Category Archives: Dones

Can politically, denominationally, racially, doctrinally, and nationally divided Christians ever be one?

Posted on September 25, 2017 by Steve Simms

In John 17, Jesus prayed that all of His followers be one. Today there are more than 40,000 denominations, Sunday morning is still the most racially segregated time in the USA, and millions of believers are leaving the institutional church … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian challenge, Christian unity, church, church collaboration, Dones, nationalism, politics, politics and religion, separation of church and state, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Emil Brunner Quotes about ekklesia

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Steve Simms

Ever since I encountered the risen Jesus in a Spirit-led meeting on a college campus, I’ve wanted to go beyond the formal way of doing church and meet the way Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 14:26. In 2008, The Salvation … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, books, church government, church leadership, church services, Dones, house church, organic chruch, participation in church, participatory church, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Are Christians dying for dialogue in church services?

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Steve Simms

The most effective group communication depends on dialogue, sharing ideas, and personal interaction. A monologue reduces attempted communication to passively listening to one person’s ideas. That may work in an authoritarian environment, but it fails to build relationship. Nowadays churches … Continue reading →

Posted in 12 step group, bored in church, business communications, church programming, church revitalization, dialogue, Dones, group therapy, interaction, interactive church, monologue, nones, recovery groups, small groups, support groups, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

If the Gaylord Opryland donkey could talk

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Steve Simms

(Get your copy here.) If the donkey in Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee could talk he might say . . .

Posted in advice, Beyond Church, creativity, Dones, house church, ideas, nones, nontraditional church, Quotations, Quotes, simple church, suggestions, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spontaneous vs. Spiritaneous

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

To be spontaneous is be unconstrained by fear or tradition and to be willing to act on an inner impulse or inclination, without planning or external stimulus. To be Spiritaneous is to be unconstrained by fear or tradition and to be willing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Beyond Church, church decline, Dones, ekklesia, Friends' worship, nones, nontraditional church, people leaving church, Quaker worship, Romans 8:14, sermon, spontaneous church, Uncategorized, unconventional worship, unprogrammed, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meeting, worship | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Trek Beyond: (Back To The Original Star Trek)

Posted on July 22, 2016 by Steve Simms

We’re Trekkies and Trekkers who are following the inner Star. We’re trekking beyond the bounds — outside the ordinary; over and above assumptions; out of the reach of routine; out of range of religion; past human performance and control. Like the original … Continue reading →

Posted in beam me up, Beyond Church, book, books, Dones, ekklesia, enterprise, highly illogical, live long and prosper, lost, lost episode, organic chruch, resistance is futile, Salvation Army, Star Fleet Mannual, Starfleet, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are Christians playing with a full deck — ekklesia?

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Steve Simms

Is the traditional concept of church short of God’s full deck — the Greek New testament idea of ekklesia? Is ekklesia God’s trump card that empowers Christ-followers to dynamically connect with the living, resurrected Jesus and with one another? A … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, Bible quotes, Bible verses, called out ones, decrees, demonstrations of the Spirit, Dones, ekklesia, Greek, Greek city state, Greek New Testament, Heaven, house church, nones, on earth as it is in heaven, organic chruch, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Get trained to serve and make a difference in Nashville

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

Would you like to make a real difference in Nashville? Would you like to get hands-on training and interactive experience using your gifts to serve and make a real difference? The Salvation Army has an opportunity for you in East … Continue reading →

Posted in changing society, disciple making, Doing the most good, Dones, hanging out, leadership training, life skills, Making a difference, making disciples, Millennials, organic chruch, reaching Millennials, Salvation Army Corps, spiritual growth, spiritual training, spiritual transformation, transformation, transformation movements, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cold pans can’t cook (Cooking quotes)

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Steve Simms

Cold pans can’t cook, can they? –Too often church services are like a cooking demonstration on an unplugged electric stove. There’s one person talking without any power. –Perhaps church services could cook up revival and spiritual awakening, by allowing ordinary … Continue reading →

Posted in Calvin Trillin, cookbook, Dones, Ginger Sullivan, Jael McHenry, Jarod Kintz, Nashville, organic, organic chruch, Quotations, recipes, Salvation Army, Ted Allen, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Poem–The Lost Word Of The Bible

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Steve Simms

. . . Searching For A Lost Word . . . When the Bible Came into English A word was left behind, Lost and forgotten, Replaced by a weaker word. Perhaps we need The lost word of the Bible To … Continue reading →

Posted in a near-hit bolt of lightening, book review, Christian books, done with church, Dones, ekklesia, Greek city-states, Greek language, Greek word, I will build my church, lightening bug, Mark Twain, organic church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment