Tag Archives: Christianity

Church Ledership — Hierarchy or Humility?

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Steve Simms

Should leadership in the church be based on hierarchy or humility?   Well, according to Jesus leadership is not established by human authority, official position, titles, rank, strength, or hierarchy; but by humility, service, weakness, brokenness before God, and submission … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church leadership, church meetings, church organizational chart, church programs, church roles, denominations, do it, facebook, God resists the proud, God's authority, have mercy on me a sinner, hymn, hymns, ministers, ministry, Mother Mary, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, pastor, Quench not the Spirit, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, spirit, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, theology, web, website | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

An Idea Whose Time Has Come: It’s Time For The Church To Step Up!

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Steve Simms

Open sharing and participation in church services is an idea whose time has come.  It’s time for the church to step up! *  We are living in an age when communication, entertainment,  and education is becoming more and more participatory … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, AA, Alcoholics Anonymous, NA, Narcotics Anonymous, New Testament, time to step up, tolerance, Western religion, Western society | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Church — In Sync or Spontaneous?

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Steve Simms

During praise and worship an image came to my mind. I saw a group of people, all neatly facing the front of the room, sitting at banquet tables with full plates in front of them. Then I saw a man … Continue reading →

Posted in 37207, banquet, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit promptings, in unison, living God, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville events, not being fed in church, organic church, praise, praise and worship, praising God, program, programmed, programmed from the front, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationism, Salvationists, spiritual food, spontaneity, The Salvation Army, unprogrammed church, unrehearsed, vision, visions from God, We've always done it that way", Western religion, Western society, Western world, What is church?, what to do in Nashville, worship, worship center, worship gathering | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

When Hearts Speak

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Steve Simms

When a mind talks theology, people hear religious ideas.  When hearts speak in the Spirit, people learn love. A heart burning for God is a gift that is caught in His presence, not something just taught from a pulpit. I … Continue reading →

Posted in God's presence, hiking, in the Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love, Love one another, perfume on Jesus' feet, pulpit, Sonbeams, Tennessee, theology, University of Tennessee Martin | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Two 19th Century Women Promoted Participatory Church

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Steve Simms

These two 19th Century women promoted participatory church: Florence Booth of The Salvation Army said:  “The greatest care is needed that a sense of the value of testimony should be preserved throughout The Army. Salvationism is neither comforting nor complete … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th Century, church history, converts, Ellen G. White, Florence Booth, gifts of the Spirit, Holy Spirit, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army women, Salvationism, sermon, sermons, Seventh Day Adventists, testimonies, testimony | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Let God’s Fire Be 0% Contained (Not 100% Contained)

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Steve Simms

0% contained? *The goal for a wildfire is that it be 100% contained — full containment.   *God’s goal for His fire is that it be 0% contained — complete uncontainment. (To quote Paul of Tarsus, “Quench not the Spirit.”) … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% contained, 24/7/365, ablaze, burning desire, burning heart, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, fired up, flames, get fired-up, glory of God, goals, God's fire, Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, Paul of Tarsus, Pentecost, Quench not the Spirit, quench the Spirit, Quotations, quote, Quotes, revival, spirit fire, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual awakening, spiritual fire, stir up the gift, tongues of fire, uncontained | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Open Church / Open Hearts

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Steve Simms

Traditionally church has been . . . –One special man weekly instructing a passive group of ordinary people. Biblically church seems to be . . . –A Spirit-led group of ordinary people actively teaching and ministering to one another in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, college, college experiences, college students, one another, one anothering, one anothers, open church, perfume on Jesus' feet, pulpit, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual formation, tradition, traditional church, University of Tennessee Martin | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Discovery Church — Continually Discovering God & His Ways

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps church should create a discovery environment, where people make ongoing discoveries about God, themselves, other people, love, joy, and truth.  Maybe we should move beyond precise explanations by an expert that take away our desire for discovery. Church is … Continue reading →

Posted in Arthur Schopenhauer, church program, church programs, church services, Daniel J. Boorstin, discovery group, Henri Poincare, Intuition, Jerry Trousdale, Miraculous Movements, quotation, Quotations, quote, spiritual church, spiritual discovery, spiritual formation, Tom Shadyac | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Rigid Intellectualism Is The Demise Of Spirituality

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

Rigid intellectualism is the demise of spirituality.  You can’t intellectualize spiritual life. When analyzed and categorized and neatly filed in the back of the brain, spiritual life dies on the vine. Spiritual life freely flows from God through humble human … Continue reading →

Posted in analysis, Harry Blamires, heart, heart care, heart connection, heart of worship, Heaven, Hell, Howard H. Brinton, mind, quotation, quote, Quotes, rationalism, rigid intellectualism, Samuel Tuke, secularists, spirit, Spirit of Truth, Spirit's flow, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual life, theology | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

#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