Tag Archives: church

The Band Of The Unplanned — Can You Hear It Calling?

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Steve Simms

God is looking for the band of the unplanned — agendaless bands of spiritual brothers and sisters who gather together to let Him lead and prompt them. The band of the unplanned: 1) Banishes boredom by breaking our mold. 2) Steps beyond … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, breaking the mold, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Nashville events, Nashville news, Nashville streets, Nashville think tank, Nashville times, Nashville tourist attractions, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Berry Street, Salvationism, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, unplanned church, unprogrammed church, unrehearsed | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Is a 1-Man Sermon Like A Centipede With Only One Functioning Leg?

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Steve Simms

A church where 1 man does all the talking is like a centipede where only one leg does all the walking.  (See 1 Corinthians 14:26)

Posted in alternative church, alternative to preaching, alternatives to sermons, church meetings, clergy, clergy/laity, clericalism, message, message in church, multi-voiced church, open church, open forum, open mic, organic church, participatory church, participatory sermons, preaching styles, pulpit, pulpit ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Spirit Promptings — Charles Stanley & Bill Hybels Quotes

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Steve Simms

Have you ever met with a group of Christ-followers simply to hear and obey the promptings of God? It is an amazing thing to experience. Various people are inwardly prompted to say and/or do different things, yet it all blends harmoniously … Continue reading →

Posted in Bill Hybels, book, Charles Stanley, God's voice, hearing, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit promptings, how to flow in the spirit, how to listen to God, led by the Spirit, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, promptings, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual formation, spiritual hearing, spiritual life, spiritual listening, The Power of a Whisper | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Man Up! (Participatory/Organic Church Reaches Men!)

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Steve Simms

“The typical U.S. Congregation draws an adult crowd that’s 61% female, 39% male. This gender gap shows up in all age categories.” –Churchformen.com.  Why does church in the U.S. not reach more men? “Men are hard-wired for risk taking—particularly young … Continue reading →

Posted in attracting men, BNA, churchformen, David Murrow, fresh expressions, marketing to men, men in chuch, men in church, messy church, Music City, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Nashville charity, Nashville church, organic church, participation, participatory church, quotation, Quotations, quote, reaching men, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Preaching In My Dreams–Boy, I Miss It! (A Nashville Story)

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Steve Simms

I miss preaching . . . I woke up this morning dreaming that I was preaching. Although I haven’t preached a “traditional” sermon in several years, I really miss it. When I preach, I feel the Holy Spirit surging through … Continue reading →

Posted in BNA, Christian conferences, fresh expressions, Fresh Expressions movement, messy church, Music City, Nashville adventure, Nashville charity, open forum, open mic, open sharing, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, religion, renewal, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Nashville, simple church | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Spirit-Led Church–Where Ordinary People Are The Playmakers

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Steve Simms

Go with the best flows! –Life’s a flow show — currents streaming in us and around us — rivers flow, sap flows, blood flows, thoughts flow, emotions flow, time flows, information flows. But not all flows are equal — love … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, fans, organic church, participatory church, playmaker, questions, rivers of living water, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Nashville, Salvation Army officer, simple church, spectators, Spirit directed, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, spiritual flow, sports fans | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

Let’s Get Ecclesiological And Set The World On Fire For God!

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Steve Simms

Let’s get ecclesiological — not just with talk but with how we walk out being the church! Some people think that I think too much about church, but hey, I’m an ecclesiologist and we’re really into ecclesiology. (The word “ecclesiology” comes … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, church revitalization, church study, dead church walking, early church, ecclesiastical, ecclesiological, ecclesiologist, Greek, Greek language, Greek New Testament, Greek word, Harry Reeder, having a form of godliness, Matthew 18:20, Nashville church, New Testament, New Testament church, ology, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

9 Questions About Church (Ecclesiology)

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Steve Simms

9 quick ecclesiastical questions . . . 1) Do we want God to actually show up in church meetings? 2) Are we willing for Him to interrupt, override, and change our program, agenda, and structure? 3) What if many people … Continue reading →

Posted in church community, church experiment, church meetings, church program, church programs, church questions, ecclesiastical, ecclesiology, out of the box, religion, religious questions, socratic method, Sunday, Sunday morning, thinking, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Safe Church — Unlocking God’s Glory!

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Steve Simms

In the New Testament church was awesomely filled with the Presence of God.  How can the 21st Century church recover the lost combination for God’s glory in our meetings? While thinking about this, a scene suddenly came to my mind.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, church community, church format, church meetings, church safe, early church, experiencing God, experiential worship, God, God's glory, how to recover a lost combination, lost combination, mysticism, New Testament, New Testament church, organic church, Paul of Tarsus, releasing God's glory, religion, safe in church, tradition, traditional church, worship, worship innovation | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

When church is honest & raw, there will be awe!

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Steve Simms

When church is honest & raw, there will be awe!  It will be stunning. When the first Christians gathered, the Bible says: “Everyone was filled with awe” –Acts 2:43. Awe is a stirring and powerful sense of amazement, astonishment, bewilderment, … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, order of worship, organic church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Nashville, simple church, spiritual church | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments