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!

Most Christians have been trained to listen to a preacher, but not trained to listen to the risen Jesus.

Posted on November 26, 2017 by Steve Simms

When I was growing up in church, I was trained to listen to a preacher, but not trained to listen to the risen Jesus. (If church doesn’t train Christians to listen to and obey the Jesus, who will?) The reality … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative to preaching, homiletics, lay preaching, Lay Witness Missions, lay witness movement, leadership training, nontraditional preaching, preaching without words, pulpit, pulpit ministry, search engine, sermons, Ted Talks, Train yourself unto godliness., Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

If it’s harmful, don’t do it. If it’s unkind, don’t say it. If it’s tormenting, don’t think it.

Posted on November 26, 2017 by Steve Simms

The thoughts and images that you have allowed in your mind were the seeds that produced the way you feel today.

Posted in advice, do it, do the math, Don't be afraid, harmful habit, harmful thinking, power of words, speak the truth in love, tormenting thoughts, Uncategorized, unkindness, wisdom, word of wisdom, words | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Be a fruity Christian

Posted on November 21, 2017 by Steve Simms

There’s no better stuff than the fruit of the Holy Spirit. But you often need to go out on a limb to get it. After all, that’s where the fruit grows. Are you ready to be a fruity Christian? “But the … Continue reading →

Posted in character, characteristics of a Christian, content of their character, faith, faithfulness, fruity, goodness, joy, kindness, longsuffering, love, patience, peace, self-control, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual maturity, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Did Jesus establish a democratic *Theocracy?

Posted on November 18, 2017 by Steve Simms

I believe that what we call church was originally intended to be a democratic *Theocracy — an organic body of Jesus’ disciples, ruled and led directly by the living, resurrected Jesus. Jesus established it by saying, “On this rock (of … Continue reading →

Posted in ancient Greece, ancient history, ancient Israel, body of Christ, ekklesia, Greek city state, Head of the church, Israel, On this rock I will build My church, organic chruch, oxymorons, politics, tribes of Israel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lecture-ship or discipleship?

Posted on November 17, 2017 by Steve Simms

Church has replaced discipleship with lecture-ship. But no discipleship equals no New Testament Christianity! Jesus came to give you direct access to God. You don’t need a human go-between to lecture you once a week. Jesus said to make disciples. … Continue reading →

Posted in body of Christ, Book of Revelation, casual church, cost of discipleship, disciple making, disciples, Gospel, how to be a disciple, Leonard Ravenhill, making disciples, ministers, New Testament, preach the gospel, preacher, preachers, preaching the Gospel, priest, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Are church greeters biblical?

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Steve Simms

A handshake, a smile, a kind word, and a bulletin (and perhaps occasionally a hug) — that’s pretty much the job description of a church greeter.  So are church greeters in the Bible? And if so what was their job in … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Denominations, Christian unity, denominations, interdenominational, one in the Spirit, team, teamwork, Uncategorized, unity, working together | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The best thing to do with a bad thought

Posted on November 11, 2017 by Steve Simms

A human mind, polluted with various forms of negativity, produces a life overflowing with the same pollutants. I think, therefore I am . . . not going to think negatively! One thing I’m positive about is that thinking negatively is never … Continue reading →

Posted in addiction, depression, do it if it feels good, don't think about a pink elephant, feelings, happiness, inner peace, joy, optimism, overcoming depression, pessimism, stream of consciousness, think on these things, Uncategorized, unhappiness | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Against the gates of Hell with toothpicks or a mighty battering ram?

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Steve Simms

What can knock down a gate? 40,000 individual toothpicks or ONE mighty battering ram? Think about it. 40,000 toothpicks couldn’t do much damage to a gate and definitely couldn’t overcome it and knock it down. However, ONE might battering ram … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

We shouldn’t let unfathomable evil desensitize us

Posted on November 7, 2017 by Steve Simms

(This article was first posted on the ONE Body Life webpage at onebody.life.) How can we deal with the ever increasing number of evil acts of mass murder and terrorism in America? When horror becomes widespread, our natural tendency is to begin to ignore it, … Continue reading →

Posted in comfort, comfort for grief, evil spirits, good and evil, gun violence, How Evil Works, overcoming evil, problem of evil, source of evil, stop the violence, Uncategorized, violence epidemic, violence in society, where does evil come from, why mass shootings | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sermons are not enough! We need more!

Posted on November 5, 2017 by Steve Simms

No sermon can ever compare to having your heart ablaze with the living Jesus! “Church shall have a sermon,” is not the 11th Commandment. In fact, it isn’t a commandment at all! Christianity isn’t about a man teaching a weekly religious … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, church services, go into all the world and preach, Holy Spirit, how to conduct a church service, Jesus' name, organic church, priesthood of the believer, Spirit-led, teaching, two or three in My name, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment