaced it with the word church which means a place for religious worship rather than the gathering of God’s people. For more see my post: The Lost Word of the Bible–Ekklesia.
Posted in 1 John 1:7, Bible translation, church seating, confess your sins, confession, James, one another, organic church, praise and worship, Salvation Army Corps, walk in the light | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Set a fire down in the church that we can’t contain, that we can’t control . . .”

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Steve Simms

Should a church meeting look like this?

firewood stored

Or like this?

firewood burning

The more wood you put on a fire, the brighter it burns.
–The more people who are allowed to share burning words from their heart in a church meeting, the brighter the presence and power of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ!

Are we called to line up and watch a sermon about fire? Or are we called to obey the leading of the Spirit and to burn brightly for God? Jesus said: “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” –Luke 12:49. “Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord?” –Jeremiah 23:29.

— 1 to 10 Obeying The Holy Spirit Quiz —
1 means you never obey the prompting of the Spirit.
10 means you obey the Spirit every time you are prompted.
(What score do you give yourself?)
–“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” –Romans 8:14.

Until we, the ordinary people, allow God to set us on fire like the song says: “Set a fire down in my soul that I can’t contain, that I can’t control,” and break out of human control, church will just be one stick of wood talking coolly about combustion to other neatly stacked sticks of wood.

The New Testament church was full of uncontrolled fire. “In the New Testament churches, everyone used their gifts. In institutional church, only a few, highly gifted people (worship leaders, preachers, etc.) use their gifts. In NT church, Jesus brought the agenda for the meetings. In institutional churches, a few, very smart people design the worship experiences.” –John White

“We need another Pentecost.” –William Booth

Posted in I have come to bring fire on the earth, institutional church, Is not my word like fire?, Jeremiah, Jesus, John White, led by the Spirit, Luke, lyrics, New Testament, Romans 8:14, sermons | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

More than church

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Steve Simms

More Than Church

Is there more?
There is more!
Let’s open up the door.
Let’s all open our mouths
And let the Spirit soar!
Testify, glorify.
Don’t deny the Lord!
Edify, magnify,
It’s Him who we adore.
Out of Judea
Came ekklesia;
It’s God’s idea.
It’s what we’re called for!
(1 Corinthians 14:26)

testify open mic

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, called, calling, Come let us adore Him, deny the Lord, edification, glorify God, God's idea, Judea, magnify the Lord, open doors, Open your mouth and I will fill it, testimony | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Fresh Definition Of Ekklesia

Posted on October 24, 2015 by Steve Simms

“Ekklesia (the Greek New Testament word that was replaced by the English word ‘church’) is a gathering of people called out of human effort, agendas, and control, so that they can freely open up to their spiritual gifts and use them to bless one another as the body of Christ.”

Followers or sitters? Ekklesias train people to hear, follow, and obey the living, resurrected Jesus. Churches train people to sit still, be quiet, and try not to fall asleep during sermons?

Ekklesias allow the Holy Spirit to be unconfined and to freely flow through anybody present. (See 1 Corinthians 12:7.) Churches tend to confine the Holy Spirit to speaking through only one man while the rest of the body passively watches.

gifts, workings of the Spirit

This has created a problem that we are often unaware of. “The problem that we are facing in the church today is that we have so many Christians who have made a decision to believe in Jesus but not a commitment to follow Him.” ―Tyler Edwards,

A forest fire doesn’t just fire up one tree and leave the trees around it unignited. Neither does the Holy Spirit just fire up one clergyman and leave the people around Him unignited. When the Spirit came at Pentecost, God’s fire fell on all the Christ-followers present in the place. Isn’t it time for church meetings to look like Pentecost and the New Testament ekklesia?

Check out my new book, Beyond Church — An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible — Ekklesia; available at Amazon.

104

Posted in 1 Corinthians 12, church, control in church, God's fire, Greek words, New Testament, Send the fire, sermons, Tyler Edwards | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

X marks the spot in Nashville for encouragement, healing, and hope.

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Steve Simms

Berry Street X

Nashville’s spot for encouragement, hope, and healing!

Encouragement:

Allowing the heart-felt sharing of spiritual insights, releases the power and presence of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ into a group of people.

Healing:

–Holy Spirit–
Spirit stirings
In your soul,
Heal your hurts
And make you whole.

Hope:

“Christ in you, the hope of glory!”

Experience The Salvation Army Berry Street, the spot in Nashville where regular people show and tell what God has done — every Sunday morning @ 10:45, 225 Berry Street, Nashville 37207.

Posted in Berry Street, BNA, creativity, innovation, ministries, Music City, recovery, support group, Worship City, X marks the spot | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Stubborn Speaker Meets A Faithful Facilitator (Steps to Berry Street)

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Steve Simms

An advertisement for C & T Seminars kept coming across my path. It was about a training company owned by a woman named Ernie Froedge.

I was a burned out preacher who greatly missed preaching (but not church politics and control) and was trying to compensate by setting out to be a motivational speaker. Someone had told me that I could learn more about speaking and training by offering to buy lunch for someone who is doing it and then asking them questions about how they got started.

So I did. I called Ernie and she agreed to have lunch with me. I asked her questions about her business and she graciously shared helpful information with me.

Ernie was a facilitator. She led seminars for companies and organizations across the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and even the Cayman Islands. Rather than standing up and lecturing, she guided people through interactive activities and created an environment for open sharing.

I really enjoyed meeting her and found her business information very helpful. However, I wasn’t too sold on the concept of facilitation. I wanted to be a famous speaker.

I kept meeting with Ernie and we soon became friends. Our networking led to neck-working and within nine months we were married.

Ernie helped me with much advice, support and encouragement. And she helped open some doors for me, even getting me an opportunity to travel and do some facilitation for one of the companies she worked for.

I found facilitation to be very difficult and nerve-wracking. For me, it was much easier and more fulfilling to my ego to stand up and tell people what I know .  Giving up control from the front of the room and allowing people to share was scary and uncomfortable. So I decided to focus on promoting myself as a motivational speaker.

Ernie and I used to have discussions about which was the most effective way to change people, facilitation or speaking. I would always take the side of speaking.

Although my life had been transformed in a meeting where people were allowed to share, and as a pastor I had seen that my preaching was not as effective in changing lives as allowing people to share, I still stubbornly thought I could change the world through giving speeches. I was determined.

Even though we disagreed on the speaking vs. facilitation topic, Ernie was always very supportive and encouraging of my goal to be a famous speaker. She even encouraged, helped, and backed me in writing and marketing two self-help books.

I had modest success as a speaker for 12 years, but it never really took off. My life was compartmentalized during this time. I wanted to find a church where people could share, but in my career as a speaker, I wanted to do all the talking.

However, eventually I began to have voice problems and my speaking business fell off. I was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia by Vanderbilt Voice Center in Nashville and was told that I would have ongoing problems with my voice. I kept trying to make speeches with a broken voice but business fizzled out.

About that time, Ernie, who had given up much of her facilitation business to have more time with our daughter and to focus on spiritual growth, saw an ad in the newspaper for a part-time counselor with The Salvation Army. She sent in her resume and received a phone call from them. The job involved counseling addicted men at night. She felt like that was an opportunity for me instead of her, so she found me and put me on the phone. In a few days I was hired. That eventually led to Ernie being also hired by another part of The Salvation Army in Nashville, which led to our being invited to open Berry Street as a participatory church based on open sharing rather than one-man sermons.

As I have written about Berry Street, I have frequently connected it to my experience in a college fellowship that allowed sharing, but I have neglected to share how amazing God was to bless me with a wife who understood facilitation and who, when I was focused on my own desire to be a speaker, would love and support me and yet still remind me of what was deeper in my heart and be a beautiful example of humbly loving and following Christ! Ernie is truly gifted at honoring others and drawing out the best in them and that has created a beautiful environment for people to feel loved and accepted and have freedom to share at Berry Street.

steve&ernie gatlinburg

Thank you, Ernie!

Posted in ARC, Berry Street, burn out, burned out pastors, facilitating, facilitator, motivational speakers, Nashville, networking, public speaking, recovery, spasmodic dysphonia, support group, Vanderbilt Voice Center, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Body Building / Body Life / Body Ministry

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Steve Simms

When I was in college I read Body Life, by Ray Stedman, a book about how the Bible teaches that the church should function as a body, with each member having the freedom to listening to and obey the Head — the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. Body Life made a big impact on me and confirmed the participatory, interactive way of meeting for worship that I was a privileged to be a part of on my campus. Here are some quotes from the book and some Scriptures that support it.

“Most Christians are tragically unaware of the biblical pattern for the church.” –Ray Stedman

“In the physical body, the hand moves when the brain says to. So too the members of Jesus’ spiritual body takes direction from Him as our Head. Jesus gives each member gifts and talents, making himself alive within his church. He equips his people to love one another, and to serve in unity his kingdom. This is Body Life.”  –Ray Stedman

body life book

Here’s the book’s summary of the New Testament pattern for church:

  • A pervasive spirit of love and unity, resulting in an attractive, persuasive evangelistic witness to the world (see John 13:35; Ephesians 4:3)

  • A celebration of spiritual gifts; all members of the body are encouraged to discover and use their gifts.

  • A horizontal rather than vertical ‘command’ church structure; a recognition that Christ alone is the ‘Head’ of the church; while the leadership and pastoral gifts are respected and acknowledged; the gifts, creativity, and initiative of all the people are utilized and all members of the body are honored (see I Corinthians 12).

  • A recognition, drawn from Ephesians 4 that all believers are ministers, not just the pastor-teachers; those with the gift of ruling elder or pastor-teacher are to build up and equip the entire body of believers to be ministers in the church and in the world.

  • An emphasis on scriptural truth rather than human wisdom, social expectations, or religious traditions.

  • Frequent opportunities for believers to confess their sins and hurts, to share one another’s burdens, to care for one another in Koinonia-fellowship and agape love, and to speak the truth in love.

Here are some Scriptures that teach the body life concept of full participation in church meetings along with a paraphrase of each Scripture:

“Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” –Ephesians 4:15-16 (We build ourselves and one another, up in love as we speak the truth in love and as each member is free to share his/her part of speaking the truth, and gradually we grow into the mature body of Christ.)

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” –1 Peter 2:5 (God’s building materials are living human beings who are being united into a spiritual unity, a group of people who all serve as priests before God and before one another; and who sacrifice their individual ego and personal needs in order to obey what Jesus tells them to do.)

“Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in Heaven.” –Matthew 10:32 (If we listen to Jesus and then say and/or do what He tells us to, He will speak to the Father about us.)

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ” –1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (When the body of Christ meets together, the Holy Spirit uses each member of His body in a unique way. He gives each person a “gift,” a “service” and/or a “working;” not just to benefit the individual, but for the good of everybody present.)

“In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” –Romans 12:5-8 (When Christ-followers meet, we all belong to each other. God has given us different things to share and/or do in the meeting. We should be faithful to say and/or do whatever Christ tells us to.”)

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” –Philippians 2:1-4 (If we have received blessings from Christ, we should be united in love and avoid seeking our own interests, but seek what is good for others. In a meeting this means that we should not share out of self-promotion, but limit what we share so that others can have the opportunity to share as well.)

Posted in 1 Peter, biblical pattern, body of Christ, Christian unity, ecclesiology, Ephesians, holy priesthood, Jesus is the Head, Koinonia, members of the body, New Testament church, pastor-teachers, priesthood of the believer, Romans 12, speaking the truth in love, spiritual gifts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Stuck in a pit? Or fighting from a foxhole? “I’ll fight!”

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Steve Simms

Why be stuck in a pit when you can be fighting in a foxhole? A slight change of your perspective can make a world of difference in your life!

Life’s not easy. There are always problems. I’m sure you are dealing with a few today! (Of course, if there were no problems to be solved — no needs to be met — no people to be loved and served — no obstacles to overcome — there would be no jobs.)

Sometimes it feels like life is trying to throw us into a pit. A pit is a hole that you are stuck in. Are you stuck anywhere in your life?

You can turn your pit into a foxhole. How? By continually battling and resisting the negative mental, emotional, and spiritual forces that are trying to keep you stuck. A foxhole is a hole that you fight from.

Freedom fighters don’t have time to be stuck in a pit. They are consumed by a vision, a dream, a goal, a purpose, a cause, and/or a mission and driven to achieve it! Paul of Tarsus put it this way: “Fight the good fight of faith.” William Booth said: “I’ll fight!”

Pit or foxhole? The choice today (and everyday) is yours!

As for me, I’m not stuck in a pit! I’m fighting from a foxhole @ The Salvation Army Berry Street in Nashville, Tennessee!

Here’s a challenge: If you are fighting in a foxhole, I invite you to type this in the comment section of this post: “I’m not stuck in a pit! I’m fighting from a foxhole @ _____________________! (and fill in the blank).

I'll fight

Posted in a cause beyond yourself, as they do now, choice, fight the good fight of faith, I have a dream, Nashville, overcoming obstacles, Paul of Tarsus, purpose driven life, Tennessee, where there is no vision the people, While women weep, Your mission should you choose to accept it | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Christ-Controlled Church (How to move beyond human control of church meetings.)

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Steve Simms

A Sunday morning church service is a controlled environment. Often everything that happens there is planned out ahead of time and inked onto a handy program which is given to people as they enter.  People are expected to passively sit, silently listen, and dutifully obey, offering no input or unprogrammed response. They are told when to sit, when to stand, when to sing, when to read, when to put money into a plate, what to think and believe, and when to leave — all under the control of one man called the pastor.

These expectations are enforced by hundreds of years of tradition. Although the Bible clearly teaches that people have the freedom to interrupt a church meeting, that almost never happens. (Have you ever seen a traditional church service interrupted by someone in the congregation?)

Can church be more than a rigidly controlled program? Yes, it can be so much more. Church can be a living demonstration of the power and presence of the resurrected Jesus Christ.

If Christ is dead and gone, church meetings may need to be controlled by a human leader. However, if Christ is alive and present (as the Bible clearly teaches and as almost every church says they believe), then Christ, Himself, can personally direct church meetings without a human being in control. There is absolutely no need for one man to dominate the proceedings.

So, how can a church move beyond human control of its worship meetings? It is really quite simple. 1) Gather in Jesus’ name, under His direct leadership rather than a man’s control; 2) Allow everybody to be still and listen to the “still, small voice” of Jesus speaking in their heart; 3) Allow people to share (and/or do) whatever Jesus tells them to.

When these three steps are followed, amazing things begin to happen. Wisdom and eloquence come forth from some of the least likely people. Love begins to flow. A sense of awe fills the room.  Humility, honesty, and confession come forth. Gifts of the Spirit begin to quietly manifest. It soon becomes obvious that an unseen presence is guiding the meeting — that the living Jesus is leading us on holy ground.

These three simple steps can be followed anywhere, not just in a church building. And you don’t need a crowd. Jesus said that He will be present when two or three gather in His name. It’s so simple, yet so powerful. Why not try it for yourself and see what the living Jesus will do in and through a group of people if He is only given a chance?

“The main idea of biblical church government is to allow Jesus Christ truly to function as the living head of His body.” –Steven J. Cole

Writing in SBC Life about the firings of Southern Baptist pastors, Chris Turner said: “Control issues — ‘who’s going to run the church‘ — topped the list of reasons for termination.”

“The greatness of the man’s power is the measure of his surrender.” –William Booth

“Through Him (Christ), humans can be transformed until the game of control gives way to a life of mutual submission—the dance of relationship rather than the dissonance of control.” –From the book Conquering the Game of Control by Craig Green.

control in church

Posted in Chris Turner, church government, confession, Conquering the Game of Control, Craig Green, ecclesiology, gifts of the Spirit, Head of the church, how to, playing church, Southern Baptists, Steven J. Cole, surrender, who runs the church, William Booth, wisdom | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Ugh * Aha * I see * O me * Sorry * U-turn * . . .

Posted on October 17, 2015 by Steve Simms

I woke up this morning with this process parading pensively through my ponderings.

* Ugh! . . . Disgusted with self & circumstances & hungry for help.
* Aha! . . . A shinning moment when light comes in.
* I see! . . . Brand new vision & fresh insight.
* O me . . . Awareness of our wrong doing & rebellion against God.
* Sorry . . . Deep conviction & godly sorrow for our sin.
* U-turn . . . Turning from the pain of our past & into His presence.
* Christ-walk . . . Daily following & obeying the living Jesus.
* Go tell . . . Walking in the light & telling others about Jesus.
* Do well . . . Living right & serving others in Christ’s love & humility.

Various people and/or groups have told people how to become a Christian. So many have told people how to be saved — from Ellen G. White’s Steps To Christ to Bill Bright & Campus Crusade For Christ’s (now Cru) Four Spiritual Laws — from Billy Graham Crusades to D. James Kennedy’s Evangelism Explosion — from Bill Hybles Walk Across The Room to the Roman Road based on the Bible’s book of Romans to the ABCs of Salvation. Plus there are so many more. I thank God for them all!

All of the takes that I have read on the plan of salvation have helped me. And I hope you find the one that I woke up with this morning to be helpful. However, perhaps God’s working in human hearts and lives to bring salvation is far too complicated to be fully described by a simple series of steps. Salvation is not measuring up to a plan, fulfilling some rules, or jumping through religious hoops. It is the process of encountering and then daily following and obeying the living, resurrected Jesus wherever He leads you as an individual. It’s not a one size fits all.

The question is not have you followed a plan and/or said a sinner’s prayer. The question is are you captivated by the living Christ and daily following and obeying Him?

transformation

Posted in ABCs, Bill Bright, Bill Hybles, Billy Graham, Campus Crusade, Cru, D. James Kennedy, Ellen G. White, Evangelism Explosion, Four Spiritual Laws, how to become a Christian, religion, repentence, Roman Road, Sinner's Prayer, Steps to Christ, tracts, transformation, Walk Across The Room | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment