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!

Listen-To-Me Leadership vs. Hear-From-Heaven Leadership

Listen-to-me leadership likes to lecture. It makes people dependent on one man’s theology and Bible interpretation. Hear-from-Heaven leadership humbly connects people with the living God so that they can hear directly from Him. You can never hear enough lectures to … Continue reading

Posted in Flesh and blood didn't reveal, Nashville, prophet Eli, prophet Samuel, revelation, Speak Lord for your servant is listening, Tennessee | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ With Double Rainbows In Colorado (& The Christian Challenge)

I believe that the living, resurrected Jesus is communicating to those who are willing to hear and obey Him. My brother, Scott Simms, took this picture of double rainbows that we saw in front of his house near Cripple Creek, Colorado … Continue reading

Posted in Christian challenge, Colorado, cost of discipleship, Cripple Creek, definition, G.K. Chesterton, It has been found difficult and left untried, Jesus is Lord, Lord, My Lord and my God, The Christian ideal has not been tried, what does Lord mean? | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Leadership Doesn’t “Lord It Over”

Jesus came to establish spiritual leadership in His church that is based on humble example, godly character, and personal power; not on human control, institutional authority, or positional power. Jesus wants his leaders to facilitate His meetings, not to dominate … Continue reading

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:4, Bible quotes, Christian leadership, demonstration of the Spirit's power, doers of the word, each one has a psalm, God-gatherings, James 1:22, Matthew 20:25, not hearers only, not with enticing words of men's wisdom, Paul of Tarsus, Quotes, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A White Guy’s Thoughts After The Charleston Church Shooting

I’m a white guy who was a black preacher for about 3 years. (I was a pastor in the African-American denomination–the Church of God in Christ, but I never went as far as Rachel Dolezal and literally claimed to be black.) … Continue reading

Posted in Christian magic show, Church of God in Christ, Emanuel AME, essay, facebook, Founding Fathers, healing racism, human trafficking, illusionists, Marcus Stanley, racial healing, slavery, white view of race | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Marcus Stanley’s Christ-Like Response To The Charleston Church Murders

Here was my first response to the Charleston church murders: What kind of society produces continual, motiveless mass shootings? And now a man who would murder 9 people who were praying in church? Something is dreadfully wrong with our culture! –Lord, … Continue reading

Posted in black lives matter, Dylann Roof, Emanuel AME, facebook, faith-based, Quotes, racism | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

“No More Boasting About Human Leaders”

“So then, no more boasting about human leaders!” –1 Corinthians 3:21 What would God do . . . 1) If we presented the living Christ without promoting preachers and teachers? 2) If people ministered to others without naming “ministries” with … Continue reading

Posted in Bell Buckle, Berry Street, Bible, blog, church leadership, Dr., Ed Stetzer, facebook, Jr., Martin Luther King, New Testament, organic church, Quotations, Tennessee, Webb School, William Webb | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

CMA, Bonnaroo, & You!

–The CMA Festival made a huge racket for Country Music. Bonnaroo made a huge racket for Rock/Pop. Perhaps it is time to make a huge rackeT for Christ! (I spell it with a capital T to represent the cross of … Continue reading

Posted in book of Acts, events, House of Prayer, Manchester, Music City, music festival, Nashville show, Nashville stuff, rock and roll, RooHOP, Salvation Army, Tennessee, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Let’s Be Boundless!

Boundless worship gatherings are not bound by human control, leaders’ agendas, religious programs, or church traditions. They are unbounded and free to follow the direct leadership of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ and to flow wherever He may take them. … Continue reading

Posted in congress, Evangeline Booth, having a form of godliness but denying the power, holiness meetings, London, lyrics, Pentecost, Pentecostal, Salvationism, Send the fire, the world for God, William Booth, worship | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Write To Free Speech / Write To Life

I love to exercise the right to write. For me, the process of writing is freeing and life producing. I write to set words and thoughts (my speech) free from self and to allow them to soar in the Spirit. Far too … Continue reading

Posted in anthologies, clasics, essays, freedom of speech, great books, How to be creative, How to blog, How to write better, Philokalia, releasing creativity, right to life, stream of consciousness, writing advice | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Kind Of God Do We Need?

We desperately need a living, active, present God! –A God who isn’t bound to a program run by a man. –A God who can speak through anybody He chooses, not just through those with religious position, power, or authority. –A … Continue reading

Posted in all powerful, analogies for God, answer to God, apologetics, characteristics of God, church, monotheism, omnipotent, omnipresent, Pentecost, understanding God, views of God, what is God like, where is God | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment