Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Bible is a warm, loving HUG; not a cold, hard textbook!

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Steve Simms

Church has made the Bible something to be intellectually dissected by a religious professional and taught in a classroom-style Sunday morning “service.”   But I believe that misses the point of the Book! Instead of us just hearing a preacher … Continue reading →

Posted in back to the Bible, Bible believing, Bible interpretation, Bible one anothers, Bible quotes, Bible reading, Bible reading plan, Bible teaching, Bible verses, Boy Scouts, guidebooks, handbook, how to learn the Bible, manufacturer's handbook, Mexico, owner's manual, travel guide, Uncategorized, user's manual | 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

Hooray for Christ-chasing church hoppers

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Steve Simms

Church hoppers get a bad rap. When I google “church hoppers” most of the articles about them are critical. Why do I cheer for Christ-chasing church hoppers? Christ-chasing church hoppers are spiritually hungry. They have a vision and a desire … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2 Timothy 3:5, Beyond Church, body of Christ, bored in church, Christ in you the hope of glory, church refugees, ekklesia, forsake not the assembly, fresh expressions, God chasers, having a form of godliness but denying the power, hope, house church, risen, simple church, spiritual awakening, spiritual gifts, spiritual hunger, spirituality, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

If the mayor should run his city council, shouldn’t Jesus run His church (ekklesia)?

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Steve Simms

–If someone ignored the mayor and began to run and control a city council meeting as if the mayor wasn’t even there, how would the mayor feel? –When someone ignores the living, risen Jesus and begins to run and control … Continue reading →

Posted in America, ancient Greek wisdom, Christian leadership, city of God, ekklesia, God's authority, Greek city-states, Greek word, honor, human authority, leadership, Middle Tennessee, Nashville, Salvation Army, Tennessee, Uncategorized, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s #trending (in your heart)?

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Steve Simms

What’s trending in your heart? –Have you taught your heart to be trapped and trampled by trending with trouble, tribulation, transgression, and torment? –Or have you taught you heart to be trained and transformed by turning to tranquility, trust, thanksgiving, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Create in me a clean heart, Did not our hearts burn within, from the heart, heart, heart care, heart is deceitful, heart religion, heart strangely warmed, hearts on fire, shined in our hearts, speaking from the heart, the door of your heart, the heart of worship, trending, Uncategorized, What's trending | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Send the fire!” Or: “Bless our programs!”

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Steve Simms

William Booth sang “Send the fire!” not “Bless our programs!” Which version best describes us in the 21st Century? “Our programs we want, for programs we plead, Bless our programs! Our programs will meet our every need, Bless our programs! … Continue reading →

Posted in baptized with fire, Blood & Fire, church fire, church programming, corps programming, don't put out the Spirit's fire, fire, fire in church, fire in the heart, fire of God, fire of the Holy Spirit, get fired-up, God's fire, God's word like fire, hearts on fire, his words were like fire, I have come to bring fire on the earth, I set myself on fire, on fire for God, programming, Quotations, quote, Quotes, revival fires, Salvation Army Corps, Set a fire down in my soul, song, songwriter, spiritual fire, the Holy Spirit and fire, Uncategorized, words on fire | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Why doesn’t church do what the Bible says?

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Steve Simms

–My “Asking Why?” Question– The Bible plainly says it . . . So why won’t we dare to do it? “When you come together, Each of you has a hymn, Or a word of instruction, A revelation . . .” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Berry Street, Beyond Church, house church, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Nashville, Nashville church, organic church, pulpit, revelation, Salvation Army, simple church, Tennessee, Uncategorized, When you come together | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Cold pans can’t cook (Cooking quotes)

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Steve Simms

Cold pans can’t cook, can they? –Too often church services are like a cooking demonstration on an unplugged electric stove. There’s one person talking without any power. –Perhaps church services could cook up revival and spiritual awakening, by allowing ordinary … Continue reading →

Posted in Calvin Trillin, cookbook, Dones, Ginger Sullivan, Jael McHenry, Jarod Kintz, Nashville, organic, organic chruch, Quotations, recipes, Salvation Army, Ted Allen, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Does church have a gag rule on God?

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Steve Simms

God has no gag rule on Christ-followers! “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!” Religion “commanded” the early Christ-followers “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” They replied: “We cannot help speaking about what … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts 4:13, Bible quotes, Bible verses, by the word of their testimony, chutzpah, evangelism, lay testimonies, Let the redeemed of the Lord, personal testimonies, Peter and John, salvation testimonies, testimonies in church, testimony, Uncategorized, We cannot help but speak | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hearing & doing what the Spirit says . . .

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Steve Simms

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the ekklesias (mistranslated as churches in most English language Bibles). –Revelation 2:29. You can move beyond just hearing the Spirit and into actually receiving the Spirit by believing what you heard enough … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Bible verses, deny yourself, flesh, Galatians 3:5, Galatians 5, prompted by the Spirit, Quench not the Spirit, quenching the Spirit, release of the Spirit, self-denial, sensitivity to the Spirit, sowing and reaping, Spirit directed, Spirit-led, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment