Kingdom Come

Jesus' first recorded sermon went something like this: "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand."

Rough paraphrase: "Turn your life around, because you can participate in God's reality right here, right now."

It seems so simple.

Because it is.

Don't get me wrong, inside of that simple statement is an eternity's worth of conversation, theological unpacking, and an entire set of spiritual practices.

But, at root, Jesus' message is simple: if you choose to do so, you can live in God's reality.

As a pastor, I often get more caught up in "growing my church" than in building the Kingdom. Honestly, it's easy to get distracted from simply living the Kingdom.

But if I read Jesus' parables with open eyes, I'll see that he uses the stories to tell us about the Kingdom. He often begins with a phrase like this, "The Kingdom of God is like...". In other words, stories about vineyards, batches of dough, lost sheep, and the like are pictures of what life in God's Kingdom looks like.

The Kingdom is living as if Jesus is King.

For my part, this has been a gradual awakening over the past five years or so.

But I continually need reminding: I am to aid in the ushering in of the Kingdom. And when I do so, my King's church emerges. Honestly, I cannot build the church. Jesus does that. He even said it: "I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

I live the Kingdom and disciple people into the Kingdom.

And the church is what results.

May we make you King, Jesus.

Weekend Quick-Hits

OK. I want to tell you all about our weekend, but I'm swamped. So here are the highlights:

* My study leave week didn't go exactly as planned. I had a stack of books to read but, as you might imagine, the news that we were considering planting a church generated a bit of communication. I had multiple phone calls and meetings. I read exactly zero books over study leave. Unless you count demographic reports.

* Friday night G-mommy took the boys and JB and I sat on the couch, watched TV, ate ice cream, and were general bums.

* Saturday we slept in and then picked up the boys. We took them to Target to make a preliminary Christmas list. They walked the aisles and picked out things they hoped they would get, and then I took a picture. I think I took about 40 pics. Good luck, Santa.

* For lunch we went to the James house and celebrated Brian's tenth birthday. It was a great Dallas Cowboys birthday party, complete with a perfectly decorated cake.

* The afternoon was spent playing the Wii with Drew (while avoiding work). JB took a short nap.

* Saturday night we had a birthday dinner for Britt. They cooked steaks on the grill, so the red meat ban was temporarily lifted. I ate WAY too much.

* Sunday was a great day: worship was great; I helped Brent team preach and did a William J. Murray monologue. After that, I mowed while JB cleaned out the boys' closet. Then a youth fellowship topped off with a big Cowboys win.

But I know what you're really thinking: what about all the great theological insights from the weekend?

Quick one: if Jesus' first sermon was about the Kingdom and if almost every single parable was about the Kingdom, what do you think the object of preaching ought to be?

More soon.

Requests and Answers

Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us. Let me provide some updates and then address some questions folks have had:

Since Sunday night Joy and/or I have had multiple meetings with a variety of people about the possibility of starting a church in south Fort Worth. We have asked for prayer, and, believe me, we have sensed it every step of the way. Just a few examples:

The meeting with the BGCT (Baptist General Convention of Texas) representative, Mateo Rendón, and the TBA (Tarrant Baptist Association) representative, Jay Harris, was extremely productive. One of our friends, Thomas, joined me on this meeting, and we had the opportunity to share our vision for a new church. Both Mateo and Jay were receptive and encouraging. Although nothing is official at this point, it appears that the BGCT and TBA will partner with us in this effort. For those wondering, that means that we will have coaching, networking, and some funding possibly available (approximately $1100 per month for the first year) that would help cover some initial ministry costs. Obviously more funding and networking will be needed, but we received this as a positive sign and another confirmation from the Holy Spirit.

Additionally, I have met or spoken with (along with Thomas or JB) three other couples that are considering joining us on this endeavor. Each of them are at different life stages and have different gifts, but they each have a passion for the Kingdom. Whether or not they will join us is yet to be seen, but good things have resulted from the conversations.

Moreover, we have been overwhelmed with e-mails, facebook messages, text messages, phone calls, voicemails, and personal visits from individuals who vocally and prayerfully are supporting us in this step of faith. Our church has been incredibly supportive; the church staff is supportive; our families are supportive. Out of all of this, there have been others (old friends, family members, and the like) who have indicated that they may consider re-locating to serve alongside us, as well.

All of this has served as a clear confirmation of the Holy Spirit's leading. As I have mentioned before, our plan is to plant a church in south Fort Worth unless the Lord stops us, and this week has made it clear that He and His people are with us. Consequently, we are now moving from discernment toward strategy.

So the prayer requests are a bit clearer now:

1. That the Spirit will continue to guide us to the right people and resources.

2. That the right team will be drawn together and that the Spirit will guide them.

3. Employment for myself and JB in Fort Worth, probably in education, but anything is possible.

4. Good schools for the boys. We want this to be smooth for them.

5. Financial resources for the church. We will be hammering out a budget soon.

6. Provision and wisdom to do some minor repairs to our home for its sale (kitchen floor, new oven, painting).

7. The right house or apartment in the right neighborhood in Fort Worth.

If you can pray for any or all of those, you would be a great blessing to us. And, obviously, if you think that you can help us overcome one of those obstacles, we would love to hear from you.

Now, some quick answers to some questions:

1. Are you leaving Kaufman because of problems? No! We love this town, this church, our friends, and everything. We are simply trying to be obedient to the Lord's call.

2. Why Fort Worth? It's growing rapidly and the city needs not just one church but dozens of new churches as quickly as possible to reach people with the Gospel.

3. When is this happening? Our plan is to relocate in Summer 2010 if possible.

Thanks again for your continued prayers and support. We are so thankful for each of you!

Jesus People Who Pray

My life is filled with Jesus people.

Since asking for prayer and guidance on Sunday night, my voicemail, txt inbox, and e-mail has been overflowing with signs of support and prayer.

I am thankful for:

* a supportive Senior Pastor. He has been affirming from the beginning.

* a supportive staff team. They have encouraged me to follow the Lord.

* a praying and loving church family.

* God's continued provision and direction from His Spirit.

Today is a day when we will begin to see what doors the Lord is opening or closing. I am meeting with a pastor, a BGCT leader, a TBA leader, and a local businessman to talk about the possible church plant.

If you have time to pray today, please pray that the Lord's Spirit will guide my words during these conversations. I want to clearly sense His leadership. I know that your prayers will open my mind and soften my heart to hear the Spirit.

Thanks, Jesus people.

The Commons Church

The last 48 hours have been eventful, to put it lightly.

I am so thankful to be surrounded by a great group of friends and co-workers from our church and community who have encouraged Joy and I in this faith endeavor. Our philosophy is simple: We are planting a church in FW this Summer unless the Lord stops us.

I know it sounds silly, but that's where we are right now.

Between now and the Summer, we've got work to do.

We have tentatively named the church The Commons Church. We've chosen the name for a few reasons. First, we find it communicates our desire to create a Jesus-focused, grace-centered community. Just as "the common people" loved Jesus (Mark 12:37), we want all "common people" to feel welcome in this church. Second, it reflects the early church's desire to "have all things in common" (Acts 2:44). Third, it reflects the common thread of Jesus' lordship in the community (one baptism, one Lord, one Spirit).

We've quickly come up with a motto: A common people with an uncommon goal.

This, of course, could change. But I think you get the picture.

We've reserved a few website domains but have no logo or website as of yet. Thanks to Vista Church in Heartland, we have a model for our church prospectus (sort of a strategic plan), and we'll be working on that for the next little bit, as well. If you have thoughts on the logo or have talents in the website creation area you could donate, give me a shout.

In the meantime, if you twitter, you can follow the church at @commonschurch.

We are continuing to seek the Lord's guidance in this endeavor, and we covet your prayers.

What the Future Holds

What follows is a moment of honesty and clarity from the Bezner family.

In April 2008, I heard Rick Warren preach a sermon on the necessity of pastors in the coming century. Immediately after he preached, I heard a pastor named Bob Roberts speak how a church planting movement is needed to reach the United States (not the "world," mind you).

And since that moment I've been sensing the Holy Spirit drawing me into both: the "senior" pastorate and a church plant.

I've agonized over this for some time, peppering my wife with questions, praying the same prayers over and over, and exploring the options the Lord might have for me and mine.

And so today we are deciding to follow the Lord in faith.

We sense Him leading us to plant a church on the south side of Fort Worth, and we are going to act in obedience to that leadership.

Consequently, we are asking our church (and friends) to pray for us. If this is indeed the direction the Lord is leading, there are a number of factors that will have to come together. For starters, we would have to sell our house in a depreciated market; we would have to find another place to live; we would have to find a good school for the boys; we would have to find a job for JB and perhaps a "secular" position for me; we would need some funding for the new church start and people that would want to be part of this church.

In short, we would need quite a few things to work together for this to work out. So we think that prayer will reveal the Lord's will more clearly: if these things do not come to pass, then we will re-evaluate what we believe we are hearing from the Spirit accordingly. However, if these factors start to develop, then we will know that the Lord is indeed leading us in this direction.

At any rate, we would covet your prayers to see if this is the correct direction for us.

Let me clarify: there is nothing "wrong" here in Kaufman. We love our church (that's why we are asking them to pray for us) and the pastoral staff. I have been blessed to serve with some of my closest friends for several years, and the Lord has used that to shape me for the next portion of my ministry. We simply believe that the Spirit is leading us, and we want to be obedient to His leadership. After all, if I am truly a disciple, I will know my Father's voice and obey it.

In the coming days we will be posting many other details regarding the church, and we would love for you to be part of the conversation. In the meantime, if you would simply pray for the following, we would be greatly appreciative:

* Clear direction from the Holy Spirit

* Home matters (to sell and find a new one)

* Schools (for JB to teach and the boys to attend)

* Income (obviously a new church has no funds)

* Funding (we are hoping some churches want to partner with us)

* People (we are praying for 10-15 families that will share our vision and join us)

* FBC Kaufman (we love this church and its people, and we want it to prosper in this)

* Spiritual protection (this will be an emotionally and spiritually trying decision)

Ford County

I love rural Mississippi, partly because of E.L. and his family, and partly because of some of my favorite Southern writers: Flannery O'Conner, Walker Percy, and John Grisham.

I found out today that Grisham is releasing a collection of short stories this month entitled Ford County about different incidents in Ford County, Mississippi. I found the following You Tube clip and thought I'd share it for those interested:

Multiplication Tables

A couple of posts back I wondered aloud at Alan Hirsch's question: How did the first- and second- century churches grow so quickly?

Am I the only one that sees multiplication of leadership as a central concept?

In the last year I've heard more and more of churches with a new model: they grow to around 200 or 300 in attendance and then plant a church out of that church. The new church is then still part of that church, but they carry the Gospel to a new neighborhood. They share their budget, their resources, their facilities, and their leaders. They are still one church, but they are incarnated in several different locations.

This model buys into the first-century concept: when someone comes to Christ, they are put on mission for the church, immediately.

I met a pastor from Scotland last April who is the lead pastor for a network of eight churches that seek to grow leaders, commission them, and stay connected as a larger body. In this way, they get the benefits of a larger church, but they also get the missional benefits of being an incarnate presence of Christ within a variety of communities.

There's genius in this somewhere. And it requires me to think differently.

But I think there's something good, true, and biblical about this.

Desiring Humility

Philippians 2 is filled with a host of issues that, at least on the surface, appear to be unrelated. You read about Timothy, Epaphroditus, the attitude of Christ, and living like a shining star. And, while each of these concerns has its own merit, I see the thread of humility running through each facet of Chapter Two. As I continued my series on Desire Sunday, I unpacked what humility looks like in Paul's eyes:

1. Humility requires a Christ-centered attitude. Paul says it quite clearly: you ought to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus. I love the fact that Paul describes Jesus as a slave (doulos) to the will of the Father. I think so many believers in the American West have decided to treat God as an employer rather than a master. We constantly angle for a bigger and better deal. We look for ways to get the most out of working relationship. We don't accept it as a lifelong relationship likened to a servant. Hard truth: God doesn't want your feedback or bargaining. He wants obedience. As the sign in Mary Leonard's office said all of those years ago in Breckenridge, Texas: "Blessings Follow Obedience." In verse nine, Paul puts it another way: Jesus was exalted AFTER he submitted. If you want to be exalted in the eyes of Christ, you must first submit.

2. Humility requires a shining life. Paul commands us to live as a shining star in a perverse world (the 1st and 21st centuries have more in common than we often notice). A well-lived life does not bring pride; instead a well-lived life will shape your heart into the heart of Christ, making it into a humble heart.

3. Humility requires a others-centered approach. Paul describes Timothy as one who "genuinely" cares for others and one who has "proven" his worth. Only he, Paul says, is worthy of being sent out. If you want to understand humility, you must honestly learn to love those who are in your life. If you cannot care for others in the same way that you care about yourself (and we are all conceited in some ways), then you are failing to understand the heart of Jesus. This is not a false humility; this is a genuine care for others. If you do not love other people, then you do not understand what it means to follow Jesus.

4. Humility requires taking risks with Jesus. Ephaphroditus almost died. We don't know why or how. But we know that he almost died risking his life for Jesus. If you want to be humble, you must eventually reach a point where you are willing to do whatever Jesus needs in whatever way he asks it. If you continue to refuse to take faith-based risks because you're scared, then you're missing out on the greatest way to grow spiritually. If God asks you to do something, obedience is demanded. Risk is frightening; disobedience is even more frightening.

Desiring Christ

My current sermon series is a four-part series on Philippians (a chapter each week).

Last Sunday's sermon was an introduction to many of the ideas I'm reading in Alan Hirsch and James K.A. Smith right now, tied to the message of loving Christ in Philippians 1.

As Paul writes, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil 1:21).

So I unpacked what those ideas mean for us to desire Christ.

1. We must realize we are desiring beings. Paul speaks often of his combatting desires. Yet here he says that he is torn between the desire to go and be with Christ and to stay and teach those who are in the church. Paul openly spoke of the fact that his desires guided his decisions and that his desires are part of who he is.

Obviously, Madison Avenue knows we are desiring beings. They play upon our desires with an endless parade of images and advertisements designed to help us make decisions that will shape us into the person we desire to be.

Only when the church understands that people are, at root, desiring beings, will it begin to be able to shape people into the story of Jesus.

2. We must set our desire on Christ. Paul says it best: Christ and being with Him are his ultimate desires. A Christian is that individual who decides to place the value of Christ and His Kingdom above all other concerns. He or she is the person that loves Jesus above everything else. That was Paul's heart, and that is the heart of the church.

3. We must intentionally shape our desires. The Hebraic understanding of knowledge was more than just intellectual stimulation. The Hebrews believed you knew something as you practiced it. They found the body was directly connected to the mind and the will. Consequently, they believed that concrete training led to knowledge. As Christians, we need to be in the business of emulating this lifestyle; we ought to train our desires to fix themselves on Christ. Through worship, mission, service, the Supper, and a host of other activities, we shall train ourselves to love and know who Jesus is.