Tag Archives: church

Can church services be rigged?

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Steve Simms

A process is rigged when it is tampered with and manipulated in order to replace the normal outcome with a desired result. For example, Donald Trump is making unsubstantiated claims that the American presidential election process is rigged against him. … Continue reading →

Posted in election rigging, evangelicals, formal religion, organic chruch, organized religion, political environment, political issue, political positions, politics and religion, presidential election, stealing an election, Uncategorized, voter fraud | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No time for spectators in church –MLK

Posted on October 8, 2016 by Steve Simms

Martin Luther King, Jr. put it this way: “There are many people who have caught the dangerous disease of ‘spectatoritis.’ Such persons are only spectators or onlookers but not participants. Such persons watch the minister and choir indulge in prayer … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, African American church, Black history month, black-church, body life, creativity, house church, innovation, Martin Luther King Jr., MLK, MLK quotes, Quotations, Ray Stedman, religion, religious innovation, simple church, spectatoritis, spiritual innovation, Thom Schultz, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mr. Potato Head all ears? Or the Body of Christ?

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Steve Simms

Are you familiar with Mr. Potato Head — a Playskool/Hasbro toy that originally came out in the 1950s? Mr. Potato Head was so popular that he was included as a character in the Toy Story movies. He has also been … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 12, alternative church, church programming, church programs, house church, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army, simple church, thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A sermon poem won’t make you know Him

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Steve Simms

A sermon meandering through your ears Won’t drive out your fears Or take away your tears. Jesus builds His body of believers, Not on outward words being heard, But on inward revelation; His presence and power Flashing “aha moments” within … Continue reading →

Posted in hearing God's voice, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, inner hearing, organic chruch, preaching without words, revelation, sermon-hearing, spiritual experiences, spiritual formation, spiritual hearing, spiritual insight, spiritual prompting, spirituality, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Will “Dones” go “Back to Church” as usual, in a post-Christian world?

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Steve Simms

Will “Dones” and others who have left the institutional church, go back to church as usual in a post-Christian society? National Back to Church Sunday (NBTCS) thinks they will. It was begun in the United States in 2009. Their website … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2 Timothy 3:5, Back to Church Sunday, back to the Bible, back to the future, denominations, denying the power, having a form of godliness, having a form of godliness but denying the power, house church, interdenominational, Jesus Movement, movement, National Back to Church Sunday, organic chruch, outreach, outreach ministry, Philip Yancy, post-Christianity, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Are Christians dying for dialogue in church services?

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Steve Simms

The most effective group communication depends on dialogue, sharing ideas, and personal interaction. A monologue reduces attempted communication to passively listening to one person’s ideas. That may work in an authoritarian environment, but it fails to build relationship. Nowadays churches … Continue reading →

Posted in 12 step group, bored in church, business communications, church programming, church revitalization, dialogue, Dones, group therapy, interaction, interactive church, monologue, nones, recovery groups, small groups, support groups, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ called audibles are transformational

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Steve Simms

An audible is when a quarterback in football calls out a change in the programmed play right before the ball is snapped. Perhaps churches should let the living, resurrected Jesus be our quarterback and call out audibles during worship meetings. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, art of listening, audible, calling audibles, changing plays, church programming, decline of the church, ekklesia, Elizabeth George, house church, inner listening, John 2:5, Kristian Goldmund Aumann, line of scrimmage, listening, listening prayer, listening skills, listening to God, listening to the Spirit, organic church, Quaker worship, Quotations, silence, simple church, spiritual listening, Uncategorized, Whatever He says to you do it | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Salvation Army “War Cry” Review of “Beyond Church”

Posted on August 28, 2016 by Steve Simms

War Cry, the national magazine of The Salvation Army USA wrote: Beyond Church Takes You Past Sunday Worship Have you ever wanted something more in life? Something more than religion? More than ‘church as usual?” In the Western world, traditional church is … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative Christianity, alternative church, ancient Greeks, Beyond Church, ekklesia, Greek city-states, Greek history, Greek language, organic chruch, practical religion, religion, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Stephen Court, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Spontaneous vs. Spiritaneous

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

To be spontaneous is be unconstrained by fear or tradition and to be willing to act on an inner impulse or inclination, without planning or external stimulus. To be Spiritaneous is to be unconstrained by fear or tradition and to be willing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Beyond Church, church decline, Dones, ekklesia, Friends' worship, nones, nontraditional church, people leaving church, Quaker worship, Romans 8:14, sermon, spontaneous church, Uncategorized, unconventional worship, unprogrammed, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meeting, worship | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church programs or ekklesia fire?

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

Question: What would happen if church meetings were built on people stepping out in faith and sharing from their heart — instead of being built on people passively watching a highly programmed presentation? Answer: God’s fire would fall and His … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, body of Christ, church bulletin, church programs, ekklesia, holiness, lyrics, priest, purity, royal priesthood, Salvation Army, song, spiritual warfare, Uncategorized, universal priesthood, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment