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!

Open Church / Open Hearts

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Steve Simms

Traditionally church has been . . . –One special man weekly instructing a passive group of ordinary people. Biblically church seems to be . . . –A Spirit-led group of ordinary people actively teaching and ministering to one another in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, college, college experiences, college students, one another, one anothering, one anothers, open church, perfume on Jesus' feet, pulpit, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual formation, tradition, traditional church, University of Tennessee Martin | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

12 B&Bs of PC (Benefits & Blessings of Participatory Church)

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Steve Simms

12 (B&Bs) Benefits & Blessings of (PC) Participatory church: 1) is exciting and never the same ole, same ole.  It breaks the boredom cycle of customary church. 2) releases the living, resurrected Jesus Christ and allows Him to personally direct … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, accountability, Bible, boredom, Christ, Christian organizations, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, commandments, commands, community, customary, customs, faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Nashville, Nashville church, New Testament, non-church, non-traditional church, one another, one anothers, participators, participatory church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

Discovery Church — Continually Discovering God & His Ways

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Steve Simms

Perhaps church should create a discovery environment, where people make ongoing discoveries about God, themselves, other people, love, joy, and truth.  Maybe we should move beyond precise explanations by an expert that take away our desire for discovery. Church is … Continue reading →

Posted in Arthur Schopenhauer, church program, church programs, church services, Daniel J. Boorstin, discovery group, Henri Poincare, Intuition, Jerry Trousdale, Miraculous Movements, quotation, Quotations, quote, spiritual church, spiritual discovery, spiritual formation, Tom Shadyac | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Rigid Intellectualism Is The Demise Of Spirituality

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

Rigid intellectualism is the demise of spirituality.  You can’t intellectualize spiritual life. When analyzed and categorized and neatly filed in the back of the brain, spiritual life dies on the vine. Spiritual life freely flows from God through humble human … Continue reading →

Posted in analysis, Harry Blamires, heart, heart care, heart connection, heart of worship, Heaven, Hell, Howard H. Brinton, mind, quotation, quote, Quotes, rationalism, rigid intellectualism, Samuel Tuke, secularists, spirit, Spirit of Truth, Spirit's flow, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual life, theology | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

#organicchurch When a church meeting is released from human control and turned over to the Holy Spirit’s direct leadership, the meeting unfolds beautifully, revealing God’s unseen hand.

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in church format, church leadership, church meetings, church services, God's unseen hand, participatory church, simple church, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Confusion of Hate & Honor

Posted on August 25, 2013 by Steve Simms

Contemporary society teaches that believing in Biblical morality is hatred, while war is honorable.  However, that is backwards. War is hatred.  The ultimate hate is physically attacking people, their family, friends, & neighbors, their property; with physical harm and/or death. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, biblical, Biblical concept, contemporary society, hatred, holidays, moral decision, moral failure, moral failures, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral principles, right and wrong, right conduct, right from wrong, right living, righteousness, values | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Early Puritans Practiced Participatory Church

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Steve Simms

Reading a book this morning that I “randomly” found at McKay Books Nashville, I discovered that the early Puritans believed in participatory church. How exciting! “In the conduct of worship the Separatists (early Puritans) stressed spontaneity. Following the regular sermon, … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, British history, Christianity, church history, Edmund S. Morgan, English, English history, history, liturgies, McKay Books, Nashville, Nashville church, participatory church, prayer, prayers, praying, prophesying, Puritan ideas, quotation, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermon, sermon-hearing, sermons, speech making, speeches, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, Visible Saints | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Are you a soulger? A spiritual soulger fights the inner forces of darkness by striving to keep her/his soul surrounded by God’s light.

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in darkness and light, fight the good fight of faith, forces of darkness, light, light of the world, soulger, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual training | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Hear ye! Hear ye! — A God Experiment (Based on 1 Samuel 3)

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Steve Simms

Hear ye! Hear ye! — A God Experiment (Based on 1 Samuel 3) 1) Tell God: “Speak Lord, for I am listening.” 2) Be still and quiet for at least 1 minute, and notice the thoughts, images, and/or impressions that … Continue reading →

Posted in a God experiment, experiencing God, experiment, Hear ye, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, listening prayer, listening skills, prayer, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, promptings, The Voice, voice activated, voice of God, voices | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Yesterday ended last night.

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

Today is a fresh, new day.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments