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!

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

What Can Ignite Human Hearts?

Christ-followers are like A bed of red-hot coals. Separate the coals And their fire gradually goes out. Pull them close together And they burst into flame. Isolation, independence, and formality, Make Christians cold. Sharing honesty, humility, and intimacy, In Spirit-led … Continue reading →

Posted in God-gatherings, honesty, Hot or cold, one another, passion for God, Spirit-led | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Soaking Prayer / Soaking Music / Spirit-Led God-Gatherings

Soaking prayer is a way of seeking God. The term soaking is a fresh way of talking about the traditional Christian practice of contemplative prayer which has been taught and used though out the history of the church. Soaking prayer involves quietly listening to … Continue reading →

Posted in charismatic movement, church history, church movements, contemporary Christian music, Craig von Buseck, hanging out, hearing God's voice, It's Supernatural, King David, King Saul, listening prayer, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, Pentecostal movement, Salvation Army, Sid Roth, soak in prayer, Speak Lord for your servant is listening, tarry in Jerusalem, tarrying, Tennessee | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are pastors & popes the proper pinnacle for churches?

Believers love to gather around, listen to, celebrate, and honor preachers and Christian singers; and to make pastors and/or popes the pinnacle of their churches. –However, perhaps it would be much more powerful and life-changing if we gathered around, listened … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Samuel 8, Bible, celebritease, Christianity, figureheads, first king of Israel, New Testament, Old Testament, organic church, pastors, poem, popes, who is the head of the church | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gg Meetings Make Men (And Women) Mighty!

I walked into a God-gathering (Gg) while in college and was instantly transformed as I heard ordinary people tell about their experiences with Jesus. I have never been the same. To this day I still get tears in my eyes … Continue reading →

Posted in AA meeting, AA meetings, Berry Street, Gg, Global Foundation, Gregory Palamas, interactive, Janet Munn, Jesus Christ, Matthew 23:10, Meeting for Worship, Moravian prayer, organic church, participatory church, Quotations, Quotes, Salvation Army, teaching, the Cookery, TN, unprogrammed meetings | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Turning Religious Dry Places Into A Spiritual Oasis (Uncapping Wells)

What can turn religious dry places into a spiritual oasis? The flow of the Spirit! Is church a life-changing flow or a religious-themed show? –Have we capped the well of God’s living water — water that could transform our personal … Continue reading →

Posted in divine guidance, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, John 4, led by the Spirit, living water, water wells, well water | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

One word sentences (one word church): How effective are they?

One word sentences greatly limit communication, but using many words opens up much greater understanding. Right? (Perhaps church services could be more effective if we moved beyond the 1-word by 1 person format and instead allowed many words by many … Continue reading →

Posted in Buffalo NY, holophrases, monosenteces, multivoiced, Nashville, organic church, parts of speech, Salvation Army, sermons, Tennessee | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Interaction With Christ or Christian Entertainment

+ A church service should be one of life’s great adventures — being astonished as the living Jesus Christ works in and through the members of His body as they openly demonstrate the culture of Heaven. Can we step beyond the … Continue reading →

Posted in church, hermeneutics, Michael Catt, Nashville, organic church, preaching, sensitivity to the Spirit, sermons, simple church, The Salvation Army, worship | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Beaching It In The Colorado Mountains (God’s Surprises)

I love mountains, my wife loves the ocean. This year we went to the mountains in southwestern Colorado and came across a beach-like setting near Alamosa. Behind me in the pic above are the gigantic sand dunes of the Great … Continue reading →

Posted in Alamosa, history, Medano River, must see in Colorado, Nashville, organic church, Salvation Army, San Louis Valley, sand in the mountains, Sangre de Cristo, Tennessee, tourist sites | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Have We Put Christ In Jail?

Perhaps we have locked Christ up with our logic, with our logistics, and with our liturgies (both formal and informal) to the point that we have lost His direct leading both in church meetings and in our individual lives. Have we … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, church programming, God-gatherings, organic church, religious meetings, Spirit-led | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment