Category Archives: ekklesia

“Bride(zilla)”–A Radical Diagnosis Without Bold Answers

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Steve Simms

The Bride(zilla) of Christ — what a bold and radical assessment of church by authors Ted Kluck and Ronnie Martin. Here are some of their observations about church as it is usually done in the Western world: “One of my most … Continue reading →

Posted in a new reformation, body of Christ, bride of Christ, Bridezilla of Christ, church decline, church hurt, consumerism, ekklesia, house church, how the body of Christ functions, organic church, radical reformation, reformation, Rodney King, simple church, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Miraculous grief comfort in a Christ-led support group

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Steve Simms

God supernaturally used The Salvation Army Berry Street (a Christ-led support group or ekklesia) to comfort me as my dad was dying on Sunday, November 20, this year. Here’s how it happened. Our worship leader asked if anyone would like … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Christian support group, comfort for grief, ekklesia, funeral, funerals, group therapy, healing, healing life's hurts, inner healing, miraculous, mourning, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Berry Street, self-help group, spiritual healing, support group, support groups, those who mourn, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Post and share these posters about sharing!

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Steve Simms

I keep asking God to give me fresh, new ways to share the concept of open sharing as led by the Spirit based on 1 Corinthians 14:26 — the Greek New Testament concept of ekklesia. I made two posters today. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, art of listening, Berry Street, ekklesia, God's presence, hearing God, hearing God's voice, inner listening, itcity, Let the redeemed of the Lord, listening, listening skills, listening to God, listening to the Spirit, Nashville churches, Nashville news, Nashville tourist attractions, revival in Nashville, soul, soul food, testimonies, testimonies in church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ called audibles are transformational

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Steve Simms

An audible is when a quarterback in football calls out a change in the programmed play right before the ball is snapped. Perhaps churches should let the living, resurrected Jesus be our quarterback and call out audibles during worship meetings. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, art of listening, audible, calling audibles, changing plays, church programming, decline of the church, ekklesia, Elizabeth George, house church, inner listening, John 2:5, Kristian Goldmund Aumann, line of scrimmage, listening, listening prayer, listening skills, listening to God, listening to the Spirit, organic church, Quaker worship, Quotations, silence, simple church, spiritual listening, Uncategorized, Whatever He says to you do it | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Salvation Army “War Cry” Review of “Beyond Church”

Posted on August 28, 2016 by Steve Simms

War Cry, the national magazine of The Salvation Army USA wrote: Beyond Church Takes You Past Sunday Worship Have you ever wanted something more in life? Something more than religion? More than ‘church as usual?” In the Western world, traditional church is … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative Christianity, alternative church, ancient Greeks, Beyond Church, ekklesia, Greek city-states, Greek history, Greek language, organic chruch, practical religion, religion, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Stephen Court, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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

Church programs or ekklesia fire?

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

Question: What would happen if church meetings were built on people stepping out in faith and sharing from their heart — instead of being built on people passively watching a highly programmed presentation? Answer: God’s fire would fall and His … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, body of Christ, church bulletin, church programs, ekklesia, holiness, lyrics, priest, purity, royal priesthood, Salvation Army, song, spiritual warfare, Uncategorized, universal priesthood, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Letting church cruise on Christ-contol

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Steve Simms

Across the USA church is in decline. Perhaps it is time to set church on Christ-control and let Jesus freely cruise trough the meeting. There’s nothing like a Christ-led gathering when we put aside human agendas and control and simply let … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, alternative to church, Christ control, church meetings, church services, churching, contemporary church, ekklesia, Greek city-states, house church, House of Prayer, how to do church, open church, open forum, praise and worship, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, town meeting, Uncategorized, When you come together, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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