Category Archives: Christian community

Preaching’s not enough says a $1.00 book . . .

Posted on May 21, 2016 by Steve Simms

We must go beyond preaching! Wow! Such power, conformation, and fireworks from a book I found for $1.00 at at Book Warehouse in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It doesn’t look too impressive, but I’m so glad I bought Discovering Who We Are … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative to preaching, body of Christ, Christian community, Christian leadership, church community, church leadership, communication, community building, Holy Spirit, how the body of Christ functions, how to create community, lay testimonies, leadership training, media, personal testimony, preaching, Salvation Army, salvation testimonies, servant leadership, simple church, spiritual gifts, testimonies, testimony, Uncategorized, word of their testimony | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ Release Centers release the living Jesus through testimonies

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Steve Simms

A Christ Release Center (CRC) lets the living Jesus flow through many people, not just one person! It brings Christ out of concealment and into God’s community by allowing ordinary people to testify — to show and tell what God has … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ in you, Christian community, church community, community building, control, control in church, Creating Community, Donald Bloesch, Easter, ekklesia, He is risen, Nashville, power, power of God, Release the power of Jesus, risen, Salvation Army, Uncategorized, We serve a risen Savior | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An ekklesia epidemic makes a wonderful life!

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Steve Simms

God is releasing an ekklesia epidemic! –Christianity began with heart-felt community — an interpersonal spiritual awakening that was based on the Spirit freely flowing without being hindered by human agendas or by religious structures, patterns or traditions. Spiritual awakening requires … Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Timothy 3:5, Beyond Church, Christian community, decline of the church, ekklesia, flow of the Spirit, go with God's flow, having a form of godliness, Holy Spirit, house church, It's A Wonderful Life, lost of the Bible, Nashville, organic chuch, religion, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Defeated Christians are not part of God’s plan

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Steve Simms

Defeated Christians, overcome by the world and caught up in ungodly cravings and complusions, are not part of God’s plan. We can only be defeated when we walk away from God’s will. However, in the 21 Century, many of us … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian community, Christian living, comfort zone, community, Confess you sins, confession, confessional, defeated Christians, deny yourself, depression, freedom in Christ, holiness, overcoming depression, overcoming evil, overcoming obstacles, overcoming setbacks, overcoming temptation, personal testimonies, priesthood of the believer, Quotes, repentance, self-denial, sin, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Church = Audience? Or Team?

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Steve Simms

Is a church service with only one speaker like a band with only one instrument? (That’s an oxymoron, isn’t it?) Jesus said: “New wine must be poured into new wine skins.” If we want the new wine of the Holy Spirit, perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, agreeing in prayer, audience, Beyond Church, binding and loosing, Christian community, ekklesia, Greek city-states, Greek word for, house church, Matthew 18:20, organic chruch, simple church, team, the lost of the Bible, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

I’m amazed at how God leads me to books that confirm what He’s telling me . . .

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Steve Simms

I love how God leads me to books. It has happened regularly for decades. I feel like I’m on God’s reading program. About a week ago I was walking in Glascow, Kentucky and saw a Salvation Army Thrift Store that … Continue reading →

Posted in body of Christ, Book Cellar, Christian community, Crossville, Elton Trueblood, Future of the Church, Glascow, Howard H. Brinton, Jim Kallam, Kentucky, Salvation Army Thrift Store, small groups, teamwork, Tennessee, Tony Dungy | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“Dones” or “Beyonds”?

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Steve Simms

Meet the Beyonds —The Dones are people who have given up on church and dropped out. –The Beyonds are people who realize that biblically church is supposed to be so much more than what we have made it. Beyonds want to move beyond … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, back to church, Bible, Bible quotes, called out ones, Christ the Head of the church, Christian community, Come unto Me all you who are weary, Don Finto's books, ekklesia, gifts of the Spirit, Go into all the world, having a form of godliness but denying the power, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, led by the Spirit, Nashville, preach the gospel, Prepare, walk in the light, William Tyndale | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Church — Educational or Mystical?

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Steve Simms

Historically church has been seen as educational –communicating concepts about God (especially since the Protestant Reformation). –Biblically church is seen as a mystical portal — presenting the actual presence of the living Christ. (“Where two or three gather in my … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian community, Christian education, Christian mysticism, Christian spirituality, Matthew 18:20, Nashville, organic church, Salvation Army, Tom Robbins, Where two are three are gathered | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“God is continually calling us outside of our boxes.” –Nashville’s Most Unusual Church

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Steve Simms

Answer the call — experience community — at The Salvation Army Berry Street! –“God is continually calling us out of our boxes . . . To meet another person outside of our boxes is to experience genuine community.” —James C. … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Christian community, community organizer, gifts of the Spirit, organic church, revival, Salvation Army church, worship | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Puzzle Pieces, Potluck, & Permitting Every Person (Not Just The Parson) 2 Participate

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Steve Simms

“Daddy, look at my puzzle,” said a little boy carrying a single puzzle piece. “That’s not a puzzle, son,” the father replied. “That’s just one piece.” When we focus a church meeting on the performance of one, single piece, week … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian community, Christianity, organic church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment