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!

God is like the human heart beat, keeping you alive, moment by moment, even when you are completely unaware of Him.

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in Be still and know that I am God, communion, communion with God, God with us, God's presence, God's protection, God's unseen hand, heart, heart care, heart connection, heart monitor, heart of worship, heart-felt, heart-felt love, life, next heart beat, prayer, presence of God, spiritual discovery, spiritual health, spiritual presence, spiritual reality, spirituality, unaware of God, What is God like?, Where is God? | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Wanted: Pioneers To Blaze A Spiritual Trail

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Steve Simms

Pioneers Wanted To Blaze A Trail Into God’s Spiritual Frontier. . . * Hearing God’s voice and doing what He says; * Permitting believers to minister to one another; * Considering others better than yourself; * Allowing Christ, Himself, to … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, alternative to preaching, God's voice, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Nashville church, Nashville news, Nashville projects, new frontier, new kind of church, New Testament, one another, one anothering, one anothers, organic church, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, promptings, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationism, Salvationists, selfish desires, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, spiritual adventure, spiritual church, spiritual disciplines, spiritual discovery, spiritual experience, spiritual innovation, spiritual interaction, spiritual leaders, spiritual prompting, spiritual training, spiritual transformation, spontaneity, The Salvation Army, wagon train, ways of doing church, worship, worship leader, you can all prophesy | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

From Health to Helplessness in 30 Minutes (And Back)

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Steve Simms

Yesterday I went from health to helplessness in 30 minutes. I was mowing my yard and suddenly got stung multiple times by yellow jackets. The sudden stinging pain was shocking. As I ran into my house I felt a yellow … Continue reading →

Posted in and back, burning sensation, Christianity, Epinephrine, healing, health system, heart monitor, hives, numbness, pain, recovery, spirituality, swollen tongue, treatment for a bee sting, trusting God in an emergency, yellow jacket sting, yellow jacket stings, Yellow jackets | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“No Conformity To Any Church Forms Shall Hinders Us!”

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Steve Simms

Quotes from:  The History of The Salvation Army, Volume One, by Robert Sandall “We have been trying and, we thank God, with no little success, to break loose from all the trammels of custom and propriety which may in any degree … Continue reading →

Posted in Bramwell Booth, creativity, Elijah Cadman, quotation, quote, Quotes, Robert Sandall, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Protestant Reformation — A Half-Way Measure?

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Steve Simms

Did the Protestant Reformation only go 1/2 way?  Two of the main Bible doctrines that were brought to light by Protestant Reformers (Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and others) were:  1) justification by faith (which was enthusiastically embraced); and  … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, doctrines, history, John Calvin, justification by faith, leaders, leaders of the Reformation, leadership, ministers, ministry, Nashville, Nashville church, ordaination, pastor, preacher, priest, priesthood, quotation, Quotations, quote, reformation, religion, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Ulrich Zwingli | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Irrigation, Living Water & New Wineskins

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Steve Simms

Our dry souls need to be irrigated with much Living Water.  An effective irrigation system has many waterspouts, not just one.  God’s living water flows lavishly in church meetings when many people are free to share the living water that … Continue reading →

Posted in creativity, flow, flow of the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, heart care, heart of worship, heart-felt, Holy Spirit, irrigation system, Jesus, Jesus Christ, no one pours new wine, preaching, preaching the Word, sermon, sermons | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A choir is more than only one person singing. Perhaps a church service should be more than only one person speaking. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26)

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, church structure, one person singing, participation, participatory church | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Dorothy In Oz, Wheels, Soul Train, TEAM, Yall, Lights, & A Quiz (Examples/Metaphors of Participatory Church)

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

Some metaphors for participatory church: Experiencing participatory church at Berry Street is like Dorothy stepping into a world of living color when she enters the land of Oz in “The Wizard of Oz.” Church is often like a unicycle, focused … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, big wheel, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church organizational chart, church program, church programs, church quiz, church roles, church services, Dorothy Wizard of Oz, New Testament, plural for you, religion, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationism, Salvationists, soul, soul train, Southern English, team, Team Church, Tennessee, Together Everyone Accomplishes More, unicycle, yall | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

“You’re a victim of disorganized thinking.” –The Wizard of Oz

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Steve Simms

Watching The Wizard of Oz in IMAX 3D in 2013, the wizard’s words to the Scarecrow seemed prophetic from this 1939 movie:  “You’re a victim of disorganized thinking.” Our contemporary culture “is a victim of disorganized thinking.”  “Intellectual freedom” has … Continue reading →

Posted in biblical, biblical morality, conscience, contemporary, contemporary society, entertainment, ethics, evil, feelings, film, God, hedonism, historic moral standards, moral decision, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral restraints, morality, movie, movies, Paul of Tarsus, Philippians 4:8, positive thinking, right and wrong, right conduct, right from wrong, right living, think on these things, victim of disorganized thinking, whatsoeverthings are true | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Absolutely amazing special effects occur when the living, resurrected Jesus Christ is personally allowed to direct a church meeting and to speak through ordinary men and women.

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit promptings, house church, open church, participatory church, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment