Category Archives: ekklesia

There’s no room for bullying in democracy (or church)

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Steve Simms

Want to go beyond the bullying and 1-man control that can be common in church? There’s no room for bullying in democracy or in church! –Modern democracy depends on decisions developed by deliberation, diplomacy, and consensus; not on the dictatorship … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, American values, ancient Greeks, back to church, Berry Street, church, community, control, control in church, controlling pastors, dictatorship, ekklesia, English, government, Greek city-states, Greek history, Greek New Testament, house church, I will build my church, love, making church more participatory, Nashville, On this rock I will build My church, organic chruch, participatory church, participatory culture, recovery groups, Salvation Army, simple church, support group, Uncategorized, 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

We desperately need heavenly politics

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Steve Simms

Forget Trump and Hillary–America desperately needs the living, resurrected Jesus. Here’s my paraphrase of Jesus’ words in Matthew 3:2: “Line up your attitude, thoughts, words, and actions with God and His will (rather than with your feelings, desires, compulsions, and … Continue reading →

Posted in American church, casting your vote, church, city council meeting, ekklesia, Heaven, kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven, kingdom values, organic church, politics and religion, presidential candidates 2016, Presidential politics, repent, repentance, the Kingdom of God is at hand, Uncategorized, violence, violence in society, will be done on earth as it is in Heaven | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are you light-hearted?

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Steve Simms

Christ-followers are Called to be light-hearted, Full of inner brightness, Radiating love, hope, and joy, Shinning like beacons in the night. However, too often our hearts Have absorbed the darkness Of our distressed and discouraged world. Rather than dancing lights, … Continue reading →

Posted in #Boundless2015, 1 Corinthians 14:26, Beyond Church, Bible, body of Christ, burning heart, Christ, Christian community, church, darkness and light, ekklesia, faith, God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, heart-felt, heart-felt love, heart-felt worship, I saw the light, Jesus in my heart, light, light hearted, light of Christ, light of the world, light shinning in darkness, New Testament, night stalkers, organic chruch, Quaker light, shine the light, shined in our hearts, speaking from the heart, spiritual darkness, the light came on, Uncategorized, walk in the light, you are the light | 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

How many sermons does it take to make a person pure?

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Steve Simms

Christ-followers are called to be pure and holy! That’s not easy to do when seductive media is so readily accessible and overflowing with negativity, disrespect, vulgarity, adultery, nudity, profanity, and worse. Have all the sermons that we have heard (and … Continue reading →

Posted in church, church fathers, church government, city council meeting, early church, ekklesia, evangelism, God's government, government, on earth as it is in heaven, Origen, religion, spiritual formation, spiritual transformation, testimonies, Thom Schultz, transformation, Uncategorized, Walk by the Spirit | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Meeting “to do the 2” — the ekklesia 2-step

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Steve Simms

Ekklesia meets to do the two — to give people hands on practice, training, and experience in living out Jesus’ two greatest commandments. This is the dance of the body of Christ — the ekklesia two-step. Step one: “Love the Lord your … Continue reading →

Posted in body of Christ, church, dancing, ekklesia, family of God, heart, heart care, heart of worship, love the Lord your God, Matthew 22, organic church, two or three in My name, Uncategorized, worship dancing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Coloring beyond the church-in-a-program box

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Steve Simms

Color outside the “church program” lines. Think beyond the “church as usual” box. Let’s break out of the church-in-a-program box! “A need for precision and perfection has always been an enemy of art, which is about coloring outside the lines. … Continue reading →

Posted in Albert Einstein, art, Beyond Church, breaking the rules, ekklesia, fresh expressions, How to be creative, how to be more creative, ideas, Jesus, Jesus Christ, messy church, novel ideas, organic chruch, Ray Schneider, Steve Stockman, T.D. Jakes, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Hooray for Christ-chasing church hoppers

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Steve Simms

Church hoppers get a bad rap. When I google “church hoppers” most of the articles about them are critical. Why do I cheer for Christ-chasing church hoppers? Christ-chasing church hoppers are spiritually hungry. They have a vision and a desire … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2 Timothy 3:5, Beyond Church, body of Christ, bored in church, Christ in you the hope of glory, church refugees, ekklesia, forsake not the assembly, fresh expressions, God chasers, having a form of godliness but denying the power, hope, house church, risen, simple church, spiritual awakening, spiritual gifts, spiritual hunger, spirituality, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

If the mayor should run his city council, shouldn’t Jesus run His church (ekklesia)?

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Steve Simms

–If someone ignored the mayor and began to run and control a city council meeting as if the mayor wasn’t even there, how would the mayor feel? –When someone ignores the living, risen Jesus and begins to run and control … Continue reading →

Posted in America, ancient Greek wisdom, Christian leadership, city of God, ekklesia, God's authority, Greek city-states, Greek word, honor, human authority, leadership, Middle Tennessee, Nashville, Salvation Army, Tennessee, Uncategorized, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment