Tag Archives: house church

How many sermons must we hear?

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Steve Simms

How many sermons must Christians hear before they are allowed to say anything in church? Will there ever be enough? Since Christ came to set us free, why does church entangle us in human control and programs? Church tends to … Continue reading →

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When it comes to the Holy Spirit, always choose ALLOW

Posted on February 4, 2019 by Steve Simms

Jesus is here now (live and in person) but often church acts like He’s long gone. If you’re a Christian, don’t act like Jesus is dead. Instead let His presence continually transform and inspire you. Sometimes it feels like church … Continue reading →

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Lay it on the line!

Posted on September 4, 2018 by Steve Simms

How can we let God change us if we won’t even let Him change the church program? Take a risk like the chicken who went halfway across the road to lay it on the line. Lay your all on the line … Continue reading →

Posted in adult language, change, change management, changes in worship, commitment, cussing, fire, fire in church, fire in the heart, fire of God, fire of the Holy Spirit, funny thought, GPS, happiness, humility, Jesus, joke, Laughter, make me laugh, mature language, profanity, revival fires, Send the fire, shopping, spiritual awakening, spiritual fire, the Holy Spirit and fire, Uncategorized, unhappiness | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to hold a “house church” meeting in your home

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Steve Simms

I first wrote this blog for the ONE Body Life Blog at this link. If you have ever wanted to attend a house fellowship, but couldn’t find one, why not start one yourself? It’s easy. Any believer can do it … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, cell groups, changes in worship, contemporary worship, ekklesia, Friends' worship, heart of worship, Henry Hon, home church, ONE: Unfolding God's Eternal Purpose From House To House, order of worship, Quaker, Quaker worship, spiritual worship, Uncategorized, unconventional worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Letting church come home

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Steve Simms

For those who like the idea of house church, but can’t find one and/or don’t know how to start one, there is great news. ONE is really a house church handbook. It’s full of practical and theological ideas about meeting … Continue reading →

Posted in family gathering, family of God, family time, family togetherness, family values, I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Release God’s showers through everyday people!

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Steve Simms

Here’s why we need to go beyond church as usual! The shower head in this picture has 42 nozzles. If we block 41 of them, we won’t get much of a shower. Now think of a church service with 42 … Continue reading →

Posted in agendaless church, Beyond Church, boredom in church, casual church, church community, church decline, church for the unchurched, church in decline, church organization, church programs, church reform, done with church, Jesus untangled, non-church, nontraditional church, Quaker meetings, Uncategorized, unprogrammed, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meeting | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

St. Francis Practiced Participatory Church

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Steve Simms

A 14th Century book about St. Francis of Assisi describes participatory church.  According to the book The Little Flowers of St. Francis, Francis was meeting with a group of his followers and told one of them “to open his mouth … Continue reading →

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Did I See A Miracle Last Night? You Decide.

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

Last night I was in a home group of 9 adults (who I don’t know very well) who met to share, sing, support one another, and pray as led by the Spirit.  As someone was praying an image came into … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, Bible, Biblical concept, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church structure, community, confession, congregational, disciple making, ekklesia, forgiveness, freedom, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, kingdom of God, life, miracles, movement, non-church movement, non-material reality, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, participatory church, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, priesthood of the believer, prophesy, relational church, religion, repent, repentance, revelation, revival, show and tell, simple church, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, supernatural, support group, surrender to God, the cross, the way we do church, vision, voice of God, wages of sin, What is church?, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Non-Church — Discovered In Japan & Other Places

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

I recently read about non-church when I heard about a Japanese man named Uchimura Kanzo.  He  started meeting with a group of friends in a small Christian gathering in Japan in the early 1900s where everyone was equal and everybody … Continue reading →

Posted in burning heart, China, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church roles, church structure, congregational, East Nashville, heart-felt love, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, Japan, Methodist class meeting, Methodists, movement, non-church movement, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, priesthood of the believer, relational church, religion, simple church, spiritual formation, support group, the way we do church, Uncategorized, unprogrammed church, What is church?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Are Sermons Effective?

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Steve Simms

Have you ever tested the effectiveness of sermons? I did. I was a brand new pastor in my first church — Mayfield Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Mayfield, Kentucky. After finishing three years of seminary, I had been preaching for about … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, Christianity, church, Cumberland Presybterian Church, East Nashville, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, kingdom of God, lifestyles, movement, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, organic church, praise and worship, religion, sermons, simple church, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, values, What is church?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments