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!

True worship: open hearts & radical honesty

Posted on November 2, 2016 by Steve Simms

–Wanted: “True Worshipers”– God is looking for open hearts and radical honesty. Now is the time to go beyond outward form and religious pretense — no pretending, no hiding! It’s time for heart-felt reality. “The hour comes, and now is, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christ's presence, Christian living, Christian spirituality, He must increase, I must decrease, John 10, John 4:23, John the Baptist, pride, self-promotion, sheep, straight is the gate and narrow the way, that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Getting real about Oct 31!

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Steve Simms

Calling all saints, we’ve got a mission! It’s All Saint’s Eve today–the day before All Saints Day. So who’s a saint? The Catholic and Orthodox churches call people who lived extraordinarily holy and Christ-like lives “saints.” However, the Bible definition … Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Corinthians 4:6, 95 theses, a new reformation, alternative Christianity, called to be saints, canonization of saints, Castle Church, Germany, God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, great awakening, has shinned in our hearts, organic church, Protestant Reformers, Reformers, revival, sainthood, Salvation Army Corps, spiritual awakening, spiritual movement, Uncategorized, Wittenberg Door, Wittenburg | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Body Of Christ: Dictatorship? Democracy? Christocracy?

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Steve Simms

Must a gathering of Christ-followers choose between being a hierarchy (a body of believers governed by an organizational chart) or anarchy (a body of believers with no government or order at all)? Historically church has chosen to be a hierarchy. … Continue reading →

Posted in Benjamin Rush, church government, God's government, government, Israelmore Ayivor, Jesus Christ, John Leland, kingdom, kingdom of heaven, kingdom values, kings and kingdoms, not of this world, organizational chart, the Kingdom of God is at hand, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are sermon points and systematic theology in the Bible?

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Steve Simms

Sermon points? Sermons frequently have numbered points. However, when you read through the New Testament, you can’t find even one incidence of number points. So how did such an unbiblical idea become so common in church services? (Perhaps it is … Continue reading →

Posted in All I have written, alternative to preaching, Christian history, church history, history, house church, New Testament, organic church, preaching, preaching the Word, preaching without words, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Christmas says: “It’s time to feel good!”

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Steve Simms

It’s time to feel good! All people want to feel good! They search for ways to make that happen. They try entertainment, sports, shopping, social media, parties, alcohol, drugs, sex, making money, and hundreds of other things — all in … Continue reading →

Posted in Angel Tree, Bell Ringers, Christ in Christmas, Christmas bell ringing, Christmas gifts, Christmas giving, Christmas season, depression, Happy Holidays, healing, holiday greetings, inner healing, overcoming depression, Red Kettle Campaign, Red Kettles, Salvation Army Bell Ringers, shout it from the housetops, spiritual healing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Post and share these posters about sharing!

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Steve Simms

I keep asking God to give me fresh, new ways to share the concept of open sharing as led by the Spirit based on 1 Corinthians 14:26 — the Greek New Testament concept of ekklesia. I made two posters today. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, art of listening, Berry Street, ekklesia, God's presence, hearing God, hearing God's voice, inner listening, itcity, Let the redeemed of the Lord, listening, listening skills, listening to God, listening to the Spirit, Nashville churches, Nashville news, Nashville tourist attractions, revival in Nashville, soul, soul food, testimonies, testimonies in church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to deal with controlling, self-promoting Christian leaders

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Steve Simms

There have always been controlling and self-promoting Christian leaders, who want to be top dog, even in the first century. But how are Christ followers supposed to deal with them? John (the disciple Jesus loved) gives us an example in … Continue reading →

Posted in CEO, CEO pastor, control, control in church, controlling pastors, Head of the church, Jesus CEO, Jesus is the Head, pastor, the disciple Jesus loved, Uncategorized, World English Bible | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Seeing the invisible / hearing the still, small voice.

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Steve Simms

Christianity is about looking at the unseen; hearing God’s still, small voice; and then living out in this physical world, the invisible spiritual realities that we have seen and heard. That’s why Paul of Tarsus wrote: “We look not at … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Can church services be rigged?

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Steve Simms

A process is rigged when it is tampered with and manipulated in order to replace the normal outcome with a desired result. For example, Donald Trump is making unsubstantiated claims that the American presidential election process is rigged against him. … Continue reading →

Posted in election rigging, evangelicals, formal religion, organic chruch, organized religion, political environment, political issue, political positions, politics and religion, presidential election, stealing an election, Uncategorized, voter fraud | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bob Dylan: Is church missing the train?

Posted on October 16, 2016 by Steve Simms

You can attend a weekly lecture about sailing for years, but nothing is going to happen until you put your boat in the water, raise your sail, and catch the wind of the Spirit. The answer is Jesus Christ within! … Continue reading →

Posted in body of Christ, born again, Can't escape from you, Christianity, church, Dylan, faith, my train is overdue, Nobel Prize for Literature, organic church, salvation, serve somebody, the answer is, trains, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment