Tag Archives: Christianity

Reader’s Digest Acknowledges Participatory Style Of First Century Christian Worship

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

Contemporary society is moving toward more participation in management and meetings.  This can be seen in business management styles, the Oprah Show, and even Facebook.  However, the contemporary church seems stuck on sermons — non-participatory, one-person, lectures. However, early Christian … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, After Jesus, aristocrats, church, church history, church meetings, church program, church roles, Corinth, edification, first century, First Century Church, freedmen, hymn, hymns, Music City, Nashville, participatory church, Paul of Tarsus, Quotations, quote, Quotes, Roman, Roman Empire, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, slaves, speaking in tongues, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual awakening, spiritual innovation, spiritual interaction, surrender to God, testimonies, testimony, The Salvation Army, tongues, triumph of Christianity | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Worst Religious Advice I Was Ever Given

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Steve Simms

The worst religious advice I was ever given came when I was a student at Memphis Theological Seminary.  A professor in a preaching class said:  “You need to spend one hour of study for every minute you preach.” Since then … Continue reading →

Posted in academics, Bible study, burning heart, change, change agent, Christ followers, Christian, epidemic, expect change commercial, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, glory days, God, how you catch the flu, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, kingdom of God, kingdom values, Memphis Theological Seminary, moral failure, moral foundations, morality, Music City, religious academics, religious innovation, religious tradition, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, study one hour for every minute you preach | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Is The Church Trying To Teach People To Swim Without Letting Them Get Wet?

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Steve Simms

I heard a very good sermon today.  But while passively sitting and listening to the sermon, I began to think my own thoughts instead. I pondered to myself:  Which is more effective in changing lives —  studied and prepared sermons … Continue reading →

Posted in attention holding, challenging, God, gripping, Holy Spirit, informative, inspirational, instructive, learning to swim, life transforming, living words, Quotations, quote, Quotes, relevation, religion, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Unrehearsed Words — Let Them Be Spoken Live In Church!

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

Unrehearsed words from God are eloquent. Jesus speaks about unrehearsed words when He tells His disciples; “. . . what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.” (Matthew 10:19 Unplanned, unpracticed words are a normal … Continue reading →

Posted in Beverly Kaye, church meetings, church program, church programs, contemporary, contemporary church, contemporary society, Julie Winkle Giulioni, live and unrehearsed, Matthew 10:19, ministry, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, order of worship, organic church, quote, Quotes, simple church, The Salvation Army, the way of the pilgrim, unrehearsed, what you are to say will be given you | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Two Questions About Human Leadership Vs. The Spirit’s Leadership In Church

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Steve Simms

Here are two questions about church leadership for pastors and so-called laymen: Question #1: Who is the most capable church leader in the world? Answer: The living, resurrected Jesus Christ present in our midst when we gather in His name. … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ followers, Christian, Christian community, Christian organizations, church, church history, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, comfort, comfort zone, congregational, deciision making, decision-making, earn his keep, East Nashville, God's government, guidance, homes, house church, human leadership, improv, improvisation, laymen, Laymen's prayer revival, Music City, Nashville, non-church, non-church movement, non-traditional church, order of worship, participatory church, pastor, religious ceremonies, religious innovation, religious tradition, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual leaders, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Rocket science can’t reinvent the thrill in your life — but Christ can!

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Steve Simms

Rocket science can’t reinvent the thrill (or the wheel) in your life — but Christ can! All you need is Christimacy — living in continual intimacy with the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. Why not become a Christimate — an obedient … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, biblical, bold statements, burning heart, Christ, Christ followers, Christ in you, Christ skills, Christ-centered, Christian values, Christimacy, Christimate, faith-based, God with us, God-intoxicated, intimacy, It's not rocket science, Jesus, Jesus Christ, life, life skills, life transforming, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, relevation, religion, religious innovation, resurrection, resurrection of Jesus, revival, revolution, rivers of living water, spirit, Spirit-filled, spiritual, thrill in your life, wheel | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3 Bold & Radical Martin Luther King Quotations

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Steve Simms

3 bold, radical, and ignored quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “God has a way of standing before the nations with judgment, and it seems that I can hear God saying to America, ‘You’re too arrogant! And if you … Continue reading →

Posted in America, arrogance, Be still and know that I am God, bold, change, change agent, Christ, Christ followers, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, church history, colony of heaven, commitment, contemporary church, disturbers of the peace, drunk, early church, gladiators, God calling, God-intoxicated, hearing God, hearing Jesus, ignored, infanticide, Jesus, Jesus Christ, judgment, MLK, mores, obey God rather than men, outside agitators, persecution, popular opinion, power, powerful, quote, Quotes, radical, radical obedience, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spirituality, thermometer, thermostat, voice of God | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Movement

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Steve Simms

When people in America talk about “The Movement,” they usually mean the Civil Rights Movement, led by Martin Luther King, Jr.  This movement changed America for the better by breaking the terrible hold that 200+ years of blatant, legalized racism … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ followers, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, church, church history, Matthew 16, move of God, movement, Peter, Roman Empire, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual movement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Church is everyday people, prompted by the Spirit, presenting God’s presence. It’s not one person presenting a program to people passively perched in pews (or chairs).

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

See Matthew 18:20 and 1 Corinthians 14:26

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Christ followers, Christ in you, Christian, Christian community, Matthew 18:20, order of worship, organic church, presence of Christ, presence of God, prompted by the Spirit, real presence, sermon, sermon-free, sermons, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment