Tag Archives: organic church

Body Building / Body Life / Body Ministry

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Steve Simms

When I was in college I read Body Life, by Ray Stedman, a book about how the Bible teaches that the church should function as a body, with each member having the freedom to listening to and obey the Head — … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Peter, biblical pattern, body of Christ, Christian unity, ecclesiology, Ephesians, holy priesthood, Jesus is the Head, Koinonia, members of the body, New Testament church, pastor-teachers, priesthood of the believer, Romans 12, speaking the truth in love, spiritual gifts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Berry Street acrostic

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Steve Simms

A Berry Street acrostic: B — Beyond E — Entertainment, R — Religion or R — Ritual, Y — You can S — Share T — Testimonies, R — Revelations & E — Experiences, as E — Empowered by T … Continue reading →

Posted in comments, entertainment, Holy Spirit, interactive church, led by the Spirit, participatory sermons, promptings, questions, religion, revelations, sermon, sharing, spiritual, Tennessee, testimonies, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Beyond laid back lectures to lively one anothering!

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Steve Simms

Learning by lectures while leaving out supervised, hands on experience, leaves learners unable to effectively do in real life what they learned in the lectures. Examples: Would you trust? 1) A doctor who make As in all her lecture classes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Mason, Andy Stanley, Bible, How many one anothers are in the, Nashville, one anothering, Salvation Army, sermons, simple church, Spirit-led, unprogrammed meetings | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Presenting God’s Presence–Putting the living Christ on the podium!

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Steve Simms

A simple script for an amazing church service: –“Please welcome our speaker, the living, resurrected Jesus Christ!” (Applause, then one person after another stands up and talks freely from the heart as they are internally prompted by Jesus.) Have we … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 2:4, church program, church programming, church services, church structure, church without a program, Crazy Love, demonstration of the Spirit's power, enticing words of man's wisdom, John 2:5, John Wilber, Keith Saylor, programmed, purpose of church, Quaker meetings, Quaker worship, Quakerism, Quakers, speaking from the heart, speaking in church, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, Spirit-prompted, unprogrammed, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meeting, Whatever He says to you do it | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Christ-follower = minister = priest (priesthood of the believer quotes)

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Steve Simms

“Let everyone, therefore, who knows himself to be a Christian be assured of this, that we are all equally priests.” –Martin Luther “We must reveal God’s name to each other and proclaim the name of God to our brothers–not in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alexander Hay, Andreas Karlstadt, Austin Sparks, Carl Ketcherside, Charles Spurgeon, Chip Brogden, clergy laity, Dave Coleman, Elton Trueblood, Greg Austin, laymen, laywitness, Martin Luther, who can preach, women in ministry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Painting, proclaiming, spiritual gifts, testimonies, and revival!

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Steve Simms

When the members of the body of Christ are allowed to openly use their gifts, they inspire me. Here’s an example: –Fred Major lets us hang his original painting at The Salvation Army Berry Street. I look at it frequently and … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, church, Eddie Hyatt, Gospel Union Tabernacle, Matthew 10, Matthew 18, Middle Tennessee, Music City, Nashville skyline pictures, paintings, revival center, Salvation Army, shout it from the housetops, simple church, tell it to the church, Worship City | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Let Jesus be the church program . . .

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Steve Simms

A God-gathering (ekklesia) has a program, a plan, a presentation, and a purpose: The program . . . to let ordinary people follow and obey Jesus. The plan . . . to free up everybody present to be led by … Continue reading →

Posted in church bulletins, ekklesia, John 5:19, led by the Spirit, Nashville, participatory church, Romans 8:14, Salvation Army, simple church, Spirit-led church, the Son can do nothing by Himself | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ekklesia plugs into the Scriptures and the Spirit’s current.

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Steve Simms

Welcome to ekklesia where: * You “behold the Lamb of God” working in and through ordinary people, (John 1:29); * “Christ in you” (everyday people) is “the hope of glory,” (Colossians 1:27); * Jesus’ sheep hear His voice in and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible quotations, Bible quotes, Bible verses, biblical Christianity, Biblical principles, house church, Music City, Nashville, Nashville church, Nashville churches, Nashville tourism, Nashville tourist attractions, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Nashville, simple church | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Veggie Cans, Church, & Christ In You

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Steve Simms

These cans of veggies illustrate two ways to do church: 2 ways 2 do church: 1) Line everybody up in nice rows like shelved stacks of canned vegetables and let one person give a talk from the platform.  This traditional … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 1:27, Christ in you, getting fed in church, groceries, how to do church, Nashville, pot luck, quote, Ryan LeStrange, simple church, The Salvation Army, veggies | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

My Personal Search For Ekklesia (And I Still Long For More)

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Steve Simms

I have always had a longing for God. My parents who were non-religious and didn’t attend church told me that as soon as I learned to talk I began to talk to them about God and to ask them to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Adult Rehabilitation Center, Calvary Chapel, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, ecclesia, multivoiced church, open church, participatory church, Salvation Army, Vineyard | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments