Monthly Archives: May 2018

“Sit & be told?” or “Go & be bold?”

Posted on May 27, 2018 by Steve Simms

The living experience of Christ is far more amazing than anything anyone can say about Him. To really understand the Gospel it must be more than preached. It must be personally experienced and lived. People learn what they do. To really learn … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative to preaching, as bold as a lion, bold, bold statements, early Christianity, early Christians, early church, gifts of the Spirit, preaching the Gospel, preaching without words, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ireland declares prenatal human life to be disposable

Posted on May 27, 2018 by Steve Simms

Ireland has joined most other Western nations in making prenatal human life legally disposable. Irish activist, Cora Sherlock, put it this way: “What repealing or replacing the 8th Amendment would actually involve, if voted through, is stripping unborn babies of … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-abortion, babies, choose life, disrespect, human life, mass murders, mass shootings, mother's womb, murders, prenatal, prenatal care, prenatal medicine, prenatal rights, prochoice, prolife, prolife prochoice, random mass killings, respect for life, Uncategorized, Western culture, What do they do with aborted babies, why mass shootings, womb | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What are the essential beliefs for Christianity?

Posted on May 22, 2018 by Steve Simms

When Christians begin to think about and discuss unity, the question of doctrine always comes up. How do we overcome doctrinal disagreement? Augustine, a Christian brother who lived in the fourth century, answered that question this way: “In essentials, unity; … Continue reading →

Posted in atheism, Atheists, Augustine, belief system, Bible teaching, Christ, Christian, discerning of spirits, Jesus Christ, liberty, Love one another, Messiah, religious beliefs, speaking the truth in love, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church can be like a full 747 sitting on the tarmac with no fuel

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Steve Simms

Having church without the active leading of the Spirit is like sitting on the tarmac in a full 747 with no fuel. A plane full of people won’t go anywhere without fuel. Neither will a church without the supernatural working of … Continue reading →

Posted in another Pentecost, church program, clergy, clergy laity, discouragement, Feast of Pentecost, first Pentecost, flowing in the Spirit, fruit of the Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, inner peace, pentecostal experience, Quench not the Spirit, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ekklesia, like a support group, helped me heal

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Steve Simms

(I first wrote this for ONE Body Life’s blog @ this link.) Too many people feel like Alejandro Jodorowsky, a Chilean-French filmmaker. He said: “I am not a normal person. I am living in a normal body, but my mind … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ-centered recovery, Christian recovery, emotional honesty, honesty, Isaiah 53, recovery groups, recovery quotes, self-discovery, self-esteem, self-help, self-worth, small groups, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fresh insights on royalty

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Steve Simms

A British Royal Wedding is a huge, world-wide event. But what is royalty really? Could you be a royal — born to royal ancestry? Royal–a king or queen or a member of their family. “For those who are led by … Continue reading →

Posted in bride of Christ, events, humble, humility, king, King of Kings, kingdom, kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven, kingdom of priests, kingdom values, kings and kingdoms, marriage, royal family, royal priesthood, Uncategorized, weddings | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Story Of “Blest Be The Tie That Binds”

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Steve Simms

In 1765, John and Mary Fawcett went to minister in Wainsgate, a rural English community, described as: “farmers and shepherds, poor as Job’s turkey; an uncouth lot whose speech one could hardly understand, unable to read or write; most of … Continue reading →

Posted in bear one another's burdens, Christ-centered community, Christian community, Christian unity, church community, fellowship, love, one in the Spirit, prayers, praying community, the beloved community, Uncategorized, unity | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beyond sermon-hearing to Spirit-hearing

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Steve Simms

Christ experienced is much more powerful than Christ explained. The “let the preacher do it” mentality has crippled contemporary Christianity. However, Jesus never said: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the preacher says.” (He said, “Let them hear what the … Continue reading →

Posted in art of listening, Bible reading, body of Christ, church programs, cost of discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, disciple making, discipleship, Great Commission, homiletics, homily, how the body of Christ functions, how to be a disciple, listening, listening to God, preaching, spiritual growth, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dare to lovingly pray for Christians you disagree with

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Steve Simms

Should we pray for Christian groups that hold beliefs that we disagree with and/or that do things we don’t approve of? Jesus did. In John 17, Jesus didn’t just pray for His first disciples, “but for them also who shall … Continue reading →

Posted in body of Christ, book of James, Christian community, Christian unity, Ephesians, intercessory prayer, James, Jesus prayer, love your enemies, pray for your enemy, prayers, praying community, Uncategorized, unity | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A meeting of Jesus’ people should be like a mighty waterfall

Posted on May 6, 2018 by Steve Simms

The “gifts of the Spirit” are really “flows” of the Spirt–not handed to you externally, but flowing from within you. (John 7:38) You can’t grow strong in Christ if you have given a no-go to the Spirit’s inner flow. Jesus said; … Continue reading →

Posted in church programming, church services, God's flow, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit flow, inner flow, sermons, Spirit's flow, spiritual flow, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual innovation, spiritual intoxication, spiritual movement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment