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!

Air Dancer Christ-followers

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Steve Simms

As I was with a group of Christ-followers who were praying and sharing as they felt prompted by the Holy Spirit, the image of a large Air Dancer came to my mind. Are Christ-followers called to be animated like Air … Continue reading →

Posted in animation, apart from me you can do nothing, bouncy houses, Christ in you, Gone With The Wind, hope of glory, mighty rushing wind, the wind blows where it will, Uncategorized, wind, wind of the Spirit | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thoughts from the Bible & the General . . .

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Steve Simms

I read some statements that General André Cox made at The Salvation Army National Advisory Organizations Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, April 21-24, 2016. The theme of the conference was “Expect Change.” The General’s comments reminded me of these biblical concepts: Christ-followers … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, change, change agent, change in church, change management, changes in worship, each one has a psalm, evangelism, makes change, Phoenix, preach the gospel, Quench not the Spirit, Uncategorized, witnesses, witnessing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beyond IT “potato sorting” to nonmaterial reality

Posted on May 7, 2016 by Steve Simms

Computers are glorified potato sorters (separating electrons rather than potatoes). People translate data into electronic codes and then a computer sorts, arranges, categorizes, stores, and retrieves those coded electrons as directed by a person (or a program written by a person). … Continue reading →

Posted in a healthy mind, apologetics, atheism, determinism, free will, harmful thinking, high tech, information processors, information technology, IT, making decisions, materialism, mind, positive thinking, power of choice, pro choice, rationalism, renewing your mind, science, scientific theory, self-control, self-esteem, self-help, self-image, spooky action, Stephen Hawking, Theory of Everything, Uncategorized, victim of disorganized thinking | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are we literally livin’ in cyber space?

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Steve Simms

I recently saw a PBS documentary that suggested that if we were living in a video game we would be convinced that we and everything around us is real. However the only real thing about cyber space is the information and directions … Continue reading →

Posted in artificial intelligence, computer science, computers, cyberworld, documentary, electrons, hardware, illusionists, information technology, intelligence, IT, languages, nature of reality, non-material reality, Periodic Table, physical universe, programming, real world, software, speed of light, Uncategorized, worldview | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Heart-fire

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Steve Simms

We need God’s heart-fire! Christianity is much more than a mind informed about the Bible. It’s a heart continually ablaze with the presence of the living, risen Jesus Christ! Are you in a relationship with the living, risen Jesus? There’s nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in aflame, burning heart, Did not our hearts burn within, fan into flame the gift of God, fire in the heart, heart care, heart religion, heart strangely warmed, heart-felt, heart-felt love, hearts on fire, in a relationship, Jesus in my heart, love God with all your heart, pulpit, pulpit ministry, puppet show, puppeteer, puppets, relationship with God, spiritual relationships, the door of your heart, the heart of worship, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Should we go all the way with “born that way?”

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Steve Simms

I believe that human beings are born with a deep longing for God and that we never outgrow it (even though we sometimes redirect it).  Wherever you find people you find religion and ritual — some form of attempting to … Continue reading →

Posted in agnosticism, Alexander Maclaren, atheism, Augustine, books, born again, dissatisfaction, Ecclesiastes, God seeker, hate, longing for God, Pascal, Rick Warren, ritual, Tiffanie DeBartolo, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are Christians playing with a full deck — ekklesia?

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Steve Simms

Is the traditional concept of church short of God’s full deck — the Greek New testament idea of ekklesia? Is ekklesia God’s trump card that empowers Christ-followers to dynamically connect with the living, resurrected Jesus and with one another? A … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, Bible quotes, Bible verses, called out ones, decrees, demonstrations of the Spirit, Dones, ekklesia, Greek, Greek city state, Greek New Testament, Heaven, house church, nones, on earth as it is in heaven, organic chruch, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are sermons working or just keeping up appearances?

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Steve Simms

Are sermons working or just keeping up appearances? Will a talk about religion give you the personal power to walk out your faith in daily life? * When church people recommend sleazy entertainment on social media; sermons aren’t working; * … Continue reading →

Posted in church decline, church meetings, church refugees, church services, church speakers, church teachers, homiletics, homily, house church, lecture, lecture in church, message, message in church, organic chruch, religious talks, sermon series, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

7 6-word sentences 4 engracing your life

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Steve Simms

Grace is more than just a free gift. It’s freedom! Here are seven six-word sentences to help ingratiate your life: one — Grace is the place things change. two — Grace is the power to replace. three — Grace will erase sin’s … Continue reading →

Posted in cheap grace, Christian history, church history, extreme grace, for by grace your are saved, full of grace and truth, gives grace to the humble, God's Riches At Christ's Expense, grace card, grace definition, grace greater than all my sin, grace preachers, growing in grace, hypergrace, If grace is an ocean, living in grace, salvation, saved by grace, saving grace, Uncategorized, understanding grace, what is grace | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Laodicea or ekklesia?

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Steve Simms

Do 21st Century Christians have amnesia? Have we forgotten that Jesus calls Christ-followers to be His ekklesia, not the church of Laodicea? Christ wants us to look to Him alone as our panacea! The church has amnesia and has forgotten … Continue reading →

Posted in 7 churches, be hot or cold, Book of Revelation, facebook, laodicean, lukewarm, Middle Tennessee, organic church, revelation, Revelation 3:16, Salvation Army, simple church, social media, spew you out of my mouth, spiritual formation, spirituality, techlesia, Tennessee, texting, texting in church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment