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

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Steve Simms

hug Bible

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 dissect the Bible, we need to let the Bible dissect us.

The Bible is a warm, loving HUG; not a cold, hard textbook! It’s not meant to be the guide for an academic exercise, but the catalyst for epidemic transformation. Let me explain how the Bible is a loving HUG:

  • H stands for handbook. When I was a Boy Scout, I had a copy of the Boy Scout Hand Book. However, in seven years of being a Scout, I don’t think my scoutmaster ever gave us a lecture on it. But he didn’t ignore it. Whenever we would have trouble starting a fire, trying a knot, pitching a tent, or practicing a first aid technique, our scoutmaster would say: “It’s in the handbook.”  Then he would show us where to turn and help walk us through applying the handbook’s instructions in our situation.
  • U represents a user’s (or owner’s) manual. The purpose of a user’s manual is to help you use a device or machine in real life; not just to give you a bunch of technical facts. Sometimes I will get a devise, turn it on, and in no time make a mess of it. At that moment I don’t need facts. I need guidance. I need “how-to.” The Bible was not written to just give us spiritual facts. God designed it to give us practical instructions on how to live our daily lives. So, the next time you feel like you are messed up, take out the user’s manual for human beings and begin to do what it tells you.
  • G stands for guidebook. Once I bought a guidebook for Mexico City. I read about Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, Chapultepec Park, the Museo Nacional de Antropologia, and many other places. However, I quickly got bored reading about those places. Then I went to Mexico City and experienced them for myself and suddenly those places came alive for me. The purpose of a guide book is to help you personally experience exciting places, not to bore you with information about those places and things. And the purpose of the Bible is to guide you into personally experiencing things like: being forgiven, loving people, ministering to one another, praying over the sick, testifying about the living Jesus, exhorting one another, confessing your sins, being led by the Holy Spirit, resisting and driving out demons, and much more! We’re not just supposed to hear a talk about these things. We’re supposed to learn to do them when we meet together and then go do them in our everyday lives!

The bible is a loving HUG. It’s a love letter from the living God. Most people don’t read a love letter academically and analyze every word. They don’t get a professional to lecture them about it. Instead they read it with passion and let it encourage them, warm their heart, and thrill them with joy. They savor it and allow it to move them to “climb the highest mountain” or “swim the deepest ocean” for the one they love.

The Bible was never intended to be a dry textbook. It’s really more like a modern infomercial. It was written to inspire us, to persuade us, to challenge us, and to motive us to take immediate action. The Bible is like a Broadway actor’s script. It’s not something to file in the mind, but to act out on the stage of daily life!

Before the Protestant Reformation church tended to ignore the Bible (sometimes they would even persecute ordinary people who tried to read it). Then the Reformation made the Bible a religious text book to be taught in a talk. Perhaps it’s now time to let the Bible be God’s loving HUG! But how?

  1. Read it for yourself. Read it at least 5 minutes every single day and then actually begin to do what it tells you to.
  2. Meet regularly in the lab of ekklesia (the Greek New Testamet word mistranslated as “church”) with others and let the living Jesus teach you how to apply the Bible as the body of Christ. To learn more about ekklesia check out this link.
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!

color outside the church

“A need for precision and perfection has always been an enemy of art, which is about coloring outside the lines. It is also an enemy of the reality that following Jesus is a journey, not an arrival.” –Steve Stockman

“You gotta color outside the lines; You gotta be prepared to break some rules; You gotta be ready to go where other people haven’t gone before; You gotta be willing to do something that looks wild- that’s looks crazy- that looks different. JESUS was a RULE BREAKING JESUS; healing people on the Sabbath day, eating without washing hands, walking through the fields pulling corn down on ‘holy days.’ Religious people hated him BECAUSE HE BROKE THE RULES!” –T.D. Jakes

When only one person in a church is allowed to speak, the group misses out on all the wisdom, insight, encouragement, knowledge, good news, and joy that the rest of the people could share. Perhaps now is the time to color outside the church program and think beyond church as usual.  The Greek New Testament idea of ekklesia is an outside the lines alternative to the same-man-speaking-every-week church. (Check out my book Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible–Ekklesia at this link: http://amzn.to/20rSCeE)

“Big ideas come from forward thinking people who challenge the norm, think outside the box, and invent the world they see inside rather than submitting to the limitations of current dilemmas.” –T.D. Jakes

“No one ever discovered anything new by coloring inside the lines.” –Albert Einstein

“I think that to color outside the lines is a metaphor for breaking rigid and needless rules and thereby freeing up our creativity.” –Ray Schneider

 

 

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?

  1. Christ-chasing church hoppers are spiritually hungry. They have a vision and a desire for something more than church as usual. They’re looking for love, friendship, godliness, acceptance, humility, healing, Christ-centered relationships, an opportunity to use their spiritual gifts, forgiveness, and the presence and power of the living, risen Jesus. They long to see a mighty move of God.
  2. Christ chasing church hoppers hold on to hope. They don’t settle for the status quo, but keep their hopes up that they will be a part of a body of believers who will be open and honest before the living God. While they are regularly attending a particular church they continually hope that a move of God will break out there. Sometimes, in order to keep their hope and spiritual hunger from being quenched, they feel compelled to move on.
  3. Christ-chasing church hoppers are courageous. Because they are not the spiritually silent type, but boldly share their vision with others, they are often labeled “rebellious” and accused of being unwilling to “submit.” Sometimes pastors try to manipulate them and/or force them into silence and compliance. Even under pressure Christ-chasing church hoppers bravely stand up for what they believe, often until they feel they have no other option but to leave.
  4. Christ-chasing church hoppers carry God’s fire. Often times, when they start attending a church, they will bring a spark of spiritual awakening. Unfortunately, however, the leadership sometimes sees this as a threat to their authority and they work to contain and control the new person or family.
  5. Christ-chasing church hoppers obey the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:5 tells Christ-followers to “turn away” from powerless forms of godliness — religion that doesn’t set people free.
  6. Christ-chasing church hoppers sometimes become “Dones.” (Dones are Christ-followers who have given up on church.) Rather than lose their passion for God, Christ-chasing church hoppers would rather stay at home and seek God on their on than have their spiritual fire put out.
  7. Christ-chasing church hoppers are going beyond church as usual by developing fresh, creative ways of meeting together. Dones often meet in “house churches” and/or “organic churches” where they break out of the mold of traditional church. Many Dones are discovering the Greek New Testament concept of ekklesia based on 1 Corinthians 14:26, where instead of having a dominating leader, everyday people are free to speak out as they feel led by the Spirit.
  8. Christ-chasing church hoppers are not content to settle for the stump of powerless religion, no matter how old it is, how big it is, how impressive it is, or how intimidating it is. They won’t give up until they encounter present-day spiritual life surging through a body of believers.

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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 a church meeting like Jesus isn’t even there, what does Jesus feel? (WDJF?) http://amzn.to/22hrxu4

–If someone ignored the President of the USA and began to run and control his cabinet as if the President wasn’t in the room, how would he feel?  What if Jesus is patiently waiting for us to realize that He can run a church service better than the best preacher in a pulpit?

–How long must Jesus wait before He’s allowed to be the actual Head of church meetings? If we allow Jesus to run and control a church meeting, He will guide it into the Greek New Testament concept of ekklesia, which was the name of the city council in ancient Greek city-states.

–If you have ever wondered if church can ever vary from the traditional model of being run from the front of the room, you need to experience The Salvation Army Berry Street — 225 Berry St., Nashville, 37207 on Sundays at 10:45.

Christ's city council

 

 

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
trending
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 truth?
When regular people come together and release their hearts to trend with the living, resurrected Jesus, His power and presence robustly radiate through the room! That’s ekklesia!
The Greek New Testament idea of ekklesia seeks to bring people together and surrender to the Spirit; not to follow what’s trending in churches. Learn more by clicking here.
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!
For strength to ever do the right,
For grace to conquer in the fight,
For power to walk the world in white,
Bless our programs, bless our programs today!”
(When William Booth, co-founder of The Salvation Army, wrote the original version of this song, he passionately sang: “Send the fire!” And when I took this picture a flame somehow appeared on Booth’s right hand. Can you see it? Learn more about releasing God’s fire @ http://amzn.to/1UVqyBe.)058

Nowadays Western culture persuades people to trust in programs, procedures, policies, practicality, philosophy, professionals, and paradigms, to the point that when we perceive the presence and power of the living, resurrected Jesus, we push Him aside because we prefer our pedagogy and perceived proficiency more than the power of His presence. 

–“For such a time as this” let’s put down our programs and put on the fire of Jesus.  When a church (or corps) silences its most fiery, Christ-filled people, it confines itself to lukewarm mediocrity.
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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 . . .”
“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”
So why do we ignore the Bible
And limit speaking in church
To one man in a pulpit?

Most Christians will live their entire lives and never even once experience a worship meeting according to the directions given in 1 Corinthians 14:26 (the original recipe for a Christian worship meeting). Have you ever been in that type of meeting where every person present is free to speak out as they feel moved by the Spirit? It’s sad that so many people miss out on such straight forward and clear Bible teaching!

Let’ go beyond church as usual “when we come together” and begin to experience the God’s power and presence released through ordinary people. Here are two ways you can learn more about doing 1 Corinthians 14:26 in worship meetings:

  1. Visit The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where instead of a one-man sermon, everyday people show and tell what God has done.
  2. Get a copy of the book Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible–Ekklesia available at this link.

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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

uncooked eggs

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 people to plug into Christ, flow with the power of God, and speak up as they are prompted by the Holy Spirit. Ted Allen said: “People want honest, flavorful food, not some show-off meal that takes days to prepare.” Maybe the same thing is true about church. Learn to go beyond church as usual @http://amzn.to/1UPpnD6

Perhaps it is time for church to stop serving leftovers and serve up the original meal based on the recipe in the book of Acts: “The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.” –Calvin Trillin

When church does try to innovate, too often it looks like this: “To make my meal in a box taste better, I decided to tweak the logo, rather than the ingredients.” –Jarod Kintz

Julia Child said: “No one is born a great cook, one learns by doing.” You don’t learn to live for God by hearing a talk about it. You learn by doing! Perhaps church services could allow people to do the message, not just hear it! That one change can release God’s fire! “Don’t just live your life, set it on fire!” –Ginger Sullivan in The Honeymooner’s Cookbook

Instead of making a church service conform to our program, perhaps we could follow the Holy Spirit’s recipe in 1 Corinthians 14:26: “I let myself relax into the pattern of the recipe.” –Jael McHenry

Come and experience what God’s cooking up for the Dones, for the Millennials, and for others who are frustrated with church as usual. Check out The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, 37207, on Sunday mornings at 10:45 — where instead of a one man sermon, ordinary people show and tell what God has done.

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!”

gag rule

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 we have seen and heard,” and they continued to boldly talk about Jesus (Acts 4:18-20). The Bible says that when they met together for worship, everyone present had something to share (1 Corinthians 14:26).
–So what has happened 2,000 years later? Churches hold “services” where one man speaks and everybody else in the meeting is required to sit silently and “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”
–Now is the time for ordinary, contemporary Christ-followers to claim the courage and chutzpah of Peter and John: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and took note that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13.)”
–Will you? http://amzn.to/1qfYKuq

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 to actually do what the Spirit tells you to.

“Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh (your own ideas, opinions, program, agenda, or comfort zone)? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?” –Galatians 3:2-5.

“So I say walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (your own ideas, opinions, program, agenda, or comfort zone).” –Galatians 5:16.

“If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law (rules and regulations). –Galatians 5:18.

“Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh (your own ideas, opinions, program, agenda, or comfort zone) with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” –Galatians 5:24-25.

“Whoever sows to please their flesh (your own ideas, opinions, program, agenda, or comfort zone), from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” –Galatians 6:8-9.

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