Tag Archives: organic church

Do You Ever Get The Hear-Another-Sermon-Blues?

Posted on November 30, 2013 by Steve Simms

Do you ever get the hear-another-sermon-blues?  Well, don’t fret.  I can’t find the word “sermon” in the Bible.  Can you? When you regularly share with others about what God is saying to you and about what He is doing in … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, blues, Darryl M. Erke, Ernest F. Scott, Nashville, Nashville church, non-church, non-church movement, non-liturgical, non-traditional church, nonconforming, open church, participatory church, quotation, Quotations, quote, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermon, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, sermons, simple church, spirituality, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

What does it mean to “gather in Jesus’ name”?

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

Do we “gather in Jesus’ name”? (“Where two or three have gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” –Jesus) * To so something in someone’s name means to act under that person’s authority and … Continue reading →

Posted in church meetings, church programs, church services, DWhere two or three have gathered together in My name, Jesus Christ, Jesus' name, Jim L. Wilson, quotation, Quotations, quote, religion, religious words, there am I in the midst of them, What does it mean? | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Better Caught Than Taught

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Steve Simms

Open sharing and testimonies in a church service create a spiritual contagion that spreads from heart-to-heart, igniting passionate love for the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ (like the early Pentecostals used to say) is more caught than taught. … Continue reading →

Posted in better caught than taught, Friends, Friends meeting, Friends' worship, go tell it on the mountain, Nashville, Nashville church, one another, one anothering, pentecostals, pursuit of God, Quaker meetings, Quakers, sage on the stage, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, spiritual church, spiritual hunger, testimonies, testimonies in church, testimony | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

A Different Worship Leader Every Sunday

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Steve Simms

At The Salvation Army Berry Street we have a different worship leader every week.  Over the past 5 1/2 years we have had about 50 different people/groups lead worship for us.  Why? 1) It keeps one person from being exalted … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, body of Christ, church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, church structure, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, praise, praise and worship, praising God, religion, religious ceremonies, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Uncategorized, worship, worship center, worship gathering, worship leader, worship styles | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Here Ya Go — Original Organic Church Comments

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Steve Simms

When church is unplugged from programs and unleashed from sermons, people are free to obey the present moment promptings of the Spirit and God is powerfully present. Does church constantly contain God in your comfort zone or does church compel … Continue reading →

Posted in innovation, Nashville, Nashville think tank, Quotations, radical, radical Christianity, radical obedience, Think Tank | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Irrigation, Living Water & New Wineskins

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Steve Simms

Our dry souls need to be irrigated with much Living Water.  An effective irrigation system has many waterspouts, not just one.  God’s living water flows lavishly in church meetings when many people are free to share the living water that … Continue reading →

Posted in creativity, flow, flow of the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, heart care, heart of worship, heart-felt, Holy Spirit, irrigation system, Jesus, Jesus Christ, no one pours new wine, preaching, preaching the Word, sermon, sermons | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dorothy In Oz, Wheels, Soul Train, TEAM, Yall, Lights, & A Quiz (Examples/Metaphors of Participatory Church)

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

Some metaphors for participatory church: Experiencing participatory church at Berry Street is like Dorothy stepping into a world of living color when she enters the land of Oz in “The Wizard of Oz.” Church is often like a unicycle, focused … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, big wheel, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church organizational chart, church program, church programs, church quiz, church roles, church services, Dorothy Wizard of Oz, New Testament, plural for you, religion, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationism, Salvationists, soul, soul train, Southern English, team, Team Church, Tennessee, Together Everyone Accomplishes More, unicycle, yall | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Church Ledership — Hierarchy or Humility?

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Steve Simms

Should leadership in the church be based on hierarchy or humility?   Well, according to Jesus leadership is not established by human authority, official position, titles, rank, strength, or hierarchy; but by humility, service, weakness, brokenness before God, and submission … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church leadership, church meetings, church organizational chart, church programs, church roles, denominations, do it, facebook, God resists the proud, God's authority, have mercy on me a sinner, hymn, hymns, ministers, ministry, Mother Mary, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, pastor, Quench not the Spirit, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, spirit, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, theology, web, website | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Open Church / Open Hearts

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Steve Simms

Traditionally church has been . . . –One special man weekly instructing a passive group of ordinary people. Biblically church seems to be . . . –A Spirit-led group of ordinary people actively teaching and ministering to one another in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, college, college experiences, college students, one another, one anothering, one anothers, open church, perfume on Jesus' feet, pulpit, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual formation, tradition, traditional church, University of Tennessee Martin | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

12 B&Bs of PC (Benefits & Blessings of Participatory Church)

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

12 (B&Bs) Benefits & Blessings of (PC) Participatory church: 1) is exciting and never the same ole, same ole.  It breaks the boredom cycle of customary church. 2) releases the living, resurrected Jesus Christ and allows Him to personally direct … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, accountability, Bible, boredom, Christ, Christian organizations, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, commandments, commands, community, customary, customs, faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Nashville, Nashville church, New Testament, non-church, non-traditional church, one another, one anothers, participators, participatory church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments