Category Archives: discipleship

Religious privacy goes against biblical Christianity

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Steve Simms

Little Jack HornerWent to churchAnd sat in the cornerHe stayed on his bumTill he felt numbAnd said,“What a good boy am I.” Church is too often a form of gathered individualism. People assemble in one place but there’s little openness … Continue reading →

Posted in church, discipleship, formal religion, institutional church, routine religion, state of religion, true religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Self-surrender to God / never surrender to evil

Posted on November 25, 2022 by Steve Simms

The only freedomFrom life’s dark cavesIs self-surrenderTo God’s rescue. If you ignore and/or silence the parts of you that are crying out for healing, you’ll stay stuck in a charade of denial. The One who set up the world’s eco … Continue reading →

Posted in cost of discipleship, discipleship, self-surrender, surrender, surrender to God | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The New Testament agape gathering called ekklesia

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Steve Simms

O that Christ’s peopleWould regularlyCome togetherIn agape gatheringsAnd let God’s loveFreely flow fromTheir innermost beingTo pour out on JesusAnd on each anotherUntil the whole worldSays in astonishment,“Look how they loveOne another!”(That’s ekklesia!) On Monday morningSunday’s goneAnd church has fadedFrom the … Continue reading →

Posted in biblical Christianity, disciple making, discipleship, how to be a pastor, making disciples, spiritual training, training | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thinking about Jesus-first people

Posted on October 30, 2022 by Steve Simms

I love to spend time with people who keep Jesus first in their heart and lifestyle. Although they seem to be distracted from much of the details and desires of daily life, they have a burning focus on Jesus. They … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian community, discipleship, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is Lord, Jesus is the way | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

People follow coffee, sports, music, politics, family, patriotism, romance, etc.

Posted on October 20, 2022 by Steve Simms

I frequently see peopleTake delight in coffee,Celebrate sports,Appreciate family,Brag about a politician,Go gaga over music,Gush about romance,Glory in their nation,Get excited about an award,Applaud alcohol,But not very manyWho continually“Delight in the Lord”And keep Jesus first! The clueTo great breakthroughIn your … Continue reading →

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Inner fruit can keep you smiling

Posted on October 3, 2022 by Steve Simms

Jesus, teach meHow to be a fieldWhere the fruitOf the Spirit can flourish. Abundant fruitOf God’s SpiritCan’t growInside meUntil I allowJesus and HisRivers of living waterTo freely flowAnd irrigate meFrom within. The fruit of God’s SpiritIs a slow grow.It doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian spirituality, discipleship, fruit of the Spirit, Holy Spirit, spiritual, spiritual food, spiritual formation, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ-like people inspire me!

Posted on September 27, 2022 by Steve Simms

Be an exampleOf ChristLiving in youSo that the worldCan sampleHis presence. It’s timeTo love Jesus moreThan ever before. Instead of tryingTo love myself,I seek to beLess like meAnd moreLike Jesus. If a personWill be stillAnd ponderIn the presenceOf JesusHe will … Continue reading →

Posted in discipleship, evangelism, experiencing Jesus, lifestyle evangelism, witnesses, witnessing, you shall be my witnesses | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Make room for Jesus to

Posted on August 6, 2022 by Steve Simms

Make room for Jesus.Unblock His wayThen go and doWhatever He may say. When there’sNo room in the inn-Er partOf your heartFor the risen JesusTo reign as King and Lord,Any Christianity expressedIs only nominal. Sermons without discipleship produce a sentimental Christianity … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian living, discipleship, How to be led by the Spirit, led by the Spirit, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyle evangelism | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Jesus Freak isn’t a “freak of nature” but of the supernatural

Posted on August 5, 2022 by Steve Simms

If you continually follow and obey the living Jesus with all your heart, society will see you as a freak. A Jesus Freak isn’t a freak of nature, but someone who is being radically transformed by the risen Jesus in … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ followers, cost of discipleship, discipleship, Jesus freaks, Jesus Movement, radical Christianity | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sentimental religious aspiration or dedicated discipleship application?

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Steve Simms

When you resistThe inner riversOf the Holy Spirit,You can cause themTo be stuck, stymied,Stalled and stagnantInside you.Instead, prepare the wayFor the Lord’s riversSo they can freely flowIn and through you.(“Quench not the Spirit.”) Sermon-hearing oftenLeads to aspirationAn inner wishTo live … Continue reading →

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