Author Archives: Steve Simms

Unknown's avatar

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!

The Gospel announces God’s love, not “me to me” love

Posted on November 16, 2022 by Steve Simms

The Gospel (Good News) isn’t that you can love yourself. It’s that God so loved you that He gave His only Son . . .” Me to me love,From me to me,Stays stuck in me.Lord, help me seeAnd love bothMy … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian living, extremist for love, God's love, good news, Gospel, preach the gospel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is self-love a pleasurable path?

Posted on November 16, 2022 by Steve Simms

Self-love often leads people down the deceptive path of self-gratification, but self-focused desires are never fully gratified. Many of the modern movements away from Christian morality use self-love as their justification. People who refuse to heed their need for self-control … Continue reading →

Posted in partying, pleasure-seeking, self-control, self-denial, self-esteem, self-focus, self-indulgence, self-justification, selfish desires | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Self-love & speaking in tongues

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Steve Simms

The Bible’s “love chapter” says that love isn’t boastful, proud, or self-seeking. A self-love focus seems to contradict that. Self-love can make us forget about our neighbor. That love, care, and concern you’ve been giving to yourself; give it to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14, gifts of the Spirit, prayer, praying, praying in tongues, speaking in tongues, spiritual gifts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The New Testament agape gathering called ekklesia

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Steve Simms

O that Christ’s peopleWould regularlyCome togetherIn agape gatheringsAnd let God’s loveFreely flow fromTheir innermost beingTo pour out on JesusAnd on each anotherUntil the whole worldSays in astonishment,“Look how they loveOne another!”(That’s ekklesia!) On Monday morningSunday’s goneAnd church has fadedFrom the … Continue reading →

Posted in biblical Christianity, disciple making, discipleship, how to be a pastor, making disciples, spiritual training, training | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The central weakness of organized Christianity

Posted on November 13, 2022 by Steve Simms

E. Stanley Jones who was an American Methodist missionary to India wrote: “This is the central weakness of organized Christianity—it preaches salvation through Christ, but not salvation in Christ.” He also wrote that it is an amazing discovery that people … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative Christianity, biblical Christianity, Christianity, Christianity with Power, lifestyle Christianity, normal Christianity | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

She couldn’t forgive herself . . .

Posted on November 12, 2022 by Steve Simms

An older woman who was in love with Jesus confessed something to me that she had been trying to forgive herself for over many decades. She wept as she told me how as a young adult, she had helped a … Continue reading →

Posted in forgiveness, how to be forgiven, how to receive forgiveness, love yourself, perfect love casts out fear, self-forgiveness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Follow God’s heart not your own self-love . . .

Posted on November 12, 2022 by Steve Simms

Self-focus,Whether proudOr disdainful,Winds upBeing painful. Self-loveMakes it easierTo believeThings that deceive. Self-love is confined and is limited to one solitary individual–you. Neighbor-love is expansive and can reach the whole world. If you get your thoughts, emotions, and desires off of … Continue reading →

Posted in definition of love, extremist for love, God's love, love, love wins, radical love, true love | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is “You’re very self-loving,” a compliment?

Posted on November 11, 2022 by Steve Simms

It’s not a compliment to tell someone, “You are very self-loving.” When you tell someone, “I love you,” you wouldn’t want them to say, “I love me, too.” Your hope is that they will express love back to you. I … Continue reading →

Posted in self-esteem, self-exaltation, self-focus, self-image, self-importance, self-indulgence | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Self-forgetfulness is powerful. Try it.

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Steve Simms

My will and God’s willAre often in conflictAnd then I must chooseWho’s will to restrict.And who’s will to pick.The more I love my will,The harder it is to say,“Not my will,But Yours be done.” Self-focusBlurs realityAnd makes me forgetThat it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in happiness, self-focus, self-restraint, self-sacrifice, self-surrender, self-will | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s love can’t hatch when we’re self-attached.

Posted on November 9, 2022 by Steve Simms

If you deny yourselfAnd let God’s love hatchDeep within your heartIt will strike a matchThat will set you ablazeIn the hazeOf this worldAnd loose the latchOf self-loveThat holds you in bondage. Ego and prideTry to hideIn the shellOf self-love. The … Continue reading →

Posted in deny yourself, die to self, dying to self, Examine yourself, love yourself, self-denial, self-esteem, self-focus, self-forgetting | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment