Category Archives: religious tradition

The Table Server Who Challenged The System Had My Middle Name

Posted on March 8, 2024 by Steve Simms

My birth certificate reads “Charles Steven Simms,” but I’ve always gone by Steve. When I first began to read the Bible, I came across a guy named Stephen. He was an early Christ-followers and was one of seven people appointed … Continue reading →

Posted in being religious, religious ceremonies, religious innovation, religious tradition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Parents’ Tradition of Not Going to Church

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Steve Simms

I grew up in a place and time called the Bible Belt where the majority of people had a family tradition of going to church, but my parents didn’t. Adults would often ask them, “Where do you go to church?” … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, church, church attendance, religious tradition | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Bible’s Religiously Unapproved John

Posted on January 3, 2024 by Steve Simms

A man named John, independently of the religious establishment of his day, began to preach in isolated places (without official credentials) and to challenge people to fully surrender their life to the Lord. As a sign of their surrender John … Continue reading →

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Religion is often spiritual shrink wrap

Posted on September 16, 2023 by Steve Simms

Too many Christians have been shrink wrapped by religion. To shrink wrap is to shut things up in bags and suck the air out. It entombs things and keeps them locked in place so they can be stored away with … Continue reading →

Posted in organized religion, religious tradition, shrink-wrapped | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Religious bubble wrap can shrink wrap your relationship with God.

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Steve Simms

Don’t let religion shrink wrap your relationship with God. Show people religion and they get bored (at least after an hour). Show people the risen Jesus and they are captivated and transformed. Religion likes to interpret life. The risen Jesus … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, alternative to church, American church, bored in church, boredom in church, casual church, change in church, church burn out, church decline, church hurt, church leadership, church order, church programming, formal religion, organized religion, practical religion, religious innovation, religious meetings, religious questions, religious tradition, religious words, rocking religion, routine religion, true religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anybody like repeating words after a preacher?

Posted on August 9, 2018 by Steve Simms

Some preachers’ idea of participation in church is this: “Everybody say: ‘This message is gonna be good.” If preachers want people to say a one-liner to their “neighbor,” why don’t they say: “Turn to your neighbor and quote a Bible … Continue reading →

Posted in clergy, clergy laity, clergy/laity, clergy/laity split, hype, priesthood, priesthood of all believers, priesthood of the believer, religion, religious ceremonies, religious nuts, religious quotes, religious tradition, routine religion, Uncategorized, universal priesthood | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unity is more important than unanimity

Posted on April 6, 2018 by Steve Simms

Unanimity is a word that can be difficult to say. However, it’s even harder to consistently do. A simple definition of unanimity is: “agreement by all people involved.” Here’s an example of unanimity or uniformity: Find a group of passive … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Denominations, church burn out, church community, church decline, church government, church organization, church revitalization, church structure, denominations, religious tradition, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Christ’s presence outshines religion

Posted on September 8, 2017 by Steve Simms

Some people think that God only works through religion. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus is the Way, however, sometimes religion can block His way.   Religious programming can unintentionally crowd the presence of Christ out of church. In church … Continue reading →

Posted in awe, awe of God, Bible, filled with awe, priesthood of the believer, religious ceremonies, religious tradition, revival, spiritual growth, tradition, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Say what? A PC monopoly or BC Spirit-prompting?

Posted on January 10, 2016 by Steve Simms

Why not step out of political correctness* and into Beyond Church*? * PC is “saying what society says to say.” * BC is “saying what the Holy Spirit says to say.” Our 21st Century concept of PC was actually predicted … Continue reading →

Posted in newspeak, Oceania, organic chruch, Pharisees, Quench not the Spirit, quenching the Spirit, religious tradition, thought crime, tradition, tradition of the elders, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kingdom-Come, King-God-Ruled Meetings

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Steve Simms

Through out the night I was thinking about “the Kingdom of God.” A kingdom is where a king rules, so the Kingdom of God is where God, Himself rules. God’s rule doesn’t happen much on Earth, because of man’s rebellion. … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Gorton, church, Matthew 18:20, Matthew 6:33, order of worship, organic church, quotation, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religious tradition, righteousness, Roman Empire, Roman history, Romans 14:17, seek ye first, simple church, the Kingdom of God is at hand, Whatever He says to you | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments