You’re never too old to go beyond church!

Posted on January 16, 2016 by Steve Simms

You are never too old to go beyond church. Take 92 year old “Miss” Mildred for example.

“Miss” Mildred had been a Salvation Army soldier (member) for many years when her corps (church) was shut down because of dwindling attendance and finances. A few years later, the Army asked my wife and me to start a new, “non-traditional” corps in the old building where her corps had met.

We based the Sunday meeting in the new corps on Spirit-led, open sharing and testimonies (instead of a one-man sermon) according to 1 Corinthians 14:26 (what the New Testament calls ekklesia). At first “Miss” Mildred didn’t come, but then one Sunday she gave it a chance. And she never looked back, coming to Berry Street Corps every Sunday she was able.

As I would drive her home afterwards she would excitedly say things like: “Wasn’t that wonderful today!” “Those people really know the Bible!” “This is the best our corps has ever done!” She absolutely loved the openness, honesty, humility, and caring that flowed from the people as they ministered to one another.

Less than a year ago, “Miss” Mildred’s health had declined so much that her family had to move her out of her home. My wife got a call last night that she is in the hospital and going into hospice care. When we saw her this morning she was unconscious. My wife and I sang some hymns for her, prayed over her, and visited with her granddaughter.

“Miss” Mildred proves that you are never too old to step out of your comfort zone, go beyond church as usual, and experience God in fresh new ways. Come and see what so blessed “Miss” Mildred — the ekklesia at 225 Berry St., Nashville, 37207, on Sundays at 10:45 am.

beyond church kindle 2

Posted in Berry Street, Beyond Church, ekklesia, house church, membership in The Salvation Army, organic chruch, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Berry Street, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army soldiers, simple church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The old hymn doesn’t say . . .

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Steve Simms

 

The old hymn doesn’t say: “What a religious figure we have in Jesus.”
–It says: “What a friend we have in Jesus.”
 
An old hymn doesn’t say: “On Christ the solid rock I waffle.”
–It says: “On Christ the solid rock I stand!”
 
The old hymn doesn’t say: “Jesus condones.”
–It says: “Jesus saves.”
 
“An old hymn doesn’t say: “I love to hear a sermon.”
–It says: “I love to tell the story.” (If you love to tell the story, check out my new book: Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible–Ekklesia at this link.)
“The old hymn doesn’t say: “O come all ye compromised.”
–It says: “O come all ye faithful.”
The old hymn doesn’t say: “To me be self-fulfillment.”
–It says: “To God be the glory!”
An old hymn doesn’t say: “At the party.”
–It says: “At the cross.”
The old hymn doesn’t say: “Turn your eyes upon what you want.”
–It says: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus.”
An old hymn doesn’t say: “Are you feeling good about yourself?”
–It says: “Are you washed in the blood?”
The old hymn doesn’t say: “Boast in what you have accomplished.”
–It says: “Count your blessings.”
hymns

 

Posted in Are you washed in the blood, at the cross, Beyond Church, Count your blessings, I love to tell the story, O come all ye faithful, old hymns, On Christ the solid rock I stand, Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Uncategorized, What a friend we have in Jesus | 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 to conduct His ekklesia in my new book Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible–Ekklesia available at this link.)

beyond church conductor

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

Emmanuel’s Ekklesia (ἐκκλησία) Experience

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Steve Simms
Here’s a short poem about how to experience ancient Greek ἐκκλησία in the 21st Century:
–Emmanuel’s Ekklesia Experience–
Come together.
Listen to the Spirit,
God with us,
Speak in your heart.
Let those who hear
Share what they heard.
Behold the Lamb of God,
The living Jesus,
Moving among you
Working in and through
Ordinary people
As they show and tell
What God has done.
Whoever has ears to hear,
Let them hear
What the Spirit says
To the ekklesias.
Ekklesia (ἐκκλησία) is the Greek word used in the New Testament that is usually replaced in English language Bibles with the word church. Jesus (Emmanuel) said: “I will build my ἐκκλησία.” Read more about Emmanuel’s (ἐκκλησία) ekklesia experience here).
beyond church close up
Posted in art of listening, Bible, ekklesia, Greek word, he who has ears to hear, hearing God, hearing God's voice, hearing the Holy Spirit, inner hearing, inner listening, listening prayer, listening skills, listening to God, listening to the Spirit, spiritual listening, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Riding the tide of God’s grace (an acrostic)

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Steve Simms

-An acrostic for GRACE–
Gathering
Reciprocally
As
Christ’s
Ekklesia

–Grace releases revival and spiritual awakening by allowing us the blood-bought privilege to ride the tide of Christ’s amazing presence. It allows us to freely experience His mercy, forgiveness, and love, in and through one another when we: 1) gather as His ekklesia; 2) obey the Spirit’s promtings; and 3) fulfill the New Testament one anothers.  Perhaps it is time for us to go beyond church and get on board the biblical concept of ekklesia. See more at this link.

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Posted in Beyond Church, Bible one anothers, blood of Jesus, ekklesia, forgiveness, mercy, New Testament, revival, spiritual awakening, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

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 by George Orwell in his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.  He called PC newspeak.  It was a highly controlled vocabulary established by the totalitarian state of Oceania in order to minimize the freedom of thought and to curtail ideas considered to be a threat by the regime. Any variation from newspeak was considered to be a thoughtcrime.

However, PC is not just political. It can also be religious. The religious Pharisees of the 1st Century wanted to have a monopoly on how people talked (and acted) about God so they closely monitored people’s adherence to their rules. They called it “the tradition of the elders.” (See Matthew 15:2) Jesus told them: “You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down.” (Mark 7:13)

Giving one man (or group) a monopoly on religious thought can hinder God’s working. (The New Testament calls hindering God “Quenching the Holy Spirit.”)

The Holy Spirit goes beyond PC–beyond outward rules. He speaks directly to people’s hearts through their conscience and through His “still, small voice.” When people are outwardly compelled to adhere to rules, tradition, and/or political correctness, they often miss the inner voice of the Spirit.

BC (going beyond traditional church) courageously allows ordinary people the freedom to listen to God’s inner voice and then to say and/or do whatever He tells them to. Learn more about BC at this link.

Why settle for a monopoly when we can go Beyond Church?

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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

Palliteration–11 words in pursuit of Christ’s ekklesia

Posted on January 9, 2016 by Steve Simms
Palliteration — 11 words in pursuit of Christ’s ekklesia. (Alliteration is “the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.” Therefore pallaliteration is “the occurance of the p sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.”
–Ekklesia–
Peaceful people
Patiently gathered
To perceive
And pursue
Christ’s presence
Together
beyond church black church
* Peaceful people — “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:7 “Encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” –2 Corinthians 13:11
* Patiently meeting — “Be still, and know that I am God.” –Psalm 46:10 “We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.” –Psalm 33:20
* To perceive — “This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” –Matthew 16:17 “No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” –Matthew 11:27
* And pursue — “Seek first His kingdom and his righteousness.” –Matthew 6:33 “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” –James 4:8
* Christ’s presence — “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” –Matthew 18:20 “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” –Colossians 1:27
* Together — “When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.” –1 Corinthians 14:26 “Truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” –Matthew 18:19
–For more about the New Testament concept of ekklesia, click here.
Posted in Be still and know, Beyond Church, Bible quotes, Bible verses, ekklesia, Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, house church, Matthew 18:20, Matthew 6:33, Meeting for Worship, organic church, organic church blogs, participatory church, peace, two or three in My name, Uncategorized, waiting on God, waiting on the Lord | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

7 scriptural thoughts preachers seldom say in sermons

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Steve Simms

Here are seven scriptural thoughts that preachers seldom say in sermons:

  • “Don’t just accept what I say, but check it out for yourself in the Bible.” (“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” –Acts 17:1
  • “We are turning this meeting over to the Holy Spirit. Now let’s all listen to Him and then say and/or do whatever He tells us to.” (“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” –Romans 8:14)
  • “We are going to open up the meeting today and let you teach one another.” (“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another.” –Colossians 3:16)
  • “Jesus is the Senior Pastor of this church, not me.” (“And when the Chief Shepherd {Senior Pastor} appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” –1 Peter 5:4)
  • “Who has something to share this morning?” (“When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.” –1 Corinthians 14:26)
  • “We are going to break into small groups and let you pray for one another.” (“Pray for each other so that you may be healed.” –James 5:16)
  • “Does anyone have a sin they want to confess?” (Therefore confess your sins to each other.” –James 5:16)

If you like these biblical ideas, you will love my new book Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible–Ekklesia. Get it at this link.

beyond church berry street

 

Posted in Bereans, Beyond Church, Bible one anothers, Bible quotes, book, Jesus Senior Pastor, led by the Spirit, organic chruch, Romans 8:14, Uncategorized, what the Bible says about | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Church bulletin or blank piece of paper?

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Steve Simms

Church is based on an order of worship. That prearranged order of worship is often printed on a program and passed out to people as they prepare to sit for its presentation.

Ekklesia is a gathering built on everyday people hearing directly from the living, resurrected Jesus Christ and then sharing what He tells them to. Ekklesia is like a blank sheet of paper, ready to receive what Jesus says in the present moment.  Jesus puts it this way: “This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in Heaven . . . and on this rock I will build my ekklesia, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

bulletin or paper

Church pursues a program.
Ekklesia rides the Spirit’s tide.

For more on ekklesia check out Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible. 

Posted in house church, organic church, simple church | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Church is not a place to hide your light

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Steve Simms

How did church become a place to hide the light that shines in your heart? Why do we bring our light to church and then keep it hidden “under a bowl” in our heart?

“He (Jesus) said to them, ‘Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.’”–Mark 4:21-23

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” –2 Corinthians 4:6

According to Scripture, an assembly of Christ-followers is a place for disclosure and openness. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” –James 5:16

A God-gathering is a place for open sharing, testimony, and ministry to one another. “When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.” –1 Corinthians 14:26

A friend recently posted this pic:

clergy don't read

Perhaps, not only clergy — but everybody — should, not only read 1 Cor. 14:26, but also actively do it when we come together in Jesus name.

These Bible verses call us to go beyond church as usual!  But how can we do that? If you need help getting beyond church, check out my new book, Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible. 

Posted in alternative church, Beyond Church, house church, how we do church, open church, open mic church, organic church, organic church blogs, participatory church, purpose of church, questioning church, rethinking church, sharing in church, simple church, Spirit-led church, testimonies in church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments