Tag Archives: ministry

The status quo is often a no-go to following Jesus

Posted on July 1, 2017 by Steve Simms

If we refuse to glorify anyone but Christ, the glory of God will fill a meeting. When no mere human is the “King” of a meeting, ekklesia can break through. A powerful way to minister to people is to let … Continue reading →

Posted in availability of God, body of Christ, Christian community, church programming, common life, communion of the saints, community, community building, ekklesia, heart of worship, life together, lukewarm, may the force be with you, Quotes, R.C. Sproul, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Who are the best ministers?

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Steve Simms

ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE THE BEST MINISTERS? I turned on the TV today and there was Johnny Cash Staring in an old episode of “Little House on the Prairie,” Playing an ordinary man pretending to be a preacher. His down to … Continue reading →

Posted in 5-fold ministry, alternative to preaching, Bible one anothers, call to ministry, everyday minister, focus of ministry, holy priesthood, lay preaching, laymen preaching, mutual ministry, one another, one anothering, pastoring, pastors, preaching the Word, preaching without words, priesthood, priesthood of all believers, royal priesthood, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Tennessee, TN, Uncategorized, universal priesthood, women in ministry, work of the ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

True worship: open hearts & radical honesty

Posted on November 2, 2016 by Steve Simms

–Wanted: “True Worshipers”– God is looking for open hearts and radical honesty. Now is the time to go beyond outward form and religious pretense — no pretending, no hiding! It’s time for heart-felt reality. “The hour comes, and now is, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christ's presence, Christian living, Christian spirituality, He must increase, I must decrease, John 10, John 4:23, John the Baptist, pride, self-promotion, sheep, straight is the gate and narrow the way, that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Magnificence of Mutual Ministry

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Steve Simms

Mutual ministry is the shared, non-hierarchical, back and forth (one to another) ministry between the people in a church.  It’s a beautiful thing to behold, but it is very rare, almost unknown. However, mutual ministry is biblical.  The New Testament … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, clergy, Episcopal church, heresies, James C. Fenhagen, laity, Lutheran church, organic church, participatory church, Quotes | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

1 Speaker Church Is Like A 1 Channel TV . . .

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Steve Simms

If church has the same speaker every week, it is like a TV that only gets one channel. Maybe Christian ministry would be more effective at changing lives and transforming our culture if it flowed from one ordinary believer to … Continue reading →

Posted in Behold the Lamb of God, Christian ministry, church programs, church services, clergy, clericalism, house church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, multi-voiced church, non-church, one anothering, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, organic church, participation in church, participatory church, participatory culture, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermon, simple church, Spirit-led, takes away the sins of the world, Tennessee | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

God’s Spiritual Sprinkler Systems

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Steve Simms

According to the New Testament, God wants church services to be spiritual sprinkler systems where the Holy Spirit freely flows from everyone present. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26.)  This is God’s powerful “prophetic activation” (a phrase made popular by Sandy Powell … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 1 Corinthians:14, Christlike, church history, clergy, clergy/laity, God, Jesus Christ, laity, layman, laymen, laywomen, Martin Luther, Music City, organic church, prophesy, prophesying, quotation, Quotations, quote, reformation, reformer, round robin, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sprinkler system, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, TN, unbeliever, worship, worship gathering, worship leader | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Every Christ-follower is clergy & is called to be God’s minister/witness, regardless of his/her job.

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christian, Christian community, church, church leadership, clergy/laity, participatory church, pastor, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, simple church | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A Jigsaw Puzzle Has No Featured Piece!

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Steve Simms

If the same piece of a jigsaw puzzle is held up week after week, no one will get the picture. However, if all the pieces work together, as directed by a wise hand, an awesome picture comes into view!  “If … Continue reading →

Posted in #1, 1 Corinthians:14, Christ followers, Christian, Christianity, church format, Commissioner, gifts of the Spirit, jigsaw puzzle, Music City, Nashville, Nashville church, organic church, Phil Needham, priest, priesthood of the believer, quotation, quote, Quotes, religion, retired Salvation Army officer, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Commissioner, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, spiritual gifts, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Founder Of The Salvation Army Believed In Participatory Church

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Steve Simms

William Booth, co-founder (along with his wife) of The Salvation Army, believed that church meetings should be participatory and not just involve one person running the meeting and doing all the ministry.  Here’s what he said: “Some murmurs have reached … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church history, church leader, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, organic church, preaching, sermons | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Spirit Ministry or Word Ministry?

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

Has Christian ministry lost it’s ability to grasp and transform people?  It appears so.  Churches are in decline.  Our culture is almost completely secular, if not anti-Christian.  Scholars have pronounced it to be post-Christian. However, although it appears that human … Continue reading →

Posted in ministry, religion, religious academics, religious ceremonies, religious information, religious innovation, revelation, speech making, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual battle, spiritual church, spiritual flow, spiritual growth, spiritual healing, spiritual innovation | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments