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!

Challenge & Encouragement From The New Book: “Building Blocks of Spiritual Leadership”

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Steve Simms

Yesterday I received a gift in the mail.  It is a new book called Building Blocks of Spiritual Leadership by Commissioner William W. Francis (retired commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory of The Salvation Army) published by Triumph Publishing and Crest Books. As … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, books, building blocks of spiritual leadership, Canada, Commissioner William Francis, Crest Books, Nashville, Quotations, Salvation Army Corps, territory, Triumph Publishing, USA, William W. Francis | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus is the program, the teaching, and the spiritual life!

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Steve Simms

What if in church we: * Set aside our program and let the living Jesus, Himself, be the way (Is a program the way we do church or is Jesus the way we do church?); * Set aside our teaching … Continue reading →

Posted in church program, church teaching, Jesus, Nashville, paraphrase, Salvation Army, sermon, spiritual awakening, spiritual life | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Difference Between Daylight Savings Time (DST) & Soul Savings Time (SST)

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Steve Simms

Daylight Savings Time (Chronos) or Soul Savings Time (Kairos) –Before we went to bed in the USA on Saturday night we sprang forward into Daylight Savings Time (DST). Now we’re no longer living on Standard Time (ST) plus we’re “saving” … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, ancient Greeks, Christianity, church, faith, fall back, God, Greek word for time, kairos, Nashville, Salvation Army, spirituality, spring ahead, spring forward fall back, standard time, testimony, understanding Daylight Savings Time, unprogrammed meeting | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

An apathetic audience alienates — an interactive assembly assimilates. (Which one should church be?)

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Steve Simms

An apathetic audience alienates — an interactive assembly assimilates. (Which one should church be?)

Posted in alienation, apathy, assimilation, interaction, organic church, simple church | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Leap-Of-Faith-Based Church Meetings! (Letting everyday people step out in the Spirit.)

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Steve Simms

What if it took faith to attend a church service? (Would a faith-based church meeting even work?) Perhaps now is the time for churches to take a leap of faith and to allow ordinary people to speak out in Sunday … Continue reading →

Posted in Blake Franks, evidence of things not seen, Hebrews 11:1, James Cameron, Jen Stephens, Mandy Hale, Martin Luther King, Nashville, Robert Holden, Santosh Kalwar, substance of things hoped for, The Salvation Army, TN, William Booth | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

What Color Is The Dress — Oops I Mean Flag?

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Steve Simms

What color is the dress — oops I mean flag? Let’s address the question. Take a close look. Different people see this flag differently. Some of the colors (and images) in this pic are just reflections onto the flag — the … Continue reading →

Posted in blue and white, colour, Nashville, red yellow & blue, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Flag, tricks on the eye, visual distortions, what color do you see, why do people see the dress differently | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

ABCs 4 Retooling Church 2 Reach The 21st Century 4 Christ:

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Steve Simms

The ABCs 4 retooling church 2 reach the 21st Century for Christ: * Avoid autocratic agendas. * Base it on the Biblical command in 1 Corinthians 14:26. * Connect with Christ as our contemporary rather than confining Christ to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian meetings, church collaboration, church experiment, church furniture, church meetings, church programs, church revitalization, church roles, church rules, church seating, church structure, church without a program, effective meetings, holding meetings, how to, interactive church, meaningful meetings, open church, organic church, rethinking church, simple church, Spirit-led church | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Some Things Are BAN (Beyond the Ability of Nature)

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Steve Simms

If nothing can’t do anything, how could it make everything? Some things are obviously beyond the ability of nature (BAN). * A turtle on a fence post? BAN. * Cave wall writings? BAN. * The origin of life? BAN. * … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Bang Theory, cave wall writings, creation, creationism, Egyptian pyramids, intelligent design, It's Supernatural, miracles, spirituality, turtle on a fence post | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Being Spirit Led Is Like A Ship Sailing (Louis Lallemant Quotes)

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Steve Simms

French Jesuit priest, Louis Lallemant, taught how to be led by the Spirit in the 1600s. Here are come quotes from his book La Doctrine Spirituelle (The Spiritual Doctrine). “We may compare those who are led by the gifts of the Spirit … Continue reading →

Posted in book, Christianity, Doctrine Spirituelle, hearing God's voice, Holy Spirit, Jesuits, Spiritual Doctrine | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Church Orbiting The Son!

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Steve Simms

(I wrote this poem this morning about 7 years at Berry Street and [to my surprise] it made the shape of a “leaning 7” on the right hand side. The 3 plus signs at the end [+++] represent the 3 … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Berry Street, Egypt, Jerrico, Joseph, Lara Landon, promptings of the Spirit, Quotes, simple church, Spirit-led, testimonies in church, the walls fall down | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments