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!

The Little-Known Story Of Nashville’s Original Grand Ole Opry House . . .

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Steve Simms

The building that helped Nashville become known as Music City was originally built in 1892 as a place for spiritual awakening — an interdenominational revival house.  The auditorium that spread Country Music around the world, was originally intended to spread … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church, country music, Grand Ole Opry House, history, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, organic church, outreach ministry, participatory church, presence of Christ, religion, Ryman Auditorium, Sam Jones, testimonies, The Salvation Army, Thomas Ryman, Uncategorized, Union Gospel Tabernacle | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Happy Birthday, Berry Street!

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Steve Simms

We are celebrating our 4th birthday today at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Thank You, Lord, for 4 years of seeing You transform, disciple, and work through a diverse group of amazing people and for … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, birthday, birthday present, blessings, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, compassion, disciples, discipling, East Nashville, gift of God, grace, gratitude, history, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, joy, kingdom of God, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, participatory church, religion, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, testimonies, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3 Questions For The American Church

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

1:  Which set of words bests describes a typical American church service: A) Lesson, lecture, liturgy, program, study about God, sermon, ritual, religion, boring, dull, routine, passive, solemn, humanly controlled; or B) Experience, encounter, presence of God, demonstration, manifestation, awe, … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, change, Christianity, church, church structure, early church, East Nashville, freedom, hearing God, house church, joy, mystery, mysticism, non-traditional church, organic church, presence of God, religion, sermon, simple church, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual, tradition, Uncategorized, words | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Who Is That? The Inner Voice (It’s Really 3 Voices)

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Steve Simms

Who dat talkin’ in my head?  It is important to understand that the voice that speaks in every human mind has three sources.  (It’s really 3 voices.) If we miss this point we falsely think that our own thinking is … Continue reading →

Posted in addiction, alternative lifestyle, brain chemistry, brain research, conscience, demons, ethics, evil, free will, God, harmful habit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, joy, moral principles, morality, morals, mystery, mysticism, positive thinking, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual warfare, The Voice, thinking, thoughts, voice of God, Who dat talkin?, Who dat?, words | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

When A Participatory Church Has A Birthday

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Steve Simms

When a participatory church has a birthday, everybody gets to participate in the celebration.  Nashville’s The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center will be 4 years old on the 4th of March and is celebrating this Sunday, March 4th. Those … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, birthday, birthday present, Christian history, Christianity, East Nashville, Music City, Nashville, needy neighborhood, organic church, outreach ministry, participatory church, religion, simple church, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dancing With God (The Holy Spirit 3-Step)

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Steve Simms

Dancing With God (The Holy Spirit Three-Step) I am reading through the Book of Acts for the fifth time in two months and asking God to show me why the early church had so much more passion and power than … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, acts of God, angels, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Book of Revelation, Christ, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, dancing, dancing with God, disciple making, disciples, discipling, early church, East Nashville, evidence for God, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, God, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Heaven, history, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, lifestyles, movement, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, New Testament, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, praise and worship, prayer, quench the Spirit, recovery, religion, repent, revelation, Scriptures, simple church, spiritual, spiritual formation, The Salvation Army, voice of God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Christ in you is . . . (not the hope to cope; or the hope to just get by; or the hope to get blessed with some money; no, no). We need to realize that “Christ in you is the hope of glory!” God longs to visibly demonstrate His holy Presence and His glory in and through believers . . . if we will genuinely surrender to His will and allow ourselves to become undone before Him; if we will truly give up our plans, our programs, & our control.

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in acts of God, Christ, glory, holy, hope, values, worship | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Conscience, Moral Principals, Judgments, Right Conduct, & Shame

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

Quotations from the book, “Knowing Right From Wrong,” by Thomas D. Williams: “In the depths of our consciences we recognize the existence of a law we did not write, but which we feel we must obey.  We have the power … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, books, conscience, God, judgments, Knowing Right From Wrong, moral principles, morality, morals, Quotations, quote, Quotes, right and wrong, right conduct, shame, Thomas D. Williams, thoughts, values | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

News On The Street — (Sun., Feb. 26 @ Nashville’s Berry Street)

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Steve Simms

News On The Street from Sun., Feb. 26 @ B.S. Yesterday at Nashville’s Berry Street several people shared stories about how God has asked them to surrender various parts of their life to Him.  Near the end of the meeting … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, Christianity, church, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, Music City, Nashville, organic church, presence of Christ, religion, simple church, spiritual formation, surrender to God, testimonies, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Christ is visibly manifested in the church not when we merely hold meetings about Him; but when we actually encounter His Presence in our midst, individually listen to Him, and then obediently do whatever He prompts us to do in the meeting.

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christ, Christianity, church, house church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, organic church, simple church, spiritual formation, worship | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment