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!

Would God Tell A Preacher To Stop Preaching?

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Steve Simms

I love to preach, however a few years ago God told me to stop preaching and instead,  to let ordinary believers show and tell what God has done! So I stopped, yet still I greatly miss it.  By the time … Continue reading →

Posted in by the word of their testimony, church format, church leader, church leadership, church program, church services, dream, homiletics, ministers, ministry, motivational speaker, oratory, pastor, preacher, preaching, preaching the Word, prompting of the Spirit, public speaking, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army officer, teaching, testimonies in church, testimony | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Theological explanations seldom produce spiritual exclamations; however, God demonstrations always do!

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in doers of the word, God, God calling, God demonstrations, religion | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Better Caught Than Taught

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Steve Simms

Open sharing and testimonies in a church service create a spiritual contagion that spreads from heart-to-heart, igniting passionate love for the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ (like the early Pentecostals used to say) is more caught than taught. … Continue reading →

Posted in better caught than taught, Friends, Friends meeting, Friends' worship, go tell it on the mountain, Nashville, Nashville church, one another, one anothering, pentecostals, pursuit of God, Quaker meetings, Quakers, sage on the stage, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, spiritual church, spiritual hunger, testimonies, testimonies in church, testimony | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

What Can Jesus Do?

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Steve Simms

What can Jesus do today — in the 21st Century? If Jesus is still alive and truly present when believers gather in His name (like the Bible says He is), then He can still . . . * transform lives; … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, casting out demons, Christ, church, church format, church leader, church meetings, demons, drive out demons, heal the sick, healing, health, health care, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is alive, Jesus is Lord, order of worship, organic church, set the captives free, transform lives, transformation, voice of God | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

The so-called “objectivity” of the material world is descending into nothingness. However, when you encounter truth in your heart, you bump into inner objectivity that makes facts about the physical world look fickle, fading, and fleeting. God’s speaking within you. You listening?

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in hearing God, hearing the Holy Spirit, insight, inspiration, objectivity, spiritual, spiritual adventure, spiritual awakening, spiritual discovery, spiritual healing, spiritual power, spiritual presence, spiritual prompting, spiritual reality, subjectivity, voice of God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A notebook, a smartphone, and a person walked into a . . .

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Steve Simms

A notebook, a smartphone, and a person walked into a restaurant. The notebook said, “I’m getting on Wi-Fi!” The smartphone said, “I’m making some calls!” The person, feeling rather lonely and depressed, ordered drink after drink. –The moral of the … Continue reading →

Posted in cell phone, cells, link, plan, religion, religious innovation, walked into a, wireless, wireless connection | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thoughts & Frustrations About Church Bulletins

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Steve Simms

I’ve never been overly fond of church bulletins.  In fact, they have always frustrated me.  I don’t like to know the details of a church service before it happens.  To me that’s like reading the plot of a movie or … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, church structure, program, programmed, programmed from the front, programming, public worship, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, seminary, Sunday bulletins | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Making Peace — Words To Wake Up The 21st Century Church

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Steve Simms

I was given a book, Making Peace, (published by Moody Publishers) by my leaders in The Salvation Army.  Once I started reading the book, I couldn’t put it down and read through it at one time. The book is bold, … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, clergy/laity, Jim Van Yperen, Mood Press, Moody Press, Moody Publishers, order of worship, organic church, priesthood of the believer, quotation, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

A Different Worship Leader Every Sunday

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Steve Simms

At The Salvation Army Berry Street we have a different worship leader every week.  Over the past 5 1/2 years we have had about 50 different people/groups lead worship for us.  Why? 1) It keeps one person from being exalted … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, body of Christ, church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, church structure, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, praise, praise and worship, praising God, religion, religious ceremonies, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Uncategorized, worship, worship center, worship gathering, worship leader, worship styles | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Perhaps church needs to demonstrate the real presence of the Higher Power (Jesus Christ) by letting ordinary people show and tell what God has done; rather than being confined to a 1-man human presentation and a handy program.

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Steve Simms

Since Jesus said; “Shout from the housetops,” perhaps we could start by allowing people the freedom to share and testify in church.

Posted in 12 step meeting, 12 steps, AA, church in decline, church programs, church services, freedom, Jesus, Jesus Christ, NA, participation in AA meetings, participatory church, participatory sermons, Quotations, Quotes, sermon, sermons, shout it from the housetops, testifying, testimonies, testimony | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments