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!

2 Ways Of Having Church (One Widespread & The Other Very Rare)

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Steve Simms

There are thousands of brands of Christianity (called denominations).  However, if you look closer at all the denominational and non-denominational churches in the world, there are really only two ways of having church:  1) Spectative church & 2) Interactive church. … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Biblical concept, brands, China, Chinese, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church history, church roles, church structure, denominations, East Nashville, Holy Spirit, Music City, Nashville, organic church, relational church, religion, religious ceremonies, simple church, spiritual formation, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

What You’re Looking For

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

What are you looking for in life? Some people say they are looking for fun, parties, good times, happiness; Others for power, position, prestige, success, fame. Some people think they are looking for financial wealth–stocks, bonds, bank accounts, cash; Others … Continue reading →

Posted in all the wrong places, alternative lifestyle, bank accounts, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, casual sex, Christianity, church, cosmic accident, cravings, evidence for God, faith-based, free spirit, God, God-shaped vacuum, materialism, meaning, meaninglessness, modern myths, music, Music City, myths, parties, popular culture, purpose, religion, searching for significance, sermon, sermons, show and tell, simple church, spiritual formation, stuff, testimonies, unhappiness, values, wealth | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Meek Means “Mighty By Another Power”

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Steve Simms

Who is meek?  Not the milk toast nor the mouse nor the wimp.  They won’t inherit the earth. Meek does not mean “weak, fearful, or timid.”  It means “being mighty by yielding your life and will to another power.”  Because … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, addiction, addictions, alternative lifestyle, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, faith, faith-based, God, God's government, His story, history, humility, Ida B. Wells, ideal, idealism, inherit the earth, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John W. Miller, kindness, lifestyles, Quotations, quote, recovery, religion, revelation, revival, rivers of living water, self-denial, soul, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, surfer, surrender to God, test pilot, the Grimke sisters, turned the world upsidedown, W.E.B. DuBois, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Insider Report — Tattoos

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Steve Simms

This is an insider report, not about tattoos on the skin, but about tattoos within — looking beyond body art to a transformed heart. According to a 2006 survey by the American Society of Dermatological Surgery, 1 in 4 Americans … Continue reading →

Posted in American, Christian, Christianity, compassion, dermatalogical, forgiveness, free spirit, freedom, heart-felt love, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love, mysticism, pain, popular culture, religion, self-control, self-image, spiritual formation, surgery, tattoo, tattoo artist, thoughts, words | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The World’s Most Unusual Ringtone

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Steve Simms

There is a sound, not measured in decibels, not carried by waves through the atmosphere; beyond music, words, or noise; sounding in human hearts.  This ringtone in the human heart is so familiar that it is often habitually ignored, hidden … Continue reading →

Posted in atmosphere, awe, Catholic mystics, Christian, customized, devotion, forgiveness, glory, God, guidance, harmful habit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart-felt love, hidden in plain sight, music, mysticism, ringtone, salvation, servece, service, smartheart, smartphone apps, smartphones, soul music, sound proof, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, still small voice, The Voice, voice activated, voice of God, voices, waves | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Does Hierarchy Hinder God? — How To “Prepare The Way For The Lord”

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

John the Baptist came to “prepare the way for the Lord” in his generation.  I, too, would like to prepare the way for the Lord.  I want to prepare the way for God to work powerfully in my life.  And … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, Apostle Paul, Bible, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church history, church roles, church structure, clergy, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, equality, free will, freedom, gifts of the Spirit, God, God's government, heirarchy, Holy Spirit, house church, improv, improvisation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, laity, organic church, participatory church, Paul of Tarsus, Quotations, quote, Quotes, race, relational church, simple church, unprogrammed church, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Does your heartphone drop calls from God?

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christian, Christianity, God, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart-felt love, hearts unfold like flowers, lifestyles, listening, message, mysticism, non-material reality, normal Christianity, religion, revelation, smartphones, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, supernatural, Uncategorized, voice activated, voice of God, voices | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Should a pastor act like a CEO, calling the shots and running the church like an organization that he controls? Or should the living, present Jesus Christ be the One who is allowed to actively control and direct the church?

Posted on May 27, 2012 by Steve Simms

Here’s a link to a video I made called: “Organic Church Heals Spiritual Paralysis”  

Posted in browser, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, copy and paste, house church, human body, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, organic church, organization, paralyzed, participatory church, religion, religious ceremonies, sermon, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Is the church paralyzed? “Unable to operate normally or effectively; stuck in a condition of helpless ineffectiveness; powerless; suffering from injury or disease that causes the inability to act in obedience to the brain.” Is the Western church, in its current condition, frozen in disobedience to its living Head (Jesus Christ)?

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in brain, brain chemistry, brain research, Christ, Christian, Christianity, church, church structure, compromise, current condition, disease, frozen, Head, helpless, inability to act, ineffectiveness, injury, Jesus, life, movement, obedience, powerless, religion, self-will, simple church, Spirit-led, stuck, suffering, Western world, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Shocked And Saddened To Tears By Stories Of Iraq War Veterans

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Steve Simms

Last night I was on YouTube and came across “Iraq Veterans Against The War.” I was shocked and saddened to tears by what I heard as young Americans shared stories of atrocities they had committed against innocent civilians in Iraq.  … Continue reading →

Posted in American, Americans, anti-war, eyewitness, freedom, hate, human life, human rights, injustice, Iraq, lifestyles, morality, morals, right and wrong, torture, Uncategorized, war | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments