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 purpose of the church is not to present people information and songs about God but to visibly manifest the power and presence of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christianity, church, church history, church structure, house church, order of worship, organic church, simple church, spiritual, spiritual formation, What is church?, worship | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Show And Tell — A Powerful Tool For Improving Your Life

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Steve Simms

Show and tell —  it’s not just for kindergarten and early elementary school.  It is a powerful tool for improving your life that works wonders for people of all ages. For instance, when people are stressed out, caught up in … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, addiction, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, change, China, Chinese, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, disciple making, early church, East Nashville, elementary school, freedom, guidance, harmful habit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, kindergarten, lifestyles, Methodist class meeting, Music City, Narcotics Anonymous, New Testament, organic church, Overeaters Anonymous, praise and worship, Quakers, religion, Scriptures, sermons, show and tell, simple church, spiritual formation, Supreme Court, the way we do church, Uncategorized, values, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

A Fresh Nashville Experience — Sontaneous, Powerful Prayer On Tuesday Nights hts

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Steve Simms

A spontaneous prayer meeting has begun in Nashville.  It meets on Tuesday nights at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center.  People gather at 6:30 pm. and begin to pray as they feel led by the Holy Spirit. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, Holy Spirit, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, prayer, recovery, religion, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Nashville Dream Fulfilled After 121 Years

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Steve Simms

Nashville is a place where people come to seek their dreams of fame and fortune in country music.  However, have you ever heard of the Nashville man who dreamed a dream that wasn’t fulfilled until 121 years after his death?  … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, East Nashville, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, John Berry McFerrin, Methodist class meeting, Methodist revivalists, movement, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, religion, simple church, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, support group, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Uncategorized, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 60 Comments

I Worked Up The Courage To Tebow (But Somebody Thought I Was Sick)

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Steve Simms

For about a year I’ve been working out at a Nashville YMCA on an elliptical machine.  About a month ago I felt like I was supposed to tebow (to bow in prayer the way that Tim Tebow does) but I … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian American, elliptical machine, Jeremy Lin, lifestyles, Linsanity, Music City, Nashville, NBA, NFL, prayer, prayer walking, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual skills, Taiwan Tebow, tebow, tebowing, the Y, Tim Tebow, Uncategorized, values, YMCA | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Famous Harvard Grad Loves Jesus (Is This Linsanity?)

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Steve Simms

A famous Harvard graduate, Jeremy Lin, is openly talking about his deep faith in and commitment to Jesus Christ.  Lin is an overnight sensation, coming from an unknown point guard for the New York Knicks to suddenly becoming the biggest … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American, Asian American, basketball, bracelet, challenges, China, Chinese, Christ, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, courage, evidence for God, Harvard, hearing God, hearing Jesus, In Jesus' Name I Play, Jeremy Lin, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, life, lifestyles, Linsanity, miracles, multi-racial, NBA, New York Knicks, Oh my God, Point guard, popular culture, praise and worship, public speaking, Quotations, quote, Quotes, race, religion, spiritual, spiritual formation, Taiwan Tebow, tebow, tebowing, television, Tim Tebow, TV, Uncategorized, voice of God, wake-up call | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Hearing God’s Voice Made Me An Agnostic

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Steve Simms

I believed that I was a believer when I was an unbeliever.  What I thought I knew about God and about Christ (doctrines that I had been taught as a passive listener); I didn’t really know. So how do you … Continue reading →

Posted in agnostic, apologists, Christ, Christianity, church, conversion, East Nashville, evidence for God, gift of God, God, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Hindu, Hinduism, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus freaks, Jesus Movement, lifestyles, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, non-traditional church, organic church, prayer, rejecting Christ, religion, revelation, salvation, simple church, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, supernatural, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, tradition, Uncategorized, University of Tennessee Martin, values, voice of God, What is church?, Why be a Christian?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Are Americans Apathetic To & Bored By Their Own Brain? (I Love My Own Thoughts)

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

We Americans are brainwashed, continually choosing our culture’s hype instead of actively tuning in to the brain that we’ve each been blessed with. We have within our brains the most amazing mental apps ready to release currents of creativity, inspiration, … Continue reading →

Posted in American, Americans, apps, brain chemistry, brain research, brainwashed, flat screens, joy, smartphone apps, smartphones, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Jesus sees us!

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Berry Street Worship Center, prayer, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

What If A Beach Party Was Conducted Like A Church Service?

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Steve Simms

On a beautiful, sunny day at the beach, would you rather:  1) Sit with a bunch of dressed up people in benches lined up in perfect rows while you formally sing Beach Boys songs together, then passively hear a less-than-exciting, … Continue reading →

Posted in beach, Beach Boys, Beach Boys songs, beach party, beach songs, Christ, Christianity, church, church structure, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, I Corinthians 14:26, joy, non-traditional church, organic church, simple church, Son-shine, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, support group, the way we do church, Uncategorized, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments