I love to express what I feel called to say. Writing helps me to open up my heart and do that. I hope that what I write helps you in some way. I hope it makes you think, encourages you, or inspires you. If it challenges you or if you disagree, I hope you know that I respect your right to have a different point of view.
To everyone who ever gets weary and burdened, Jesus Christ offers His yoke. (Matthew 18:28-30) A yoke is a device for joining two animals together head-to-head so that they can work together in sync to pull a heavy load.
To be yoked with Jesus is to learn from Him by letting His mind and thoughts be in you and continually lead you. (Philippians 2:5-11) It is to stay always attached heart-to-heart with Him so that His gentleness and humility give you rest for your soul.
Animal yokes are heavy and burdensome, but because Christ’s yoke is invisible and internal it is easy and light. The tighter you let Jesus yoke your heart to His, the more He carries and pulls the load.
Let Christ’s yoke fully capture and captivate your attention. Let it always hold your heart tightly in tandem with Him.
Genuine prayer is not a formality. (James 5:16) It’s active engagement with, interaction with, and full surrender to the risen Jesus. (John 20:28) Talk to Him. Listen to Him. Take His yoke upon you. Discover His rest. To have a greater experience of Christ’s presence and power we need to go beyond church as usual. (2 Timothy 3:5)
In each Person God brings Some things To mind, Pure thoughts Unsought. Be taught By them. (Romans 8:14)
Your Choice
If you would Do the good That you should Not the bad That you could Your life would Get better And better. Let Christ’s yoke Empower You.
Here’s A Fun Annotated Guide to the Books of Steve Simms
Below are his major works—each with a playful description, what you’ll get out of it, and who it’s perfect for.
Beyond Church: The Lost Word of the Bible — Ekklesia
Published 2015
Theme: Rediscovering the original meaning of ekklesia and rethinking church as a participatory, Spirit-led community.
Fun Annotation:
Imagine someone handing you a backstage pass to the early church and whispering, “Psst… it didn’t look anything like Sunday morning.”
This book is that whisper—expanded into a manifesto.
Why It’s Cool:
Explains how the translation of ekklesia into “church” changed Christian practice for centuries.
Makes you rethink what “gathering” even means.
Perfect for people who feel like something is missing in traditional church life.
Best For:
Curious Christians
House church folks
Anyone who loves “lost-in-translation” Bible discoveries
The Joy of Early Christianity
Theme: Recapturing the passion, simplicity, and spiritual power of the first Christians
Publication date varies by edition (self‑published/independent release)
Fun Annotation:
If Beyond Church is the backstage pass to the early church, this book is the after‑party — where you get to experience the joy, energy, and raw spiritual life that made Christianity explode across the ancient world.
Reading it feels like someone opened a window and let a fresh breeze blow through your understanding of faith.
Why It’s Cool:
Shows how early Christians lived with contagious joy, even under pressure
Highlights the simplicity and spiritual power of first‑century gatherings
Connects ancient Christian practices to modern simple/organic church life
Encourages readers to rediscover a vibrant, relational, Spirit‑led faith
This book is basically Steve saying:
“Hey, Christianity used to be fun, alive, and unstoppable — let’s get back to that.”
Best For:
Fans of early church history
People who feel modern church has become too complicated
House church / simple church communities
Anyone craving a more joyful, authentic Christian experience
How It Fits Into His Larger Body of Work:
Pairs with Beyond Church as a practical, heart‑level companion
Reinforces his lifelong theme: Christianity works best when it’s simple, shared, and Spirit‑led
Adds emotional warmth — focusing not just on structure, but on joy
Elephants Inspiring the Room
Theme: Motivational insights & creative thinking
Fun Annotation:
This is the book you’d hand to someone who loves quirky metaphors and “aha!” moments.
It’s like a pep talk delivered by a friendly philosopher who also happens to love elephants.
Why It’s Cool:
Short, punchy inspiration
Great for daily reading
Shows Steve’s playful, creative side
Best For:
Motivational junkies
People who love unusual analogies
Anyone needing a spark
Your Sperm Won!: Experiencing Your Value as a Championship Human Being!
Theme: Self-worth, humor, and motivation
Fun Annotation:
Yes, the title is wild—and that’s the point.
This is Steve at his most playful, reminding you that you literally started life as a winner.
Why It’s Cool:
Uses humor to teach self-esteem
Encourages readers to embrace their uniqueness
Light, fun, and surprisingly uplifting
Best For:
Teens & young adults
Anyone who needs a confidence boost
People who enjoy unconventional self-help
Mindrobics: How to Be Happy for the Rest of Your Life
Theme: Happiness, mindset, and personal growth
Fun Annotation:
Think of this as a mental gym—except the workouts are short, fun, and don’t require sweating.
It’s all about training your brain toward joy.
Why It’s Cool:
Practical exercises
Positive psychology meets spiritual insight
Easy to dip in and out of
Best For:
People who love daily habits
Fans of short, actionable advice
Anyone wanting more joy
Bonus: What Makes His Books Unique?
Across all his writing, Steve Simms brings:
Creativity (he’s an “out-of-the-box thinker” per Goodreads)
Warmth and humor
A deep desire to inspire
A blend of spirituality, history, and motivation
His books feel like conversations—sometimes challenging, often surprising, always encouraging.
Last but not least: Off the RACE Track: From Color-Blind to Color-Kind
Theme: Racial healing, compassion, and moving beyond the “color-blind” mindset.
Fun Annotation:
Think of this as a road trip through American racial history—except your guide is warm, honest, and grew up in the segregated South.
He’s not lecturing; he’s storytelling.
Why It’s Cool:
Blends memoir with social insight.
Introduces the idea of being color‑kind—actively honoring differences.
Gentle, hopeful, and practical.
Best For:
Readers exploring racial reconciliation
Small groups
Anyone who wants a compassionate, personal perspective
Want More?
I can also create:
A reading order
A themed study plan (e.g., racial healing, simple church, motivation)
“Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: ‘Thank You, Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth. You’ve concealed Your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way You like to work.’” (Matthew 11:25-26 The Message)
The New Testament teaches that Christians should be Spirit-led (Romans 8:14) instead of following our own desires. (Matthew 16:24) Christ lives inside of us so He can now personally and directly lead us, both when we meet together and throughout our day-to-day life. (Colossians 1:27)
Several Bible verses show that Christians are called to meet together interactively, like a support group. The Bible never says that we are to meet for a formal, programmed talk where only one person can speak and everyone else is required to keep silent in the gathering.
Although churches have used this Scripture to tell people that they are required to attend a Sunday morning lecture meeting, notice that isn’t what it is saying: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
According to those two verses, the purpose of Christians assembling themselves together isn’t to hear a sermon by the same man week-after-week. It is to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” We are to gather together for the purpose of “encouraging one another.”
The verses before those are all about how God has set aside the priestly system of the Old Testament and opened up “a new and living way” to intimately interact with Him. Because of the blood of Jesus priests are no longer needed.
Verses 15-17 say: “The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. Then He adds: Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
Now we are supposed to individually encounter, listen to, and obey the presence of the living God, not merely sit through a powerless religious form of godliness. (2 Timothy 3:5) “What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.” (1 Corinthians 14:26)
This isn’t describing a programmed, one-man-lecture style of meeting but a Spirit-led one. To have a greater experience of Christ’s presence and power we need to go beyond church as usual. The following verses confirm that.
We are told in verses 29-33: “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.”
Verse 34 says: “Women should remain silent in the churches (ekklesias).” Whatever that means, it demonstrates that people were free to speak up (and even interrupt) during the meeting. Since Paul said had previously said that “each one of you has” something to say in the meeting, I believe he is telling women not to have side conversations that distract from the meetings.
In verses 24-25, Paul says: “If an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you!’” Once again, we see that everyone present is permitted to speak in an ekklesia (church) meeting. We also see that open, Spirit-led sharing is super powerful!
Jesus Himself taught that a congregation of Christians should allow people to speak up when they meet. He said: “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; (ekklesia) and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
How can Christians obey Jesus’ command to “Tell it to the church” if church consists of a one-man lecture and doesn’t allow anyone in the congregation to speak up? Jesus doesn’t want His followers to be trained to passively sit and be mere Sunday morning spectators. He wants us to be trained and discipled to “Shout it from the housetops.” (Matthew 10:27)
Revelation 12:11 tells us that the first Christians overcame the devil “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives.” Don’t be silent. Your testimony is essential.
Testify! Don’t quench the Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) Tell it to your church. Google, Beyond Church–An Invitation to Experience the Lost Word of the Bible–Ekklesia.
I love to talk and to write and to express my point of view. I always try to do it with kindness and humility instead of with arrogance. I’m still learning to listen better to people with patience and compassion. And every day I’m still learning to listen to God and His still small voice speaking in and through my conscience.
The one most important thing that a human being can seek (Psalm 27:4) isn’t the pursuit of happiness, success, or busyness. It is to stay focused on the risen Lord Jesus, (Hebrews 12:2) awestruck by His inner His voice, (1 Kings 19:11-13) and surrendered to His will. (Luke 10:38-42)
Sin distracts us from true devotion to Christ. It causes us to settle for a little bit of religion (Isaiah 29:13) instead of daily self-denying, cross-bearing discipleship. (Luke 9:23)
Discipleship is a lifelong lifestyle, not something to do for a little while. It’s intensive unending training to listen to and obey God the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14) and the Bible throughout each day. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Never miss a day reading the Bible like a love letter from God to you and letting the words burn in your heart, Avoid reading it like a theology textbook.
Wake up your conscience And train it to hear What God is saying In your inner ear.
Nobody’s all good. Nobody’s all bad. We’re all a mixture Of God and of bad.
Let repentance begin. Turn away from your sin. Let Christ clean you within And revive you again. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
I don’t like the question: “Where do you go to church?” Because I’m excited about Jesus, people assume that I attend a sermon-based church service. I don’t. I’m more like these four undocumented men in the Bible.
Four Gentiles in the Bible Said, “We want to see Jesus.” They came together to find And encounter His presence. They wanted so much more than Superficiality. Religion wasn’t enough; They wanted reality. When Jesus heard about them, He told His disciples that His Father will honor those Who follow Him and serve Him And give up their self-focus To be led by His presence. A voice came from Heaven To give glory unto God, But most of the people Said it was only thunder. Jesus is speaking to you. Listen while you still have time. (John 12:20-35)
I believe that those four men are a demonstration of what Jesus wants to build among His followers. He used the word Greek “ekklesia” to describe it. (Matthew 16:18) Ekklesia was the name of the participatory town meeting in Greek cities where anybody present could speak. Jesus was very much aware of Greek cities and their way of doing things.
Jesus promised to show up whenever two or three people gather in His name (Matthew 18:20)–when they come together to experience His presence moving and working among them. When we gather to encounter and interact with the living Jesus like the four Gentiles wanted to do, we won’t just listen to a religious talk. Together we’ll experience and be led by His presence, power, and glory!
Host a Spirit-led support group. Invite 2 or 3 or more people to listen to God together and then share what the Holy Spirit puts on their heart.
Go beyond church. Search for: The Joy of Early Christianity book.
War doesn’t kill people. People kill people. They are the ones who pull the trigger, launch the missiles, and drop the bombs. It sure would be nice if people would stop the stupidity and waste of war!
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He calls His followers to be peacemakers who love their enemies. To attempt to use Christianity to justify the failure, cruelty, and hell of war is evil. War is horrid, not holy. Make peace not war!
Bashing and trashing people because they see things differently than you do is a key symptom of self-righteousness. It plants the seeds that can provoke war.
Two twenty-first century wars were started this way: When Putin ordered Russians to start killing Ukrainians it made me very sad. Now Trump has ordered Americans to start killing Iranians and it makes me even sadder. I don’t believe in killing people based on their nationality.
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Because my vision is Distorted and deceived I’ve made the decision To deny myself and To trust in God’s vision Instead of in my own.
Christians are commanded to stop evaluating things from a perspective that conforms to this world. We are told instead to be transformed by viewing life with a renewed mind that sees from God’s heavenly point of view. (Romans 12:1-2)
My vision only sees the outward appearance of things, but God sees the heart of the matter. (1 Samuel 16:7) I want to get defensive and to justify myself before people, but God knows what is really going on deep inside of me. (Luke 16:15)
I want to let my pride be my guide, but God wants me to humble myself and to allow Him to lead me with the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit within my conscience. (Romans 8:14) God is continually trying to train and disciple me to lean not on my own understanding, but to look beyond my spiritual daze and in all my ways to rely and depend on His wisdom rather than on my personal point of view. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
God wants me to stop focusing on the things that I see with my natural eyes so that He can show me the truth and inner realities behind them. (2 Corinthians 4:18) He wants to help me set my affection on the unseen spiritual things above, not on earthy things. (Colossians 3:1-2) He wants me to keep my gaze always fixed on the risen Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. (Hebrews 12:2)
My eternal citizenship is in Heaven, not here on earth. (Philippians 3:20-21) Although I haven’t seen Jesus with my physical eyes, I love Him with all my heart. As I seek to rely on His presence within me throughout each day, He fills me with joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1 Peter 1:8-9)
No human eye has seen, or physical ear has heard the things that God has prepared for those who love Him, but God has revealed those things to Christ-followers by His Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10) We no longer have to “only imagine,” because now God the Holy Spirit has come and is present to personally show us the Father’s perspective (John 14:26) and to guide us into all the truth. (John 16:13)
God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness has shinned in my heart–my jar of clay. Day by day He is shining His light inside of everyone who wants to truly experience His reality and showing us His glory in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7) Are you looking?
The key to a wonderful life is losing self-love and finding true love. True love and true greatness go together. True greatness sets aside me-focus. It comes from obeying God’s two greatest commandments. The first one is to love the Lord with your all in all.
The second one is often misunderstood. It is to love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-39) Unfortunately, that commandment is frequently twisted to justify and proclaim self-love, self-focus, and self-exaltation. I believe that it means to love your neighbor instead of loving yourself–to shift your focus away from me-love to neighbor love. Love your neighbor as if he were you.
When you give up on trying to love yourself, you can find true love. Jesus taught self-denial (Mark 8:34) and humility (Luke 8:14) not me-love. He calls His followers to take the lowest place not the high places. (Luke 14:10-11)
In Philippians chapter two, the Bible tells us to: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” It goes on to tell us how Jesus humbled Himself from equality with God to death on the Cross. It says that we should have the mind of Christ and allow God to work inside of us to do His will instead of our own. That is self-denial, not self-love!
Me-Love?
Ego Makes me go The way Of self-love. However, To humble Myself And shift Away from Self-focus Is the way To healing And joy.
I believe that faith, hope, and love are objective, not subjective. They are invisible realities that can grow and flourish in a human heart. Some people want to write off everything that occurs in a human heart as mere subjectivity. But that’s not true.
Sure, many of your thoughts, feelings, and desires are produced by your subjectivity. But not all of them. Some of them are unseen objectivities that can’t be seen, heard, touched, smelled, or tasted with your human senses. Jesus came to connect us with inner realities like faith, hope, and love. (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)
Christianity is way off track when:
It is low on love. (1 John 4:20)
It sees faith as mere church attendance rather than as the substance and evidence of God presence living within them. (Hebrews 11:1)
It is superficial instead of supernatural. (Acts 2:43)
It tries to serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24)
It’s so earthy minded (Colossians 3:2) that it lacks the ability to demonstrate the actual presence and character of Jesus. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
It is a mere outward form of godliness without the power to change the way people live their daily life. (2 Timothy 3:5)
It embraces and aligns with the human culture that surrounds it. (1 John 2:15)
It presents Jesus as far away and removed from everyday life instead of as living inside of and continually interacting with His followers. (Colossians 1:27)
It is low on the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Its traditions make the word of God of no effect. (Mark 7:13)
It acts like Jesus is a dead religious figure instead of the living Lord (Romans 14:9) and the Creator of all that is. (John 1:1-3 & 14))
Its focus is on a weekly religious meeting instead of on daily discipleship. (Luke 9:23)
It puts its hope in human wisdom and a human government instead of in Christ. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Loveless Christianity isn’t taught in the Bible. It’s a false religion. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) Love God and love people, even your enemies.
Faith, hope, and love are not subjective feelings. They are objective realities working inside human hearts that will humbly open up to them.
It’s so painful to see how far away we Christians are from where God is calling us to be. That’s why so many of us shut our eyes, sink into religious tradition, and pretend all is well. When pastors and church leaders truly want people to hear the word of God, they compassionately share the Bible verses that make them unpopular with people as they speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15)
Jesus is the living way. (John 14:6) He want’s His followers to get back on His track. He calls us to: “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17) How we who say we are Christians need to be inwardly led by the promptings of God the Holy Spirit so that we can live our life in much closer alignment with the inner government of God the Father. (Luke 17:21)
When Christians feel like they aren’t “evil” like people they despise, they’re acting like the Pharisee in the Bible who prayed, “God, I thank You that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.” (Matthew 18:11-12) It’s never too late to replace the subjectivity of anger and unkindness with the objectivity of God’s supernatural love. Listen and obey the objectivity of God the Holy Spirit speaking in and through your conscience.
Math is powerful! Mathematics has greatly helped me to grow in inner peace and to experience great joy in life. However, I’m not referring to just any branch of mathematics. I’m talking about God’s math. To experience more fulfilment out of life, let God multiply your hope.
When your life isn’t adding up use God’s math: * Add: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) * Subtract: “Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)
The way to learn God’s mathematics isn’t just to study it. You have to use His math: Subtract from your self-focus. Add the cross to your daily life. And do what Jesus says. (Luke 9:23)
* Forgive 70 times 7 times. (Matthew 20:21-22) * Frequently gather in a group of 2 or 3 (or more) and experience the presence of the risen Jesus together. (Matthew 18:20) * If you know 99 people who are doing all right and 1 who is messed up, leave the 99 and go help the one. (Luke 15:4) * Be good soil. Let God multiply your harvest 30, 60, and even 100 times. (Mark 4:20) * Feed people and watch God multiply. 5 loaves and 2 fish can feed 5000. (Matthew 14:16-21) 7 loaves and a few fish can feed 4000. (Mark 8:5-9) * Seek 1st the kingdom of God and His right living and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)
Beyond Church: The Lost Word of the Bible — Ekklesia
Published 2015
Theme: Rediscovering the original meaning of ekklesia and rethinking church as a participatory, Spirit-led community.
Fun Annotation:
Why It’s Cool:
Best For:
The Joy of Early Christianity
How It Fits Into His Larger Body of Work:
Elephants Inspiring the Room
Your Sperm Won!: Experiencing Your Value as a Championship Human Being!
Mindrobics: How to Be Happy for the Rest of Your Life
Bonus: What Makes His Books Unique?
A reading order
Free Gas for Your Think Tank -- Fill Your Mind and Your Heart With Hope 