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!

3 ducks, 2 buzzards & some God thoughts

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

3 ducks & 2 buzzards . . . –Earlier this morning I was on a walk in the woods and felt a prompting to go down a short, narrow path to a creek. However, I didn’t want to do that, … Continue reading →

Posted in and Holy Spirit, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, buzzards, Duck Dynasty show, ducks, hearing God, hearing the Holy Spirit, listening, listening prayer, listening skills, listening to nature, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, promptings, spiritual prompting, The Voice, Trinity, walk in the woods, walking | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

God ideas or God demonstrations?

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

Participatory church presents God as a present reality as ordinary people are filled with wisdom, love, power, eloquence, faith, demonstrations of the Spirit, and the glory of God!  It moves beyond God ideas to God demonstrations. When hot coals are … Continue reading →

Posted in active participants, care enough to send the very best, church services, congregations, demonstrations of the Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, Jesus Take The Wheel, membership, open church, order of worship, participants, participation, participatory church, quotation, quote, Quotes, Scott Thumma, spiritual fire, spiritual gifts, spontaneity, The Other 80%, Turning Your Church's Spectators, ways of doing church, wisdom, words on fire, worship | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

“There is something evil in our society . . .” –a Washington DC doctor.

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Steve Simms

“There is something evil in our society . . . ” –a Washington DC doctor after a mass shooting in her city in 2013.. Perhaps it is time to admit that something is terribly wrong with contemporary Western society that … Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Chronicles 7:14, America, American, chief medical officer, Dr. Janis Orlowski, ethics, evil in our society, facebook, hate, hatred, heal their land, MedStar Washington Hospital, murders, prayer, prayers, praying, problem of evil, repent, repentance, Thou shall not, why mass shootings | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hearts can explain God so much more effectively that minds can. If you can’t figure God out, slip down 18 inches and let your heart have a try!

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Steve Simms

 

Posted in 18 inches between the head and the heart, encounter with God, encountering God, experiencing God, explaining God, faith in God, God calling, God with us, God-given, hearing God, hearing the Holy Spirit, heart, heart care, heart connection, heart of worship, still small voice, study of God, understanding God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Right To Grab Some Grace (Is An Oxymoron)

Posted on September 14, 2013 by Steve Simms

In a culture that continually demands its rights, it is important to remember that there is not a right to grace.  (That’s an oxymoron.)  You can’t just grab some grace and have it your way, like a fast food burger.  … Continue reading →

Posted in book of James, contemporary society, corrupt culture, culture, fast food, fast food burger, have it your way, have mercy on me a sinner, human rights, If grace is an ocean, Jesus, Jesus prayer, McKay Books, McKay Bookstore, mercy, Nashville, New Testament, on demand, Orthodox, Orthodox monks, parable, Pharisee and the publican, pride, quotation, quote, Quotes, rights, sense of entitlement, sinner, streaming, The Practice of The Presence of God | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Perhaps Church Needs A New Focal Point

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Steve Simms

Maybe the focal point of church should be the living, resurrected Jesus Christ — not a human personality exalted above everybody else and controlling everything from the front. God is looking for a generation that will hear and obey the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christ followers, Christian community, Christianity, church history, definition, doctrine, everyday minister, history, how to do church, ministers, ministry, renewal, routine, routine religion, ways of doing church | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Church Ledership — Hierarchy or Humility?

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Steve Simms

Should leadership in the church be based on hierarchy or humility?   Well, according to Jesus leadership is not established by human authority, official position, titles, rank, strength, or hierarchy; but by humility, service, weakness, brokenness before God, and submission … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church leadership, church meetings, church organizational chart, church programs, church roles, denominations, do it, facebook, God resists the proud, God's authority, have mercy on me a sinner, hymn, hymns, ministers, ministry, Mother Mary, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville tourist attractions, pastor, Quench not the Spirit, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, spirit, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, theology, web, website | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

An Idea Whose Time Has Come: It’s Time For The Church To Step Up!

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Steve Simms

Open sharing and participation in church services is an idea whose time has come.  It’s time for the church to step up! *  We are living in an age when communication, entertainment,  and education is becoming more and more participatory … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, AA, Alcoholics Anonymous, NA, Narcotics Anonymous, New Testament, time to step up, tolerance, Western religion, Western society | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Locking Myself Out Of My House Made Me A Philosopher

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Steve Simms

On a solitary stay-cation today, I took something to my car for an outing I had planned.  When I returned to my back door, I discovered that I had locked myself out of my house. No problem.  My neighbor has … Continue reading →

Posted in conscience, ethics, humility, humor, ideas, life, morality, purpose, purpose of life, rationality, reason, reasoning, right and wrong, right conduct, right from wrong, right living, self | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Church — In Sync or Spontaneous?

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Steve Simms

During praise and worship an image came to my mind. I saw a group of people, all neatly facing the front of the room, sitting at banquet tables with full plates in front of them. Then I saw a man … Continue reading →

Posted in 37207, banquet, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit promptings, in unison, living God, Nashville, Nashville charity, Nashville church, Nashville events, not being fed in church, organic church, praise, praise and worship, praising God, program, programmed, programmed from the front, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationism, Salvationists, spiritual food, spontaneity, The Salvation Army, unprogrammed church, unrehearsed, vision, visions from God, We've always done it that way", Western religion, Western society, Western world, What is church?, what to do in Nashville, worship, worship center, worship gathering | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments