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!

Peace Is Possible Between Israel & The Palestinians

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Steve Simms

Is peace possible between the Palestinians and Israel?  Yes, but there needs to be a radical change in methodology.  Here’s how — begin systematically applying loving, non-cooperative, non-violence modeled after Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian Independence Movement and Martin Luther … Continue reading →

Posted in abolitionism, abolitionist movement, African Americans, American history, anti-slavery, black history, Civil Rights, Gandhi, Holy Land, independence, India, Indian history, Indian independence, Jerusalem, Jesus, Jesus Christ, just peace, justice, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, movie Gandhi, slavery, William Lloyd Garrison | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t Be A What Without A Why!

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Steve Simms

A person with no purpose wanders about as a what without a why!  A man without a mission meanders in meaninglessness. May the Son rise in your soul today!  Sing in the Sonshine, seek Christ everyday and try to live … Continue reading →

Posted in charismatic, charismatic movement, Jeremiah, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Music City, Nashville church, prayer, purpose driven, purpose of church, Son-shine, tattoo artist, tattoos, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

What I Learned From Corrie Ten Boom, Andraé Crouch, Dennis Bennett, David du Plessis, Chuck Smith, Kathryn Kuhlman, Jack Hayford, and Walter Martin

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Steve Simms

In the mid 1970s I attended Melodyland School of Theology in Southern California for a year.  While there I was blessed to be taught by many powerful men and women of God. Here are 8 powerful lessons that I learned from … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Calvary Chapel, Catholic charismatic movement, Catholicism, Christian history, Chuck Smith, church history, contemporary Christian music, Corrie Ten Boom, David du Plessis, Dennis Bennett, Episcopal church, Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit flow, Holy Spirit promptings, Jack Hayford, Jesus Movement, Kathryn Kuhlman, Kingdom of the Cults, Los Angeles, Melodyland School of Theology, pentecostal experience, pentecostals, Pentecostialism, Roman Catholic, Rome, Shrine Auditorium, South Africa, Southern California, speaking in tongues, The Church on the Way, Van Nuys, Walter Martin, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

TN Commissioner of Agriculture, Cotton Ivy, at a Pentecostal Church

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Steve Simms

Cotton Ivy was the Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of Tennessee from 1989-1995.  The building in the picture is named after him:  the L.H. “Cotton” Ivy Laboratory at Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Once when I was a … Continue reading →

Posted in baptism, Bible, Bible quotes, bruise Satan under your feet, Commissioner of Agriculture, devil, Kennett, L.H. Cotton Ivy, Missouri, Nashville, Pentecostal church, pentecostal experience, Pentecostal worship, pentecostals, Pentecostialism, run with the bulls, the God of peace, University of Tennessee Martin, water baptism | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Billy Graham Statue With The Blood & Fire Spiritual Warfare Flag

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Steve Simms

Here’s a picture of the Billy Graham statue in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, holding the Blood & Fire Battle Flag (The Salvation Army Flag).  The red represents the blood of Jesus, the yellow stands for the fire of the Holy Spirit, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blood and Fire, blood and fire battle flag, blood of Jesus, Christ, cross, evangelism, evangelist, evangelistic meetings, fire of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, prayer, prayer walking with The Salvation Army Flag, quotation, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army Flag, Salvation Army Nashville, spirit fire, spiritual battle, spiritual fire, spiritual formation, spiritual warfare, Tennessee, TV evangelists | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is it possible that there are much more effective ways for the church to preach and teach than one-man, weekly lecturing or sermonizing?

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in church sermons, interactive, interactive church, interactive learning, interactive sermons, lecture, lecture series, motivational sermons, nontraditional preaching, public speaking, pulpit ministry, Q&A, sermon, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, sermons, spectators, speech making, speeches | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Why I Want To Quench The Spirit

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Steve Simms

I want to quench the Spirit (even though the Bible says “quench not the Spirit“) because: 1)  The Spirit tells me to do inconvenient things that I don’t want to do and/or that are out of my comfort zone.  (For … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian values, commandments, ethics, faith-based, filled with the Spirit, flow of the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, hearing God, hearing the Holy Spirit, Heaven's agenda, Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit promptings, lifestyles, listening, listening to God, listening to the Spirit, meaning, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, obedience, pray for your enemy, prayer, praying, praying in the Spirit, Quench not the Spirit, quench the Spirit, quenching the Spirit, sins, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, spiritual warfare, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Leaf Blower Church

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Steve Simms

Leaf Blower Church Here’s my view of a church meeting: We are all leaves who want to line up in nice, neat rows, And appoint a Pastor Leaf to preach to us. However, God wants to blow on each of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, participants, participation, participation in church, participatory church, participatory culture, participatory sermons, preacher, preaching, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, sharing, sharing Christ, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, Spirit-led interaction, Spirit-prompted, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Question/Answer About Participatory/Organic Church (from a Salvation Army officer)

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Steve Simms

Question:  I recently received this question from Bronwyn Barkmever, a Salvation Army officer in Australia on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleBerryStreet): “We are embarking upon an adventure of ‘out of the box’ worship and want to take this opportunity to explore different … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Canada, heart, heart-felt, lay testimonies, laying on hands, participation, participation in church, participatory church, pastor, Q&A, questions, questions and answers, quotation, Quotations, quote, Quotes, salvation, simple church, Speak Lord, speak the truth in love, testimonies, testimonies in church, testimony, Toronto, Whatever He says to you | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

When we have a conversation with a friend or family member, we don’t want every word to be scripted. We want a two-way conversation that is spontaneous and from the heart. Why should church be any different?

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, participatory church, simple church, Spirit-led church, Spirit-prompted, unprogrammed church | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment