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!

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

A Key To Spiritual Awakening . . .

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Steve Simms

A key to a Christian spiritual awakening (revival)  in the 21st Century: No lording over others. Christian leaders are servants, not bosses. Their job is to help release the living Word of God in and through other believers, and not … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, bosses, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, community, disciple making, East Nashville, equality, freedom, kingdom of God, leaders, lifestyles, Lord, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, relational church, religion, revival, servants, show and tell, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, The Salvation Army, Western religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“The Four Points” Of The Great Welsh Revival

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Steve Simms

One of the greatest Christian spiritual awakenings in history began in Wales in 1904 and shook the world.  It was based on what became known as “The Four Points,” originally taught by Evan Roberts and became known as the Welsh … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, brokenness, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, conscience, contemplation, conviction of sin, East Nashville, forgiveness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, life, Music City, mysticism, organic church, reformation, relational church, religion, revival, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, unforgiveness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Did I See A Miracle Last Night? You Decide.

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

Last night I was in a home group of 9 adults (who I don’t know very well) who met to share, sing, support one another, and pray as led by the Spirit.  As someone was praying an image came into … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, Bible, Biblical concept, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church structure, community, confession, congregational, disciple making, ekklesia, forgiveness, freedom, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improv, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, kingdom of God, life, miracles, movement, non-church movement, non-material reality, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, participatory church, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, priesthood of the believer, prophesy, relational church, religion, repent, repentance, revelation, revival, show and tell, simple church, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, supernatural, support group, surrender to God, the cross, the way we do church, vision, voice of God, wages of sin, What is church?, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Are You Living With Bloodsucking Leeches?

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Steve Simms

A man saw a guy with leeches on his neck and said to him:  “Hey, you’ve got leeches on your neck and need to get them off.” The guy with the bloodsucking leeches snapped back:  “Who are you to criticize … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, attitude, change, change management, Charles Spurgeon, clear conscience, compassion, complacency, compromise, confession, conscience, conversion, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, criticism, deliverance, guilt, habit, harmful habit, judgments, lifestyles, love, morality, morals, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, repent, repentance, temptation, thinking, thoughts, Uncategorized, unhappiness, wages of sin, wake-up call, What would Jesus do? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Getting Away From Church Is Not Easy In The Bible Belt

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Steve Simms

Church (although many polls have shown it to be in decline in America) still has quite the presence in the Bible Belt where church buildings abound on prominent real estate.  However, if you try hard, you can avoid religious buildings … Continue reading →

Posted in American, American church, Americans, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, kingdom of God, life, organic church, religion, simple church | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cravings Can Capture & Control Your Life

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Steve Simms

Unrestrained desire can dominate and defeat you.  Cravings can capture and control your life. Yet our society teaches us to surrender to desires, cravings, compulsions, and whims:  “If you feel like doing something, go for it, and don’t listen to … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, alternative lifestyle, casual sex, challenges, Christian, Christianity, Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, complacency, conscience, conviction of sin, country music, cravings, feelings, free will, freedom, guidance, guilt, habit, harmful habit, inward change, John Piper, John Ruskin, lifestyles, morality, morals, peacetime, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, reformation, repent, repentance, self-will, shame, sin, sobriety, society, spiritual formation, thoughts, tolerance, true Christian life, violent streak, war, White Eagle, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments