Tag Archives: organic church

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

Why put Jesus in a box?

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Steve Simms

  Jesus is no Jack-in-the-box, alive one day and in the tomb the next. He’s not supposed to be preached about on Sunday and then shut up in a box for the rest of the week. Religion tries to turn … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Berry Street, ekklesia, Friends, He is risen, Jesus, living stones, prophecy, resurrection, resurrection of Jesus, revival, risen, spiritual formation, spirituality, timeline, Uncategorized, unfriend | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What’s “good” about “Good Friday”?

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

What’s “good” about “Good Friday”? –Between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning, Jesus was dead for hours. Now He’s alive forever! –Christ died on “Good Friday” to make a way for us to move beyond our guilt and shame by being … Continue reading →

Posted in atheism, body of Christ, ekklesia, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jewish temple, Neil Cole, religion, resurrection, resurrection of Jesus, secularism, sin, Uncategorized, vale in the temple | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

416 unprogrammed worship meetings @ Berry Street

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Steve Simms

I am amazed and deeply moved to be a part of celebrating 416 unprogrammed worship gatherings at The Salvation Army Berry Street this Sunday! What a joy it has been to go beyond church with so many dear brothers and sisters … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, East Nashville, ekklesia, house church, open church, participatory church, simple church, Tennessee, Uncategorized, unprogrammed church, unprogrammed meetings, worship | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Going (gone) with the wind of the Spirit . . .

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Steve Simms

A church cannot program the Holy Spirit. So why do we try? Why do we try to direct the Holy Spirit when we gather for worship, rather than humbly allowing the Spirit to direct us? The Spirit is free like … Continue reading →

Posted in A.W. Tozer, Acts 2, as many as are led by the Spirit, Be filled with the Spirit, C.T. Studd, coming of the Holy Spirit, demonstration of the Spirit, discerning of spirits, don't put out the Spirit's fire, filled with the Spirit, fire of the Holy Spirit, flow of the Spirit, flowing in the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, Gone With The Wind, hearing the Spirit, Holy Spirit promptings, Holy Spirit teaches, How to be led by the Spirit, how to flow in the spirit, how to grow spiritually, I will pour out my Spirit, in step with the Spirit, in the Spirit, led by the Spirit, Madame Guyon, mighty rushing wind, Samuel Chadwick, Second chapter of Acts, the wind blows where it will, Uncategorized, Watchman Nee, wind of the Spirit | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Cereal, cars, & church alternatives . . .

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Steve Simms

If for many centuries, almost everyone in the world who ate breakfast always had some brand of cereal, we would think it strange if a few people started talking and writing about having pancakes for breakfast. Breakfast cereal eaters might … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Beyond Church, change in church, change management, changes in worship, ekklesia, fresh expressions, house church, lay testimonies, messy church, nontraditional church, personal testimonies, Quakers, salvation testimonies, simple church, Spirit-led, Uncategorized, unprogrammed meetings | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

When God steps out into the open

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

People can hide from God in church, however, ekklesia brings God out into the open. Ekklesia is an adventure of the spiritual kind. It’s never the same, always exciting, and deeply moving. If you need some excitement in your life, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Albert Einstein, David L. McKenna, faith, faith-based, hiding from God, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Quotations, Quotes, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When church is so-so, perhaps it’s time to sew-sow

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Steve Simms

If you find church to be so-so; maybe you need to go beyond church and sew-sow. Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible–Ekklesia sews biblical truth and practical advice together in a warm, friendly, easy to … Continue reading →

Posted in Beyond Church, Bible, boredom in church, ekklesia, giving, Henri Nouwen, house church, overcoming boredom, reaping what you sow, Romans, seed faith, simple church, sowing and reaping, sowing into ministry, Uncategorized, where there is hatred let me sow love, William Barclay, you shall reap what you sow | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beyond a church program into waiting on God’s presence

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Steve Simms

What if “wait upon the Lord” Literally means to set aside Our church programs, plans, and agendas, And for all present to wait and listen Until the living God, Himself, Tells someone to say or do something? “But they that … Continue reading →

Posted in caught up with God, ekklesia, flowing in the Spirit, house church, Meeting for Worship, Quaker worship, run and not be weary, simple church, soaring in the Spirit, Uncategorized, unprogrammed meetings | 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 … Continue reading →

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