Author Archives: Steve Simms

About Steve Simms

I like to look and think outside the box. I have written two books: Mindrobics: How To Be Happy For The Rest Of Your Life and Your Sperm Won--Experiencing Your Value As A Championship Human Being. In college I encountered Jesus Christ and I have been passionate about trying to get to know Him better ever since. My wife and I lead a non-traditional church in Nashville based on open participation and Spirit-led sharing. We long to see the power and passion of the early church come to life in our time.

Normal Christian Fire = Church Ablaze

Posted on June 19, 2013

Faith is God’s fire roaring in your heart; not religious ideas resting in the back of your brain. The normal condition of a Christ-follower is to have a heart constantly ablaze with love for God. When normal believers, full of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, church fire, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, faith, faith in God, faith-based, filled with the Spirit, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, let the redeemed of the Lord say so, organic church, Quench not the Spirit, quench the Spirit, Tennessee | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Silence of the Lambs

Posted on June 18, 2013

In the Western church the lambs (members) are too often silent.  Ordinary believers have allowed others (the clergy) to speak for them (and often to think for them) and they have too often remained silent. We sit back and listen … Continue reading →

Posted in clergy, clergy/laity, open church, organic church, pastor, preacher, religion, religious information, religious words, TV evangelists, TV ministers, Western religion, Western society | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

You won’t learn to listen to and be led by the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) until you leave your comfort zone.

Posted on June 17, 2013
Posted in comfort, comfort zone, comfortable, Comforter, conviction, discomfort, spirit, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual healing, spiritual innovation, spiritual movement, spiritual power, spiritual training, spiritual transformation, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Lights of the Round Table / Spirit-Prompted Church Meetings

Posted on June 17, 2013

King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table reveal a biblical way of holding church meetings. 1)  The knights set at a round table so that no one, not even the king, could be at the head of the table and … Continue reading →

Posted in Camelot, Christ, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church roles, church services, church structure, Code of Chivalry, equality, Head, Head of the church, hiearchy, Jesus, Jesus Christ, King Arthur, knighthood, knights, Matthew 20, moral, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral leaders, moral principles, moral reformer, moral restraints, morality, organic church, Round Table, simple church, values | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Could Church Services Be Like A Handbell Choir?

Posted on June 14, 2013

Have you ever seen a group of people play a tune with handbells? Each person holds two bells and all the bells play different notes. As a director leads them, each person plays one of his bells at the proper … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian community, Christianity, church leader, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, encountering God, experiencing God, participants, participators, participatory church, religious innovation, spiritual transformation | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Real Church = The Real God, Real Power, His Real Presence Through Real People

Posted on June 12, 2013

Do we go to church to be taught a religious lesson . . . or to encounter and surrender to God’s presence?  A listening mind can learn lessons about God; but it takes a hungry heart to head wholeheartedly into … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts, Apostle Paul, Christianity, church format, church meetings, church programs, church services, first time visitor, glory, glory of God, holiness, Isaiah, lecture, listening, O taste and see that the Lord is good, organic church, organization, presence of Christ, presence of God, psalm, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, tears, The Salvation Army, why go to church | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Your life is like a donut — there’s a big hole where God should be.

Posted on June 7, 2013

The first Friday in June is National Donut Day in the USA.  This holiday began in Chicago in 1938 when The Salvation Army began to sell donuts to raise money to help people suffering from the Great Depression and to … Continue reading →

Posted in American, American history, Chicago, Donut Girls, empty core, first Friday in June, fund raising, God, Great Depression, holiday, holiday hype, holidays, lassies, life is like a donut, National Doughnut Day, Salvation Army women, Salvationists, sugar coat the truth, USA | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Are There Conditions On God’s Grace?

Posted on June 6, 2013

According to the Bible, amazing grace seems to be conditional.  Grace is free, but it’s not unconditional. “God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God . . .” (1 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Peter, Bible, Bible quotes, Bible study, condition on grace, conditional grace, debt, definition, forgive us our trespasses, gives grace to the humble, God, God resists the proud, grace of God, Hebrews, New Testament, Quotations, quote, Quotes, root of bitterness, salvation, saved by grace, self-control, Titus, unforgiveness, ungodliness | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Fire From God

Posted on June 4, 2013

Unless you hear it through the Spirit, the Bible will be boring. If the Word doesn’t burn in your heart your sins won’t depart! Without a Spirit-fire, you will drown in your own desire. So how do you start a … Continue reading →

Posted in church seating, flammable, God, hdden sin, heart-felt, heart-felt love, Holy Spirit, I set myself on fire, miraculous, mysticism, nature of God, passion, passionate, release of the Spirit, relevation, religion, religious innovation, spirit fire, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual church, spiritual fire, spiritual transformation | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Thoughts & Quotes — Church Outside The Box

Posted on June 2, 2013

An open mic in church opens hearts, and allows the Holy Spirit to speak through anyone present. If the outcome hasn’t been planned ahead of time, church has all the anticipation and excitement of a championship sporting event! When we … Continue reading →

Posted in Brian Anderson, Christianity, church format, church leadership, church roles, church services, church structure, creativity, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, innovation, innovators, Myles Horton, mystery, mysticism, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual church, spiritual fire, spiritual flow, spiritual gifts, spiritual interaction, spiritual life, spiritual movement, spiritual power, voice of God | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment