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!

Focus Group Church

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Steve Simms

Have you ever experienced a focus group church? A focus group church is a group of believers who regularly gathered together to share with one another what the living, resurrected Jesus Christ is showing and telling them. (See 1 Corinthians … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, non-church, open church, organic church, participatory church, simple church | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Wanted: Freedom Fighters

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Steve Simms

Wanted: Freedom Fighters A culture caught up in cravings, compulsions, and whims needs individuals who will fight to free themselves from the domination of their desires; defeat their self-destructive tendencies and tormenting thoughts; and live a life of inner liberty … Continue reading →

Posted in bondage, captivity, Christianity, compulsion, cravings, desires, freedom, liberty, renewing your mind, repentance, self-destruction, sins, slavery, spiritual battle, spiritual bondage, spiritual combat, spiritual warfare, whims | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Founder Of The Salvation Army Believed In Participatory Church

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Steve Simms

William Booth, co-founder (along with his wife) of The Salvation Army, believed that church meetings should be participatory and not just involve one person running the meeting and doing all the ministry.  Here’s what he said: “Some murmurs have reached … Continue reading →

Posted in church format, church history, church leader, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, organic church, preaching, sermons | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

(God Math) Life – God = L0neliness / Life X God = L∞ve

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Steve Simms

Do the God math. With God factored out of life, there’s a big zero (0) in our life — a void of loneliness. When God is the major factor of life (the prime mover), there is infinite (∞) love (l∞ve)! … Continue reading →

Posted in apologists, belief, belief system, believer, Christianity, do the math, faith, faith-based, foundation, kingdom of God, life, life built on nothing, live to please God, love, Love one another, love yourself, mathematical calculation, prime mover, spirit, spiritual, spiritual innovation, spiritual life, spirituality, symbol for infinity, zero | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

If you please and appease your wrongful desires they will seize you like a life-threatening disease and put you in a squeeze. “Flee those men who follow their whims.” –Pachomius (born in 292 in Luxor, Egypt)

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Steve Simms

If you please and appease your wrongful desires they will seize you like a life-threatening disease and put you in a squeeze. “Flee those men who follow their whims.” –Pachomius (born in 292 in Luxor, Egypt)

Posted in Christianity, complacency, compliance, compromise, compulsion, cravings, depression, desires, destructive actions, orientation, reformer, whims, wrongful behavior | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

When any form of human life is: 1) widely considered to be insignificant; 2) uncared for; and 3) considered to belong to another person; human rights go out the window. This happened with people held in legal slavery in the 18th & 19th Centuries and with pre-natal human life in the 20th & 21st Centuries.

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Steve Simms
Posted in 20th Century, 21st Century, disregard for human rights, ethics, justice, moral restraints, morality, morals, prenatal | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

4 Days With The Monks @ The Abbey Of Gethsemani

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Steve Simms

Words I wrote last night in a monastery: I’m sitting in a monk’s room (I think they call it a cell,) that’s been mine for my 4 night visit to the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky. There’s no TV, no … Continue reading →

Posted in Kentucky, Kentucky tourism, monasticism, religion, religious ceremonies, religious relic, religious tradition, spiritual, spiritual formation, Trappist | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Use Words! Talk About Religion! Testify!

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Steve Simms

Church is not carefully crafted and controlled ceremonies.  It is a symphony of spontaneous, heart-felt testimonies.  It’s not what we’ve planned, learned, and memorized; but what we have seen and heard! Unfortunately, the work of the living God in human … Continue reading →

Posted in If necessary use words, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, living out the Gospel, power, preach without words, preaching, preaching the Word, prompted by the Spirit, religion, religious ceremonies, religious information, religious talks, religious tradition, ritual, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, shout it from the housetops, speaking out, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual church, spiritual flow, spiritual formation, story, testimonies, testimony, TN, What I tell you in secret | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Catholic Priest Endorses Spirit-Led Participatory Church Meetings

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Steve Simms

I was recently reading a book by a Catholic priest, Father David Knight, and to my surprise he make a bold statement endorsing Spirit-led, participatory church like we do at The Salvation Army Berry Street in Nashville, Tennessee.  Here’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, church, church format, church history, church leader, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Day After Easter

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Steve Simms

The living, resurrected Jesus Christ, Doesn’t just go away The day after Easter; He’s here to stay Every moment Of every day. So don’t be blind And close your mind, Pretending that He’s gone And that you’re alone, With a … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Christ followers, Christ in you, Christ in you the hope of glory, Christ-centered, Christian, Easter, God calling, hearing God, hearing Jesus, presence of Christ, presence of God, Resurrection Day, resurrection of Jesus, Spirit-filled, spiritual, spiritual adventure, spiritual experience, spiritual fire, spiritual formation, spiritual life, spirituality | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment