Category Archives: Beyond Church

Helping a church transition to ekklesia

Posted on January 20, 2024 by Steve Simms

My dream job would be to help a church transition to ekklesia. That’s a transition that will work miracles! Ekklesia is the word that is used when Jesus says (in Matthew 16:18) what He will build: “I will build My … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, dream job, ekklesia | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Church members matter . . .

Posted on November 7, 2022 by Steve Simms

Church members matter.They’re not ornamentsIn an audience.They should meet to bePart of Christ’s bodyDirected by Him,Led by Gods Spirit,Hearing what He saysAnd then doing it. Let’s forget about self and comfort. Let’s focus instead on letting Christ live in and … Continue reading →

Posted in audience, Beyond Church, Christ in you, church, church attendance, spiritual formation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dones are like birds that fly away from church? (But why do they do that?)

Posted on April 3, 2018 by Steve Simms

Sometimes Christians get to the point where they say, “I’m done with church,” and then drop out of church altogether. This is happening so much nowadays that it has become a social trend. Sometimes the people who do that are … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, church refugees, formal religion, more than church, religion, rocking religion, routine religion, state of religion, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Christian tribute to Stephen Hawking (with quotes)

Posted on March 14, 2018 by Steve Simms

Stephen Hawking was an inspiration to me and many millions of people. I’m sad to hear of his passing on Albert Einstein’s birthday. I wrote this about Hawking after seeing the movie of his life, The Theory Of Everything. Did … Continue reading →

Posted in Albert Einstein, Beyond Church, book, books, Christian mysticism, film, movie, movies, mysticism, quotation, quote, science, symbol for infinity, Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

#Makechurchekklesiaagain

Posted on February 18, 2018 by Steve Simms

Theologian Emil Brunner taught that Christianity drifted away from ekklesia & into church. “A hashtag does not change anything. It’s a hashtag.” –Shonda Rhimes Here’s a fresh, new hashtag for those who want to go beyond church as usual:  #Makechurchekklesiaagain … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, alternative to church, Beyond Church, change in church, Christian church, church experiment, ecclesia, ecclesiastical, ecclesiological, ecclesiologist, ekklesias, hashtags, house church, make church ekklesia again, organic church, organic church blogs, quotation, Quotations, quote, simple church, theologians, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Where to find heart connections

Posted on September 23, 2017 by Steve Simms

Heart connections change lives. Are they encouraged anywhere besides funeral homes & support groups? Yes, in ekklesia! Ekklesia isn’t another word for church. It’s a very different way for Christians to meet together. Some people want to argue about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, Bible, book, Christian Denominations, church program, denominations, from the heart, heart-felt, organization, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ekklesia’s worth 1,000 words (#UnconferenceNashville quotes)

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Steve Simms

Church looks to one person for ministry; ekklesia looks to one another. Here are a few quotes from people who attended UnconferenceNashville @ The Salvation Army Berry Street June 23-25. “Who knew? I thought that I would learn about ekklesia. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, Christ the Head of the church, Christian conferences, Christianity, experiencing God, fellowship, house church, organic church, Quotations, simple church, Uncategorized, worship, worth a thousand words | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A poem about an altar call

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Steve Simms

The beauty of an altar call, When people open their hearts And respond in obedience to God, Doesn’t have to be confined To a few minutes at the end Of a church service. Why not open up the meeting From … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, ekklesia, house church, organic chruch, simple church, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Preachers interesting & ordinary people boring?

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Steve Simms

Church acts like preachers are interesting & ordinary people are boring. (It could be the opposite.) Protestants made church a classroom. Perhaps church would be more effective as a prayer closet! The body of Christ is a team ministering together; … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, church reform, church refugees, ekklesia, house church, preachers, simple church, social media, testimony, Uncategorized, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meetings | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

McKay Books confirms nontraditional church in Nashville

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Steve Simms

While walking into McKay Books in Nashville on May 5, I saw a book, New Day, on top of the free-bin & grabbed it. YOU WON’T BELIEVE THESE QUOTES FROM IT THAT CONFIRM WHAT WE DO AT THE SALVATION ARMY … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Beyond Church, ekklesia, facebook, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Berry Street, Salvation Army Nashville, Uncategorized, unchurching, unconference | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment