Tag Archives: church

Does church keep Jesus on lockdown?

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Steve Simms

  Has church given up on the idea of people “meeting together” and personally “encouraging one another”, in exchange for people “passively sitting through a formal meeting”? “Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14, 2 Corinthians 13:5, Christ in you, Christ in you the hope of glory, ekklesia, Examine yourself, Greek New Testament, Hebrews 10, not forsaking the assembling, Send the fire, simple church, transcendence, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Bride(zilla)”–A Radical Diagnosis Without Bold Answers

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Steve Simms

The Bride(zilla) of Christ — what a bold and radical assessment of church by authors Ted Kluck and Ronnie Martin. Here are some of their observations about church as it is usually done in the Western world: “One of my most … Continue reading →

Posted in a new reformation, body of Christ, bride of Christ, Bridezilla of Christ, church decline, church hurt, consumerism, ekklesia, house church, how the body of Christ functions, organic church, radical reformation, reformation, Rodney King, simple church, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Humility & equality in church services . . .

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

 

Posted in body life, church organization, church structure, hierarchy, house church, multi-voiced church, one anothers, open church, organic church, participatory church, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Y’all-worship (1 Corinthians 14:26)

Posted on November 17, 2016 by Steve Simms

  An Observation About 1 Corinthians 14:26: Beyond the status quo We could all listen to Jesus And then go with His flow! Church consists of people passively listening to one man on a platform. 1 Corinthians 14:26 is people … Continue reading →

Posted in group interaction, house church, open church, open sharing, organic church, participatory church, personal testimonies, priesthood of the believer, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, Spirit-led interaction, spiritual interaction, testimonies, testimonies in church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Now hear this: “Be doers of the word!”

Posted on November 5, 2016 by Steve Simms

–Now Hear This: “Be Doers Of The Word”– What if Christ-followers met to do the word And not just to hear one man give a talk about it? We could take turns doing the more than 50 New Testament one … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible one anothers, habitat for huminaty, hearing Jesus, house church, How many one anothers are in the, My sheep hear My voice, Nashville, one anothering, organic chruch, preaching, preaching without words, Prepare the way of the Lord, simple church, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

There’s a whole lot of chexit going on!

Posted on November 4, 2016 by Steve Simms

For the past few decades, there has been a whole lot of Chexit going on in America and in other Western countries. Chexit is a word that I coined that was inspired by another coined word: Brexit. Brexit refers to … Continue reading →

Posted in Chex cereal, Christianity, congregational participation, facilitation, heart religion, house church, making church more participatory, Nashville, nones, not religion but relationship, organic church, participation in church, participation in meetings, relationship with God, religion, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why doesn’t church let people take turns on Sunday morning?

Posted on November 3, 2016 by Steve Simms

Answers: All we have known is the clergy/laity system. We don’t like the idea of any other way of doing church. So we ignore the biblical doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Martin Luther set up the focus on one man … Continue reading →

Posted in a new reformation, alternative to preaching, Berry Street, body life, changes in worship, contemporary worship, group interaction, interaction, interactive, interactive church, interactive learning, interactive sermons, Luther, Martin Luther, multivoiced church, preaching, Protestant Reformation, simple church, Uncategorized, worship wars | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Body Of Christ: Dictatorship? Democracy? Christocracy?

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Steve Simms

Must a gathering of Christ-followers choose between being a hierarchy (a body of believers governed by an organizational chart) or anarchy (a body of believers with no government or order at all)? Historically church has chosen to be a hierarchy. … Continue reading →

Posted in Benjamin Rush, church government, God's government, government, Israelmore Ayivor, Jesus Christ, John Leland, kingdom, kingdom of heaven, kingdom values, kings and kingdoms, not of this world, organizational chart, the Kingdom of God is at hand, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Post and share these posters about sharing!

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Steve Simms

I keep asking God to give me fresh, new ways to share the concept of open sharing as led by the Spirit based on 1 Corinthians 14:26 — the Greek New Testament concept of ekklesia. I made two posters today. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, art of listening, Berry Street, ekklesia, God's presence, hearing God, hearing God's voice, inner listening, itcity, Let the redeemed of the Lord, listening, listening skills, listening to God, listening to the Spirit, Nashville churches, Nashville news, Nashville tourist attractions, revival in Nashville, soul, soul food, testimonies, testimonies in church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to deal with controlling, self-promoting Christian leaders

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Steve Simms

There have always been controlling and self-promoting Christian leaders, who want to be top dog, even in the first century. But how are Christ followers supposed to deal with them? John (the disciple Jesus loved) gives us an example in … Continue reading →

Posted in CEO, CEO pastor, control, control in church, controlling pastors, Head of the church, Jesus CEO, Jesus is the Head, pastor, the disciple Jesus loved, Uncategorized, World English Bible | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment