Steve Bezner
@bezner.bsky.social
Longtime pastor turned Truett Seminary prof of Pastoral Ministry. Trying to take Jesus seriously. Peacemaking and BBQ enthusiast. Author Your Jesus is Too American.
As a longtime U2 fan, one of my favorite little quirks is that autocorrect changes the name of our dog—Bobo—to Bono.
January 19, 2026 at 8:35 PM
As a longtime U2 fan, one of my favorite little quirks is that autocorrect changes the name of our dog—Bobo—to Bono.
Do everything in love.
—1 Corinthians 16:14
—1 Corinthians 16:14
January 16, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Do everything in love.
—1 Corinthians 16:14
—1 Corinthians 16:14
If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.—1 Corinthians 13:1
God is love, y’all.
God is love, y’all.
January 15, 2026 at 12:37 PM
If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.—1 Corinthians 13:1
God is love, y’all.
God is love, y’all.
DFW-area friends:
I’ll be speaking tonight at 6 pm @ Hunters Glen Baptist Church in Plano.
Topic: “Becoming a Peacemaker in a Fractured World.”
Would love to see you!
I’ll be speaking tonight at 6 pm @ Hunters Glen Baptist Church in Plano.
Topic: “Becoming a Peacemaker in a Fractured World.”
Would love to see you!
January 14, 2026 at 7:47 PM
DFW-area friends:
I’ll be speaking tonight at 6 pm @ Hunters Glen Baptist Church in Plano.
Topic: “Becoming a Peacemaker in a Fractured World.”
Would love to see you!
I’ll be speaking tonight at 6 pm @ Hunters Glen Baptist Church in Plano.
Topic: “Becoming a Peacemaker in a Fractured World.”
Would love to see you!
Here's my basic rule for pastors thinking about endorsing/backing a political candidates/party:
Don't.
If, however, you choose to do so, when those you endorsed do something grievous, then call it out at the same level you endorsed.
If you don't, both you & the broader church lose credibility.
Don't.
If, however, you choose to do so, when those you endorsed do something grievous, then call it out at the same level you endorsed.
If you don't, both you & the broader church lose credibility.
January 14, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Here's my basic rule for pastors thinking about endorsing/backing a political candidates/party:
Don't.
If, however, you choose to do so, when those you endorsed do something grievous, then call it out at the same level you endorsed.
If you don't, both you & the broader church lose credibility.
Don't.
If, however, you choose to do so, when those you endorsed do something grievous, then call it out at the same level you endorsed.
If you don't, both you & the broader church lose credibility.
When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we respond graciously.—1 Cor 4:12-13
If we forsake his Way, we forsake Him.
Responding like Jesus is the Way of Jesus.
If we forsake his Way, we forsake Him.
Responding like Jesus is the Way of Jesus.
January 14, 2026 at 12:04 PM
When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we respond graciously.—1 Cor 4:12-13
If we forsake his Way, we forsake Him.
Responding like Jesus is the Way of Jesus.
If we forsake his Way, we forsake Him.
Responding like Jesus is the Way of Jesus.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.—1 Cor 3:19
Meaning, purpose, wisdom, and fulfillment are found when you reject the wisdom of the world and instead choose the Way of the Cross.
Meaning, purpose, wisdom, and fulfillment are found when you reject the wisdom of the world and instead choose the Way of the Cross.
January 13, 2026 at 1:36 PM
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.—1 Cor 3:19
Meaning, purpose, wisdom, and fulfillment are found when you reject the wisdom of the world and instead choose the Way of the Cross.
Meaning, purpose, wisdom, and fulfillment are found when you reject the wisdom of the world and instead choose the Way of the Cross.
Do not owe anyone anything, except to love another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.—Romans 13:8
The debt of love—guiding us in the Way of Jesus.
The debt of love—guiding us in the Way of Jesus.
January 12, 2026 at 12:12 PM
Do not owe anyone anything, except to love another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.—Romans 13:8
The debt of love—guiding us in the Way of Jesus.
The debt of love—guiding us in the Way of Jesus.
Happy Sunday!
In a world that often feels hopeless and as if it is falling apart, we have these words of promise:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.—Romans 8:18
In a world that often feels hopeless and as if it is falling apart, we have these words of promise:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.—Romans 8:18
January 11, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Happy Sunday!
In a world that often feels hopeless and as if it is falling apart, we have these words of promise:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.—Romans 8:18
In a world that often feels hopeless and as if it is falling apart, we have these words of promise:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.—Romans 8:18
Y’all go on ahead without me. Knock yourselves out. I’m still celebrating Christmas over here.
Lights are still up. Listening to Christmas choral music and orchestral arrangements. Reading a book outside. May watch a Christmas movie tonight while eating some cheese.
Lights are still up. Listening to Christmas choral music and orchestral arrangements. Reading a book outside. May watch a Christmas movie tonight while eating some cheese.
January 2, 2026 at 8:33 PM
Y’all go on ahead without me. Knock yourselves out. I’m still celebrating Christmas over here.
Lights are still up. Listening to Christmas choral music and orchestral arrangements. Reading a book outside. May watch a Christmas movie tonight while eating some cheese.
Lights are still up. Listening to Christmas choral music and orchestral arrangements. Reading a book outside. May watch a Christmas movie tonight while eating some cheese.
I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”—Acts 20:35
Happy New Year. Let’s resolve to help the weak and to give freely in love.
Happy New Year. Let’s resolve to help the weak and to give freely in love.
January 1, 2026 at 2:07 PM
I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”—Acts 20:35
Happy New Year. Let’s resolve to help the weak and to give freely in love.
Happy New Year. Let’s resolve to help the weak and to give freely in love.
I don’t know about *best* book I read in 2025, but the book I thought about, referenced, and recommended the most was Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond. 190 pages, and it packs punch after punch.
December 30, 2025 at 11:25 PM
I don’t know about *best* book I read in 2025, but the book I thought about, referenced, and recommended the most was Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond. 190 pages, and it packs punch after punch.
An elite post-Christmas combo:
Two tamales, warmed in a pan until crispy, served next to two fried eggs.
Two tamales, warmed in a pan until crispy, served next to two fried eggs.
December 30, 2025 at 6:45 PM
An elite post-Christmas combo:
Two tamales, warmed in a pan until crispy, served next to two fried eggs.
Two tamales, warmed in a pan until crispy, served next to two fried eggs.
But God has shown me that I must not call any person impure or unclean.—Acts 10:28
Accusations don’t work.
Love never fails.
Accusations don’t work.
Love never fails.
December 30, 2025 at 2:23 PM
But God has shown me that I must not call any person impure or unclean.—Acts 10:28
Accusations don’t work.
Love never fails.
Accusations don’t work.
Love never fails.
Marks of the earliest believers: Committed prayer and radical generosity.
They all were continually united in prayer.—Acts 1:14
No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.--Acts 4:32
They all were continually united in prayer.—Acts 1:14
No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.--Acts 4:32
December 29, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Marks of the earliest believers: Committed prayer and radical generosity.
They all were continually united in prayer.—Acts 1:14
No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.--Acts 4:32
They all were continually united in prayer.—Acts 1:14
No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.--Acts 4:32
Christmastide begins today.
A feast of love and generosity that lasts twelve days.
A reminder that Jesus’s arrival is not perfunctory but transformative.
May we celebrate—and live—accordingly.
A feast of love and generosity that lasts twelve days.
A reminder that Jesus’s arrival is not perfunctory but transformative.
May we celebrate—and live—accordingly.
December 26, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Christmastide begins today.
A feast of love and generosity that lasts twelve days.
A reminder that Jesus’s arrival is not perfunctory but transformative.
May we celebrate—and live—accordingly.
A feast of love and generosity that lasts twelve days.
A reminder that Jesus’s arrival is not perfunctory but transformative.
May we celebrate—and live—accordingly.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.—Isaiah 9:2
Today, the final day of Advent darkness.
Tomorrow, a great light.
Today, the final day of Advent darkness.
Tomorrow, a great light.
December 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.—Isaiah 9:2
Today, the final day of Advent darkness.
Tomorrow, a great light.
Today, the final day of Advent darkness.
Tomorrow, a great light.
I love the detail in John 20 where Mary doesn’t recognize Jesus until he says her name.
She knows his voice, and he knows her name.
Something about God calling us by name and us learning to hear Him is transformative.
She knows his voice, and he knows her name.
Something about God calling us by name and us learning to hear Him is transformative.
December 19, 2025 at 2:10 PM
I love the detail in John 20 where Mary doesn’t recognize Jesus until he says her name.
She knows his voice, and he knows her name.
Something about God calling us by name and us learning to hear Him is transformative.
She knows his voice, and he knows her name.
Something about God calling us by name and us learning to hear Him is transformative.
So if I, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.—John 13:14
Foot washing.
It’s what Christians do.
Foot washing.
It’s what Christians do.
December 18, 2025 at 12:07 PM
So if I, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.—John 13:14
Foot washing.
It’s what Christians do.
Foot washing.
It’s what Christians do.
Friendly reminder for the liturgically curious among us to cue up the "O Antiphons" each day from now until Christmas.
December 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Friendly reminder for the liturgically curious among us to cue up the "O Antiphons" each day from now until Christmas.
“I am the light of the world.”—John 8:12
“You are the light of the world.”—Matt 5:14
His light, in us.
“You are the light of the world.”—Matt 5:14
His light, in us.
December 17, 2025 at 12:15 PM
“I am the light of the world.”—John 8:12
“You are the light of the world.”—Matt 5:14
His light, in us.
“You are the light of the world.”—Matt 5:14
His light, in us.
Anyone else feel an irrational pride when you make your wife laugh hysterically?
I’ll ride this high for days.
I’ll ride this high for days.
a man wearing sunglasses and a black sweater adjusts his sunglasses
ALT: a man wearing sunglasses and a black sweater adjusts his sunglasses
media.tenor.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Anyone else feel an irrational pride when you make your wife laugh hysterically?
I’ll ride this high for days.
I’ll ride this high for days.
Jesus: “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples.”—John 8:31
Disciples continue to follow Jesus, even when it is
“Impractical”
“Useless”
“Out of date”
“Being weaponized”
Disciples continue to follow Jesus, even when it is
“Impractical”
“Useless”
“Out of date”
“Being weaponized”
December 16, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Jesus: “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples.”—John 8:31
Disciples continue to follow Jesus, even when it is
“Impractical”
“Useless”
“Out of date”
“Being weaponized”
Disciples continue to follow Jesus, even when it is
“Impractical”
“Useless”
“Out of date”
“Being weaponized”
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.—John 1:14
December 15, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.—John 1:14
Advent joy is not naïve optimism. Instead it is borne from trust—trust in a God who will one day return and set all things right.
Until then, we live faithful to the Way of Jesus, believing it to be the true path to transformation, both within us and His creation.
Until then, we live faithful to the Way of Jesus, believing it to be the true path to transformation, both within us and His creation.
December 14, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Advent joy is not naïve optimism. Instead it is borne from trust—trust in a God who will one day return and set all things right.
Until then, we live faithful to the Way of Jesus, believing it to be the true path to transformation, both within us and His creation.
Until then, we live faithful to the Way of Jesus, believing it to be the true path to transformation, both within us and His creation.