Tag Archives: nontraditional church

Hunger to Know God Better

Posted on September 26, 2025 by Steve Simms

I want to beLike a dewdropOn a grass bladeAnd to sparkleIn the sunlightOf Jesus Christ. The focus of church could be on something much greater than listening to one person preach every week. The focus of church could be on … Continue reading →

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My Parents’ Tradition of Not Going to Church

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Steve Simms

I grew up in a place and time called the Bible Belt where the majority of people had a family tradition of going to church, but my parents didn’t. Adults would often ask them, “Where do you go to church?” … Continue reading →

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Jesus? Active or inactive?

Posted on February 26, 2023 by Steve Simms

An inactive Jesus must be explained by sermons, but the living Jesus wants to actively demonstrate His presence. Shall we let Him? A tightly programmed and controlled church service reveals unbelief in the ability of the active Jesus to personally … Continue reading →

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A German missionary’s book about “people Christianity”

Posted on September 5, 2022 by Steve Simms

Powerful words about the body of Christ from a German missionary: “People-church (ekklesia) is the will of God and a vital necessity.” That’s a thought from a German missionary, Christian Keysser, who served in New Guinea from 1899 to 1921. … Continue reading →

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Jesus is eternal, but sermons aren’t supposed to be

Posted on February 13, 2021 by Steve Simms

I can’t find the idea in Scripture that meetings of the body of Christ, need to be built around a sermon. If Christians spent more time reading the Bible with an open heart, we wouldn’t feel such a need to … Continue reading →

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A one-man talk or dynamic interaction?

Posted on December 3, 2017 by Steve Simms

Billions of Christians advocate for sermons. So why shouldn’t a few of us advocate for open sharing instead?  What God is doing inside of you is important. You need to be allowed to share it! If we don’t think the … Continue reading →

Posted in church programming, church programs, control, control in church, controlling pastors, open sharing, pastors, sharing in church, spiritual gifts, thinking too small, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

12 Reasons For Being Unchurched & The Berry Street Alternative!

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Steve Simms

12 reasons people give for being unchurched . . . & Nashville’s Salvation Army Berry Street alternative! 1) “Church is boring and repetitious.” — Every Sunday morning at Berry Street is unpredictable and exciting. 2) “Churches are unfriendly.” — People at … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, church for the unchurched, decline of the church, how to reach the unchurched, people leaving church, reaching the unchurched, Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 33 Comments