Author Archives: Steve Simms

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About Steve Simms

I like to look and think outside the box. In college I encountered Jesus Christ and I have been passionate about trying to get to know Him better ever since. My wife and I long to see the power and passion of the first Christ-followers come to life in our time. I have written a book about our experiences in non-traditional church, called, "Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible--Ekklesia." If you need encouragement, search for: Elephants Encouraging The Room and/or check out my Amazon author page. Thank you!

Desperation can lead to freedom and joy

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Steve Simms

Your heart-cry doesn’t echo in a canyon of inner emptiness. It continually reverberates within you, ever calling you to wake up to deeper reality. In the recovery community the desperation that leads to freedom and joy is called “hitting bottom.” … Continue reading →

Posted in celebrate recovery, Christian recovery, hope, recovery, recovery groups, recovery quotes, sobriety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christianity goes beyond privacy

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Steve Simms

There’s nowhere to hideWhen you resideAnd continually abideIn Christ.The rising tideOf His presenceReveals all secrets. A heart exposedTo the lightOf ChristOften complainsThat His lightIs too bightAnd thus retreatsBack into the nightTo keep its secretsOut of sight. Awe causes the human … Continue reading →

Posted in awe inspiring, Christian community, community, honesty, intimacy, openness, Spirit of Truth, truth will set you free | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

6 spokes on the wheel of repentance

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Steve Simms

How’s your repentance going? Thank God that He is always wanting to cleanse us and empower us to live a holy life. Instead of rolling with repentance, Christians (and most people) try hard to avoid it. One reason is that … Continue reading →

Posted in clear conscience, confession, confession of sin, conscience, repent, repentance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Beyond human control to Spirit control

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Steve Simms

Jesus gave up positional authority and became a servant, yet He has more followers than anyone in history. He is at the top of the authority pyramid in the body of Christ. All the rest of us are servants on … Continue reading →

Posted in body of Christ, church, discipleship, ekklesia, how the body of Christ functions, Spirit prompting, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Comfort zone or Christ-focused zone?

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Steve Simms

The more I concentrate on Jesus the more I sense His presence and feel His power. The more I focus on and surrender to God’s Spirit the fuller my faith grows and the greater my desire and ability to obey … Continue reading →

Posted in challenge, Christian challenge, Christian spirituality, comfort zone, Jesus, Jesus Christ, prayer, spiritual athletes | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Religious privacy goes against biblical Christianity

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Steve Simms

Little Jack HornerWent to churchAnd sat in the cornerHe stayed on his bumTill he felt numbAnd said,“What a good boy am I.” Church is too often a form of gathered individualism. People assemble in one place but there’s little openness … Continue reading →

Posted in church, discipleship, formal religion, institutional church, routine religion, state of religion, true religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Religious self-protection is a rejection of true freedom in Christ.

Posted on November 27, 2022 by Steve Simms

E. Stanley Jones said: “Jesus was crucified because He wouldn’t conform to a system.” (Jones was an American Methodist missionary to India in the mid-twentieth century.) True freedom in Christ is much more than a system, form, or formula. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian poetry, church poems, poem, religious poetry, self-surrender, surrender, surrender to God | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

You can live by the Spirit everywhere

Posted on November 26, 2022 by Steve Simms

To “live by the Spirit”And “not quench the Spirit”Is to fully yield yourselfTo be carried by the currentAs the Spirit flowsLike inner riversAlive with the powerAnd presence of GodAnd blowsLike a mighty rushing windFrom deep withinYour surrendered heart. The more … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible verses, Christian poetry, filled with the Spirit, Holy Spirit, led by the Spirit, Quench not the Spirit, rivers of living water | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Self-surrender to God / never surrender to evil

Posted on November 25, 2022 by Steve Simms

The only freedomFrom life’s dark cavesIs self-surrenderTo God’s rescue. If you ignore and/or silence the parts of you that are crying out for healing, you’ll stay stuck in a charade of denial. The One who set up the world’s eco … Continue reading →

Posted in cost of discipleship, discipleship, self-surrender, surrender, surrender to God | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lessons from phone-led people (to help be Spirit-led)

Posted on November 24, 2022 by Steve Simms

Phone-led people are: Spirit-led people are: “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Romans 8:14. (Here’s a picture of a phoney person being phone-led. Get it? Being phoney and phone-led seems to … Continue reading →

Posted in apps, cell phone, led by the Spirit, smart phones, smartphone apps, Spirit-led | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment