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!

Mr. Potato Head all ears? Or the Body of Christ?

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Steve Simms

Are you familiar with Mr. Potato Head — a Playskool/Hasbro toy that originally came out in the 1950s? Mr. Potato Head was so popular that he was included as a character in the Toy Story movies. He has also been … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 12, alternative church, church programming, church programs, house church, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army, simple church, thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Are there answers to eternal questions?

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Steve Simms

What does it mean to be right with God? To be saved? To be born again? To be on your way to Heaven? Church has made those questions religious and has answered them with “church membership,” “attending church,” “saying a one-time … Continue reading →

Posted in Are you saved, born again, clear conscience, dull conscience, religion, Uncategorized, voice of conscience, what does it mean to be saved, what is conscience | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

First century therapy groups . . .

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Steve Simms

A First Century Therapy Group . . . –The early Christ-followers formed therapy groups to help them heal from the dysfunction in their culture and in their personal lives. There is a description of how those therapy groups met to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 12 step group, addiction, cell groups, discovery group, encounter group, encouragement, freedom, group interaction, health care, mental health, one anothering, one anothers, overcoming addiction, recovery groups, Salvation Army, Salvation Army ARC, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Nashville, self-help group, small groups, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2 pods about church without sermons

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Steve Simms

Here are two podcasts about how God will break out of the traditional church mold (if we let Him). He stopped the sermon. Hear how a church in Nashville, Tennessee has been meeting for 8 1/2 years without a sermon. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, alternative church, alternative to preaching, alternatives to sermons, book, bored in church, church decline, church experiment, church order, church organization, church programming, church revitalization, church sermons, church services, church without a program, churching, conversermons, house church, how to conduct a church service, how to do church, I will build my church, immunity to sermons, interactive sermons, interrupting a sermon, participatory sermons, Richard Jacobson, sermon-free church, sermon-hearing, shared sermon, Thom Schultz, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

When God flows like Niagara Falls (Seeing is believing.)

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Steve Simms

Since I was a child growing up in Arkansas, I’ve heard about Niagara Falls. However, everything that I have heard and all the pictures I have seen of Niagara Falls couldn’t convey the reality of the falls to me. When … Continue reading →

Posted in analogy for church, Arkansas, awe, awe in church, awe inspiring, Christ's presence, church, experiencing God, experiencing Jesus, flowing in the Spirit, God's flow, Holy Spirit flow, how to flow in the spirit, icons, living water, rivers of living water, top attractions in, Uncategorized, whitewater, whitewater river | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

We cry out to dry bones, “Come alive!”

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Steve Simms

Church is no place for passivity! Biblically it’s a gathering for interactive, Christ-led involvement. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26 and http://amzn.to/2dvrvlz.) Far too many people believe that occasionally attending a highly structured and tightly controlled church service is Christianity. However, the 50+ … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, a new reformation, Berry Street, Bible type revival, church, house church, nontraditional church, organic chruch, revival, revival center, revival in Nashville, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, spiritual formation, spiritual revolution, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s in your fridge?

Posted on September 24, 2016 by Steve Simms
Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, celebrate recovery, Christian recovery, Christian support group, fridge magnets, fridge quotes, Jesus quotes, one another, one anothering, organic church, posters, power of words, quotation, Quotations, quote, recovery groups, recovery quotes, sayings, support groups, Uncategorized, When you come together, wisdom, words on fire | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Disgrace comes before grace

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Steve Simms

There’s no grace without disgrace.

Posted in Amazing Grace, cheap grace, condition on grace, conditional grace, extreme grace, for by grace your are saved, full of grace and truth, gives grace to the humble, grace card, grace definition, growing in grace, hypergrace, If grace is an ocean, saved by grace, saving grace, Uncategorized, understanding grace, what is grace | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A sermon poem won’t make you know Him

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Steve Simms

A sermon meandering through your ears Won’t drive out your fears Or take away your tears. Jesus builds His body of believers, Not on outward words being heard, But on inward revelation; His presence and power Flashing “aha moments” within … Continue reading →

Posted in hearing God's voice, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, inner hearing, organic chruch, preaching without words, revelation, sermon-hearing, spiritual experiences, spiritual formation, spiritual hearing, spiritual insight, spiritual prompting, spirituality, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Will “Dones” go “Back to Church” as usual, in a post-Christian world?

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Steve Simms

Will “Dones” and others who have left the institutional church, go back to church as usual in a post-Christian society? National Back to Church Sunday (NBTCS) thinks they will. It was begun in the United States in 2009. Their website … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2 Timothy 3:5, Back to Church Sunday, back to the Bible, back to the future, denominations, denying the power, having a form of godliness, having a form of godliness but denying the power, house church, interdenominational, Jesus Movement, movement, National Back to Church Sunday, organic chruch, outreach, outreach ministry, Philip Yancy, post-Christianity, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments