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!

Christ-Controlled Church (How to move beyond human control of church meetings.)

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Steve Simms

A Sunday morning church service is a controlled environment. Often everything that happens there is planned out ahead of time and inked onto a handy program which is given to people as they enter.  People are expected to passively sit, … Continue reading →

Posted in Chris Turner, church government, confession, Conquering the Game of Control, Craig Green, ecclesiology, gifts of the Spirit, Head of the church, how to, playing church, Southern Baptists, Steven J. Cole, surrender, who runs the church, William Booth, wisdom | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Ugh * Aha * I see * O me * Sorry * U-turn * . . .

Posted on October 17, 2015 by Steve Simms

I woke up this morning with this process parading pensively through my ponderings. * Ugh! . . . Disgusted with self & circumstances & hungry for help. * Aha! . . . A shinning moment when light comes in. * … Continue reading →

Posted in ABCs, Bill Bright, Bill Hybles, Billy Graham, Campus Crusade, Cru, D. James Kennedy, Ellen G. White, Evangelism Explosion, Four Spiritual Laws, how to become a Christian, religion, repentence, Roman Road, Sinner's Prayer, Steps to Christ, tracts, transformation, Walk Across The Room | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Alive inside? Experiencing the joy of internal life!

Posted on October 16, 2015 by Steve Simms

Are you alive inside? Are you experiencing the joys of internal life? Devoid of internal life, chaos resides inside and inner chaos creates chaos everywhere you go. However, when you connect with and cultivate inner life, there is an ongoing release … Continue reading →

Posted in Albert Schweitzer, awe, Carrie Barton, chaos, contemplation, E. Journey, Evelyn Underhill, gratitude, Henri Frederic Amiel, intnroversion, Jesus Christ, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Clark, Lailah Gifty Akita, Leo Tolstoy, Mark Twain, Martha Nussbaum, meaning, Paul of Tarsus, reflection, Sarah Breathnach, self-discipline, Susan Cain, Thomas Merton, W.H. Auden, William Shirer | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Everyday eloquence — the power of show and tell!

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Steve Simms

We learned it in kindergarten — everyday eloquence — how to show and tell. So why did we stop? Why did we formalize presentations?  Why did we turn spontaneous heart-felt sharing into standardized, stuffy sermons! The Bible teaches that church … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, all I really need to know, How everyone can make extraordinary presentations, I learned in kindergarten, kindergarten, Music City, Nashville, organic church, overcoming boredom, Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Why is Western culture consumed with drugs and drug commercials?

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Steve Simms

Why is Western culture consumed with drugs and drug commercials? If you don’t self-regulate your life, you will eventually want to medicate the pain that your disruptive thinking and behavior causes to your emotions and body. (Philippians 4:8). People in our … Continue reading →

Posted in alcoholism, alternative lifestyle, bad habits, culture wars, drug addiction, drug culture, drug rehab, overcoming addiction, Philippians 4:8, regulation, self-discipline, self-help, self-medicating, side effects include | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

25 words or less — My favorite thing about Jesus is . . .

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Steve Simms

25 words or less to win money and prizes? How about 25 words or less to express and release the glory of God? There is power in creatively writing from the heart! In the 1950s and 60s many companies conducted … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, chat rooms, contests, evangelism, Evelyn Ryan, glory of God, Jesus, raising kids, sharing your faith, social media, Terry Ryan, testimonies, texting, The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio, win prizes | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Is there any hope? (If so, where?)

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Steve Simms

Everybody needs hope. (Life without hope is hopeless.) So where is there any hope in human history? –I don’t find hope in wars and military victories because they reveal the evil and cruelty that men can do to one another … Continue reading →

Posted in betterment of humanty, Christ in you the hope of, Colossians 1:27, glory, great victories, hope in Christ, hopeful, Jesus, kings and kingdoms, one solitary life, patriotism, Paul of Tarsus, serving others, spiritual warfare, violence | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Stop devaluation! (Guns or abortion?)

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Steve Simms

If we don’t want to continue to see random mass murders in America, we must stop devaluing human life! Speaking about the need to do something to stop mass killings, President Obama said: “This is something we should politicize. It … Continue reading →

Posted in a terrible thing to waste, cyber space, devaluation, disrespect, human life, Oregon shootings, political choice, President Obama, prolife prochoice, regulating guns, something we should politicize, value of life, video games, violence, wasting your life | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Jesus building His ekklesia (a beyond church poem)

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Steve Simms

I woke up this morning with this poem going through my mind. (Did I write it or did the living, resurrected Jesus give it to me?) The living Jesus is speaking to all His followers. Perhaps we should allow everyday … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible translations, Christ, church poems, English Bibles, fire in the heart, Greek word, hearing God's voice, inner prompting, Jesus, mistranslation of the Bible, passion for God, revelation, spiritual insight, still small voice, the gates of hell will not prevail, the real presence, there am I in the midst of them, visions | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Determined disciples vs. submissive spectators

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Steve Simms

Perhaps church could focus on developing determined disciples rather than on sustaining submissive spectators. Determined disciples overcome their issues, hang-ups, and addictions and transform the world around them through their obedience to the power and presence of Christ actively flowing … Continue reading →

Posted in Barry L. Callen, discipling, God's presence, making disciples, organic church, Quotes, spiritual growth | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment