Author Archives: Steve Simms

Unknown's avatar

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!

Andreas Karlstadt (Luther’s Organic Church/Ekklesia Guy)

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Steve Simms

Before Martin Luther wrote his 95 Theses and nailed them to the door of the Catholic Church in Wittenburg, Germany; Andreas Karlstadt (1480-1541) had written 151 Theses and delivered them to the Pope in Rome. When the Protestant Reformation began, Karlstadt and … Continue reading →

Posted in 95 theses, Anabaptist, Bible, hearing God, Holy Spirit, Martin Luther, My sheep hear My voice, organic church, radical reformation, simple church, sola Scripture, Wittenburg Door | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

“Dones” or “Beyonds”?

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Steve Simms

Meet the Beyonds —The Dones are people who have given up on church and dropped out. –The Beyonds are people who realize that biblically church is supposed to be so much more than what we have made it. Beyonds want to move beyond … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, back to church, Bible, Bible quotes, called out ones, Christ the Head of the church, Christian community, Come unto Me all you who are weary, Don Finto's books, ekklesia, gifts of the Spirit, Go into all the world, having a form of godliness but denying the power, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, led by the Spirit, Nashville, preach the gospel, Prepare, walk in the light, William Tyndale | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ain’t nothin’ like watchin’ God work in ordinary people!

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Steve Simms

Last Sunday at The Salvation Army Berry Street in Nashville one of our members started the meeting by reading a Scripture that she had chosen. It was Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them … Continue reading →

Posted in A.W. Tozer, Berry Street, He makes all things work together for my good, Manley Beasley, miracles, organic church, Psalm 107:2, Romans 8:28, Salvation Army, Spirit-led | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

I believe in being naive!

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Steve Simms

What’s your threshold of naivety? –I believe in being naive about some things. To choose to be naive about certain things can relieve anxiety, stress, and deception and help you achieve inner peace and contentment, by closing the door of … Continue reading →

Posted in choice of lifestyle, church, condemnation, contentment, denial, Genesis 2, hope, original innocence, power of choice, psychology, quilt, Romans 8:1, the power of, tree of the knowledge of good and evil | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Let Jesus be the church program . . .

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Steve Simms

A God-gathering (ekklesia) has a program, a plan, a presentation, and a purpose: The program . . . to let ordinary people follow and obey Jesus. The plan . . . to free up everybody present to be led by … Continue reading →

Posted in church bulletins, ekklesia, John 5:19, led by the Spirit, Nashville, participatory church, Romans 8:14, Salvation Army, simple church, Spirit-led church, the Son can do nothing by Himself | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Church/ekklesia/lampstand showcase the light in everyday Christ-followers . . .

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Steve Simms

The word that the New Testament uses for the body of Christ is ekklesia. However ekklesia was replaced in English translations with the word church. Jesus said that ekklesias are lampstands. “The seven lampstands which you saw are the seven … Continue reading →

Posted in 2:Corinthians 4:6, God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shinned in our hearts, if all prophesy, Luke 8:18, Revelation 1, sets it on a lampstand, the seven lampstands | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Don’t let inner fear interfere with you . . . enjoy the ice cream!

Posted on August 22, 2015 by Steve Simms

Does inner fear interfere with your life? The living, resurrected Jesus Christ can make you fearless! However, don’t just take Christ in — let Him flow out through your words and actions. The inflow of information without the spark of inspiration … Continue reading →

Posted in false evidence appearing real, freedom, how to defeat fear, inner fear, inspiration, poem | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Ekklesia plugs into the Scriptures and the Spirit’s current.

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Steve Simms

Welcome to ekklesia where: * You “behold the Lamb of God” working in and through ordinary people, (John 1:29); * “Christ in you” (everyday people) is “the hope of glory,” (Colossians 1:27); * Jesus’ sheep hear His voice in and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible quotations, Bible quotes, Bible verses, biblical Christianity, Biblical principles, house church, Music City, Nashville, Nashville church, Nashville churches, Nashville tourism, Nashville tourist attractions, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Nashville, simple church | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

What in the world does God want?

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Steve Simms

How can we know what God wants? 1) By God’s Spirit showing us through the Bible; 2) By God’s Spirit speaking directly to our heart; 3) By humbling ourselves and laying down our traditions, desires, opinions, fears, patriotism, pride, intellectualism, … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts 5:29, discerning of spirits, How to be led by the Spirit, how to know God's will, spiritual discernment, We must obey God rather than man, witness of the Spirit | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The paralysis of analysis or the openness of brokenness?

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Steve Simms

Our culture analyzes everything. We mentally pick things to pieces. Yet, sometimes our logic locks out love. Love often doesn’t compute — it can be very irrational. Yet love is an essential ingredient for a lovely life! Without love, we’re human … Continue reading →

Posted in church, David, ekklesia, I am a man of unclean lips, Isaiah, John the Baptist, love, O wretched man, Paul of Tarsus, Quotations, Roto Rooter, Tammara Webber | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment