Sunday Holy Spirit Science Lab?

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps a church service could be like a high school science lab where ordinary people experiment with hearing and obeying the Holy Spirit.  What would happen if people showed up for Sunday church ready to share with and minister to each other rather than to sit back and hear a sermon?

How can church be a Sunday morning Holy Spirit science lab?  (1) Take a little time in a church service.  (2) Let the people present listen for God’s voice for a minute or two.  (3) Then open up the meeting and allow people to share what they have heard, sensed, or experienced while listening.  The results will bless and astonish you as God shows up!

The people in a church service are open to and/or friendly to Christian truths (otherwise they wouldn’t come to church). However, the rest of our society is quite hostile to Christian ideas. The best place to learn to do something is in a friendly environment, not a hostile one. Therefore, if believers are ever going to learn to speak up about their faith, they need to learn to do so by being given opportunities to speak about Christ in church. Otherwise believers will be silent and afraid to offer God’s spiritual hope to their family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and the rest of society.

Experience science lab Sunday church services at The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, 37207 on Sundays at 10:45 am.

 

Posted in church format, church meetings, experiencing God, experiment, experimental church, Holy Spirit, organic church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, science, scientific model, sermon, sermon-hearing, sermons, service, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual formation, spiritual gifts, The Salvation Army, unprogrammed church | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Is Patriotism Ever Inappropriate?

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Steve Simms

When does patriotism become inappropriate?  If they thought about it, most people would agree that blind patriotism, unconditional allegiance to a nation, is not wise.  For example, most people would agree that enthusiastically supporting a country led by an evil dictator (such as Nazi Germany) is not a good thing.

So where do you draw the line?  When should you withdraw your patriotism from a nation?  Here are some suggestions:

It may be time to withdraw patriotism if your nation:

Tortures people.

Supports the taking of innocent human life.

Insists that you disobey your conscience.

Spies on its own people.

Accuses people of “hatred” who openly disagree with government decrees.

Openly rejects common moral principles of the world’s great religions.

Withdrawing patriotism does not mean no longer loving your country.  It means no longer blindly supporting it.  It means still loving your country enough to not support its turning toward wrongful behaviors.  It means courageously loving your nation enough to stand for righteousness, no matter how your nation treats you.

Posted in civil disobedience, freedom, hatred, human life, human rights, loyality, moral decision, moral foundations, moral laws, moral principles, morality, nation state, nations, right and wrong, right conduct, right from wrong, right living, right to life, righteousness, rights, spying, torture, what you can do for your country, world religions | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Church Seating — Beyond The Pew And Theater Seating

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Steve Simms

[U] From the pew to the U — church seating makes a difference. I grew up sitting in church pews (long, uncomfortable, wooden benches) and seeing the backs of people’s heads in front of me — not much interaction in that.  (Now it is popular for churches to use chairs in theater seating.)
[U] Then I encountered the living, resurrected Jesus and became part of a campus group of believers meeting in a dorm lobby. We sat around the room where we could see each others’ faces. It was amazing watching people worship Christ and seeing His glory on their faces!
[U] When we started The Salvation Army Berry Street, we moved out the pews and experimented with seating. We put chairs in various formations — a V-formation, a semi-circle, and even around tables.
[U] The past year or so we’ve had the chairs in a U-formation — 3 rows deep. It seems to be the best arrangement yet, allowing us to see each others’ faces as we sing and as various people share testimonies, Scriptures, words of encouragement, and gifts of the Spirit.
[U] We invite you to come and experience God working in the Berry Street U!  Sunday mornings at 10:45, 225 Berry St., Nashville, 37207. 

Posted in backs of people's heads, church benches, church furniture, glory, glory on each face, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Nashville, Nashville church, Nashville projects, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, The Salvation Army, theater seating | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Church — A Showcase Of The Holy Spirit

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

All the people in a church service can speak (according to the Bible): “You can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.” (1 Corinthians 14:31).  So where did the idea of only one person speaking in church (the same person week after week) come from?

“We have gotten into the habit of letting preachers talk to us without giving them any attention because we assume that most of the things they say aren’t worth attention.” –W.E.B. DuBois.  However, when ordinary people share heart-felt testimonies, Scriptures, gifts of the Spirit, and words of encouragement; the power of God grabs your attention and inspires your soul!

When a church service is conducted so smoothly that there is absolutely no need for God to do anything at all in the meeting; people miss the life-changing experience of watching the living God, Himself, work with and direct a group of people.

When church services involve hearing idle knowledge, with no time in the meeting to do and talk about the stuff that has been taught, people will become bored with God. They won’t grow into the spiritual giants that God wants them to be.  So, perhaps a church service should be a showcase of Holy Spirit activity; rather than an audience for a human performance

The people involved in the early days of The Salvation Army were spiritual giants because they were able to get involved in church meetings through sharing and testimony and ministry to one another.  Then they went to the streets to continue what God was doing in the meetings.

The goal of The Salvation Army Berry Street in Nashville, Tennessee is to re-discover the glory days of The Salvation Army by setting church up around ordinary people showing and telling what God has done, rather than around a one-man sermon.   Come and see the amazing things God does when people are free to share from their heart — Sunday mornings at 10:45, 225 Berry St., 37207.

 

 

Posted in church format, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, gifts of the Spirit, idle knowledge, non-church, one-man sermon, open church, open mike, order of worship, organic church, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, sermon, sermon series, sermon-hearing, service, showcase, Tennessee, testimonies, testimony, W.E.B. DuBois, you can all prophesy | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Deciding What To Do With Desires

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

Most people would agree that some human desires should be resisted (the desire to commit suicide, for instance).  However, how do you decide which human desires to obey and which to resist?  Here are some questions to ask:

Is the desire compulsive?  Does it try to force you to do something that goes against your better judgment?  If so, say no!

Does the desire harm you, any other human being, or a developing human being?  If so, say no!

Will the long-term results of following the desire be negative?  If so, say no!

Does the thought of obeying the desire (or the act of obeying the desire) bring a sense of guilt?  If so, say no!

Is the desire a violation of your conscience?  If so, say no!

Is the desire selfish?  If so, say no!

Does obeying the desire make you feel bad about yourself?  If so, say no!

Do you lack respect and/or admiration for people who follow the desire?  Do you disapprove of other people following the desire?  If so, say no!

Does the desire go against the common moral values of the world’s great religions?  If so, say no!

Is the desire contrary to the morality of the New Testament?  If so, say no!

Contemporary society says: “Justify yourself, don’t resist your desires, and follow your feelings.”  However, Jesus says: “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.”

Posted in accountability, approval, character, compliance, compromise, compulsion, contemporary society, cravings, debate, deceipt, decision-making, discipline, disrespect, family values, harmful habit, harmful thinking, holiness, Jesus, Jesus Christ, moral decision, moral failure, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral leaders, moral principles, moral restraints, morals, New Testament, purity, respect, respect for life, results, right and wrong, right conduct, right from wrong, right living, righteousness, selfish desires, selfishness, society, suicide, virtues, world religions | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Right To Speak Out (In Church)

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps it’s time for church members (according to 1 Corinthians 14:26) to revive their right to speak out in church services.

Posted in church format, church meetings, church programs, church services, non-church, non-liturgical, non-traditional church, nonconforming, open church, open mike, order of worship, organic church, participants, participators, participatory church, religious ceremonies, rights, share, sharing, simple church, simplicity, speaking, speaking out, speech making, testimonies, testimony | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

God’s voice is heard in humble, human hearts.

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Steve Simms

God’s voice is not heard through hype, hoopla, or hierarchy; it is heard in humble, human hearts.  In the Bible, church is not a preplanned program, but God’s powerful presence being poured out on people! (See Acts 2). 

When believers meet together and the Holy Spirit is unencumbered by tradition, control, programming, or structure; amazing things happen.  Most believers say that we need the Holy Spirit (we do); but perhaps the Holy Spirit needs us to get out of His way and to allow Him to freely move in our midst without human agendas and control.

Freely expressing your heart is a powerful way of experiencing God. As people unveil their heart to others, God’s light comes pouring into them and spreads around the room. Those present begin to see with the inner eyes of the heart and what they see far surpasses anything they can be taught through a human teaching.

At The Salvation Army Berry Street in Nashville, Tennessee, instead of a sermon, everyday people show and tell what God has done.  We call this “sermon-free church.”  Check it out on Sunday mornings at 10:45 at 225 Berry St., 37207.

People sometimes seem a bit bothered by our term, “sermon-free church.” But what about “sermon-lite church?” “Sermon-lite church” is very popular nowadays. It is church that features “lite,” “seeker-friendly” sermons — sermons that only talk about blessings and positive thinking, but never mention sin and its consequences, or the responsibilities of following and obeying the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.

 

Posted in church format, church leader, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, God, God calling, God's voice, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, Music City, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Salvation Army church, sermon, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, The Voice, tradition, voice of God | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

My Favorite Prayer

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Steve Simms

Famous prayers include:  the Lord’s Prayer, the Serenity Prayer, the Prayer of St. Francis, Jesus’ Prayer On The Cross, the Sinner’s Prayer, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, and The Jesus Prayer.

Once the Tennessean asked me what is my favorite prayer.  This is what I said:  “Speaking in tongues, the supernatural prayer of the Holy Spirit through a human being.  This is a way of praying in the words of languages you don’t understand.  Yet those words flow from deep inside you.  as you pray this way there is an awesome awareness of God and His love and presence.  When I don’t know how to pray for somebody or for myself, I can pray in tongues and the Holy Spirit prays directly to God in a language my intellect can’t interfere with.”

Do you have a favorite prayer?

Posted in forgive them for they know not what they do, Holy Spirit, Jesus' prayer on the cross, list, Lord's Prayer, Now I lay me down to sleep, pray for one another, prayer list, Prayer of St. Francis, praying in the Spirit, praying in tongues, Serenity Prayer, Sinner's Prayer, speaking in tongues, spirit, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual gifts, spiritual skills, supernatural praying, Tennessean, The Jesus Prayer, unknown tongues | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Church Piano or Piano Church?

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Steve Simms

Church is like a piano.  Here is a piano lesson for the church.

A piano has 88 keys, 52 white & 36 black. But what if 87 keys are stuck and only one key is free to make a sound?

Perhaps church should free up all the people (keys) in the congregation on Sunday to participate and to show and tell what God has done. Then the many keys, played together by the Holy Spirit, will resonate with an amazing sound that glorifies God!

If a church piano player was only allowed to play one key on the keyboard (and the rest were stuck), he/she would be terribly frustrated and would quite probably leave the church.  When the Holy Spirit is only allowed to speak through one person, the same person Sunday after Sunday, I wonder if the Spirit gets frustrated (or quenched) and wants to leave?

Maybe God wants to be able to use everybody present in a church service, like a piano player “tickling the ivories.”  “Where you come together, every one of you has a . . . ” (1 Corinthians 14:26)

Experience piano church where every one present is free to show and tell what God has done at The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, 37207 on Sundays at 10:45 am.

Posted in black keys, church format, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, Holy Spirit, How many keys on a piano?, keys, music, Music City, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Nashville events, non-church, non-traditional church, piano keys, piano lessons, religion, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, The Salvation Army, tickle the ivories, white keys | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

We all need forgiveness and the freedom to “go and sin no more.”

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in gives grace to the humble, Go and sin no more, Gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Quotations, quote, Quotes, renewing your mind, repent, repentance, salvation, self-control, self-discipline, self-image, self-respect, self-will, selfish desires, selfishness, sin, spiritual formation, spiritual life, spiritual power, spiritual transformation, spiritual warfare, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment