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!

We all need forgiveness and the freedom to “go and sin no more.”

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in gives grace to the humble, Go and sin no more, Gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Quotations, quote, Quotes, renewing your mind, repent, repentance, salvation, self-control, self-discipline, self-image, self-respect, self-will, selfish desires, selfishness, sin, spiritual formation, spiritual life, spiritual power, spiritual transformation, spiritual warfare, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is Christ Preempted In Church Services?

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Steve Simms

Is Christ preempted in church services? What would you think if you went to a meeting to hear a special speaker and the person who was supposed to introduce the speaker stood up and spoke for 30 minutes and then … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, church format, church leader, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, preempted, role of Christ in church, sermon, sermon-hearing, sermons, special speaker, speech making, Team Church | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Normal Christian Fire = Church Ablaze

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Steve Simms

Faith is God’s fire roaring in your heart; not religious ideas resting in the back of your brain. The normal condition of a Christ-follower is to have a heart constantly ablaze with love for God. When normal believers, full of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, church fire, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, faith, faith in God, faith-based, filled with the Spirit, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, organic church, Quench not the Spirit, quench the Spirit, Tennessee | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Silence of the Lambs

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Steve Simms

In the Western church the lambs (members) are too often silent.  Ordinary believers have allowed others (the clergy) to speak for them (and often to think for them) and they have too often remained silent. We sit back and listen … Continue reading →

Posted in clergy, clergy/laity, open church, organic church, pastor, preacher, religion, religious information, religious words, TV evangelists, TV ministers, Western religion, Western society | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

You won’t learn to listen to and be led by the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) until you leave your comfort zone.

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in comfort, comfort zone, comfortable, Comforter, conviction, discomfort, spirit, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual healing, spiritual innovation, spiritual movement, spiritual power, spiritual training, spiritual transformation, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Lights of the Round Table / Spirit-Prompted Church Meetings

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Steve Simms

King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table reveal a biblical way of holding church meetings. 1)  The knights set at a round table so that no one, not even the king, could be at the head of the table and … Continue reading →

Posted in Camelot, Christ, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church roles, church services, church structure, Code of Chivalry, equality, Head, Head of the church, hiearchy, Jesus, Jesus Christ, King Arthur, knighthood, knights, Matthew 20, moral, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral leaders, moral principles, moral reformer, moral restraints, morality, organic church, Round Table, simple church, values | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Could Church Services Be Like A Handbell Choir?

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Steve Simms

Have you ever seen a group of people play a tune with handbells? Each person holds two bells and all the bells play different notes. As a director leads them, each person plays one of his bells at the proper … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian community, Christianity, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, encountering God, experiencing God, participants, participators, participatory church, religious innovation, spiritual transformation | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Real Church = The Real God, Real Power, His Real Presence Through Real People

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Steve Simms

Do we go to church to be taught a religious lesson . . . or to encounter and surrender to God’s presence?  A listening mind can learn lessons about God; but it takes a hungry heart to head wholeheartedly into … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Apostle Paul, Christianity, church format, church meetings, church programs, church services, first time visitor, glory, glory of God, holiness, Isaiah, lecture, listening, O taste and see that the Lord is good, organic church, organization, presence of Christ, presence of God, psalm, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, tears, The Salvation Army, why go to church | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Your life is like a donut — there’s a big hole where God should be.

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Steve Simms

The first Friday in June is National Donut Day in the USA.  This holiday began in Chicago in 1938 when The Salvation Army began to sell donuts to raise money to help people suffering from the Great Depression and to … Continue reading →

Posted in American, American history, Chicago, Donut Girls, empty core, first Friday in June, fund raising, God, Great Depression, holiday, holiday hype, holidays, lassies, life is like a donut, National Doughnut Day, Salvation Army women, Salvationists, sugar coat the truth, USA | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Are There Conditions On God’s Grace?

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Steve Simms

According to the Bible, amazing grace seems to be conditional.  Grace is free, but it’s not unconditional. “God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God . . .” (1 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Peter, Bible, Bible quotes, Bible study, condition on grace, conditional grace, debt, definition, forgive us our trespasses, gives grace to the humble, God, God resists the proud, grace of God, Hebrews, New Testament, Quotations, quote, Quotes, root of bitterness, salvation, saved by grace, self-control, Titus, unforgiveness, ungodliness | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments