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!

Radical (Back To The Roots) Church Is . . .

Church is a living message: *Christ alive from the dead; * actually present with us when we gather in His name; * personally directing the meeting and leading various people to share testimonies, gifts of the Spirit, Scriptures, prayers, etc. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, alternative church, alternative lifestyle, Emmanuel, faith, faith-based, family gathering, God with us, healing, intimacy, kingdom of God, National Football League, NFL, NFL Playoffs, recovery, religion, religious ceremonies, religious innovation, religious tradition, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Scriptures, sermons, simple church, sold out, spiritual healing, surrender, surrender to God, unprogrammed church, What is church?, When you come together, witness | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

iChurch or GChurch?

iChurch or GChurch? iChurch is self-focused. Does it meet my needs? Does it make me happy? iChurch is controlled by human leaders, programs and agendas. GChurch is focused on God. Is the attention on God? Is God, Himself, in charge? … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, church, iChurch, innovation, The Salvation Flag | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Steve Jobs Of Religion? — Come On Church, Innovate!

An Eric Weiner quotation from the Op-Ed page of The New York Times, December, 2011: “We need a Steve Jobs of religion. Someone (or ones) who can invent not a new religion but, rather, a new way of being religious. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Apple Computer, being religious, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, biblical, Biblical concept, Catherine Booth, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian organizations, church, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, creativity, East Nashville, environment, freedom, Holy Spirit, humility, improv, improvisation, insight, interactive, intuitive, Mr. Job's, Music City, non-church, open church, operating system, organic church, participatory church, questions, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religious innovation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, simple church, speak the truth in love, spiritual innovation, straight forward, support group, unencumbered, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Views of Violence

If certain foreign nations and their leaders can be called evil (Axis of Evil, Evil Empire, etc.) and foreign terrorists and/or suicide bombers can be called evil, why aren’t America’s home-grown terrorists and mass murderers called evil? Why aren’t all … Continue reading →

Posted in Axis of Evil, Evil Empire, foreign terrorists, home grown, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love your enemies, medicine, persecution, pre-natal, prenatal, prenatal medicine, Quotations, quote, Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Amazing Anointing of An Agendaless Assembly

There is an amazing anointing on an agendaless assembly.  It’s the very presence of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ, Himself.  The First Century Church knew this, not as a doctrine, but as a powerful reality every time they met together … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, agendaless, alternative church, assembly, church, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, church structure, disciple making, discipling, First Century Church, Matthew 18:20, religion, religious ceremonies, religious tradition, revival, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Western religion, Western world, What is church?, When you come together, worship | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The horrendously evil slaughter of innocents in Newtown, Connecticut, shows that something is dreadfully wrong with America. Lord, have mercy on us.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Is Soicety Reaping The Violence It’s Been Showing?

Is society reaping the graphic violence it’s been showing for decades in movies, on TV, and in video games?  Can that be a factor in the evil acts of random mass murder being frequently committed in America? Does showing scenes … Continue reading →

Posted in agenda, censorship, cheating, choice, commercials, compliance, compromise, conscience, controversy, criticism, current events, cyber space, cyberworld, depravity, destruction of the family, destructive actions, dishonesty, disrespect, epidemic, evil spirits, feelings, graphic violence, guilt, heart-felt love, honesty, hope, injustice, lies, lifestyles, Maria Weston Chapman, media, media circus, mind, modeling, modern myths, moral failure, moral failures, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, movie, movies, MTV, nonviolence, peacemaking, popular culture, prayer, pull of evil, Quotations, quote, Quotes, real world, reality TV, recovery, reformation, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, self-destruction, self-inflicted, selfish desires, service, sex, sexual problems, sexually transmitted diseases, smoking, social media, societal, society, suffering, thoughts, TV, TV network, unhappiness, unkindness, video, video games, viewer discretion advised, wake-up call | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Don’t Settle For Glee When You Can Have Worglee!

Don’t settle for Glee on TV, when you can have worglee in your daily life.  Worglee is anticipating and expecting good things to happen to you and to the people you love.  It’s the opposite of worry.  Although the process … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure, angst, anxiety, anxious thoughts, belief, belief system, blessings, bummer, celebration, celebrations, change, change management, choice, comfort, compassion, contemplation, creativity, decision-making, discomfort, disconnect, discouragement, doubts, encouragement, experiment, faith, freedom, guidance, habit, health, health care, insight, inspiration, joy, language, lifestyles, making decisions, message, misery, motivation, revelation, security, self-image, self-talk, stop worrying, television, testimonies, testimony, thoughts, TV, values, words | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Don’t rock with the culture; roll with God’s Spirit!

Don’t rock with the culture; roll with God’s Spirit!

Posted in Christ followers, Christian, contemporary society, controversial, corrupt culture, having a form of godliness | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Are You A Sold-Out Copycat?

Copycating contemporary culture — shouldn’t we take a higher view than monkey see, monkey do?  Rather than taking rides on society’s hot and trendy tides, shouldn’t Christ’s followers be on His side and go against the tide? According to Jesus, … Continue reading →

Posted in against the tide, American, American church, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, compromised, conscience, contemporary, contemporary society, controversial, controversy, countercultural, courage, cultural taboos, culture, current condition, current events, darkness, dishonesty, disrespect, Do not be conformed to this world, Do not conform, feelings, followers, followers of Christ, godly sorrow, hypocrisy, monkey see monkey do, personal pleasure, persuasion of media, philosophy, politics and religion, post-Christianity, pride, profanity, promiscuity, Quotations, quote, real world, renewing your mind, right and wrong, right living, righteousness, self-destruction, self-focus, selfish desires, society, sold out, spiritual transformation, television, temptation, values | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment