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!

Church — A Man-Led Pulpet Show Or A Supernatural Puppet Show?

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Steve Simms

Church is a like puppet show. God attempts to animate His people by releasing His Spirit through them. If they resist and/or ignore the promptings of God, not much happens — the puppets remain lifeless and blank-faced in their places. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians:14, animated, animation, anointed, anointing, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, First Century Church, God is truly among you, laying on hands, led by the Spirit, move of God, movement, Music City, platform, prayer, praying, praying community, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, prophesy, prophesying, pulpit, puppet show, puppeteer, puppets, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, secret, sermon-free, sermons, simple church, spectators, speech making, spirit, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spirituality, The Salvation Army, unbeliever, uneducated | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Spirit Ministry or Word Ministry?

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

Has Christian ministry lost it’s ability to grasp and transform people?  It appears so.  Churches are in decline.  Our culture is almost completely secular, if not anti-Christian.  Scholars have pronounced it to be post-Christian. However, although it appears that human … Continue reading →

Posted in ministry, religion, religious academics, religious ceremonies, religious information, religious innovation, revelation, speech making, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual battle, spiritual church, spiritual flow, spiritual growth, spiritual healing, spiritual innovation | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

What The Church Can Learn From Basketball Officials

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Steve Simms

From preschool to the NBA Playoffs — from high school to March Madness — basketball officials could serve as great examples of an alternative way for pastors to conduct church services. Rather than being the center of attention and running … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, church format, church meetings, church program, church roles, church services, church structure, clergy, creativity, high school basketball, innovation, Nashville adventure, Nashville events, Nashville projects, officials, organic church, participatory church, pastor, simple church, spiritual growth, spiritual innovation, spiritual leaders, spiritual life, sporting event, sports, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

A Week Of Signs In The Heavens & On Earth (February 2013)

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Steve Simms

Wow!  Earth saw some incredible signs and wonders this  week! * The most powerful religious man on earth had the courage to buck 700 years of tradition and obey God’s leading in his own heart, as he resigned as Pope, … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholic, Catholic Church, Christianity, faith, faith-based, February, February 2013, humility, ministry, miracles, miraculous, obedience, obedience is better than sacrifice, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, Roman Catholic, Russia, signs in the heavens, Spirit-led, spiritual awakening, spiritual leaders, spiritual movement, spiritual power, spiritual themes, spiritual warfare, surrender, surrender to God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Holy Spirit Surfing–A Fresh Wave Of Churching

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Steve Simms

Holy Spirit surfing is a fresh, creative way of doing church — an innovative style of churching.  However, it’s not new — it was written about in the New Testament (see 1 Corinthians 14:26) and was the common practice of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, church format, church meetings, church program, church roles, church structure, churching, contemporary churches, flow, flow of the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, liturgical churches, morphed, move of God, movement, Music City, Nashville, new wave, non-liturgical, participatory church, praise and worship, presence of Christ, presence of God, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, Protestant, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, religious innovation, Spirit surfing, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, spiritual waves, The Salvation Army, wave of the Spirit | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Searching For A Different Way Of Churching? (Try Facebook-Style Church)

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Steve Simms

Think Facebook is exciting? You should try Facebook-style church! You’re not on Facebook so you can hear from only one person . . . You’re on Facebook so you can connect with and hear from many different people. You’re on … Continue reading →

Posted in Facebook-style, like, Music City, Nashville adventure, Nashville charity, Nashville events, Nashville projects, Nashville tourist attractions, new kind of church, open church, order of worship, participatory church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, searching, share, simple church, social media, spiritual church, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Step Out Of The Box — Step Into The Thrill — In Nashville

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Steve Simms

Step out of the box — step into the thrill — in Nashville! Step out and God will step in!  Step out of routine; step out of the same 0le same ole — with participatory church where ordinary people show and … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, church, church meetings, religion, Tennessee, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

The World’s Greatest Valentine

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Steve Simms

The World’s Greatest Valentine is regularly carried in East Nashville, Tennessee (The “Blood & Fire” Salvation Army Flag) — the red stands for the blood of Jesus; the yellow star represents the fire of the Holy Spirit; and the blue … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Bible reading, Biblical concept, blood and fire battle flag, blood of Jesus, Christ, Christ followers, Christianity, church, East Nashville, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, flag, holiday, holidays, holiness, Music City, New Testament, organic church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, simplicity, surrender, surrender to God, Tennessee, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag, the Word, the world for God, the world's greatest love letter, Why be a Christian?, world's greatest, worship gathering | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Drink The Water!

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Steve Simms

Drink the living water of the Spirit. Don’t keep it bottled up. Surrender, taste, and see how amazing and life-transforming is the free-flowing fountain of spiritual life. “I wish Christians would weep the Gospel into people; it would often go … Continue reading →

Posted in battle flag, blood and fire battle flag, bottled water, fountain, from the heart, hurting ones, quench the Spirit, quote, Quotes, real men, shut-down, spiritual life, supernatural, surrender, surrender to God, tears, The Salvation Flag, water, weeping | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Lightning Power Released When The Pope Resigned

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Steve Simms

The Pope resigned and a few hours later lightning struck St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Moral of the story? When we move beyond religious tradition and obey the prompting of the Spirit in our heart, great power is released!

Posted in Catholic, Catholic mystics, lightening, meaning, message, moral, moral of the story, power, powerful, powerhouse, prompted by the Spirit, prompting of the Spirit, radical obedience, Roman, Roman Catholic, Rome, St. Peter's Basilica | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments