Tag Archives: Christianity

Home again? Home again ecclesiology!

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Steve Simms

“Ecclesiology” is a big sounding word. It also has a really big sounding definition: “theology as applied to the nature and structure of the Christian Church.” However, Christianity didn’t begin as formal church (needing an academic course of study), tightly … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, alternative Christianity, alternative church, assembly of God, church history, early church, Henry Hon, house church, lost and restored, lost word of the Bible, New Testament church, ONE: Unfolding God's Eternal Purpose From House To House, rethink church, rethinking church, simple church, theologians, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus said “Follow Me,” not “Follow a 501c3!”

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Steve Simms

Christian disciples turn the world upside down; but religious adherents are often swept along with the world’s viewpoints. Jesus said: “Follow Me!” Not: “Follow a 501c3.” The risen Jesus lives inside of all His followers, so He doesn’t need a hierarchy … Continue reading →

Posted in apest, body of Christ, Christian organizations, church history, church movements, church organization, institutional church, Jesus Movement, Let the redeemed of the Lord, organizational chart, persecution, reform movements, religious persecution, spiritual life, spiritual movement, transformation movements, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Spiritual paraplegics & pastor dependency

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Steve Simms

Instead of training and releasing people to follow and obey the living Jesus, churches tend to make people spiritual paraplegics. Perhaps sitting passively in church isn’t the kind of exercise that builds spiritual muscle. When people are made spiritually dependent on a … Continue reading →

Posted in call to ministry, growing in grace, Let go and let God, ministry, one man ministry, pastor, pastoring, pastors, pulpit ministry, purpose of a pastor, Sunday morning, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When Christ-followers meet as Christ’s council

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Steve Simms

It’s good to learn more about Jesus. It’s better to listen to and obey Him as members of His council. Jesus-followers are invited to meet as His city council and to participate in conducting city business for His kingdom as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 7 churches, ancient Greeks, Book of Revelation, Greek city-states, Hebrews, inner Light, Jerusalem, one man ministry, revelation, the seven lampstands, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus can still speak. Will 21st century Christians listen?

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Steve Simms

Hearing Jesus speak to you isn’t about how-to. It’s about want-to. Do you want to hear Him? Many people would prefer to hear a preacher speak than to hear God speak. Why? What you hear from a preacher can easily be … Continue reading →

Posted in apostles, Christ the Head of the church, evangelists, gifts of the Spirit, Head of the church, hearing God, hearing Jesus, inner hearing, pastors, prophets, shepherds, still small voice, teachers, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Let’s run Christ’s plays as a team!

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Steve Simms

Christ’s body consists of all who have Jesus living within them, not just the members of the many organizations called church. Anybody can organize and run a church; but Jesus wants to build His body on the rock of supernatural revelation … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian Denominations, denominations, ekklesia, homiletics, I am of Paul., institutional church, interdenominational, It's Supernatural, obedience, obedience to God, revelation, sermon, sermon material, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rediscovering Prechurch Christianity

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Steve Simms

Prechurch Christianity! There’s never been anything like it unleashed on earth! It came before organized Christianity and prechurch Christianity “turned the world upside down!” (See Acts 17:6) It can still “turn the world upside down.” Let’s re-experience it. Prechurch Christianity … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian history, normal Christianity, organic church, religion, simple church, true Christianity, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What church can learn from card playing.

Posted on January 7, 2018 by Steve Simms

Church sometimes seems like staring an hour at one card, while leaving the rest of the deck in the box. However, when a preacher holds all the cards on Sunday morning, it tends to shut down the rest of the … Continue reading →

Posted in card playing, card shark, cards, clergy, clergy/laity, ekklesia, house church, layman, Quotations, simple church, stacked deck, Uncategorized, unchurching | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A led life or a life of lead?

Posted on January 6, 2018 by Steve Simms

Live a led life! Jesus said, “Follow Me,” calling us to be directly led by Him. When Christ lives in us, we don’t need a script, a technique, or a church program because we have His presence directing us from within! … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ followers, church, church meetings, church program, church programming, ekklesia, family of God, God's army, Holy Spirit promptings, inner prompting, prompted by the Spirit, spiritual promptings, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Religion — a track for God to run on?

Posted on December 30, 2017 by Steve Simms

Church sometimes seems like going to a restaurant to hear a talk about food and then thinking we’ve been fed. Too many Christians have been taught that their primary role in the body of Christ is to sit and listen to … Continue reading →

Posted in body of Christ, frozen, how the body of Christ functions, religious ceremonies, spectators, Uncategorized, unprogrammed, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meeting | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment