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!

John 3:16

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in Music City, Nashville, Nashville charity | Leave a comment

Quaker Style Meetings In The Salvation Army

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Steve Simms

The early Quakers believed that the living, resurrected Jesus was present with them when they met together in His name and that He, Himself, could lead the meeting without the need for a human leader or a human program. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, church format, church programs, church services, denominations, Friends meeting, George Fox, God with us, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, nineteenth century, presence of Christ, presence of God, Quakers, quotation, Quotations, Quotes, real presence, Richard Munn, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army General, Salvationism, Salvationists, Society of Friends, W.T. Stead, Wilfred Kitching, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Teleconferencing (Prophetically) Predicted in 1881

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

An early Salvation Army leader appears to have predicted teleconferencing, webinars, live streaming, and social media links — George Scott Railton wrote this in The Salvation Army’s ” War Cry” of September of 1881: “Let us hope that the telephone … Continue reading →

Posted in church, church history, DNA, George Scott Railton, innovation, innovators, live streaming, predictions, quotation, quote, Quotes, social media, The History of The Salvation Army, War Cry, webinars | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Mystery? A Thriller? Church?

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

People like a good mystery — a good thriller!. Perhaps a church service should be a mystery.  Who will God speak through? What will He do? What gifts of the Spirit will flow through you? Maybe God is like a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 wood, a good mystery, a good thriller, Christmas lights, golf, piercings, piereced and tattooed, tattoos, tennis, tennis balls | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

What Can Nothing Do?

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Steve Simms

What can nothing do?  Absolutely nothing! If you capture some nothing in a science lab (creating a vacuum) can your sample of nothing do enough in a scientific lab to justify the belief of many modern “intellectuals” that nothing produced … Continue reading →

Posted in apologetics, apologists, creation experiment, depression, intellect, intellectuals, lab, logic, logical thinking, Nashville, nothing produced everything, prime mover, principle, reason, Salvation Army, science, scientific debate, thoughts about nothing, vacuum | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pre-traditional Church

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Steve Simms

Tradition (even church tradition) has not always existed.  The Christian church began as a mighty movement of the Holy Spirit with no tradition.  It was led by the Spirit rather than contained by tradition. The New Testament was written during the pre-tradition … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The living, resurrected Jesus doesn’t just love and tolerate us in our wrongful behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes. He sets us free!

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in acceptance, freedmen, religion, sin, sins, spiritual battle, spiritual warfare, spirituality | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Here Ya Go — Original Organic Church Comments

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Steve Simms

When church is unplugged from programs and unleashed from sermons, people are free to obey the present moment promptings of the Spirit and God is powerfully present. Does church constantly contain God in your comfort zone or does church compel … Continue reading →

Posted in innovation, Nashville, Nashville think tank, Quotations, radical, radical Christianity, radical obedience, Think Tank | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Creative Texting Ideas

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Steve Simms

Here’s a great texting idea.  Text this: U R needed to actively participate in chURch. Or this:  When the preacher is the only one allowed to speak out in church, u r left out, so perhaps we should spell one-speaker … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, church, church services, ch__ch, creative texting, participants, participation, participators, participatory church, passivity, preacher, preaching, religiious texting, religion, spectators, texting ideas, texting in church, u r, What's missing in ch__ch? u r | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Robert Kennedy’s “Ask Why? . . . Ask Why Not?” Applied To Church

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Steve Simms

I like to apply the idea from Bobby Kennedy’s “Ask why? . . . Ask why not?” quote to church.  Here goes: “There are those that look at church as a programmed religious service and ask why?  I dream of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1968, American history, Back to Methuselah, background, Bobby Kennedy, British history, dream, famous speech, history, I dream of things that never were, Irish history, Irish parliament, media, movie, organic church, President Kennedy, presidential campaign, quotation, quote, Quotes, senator, Shoeless Joe, speech making, speeches, W.P. Kensella | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments