Category Archives: ekklesia

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

Holiness: restrained from bad or inspired to be good?

Posted on June 11, 2017 by Steve Simms

Holiness anyone? Although some Christian groups are built around the concept of “holiness,” I’ve had trouble understanding it. To me holiness has always seemed like legalistic adherence to outward appearances, and not really a matter of the heart. However, as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Blessed are the pure in spirit, Christian spirituality, church, ekklesia, Holy Spirit, obedience, obedience to God, purity, spiritual formation, spirituality, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

False prophets & fake news confuse

Posted on June 3, 2017 by Steve Simms

We need clear reception of God’s perception so we can be an exception to deception. Reading the Bible with an open heart filters out the impurities in your thoughts. The Bible keeps our faith anchored to the objectivity of the … Continue reading →

Posted in art of listening, back to the Bible, Bible quotations, Bible reading, Colossians 3, conscience, ekklesia, I am the way, Jesus, listening skills, Luke 24:32, Scriptures, Spirit-led, the way the truth the life, truth and error, Uncategorized, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Take time to align

Posted on May 27, 2017 by Steve Simms

Unless we align with God, we’ll be forever off course. Francis Grimke (an early American Civil Rights leader in 1919) put it like this: “The great spiritual need of man is to get rid of sin, to get out from … Continue reading →

Posted in atonement, Bible, called out ones, deception, ekklesia, Follow Me, I am the way, justice, Nashville, original innocence, punishment, repentance, spiritual need, Uncategorized | 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

Group dynamics & community meetings

Posted on April 26, 2017 by Steve Simms

Group dynamics is the process of people in a group interacting with one another. When one person controls a meeting it completely shuts down group dynamics. Let’s go beyond merely instructing spectators to facilitating good group dynamics. Group dynamics are … Continue reading →

Posted in AA meetings, church meetings, ekklesia, group interaction, leadership training, NA meetings, participation in meetings, spiritual training, training, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pics beyond the church norm

Posted on April 15, 2017 by Steve Simms

Searching for living water? Check out Beyond Church. It’s beautiful to go beyond church as usual and let the risen Jesus be the One in charge of the meeting!

Posted in agendaless church, alternative church, Christian spirituality, church, church reform, church refugees, church revitalization, church without a program, contemporary church, ekklesia, home church, institutional church, kinds of church, open church, open mic church, rivers of living water, speaking in church, spiritual church, spirituality, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s stable in this crazy world?

Posted on March 28, 2017 by Steve Simms

What’s stable in a crazy world? The living Jesus. A red-hot book blazes in my heart & sets my soul on fire! What is it? The Bible testimony about the living Jesus. Be cautious that you don’t stray away from … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christ in you the hope of, Christ the solid rock, ekklesia, faith, faith in God, faith in politics, faith-based, hope of glory, hopeful, hopefullness, Jesus, On Christ the solid rock I stand, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Truth & error & discernment; say what?

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Steve Simms

Strive to know and live truth; and to avoid error. Clear discernment of truth is a gift of God that needs to be continually sought. Truth and error matter; and Christ-followers need to know the difference. Even if error is … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible reading, Bible reading plan, ekklesia, living water, rivers of living water, spiritual discernment, spiritual experiences, spiritual formation, Uncategorized, witness of the Spirit | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A fruit of the Spirit smoothie

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Steve Simms

Sensing Jesus’ presence is much more powerful than just listening to someone talk about Jesus being present. Virtual reality can be fun; but Jesus reality is healing & life transforming. “Self-focus” never satisfies, but “Christ-focus” is continual joy! Set pride aside & … Continue reading →

Posted in Because He Lives, ekklesia, He is risen, He lives, how to celebrate Easter, living Jesus, meaning of Easter, Resurrection Day, resurrection of Jesus, resurrection power, risen from the dead, risen Jesus, that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection, Uncategorized, We serve a risen Savior | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment