Category Archives: Nashville

Race To Ekklesia . . .

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Steve Simms

Race to Ekklesia . . . Ekklesia goes beyond race, Loving with the eyes of grace, Finding the glory of God in each face, As ordinary people from “every kindred and every tribe” Are free to open up and share … Continue reading →

Posted in Amazing Grace, Berry Street, Beyond Church, black lives matter, book, ekklesia, grace, injustice, institutional racism, justice, movie, Nashville, Nashville churches, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

It doesn’t take an Einstein to experience ekklesia

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

You don’t have to be an Einstein to experience ekklesia. Ekklesia is: Two or more Christ-followers meeting under Christ’s control! –E = MC2– [E (ekklesia) = M (meeting under) C (Christ’s control) 2 (two or more Christ-followers)] We 21st Century … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, awe in church, Berry Street, curiosity, ekklesia, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, mystery, Nashville, organic church, Salvation Army, simple church, the Pilgrims, two or three in My name, Uncategorized, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Beyond predictable religion to unpredictable, untamed ekklesia (quotes)

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Steve Simms

Church is caught in continual predictability, perpetually presenting the same basic program week after week. That’s one reasons millions of people are leaving church and calling themselves “Dones.” However, the Greek New Testament concept of ekklesia is never the same from … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Catholic mass, Chet Akins, church, country music, ekklesia, Eleanor Roosevelt, Francesca Battistelli, Frans de Waal, George R.R. Martin, Gordon Parks, Greek New Testament, house church, James Dashner, James Woods, Jesus Christ, Leo F. Buscaglia, Mark Batterson, Nashville, New Testament, organic chruch, Pope Francis, R.T. Kendall, Ralph Abernathy, simple church, Skye Jethani, T.F. Hodge, Uncategorized, unpredictable | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Book Full Of Salvation Army History & Quotes

Posted on December 24, 2015 by Steve Simms

Major Stephen Court says in the foreword: “What would happen if we burst out of the conventional church paradigm? What would happen if we decided to live our lives, fight our salvation warfare, serve our King of Kings, within a … Continue reading →

Posted in 95 theses, André Cox, Berry Street, Beyond Church, Catherine Booth, Come Join Our Army, Crest Books, ekklesia, Israel Gaither, Martin Luther, Nashville, Phil Needham, Protestant Reformation, salvation war, Samuel Logan Brengle, Stephen Court, Uncategorized, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ’s lights should have every bulb burning (not just one)

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Steve Simms

Too often church services are like a string of Christmas tree lights with only one bulb burning, which our 21st Century interactive, participatory culture often finds boring. (That may be why so many people are “Dones” — done with church.) … Continue reading →

Posted in back to the Bible, Bible, Christmas lights, church services, ekklesia, Holiday lights, Matthew 16:18, Nashville, organic church, When you come together, worship, Yule tide | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Stubborn Speaker Meets A Faithful Facilitator (Steps to Berry Street)

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Steve Simms

An advertisement for C & T Seminars kept coming across my path. It was about a training company owned by a woman named Ernie Froedge. I was a burned out preacher who greatly missed preaching (but not church politics and … Continue reading →

Posted in ARC, Berry Street, burn out, burned out pastors, facilitating, facilitator, motivational speakers, Nashville, networking, public speaking, recovery, spasmodic dysphonia, support group, Vanderbilt Voice Center, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Stuck in a pit? Or fighting from a foxhole? “I’ll fight!”

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Steve Simms

Why be stuck in a pit when you can be fighting in a foxhole? A slight change of your perspective can make a world of difference in your life! Life’s not easy. There are always problems. I’m sure you are … Continue reading →

Posted in a cause beyond yourself, as they do now, choice, fight the good fight of faith, I have a dream, Nashville, overcoming obstacles, Paul of Tarsus, purpose driven life, Tennessee, where there is no vision the people, While women weep, Your mission should you choose to accept it | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Everyday eloquence — the power of show and tell!

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Steve Simms

We learned it in kindergarten — everyday eloquence — how to show and tell. So why did we stop? Why did we formalize presentations?  Why did we turn spontaneous heart-felt sharing into standardized, stuffy sermons! The Bible teaches that church … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, all I really need to know, How everyone can make extraordinary presentations, I learned in kindergarten, kindergarten, Music City, Nashville, organic church, overcoming boredom, Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Let’s start a hope epidemic

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Steve Simms

Can we start a hope epidemic — an outbreak of hope! Yes! Hope epidemics have happened many times in human history as ordinary people have gotten infected with the power and presence of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ! Our sad, lonely, … Continue reading →

Posted in better caught than taught, Elana Premack Sandler, hope epidemic, hope-pidemic, hopefullness, hopefully, Nashville, overcoming depression, Salvation Army, Tennessee | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment