Category Archives: Jesus

The separation of church and hate

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Steve Simms

The separation of church and hate (and/or political-correctness-warriors and hate) requires speaking the truth in love.  Hate is not based on truth. It is built on deception, denial, disappointment, dishonesty, misunderstanding, pride, prejudice, anger, hurt, impulse, irrationality, and/or insecurity. Speaking … Continue reading →

Posted in anger, compassion, contemporary culture, deception, denial, dishonesty, emotional honesty, hate, hate speech, hater, healing life's hurts, heart-felt love, honesty, hurt, hurt by church, intervention, Jesus, kindness, love, manipulation, name calling, overcoming hate, political dysfunction, popular culture, prejudice, pride, reconciliation, religion, self-assertion, truth will set you free, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 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

Why put Jesus in a box?

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Steve Simms

  Jesus is no Jack-in-the-box, alive one day and in the tomb the next. He’s not supposed to be preached about on Sunday and then shut up in a box for the rest of the week. Religion tries to turn … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Berry Street, ekklesia, Friends, He is risen, Jesus, living stones, prophecy, resurrection, resurrection of Jesus, revival, risen, spiritual formation, spirituality, timeline, Uncategorized, unfriend | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What’s “good” about “Good Friday”?

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

What’s “good” about “Good Friday”? –Between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning, Jesus was dead for hours. Now He’s alive forever! –Christ died on “Good Friday” to make a way for us to move beyond our guilt and shame by being … Continue reading →

Posted in atheism, body of Christ, ekklesia, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jewish temple, Neil Cole, religion, resurrection, resurrection of Jesus, secularism, sin, Uncategorized, vale in the temple | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“I’m a good person,” is a stealth oxymoron

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Steve Simms

Are you a “good person”? According to Jesus the phrase, “I’m a good person,” is a stealth oxymoron. Jesus said; “No one is good–except God alone.” (Mark 10:18) In fact, Jesus calls 3 groups of people “evil” or “wicked:” 1) His … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14, all have sinned, Beyond Church, Bible, ekklesia, evil, good person, greed, Jesus, Jesus Christ, judge, judge not, judgment, Luke, Mark, New Testament, oxymoron, Pharisees, problem of evil, Savior, sin, sinfulness, source of evil, there is none righteous, Uncategorized, wickedness, worship | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

More than church (Jesus conducts His ekklesia)

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Steve Simms

–More Than Church– Ekklesia is A group encounter Where people allow The living Jesus To direct the meeting Like a symphony conductor. Ekklesia engages, encourages, empowers, and enthralls everyday Christ-followers. (Learn more about how the living, resurrected Jesus Christ wants … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, ekklesia, house church, how to conduct a church service, Jesus, Jesus as a conductor, making church more participatory, participatory church, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Christ Holiday!

Posted on December 25, 2015 by Steve Simms

Don’t keep Christ in Christmas! Let Him out! Celebrate, follow, and obey, The living Jesus everyday! May you enjoy this day, Named for Christ, And encounter Jesus’ love As you gather today With family and friends On this special “Holiday,” … Continue reading →

Posted in blogs about Christmas, Christ in Christmas, Christian holidays, Christmas cards, Christmas greeting, Christmas is about Jesus, Christmas season, Christmas story, Christmas traditions, for the holidays, Happy Holidays, international holidays, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Merry Christmas, plan of salvation, real meaning of Christmas, salvation, Uncategorized, unusual holidays, winter holidays | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Black Friday vs. Good Friday

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Steve Simms

To miss out on Black Friday is no big deal! –To miss out on Good Friday is to miss out on the greatest pardon in world history. (You won’t find the best deal on Black Friday. You find the best … Continue reading →

Posted in church history, death on the cross, forgiveness, history, Jesus, marketing, pardon, sales, salvation, sin, Uncategorized, world history | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Caught in the crossfire of Christ’s love and forgiveness

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Steve Simms

A victim of the hatred and evil of Roman, state-sponsored terrorism, Jesus Christ was tortured, nailed to a cross, and hung up to die. Dangling between life and death, He spoke crosswords that released God’s love and fire: “Father, forgive … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, cross, crucifixion, demons, evil in our society, evil spirits, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do, hatred, historic Jesus, historical Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Christ, passion of the Christ, Roman history, Saul of Tarsus, state sponsored terrorism, the cross, the wonderful cross, torture, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ekklesia eases the pain of being thrown under the church bus

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Steve Simms

A pretty red cup is no reason to throw Starbucks under the church bus! If you’ve ever Been thrown under The church bus, Ekklesia will Heal your hurts. Ekklesia puts People before programs, Love before liturgy, Relationships before religion, Christ … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Bible, bus station, busses, church, church committees, ekklesia, Frank Lampard, hurt by church, Jesus, John 7:38, liturgy, rivers of living water, Salvation Army, Scripture, sitting on the bench, threw him under the bus | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment