Your Jesus Is Too American: Calling the Church to Reclaim Kingdom Values over the American Dream
Ebook
"An invigorating look at the current state of the American church and what might be done to move it forward."--Publishers Weekly
The American church faces a discipleship crisis. Instead of following the values of Jesus, many Christians are chasing after what our culture prizes: power, money, and political influence.
In Your Jesus Is Too American, Baptist pastor Steve Bezner invites Christians to rediscover what Jesus treasured and incorporate those kingdom values into the church's witness.
With a pastoral voice, Bezner shares the lessons he has been teaching in his church community for 11 years--humble service rather than worldly success, healing relationships across religious and ethnic divides, repairing harm against marginalized groups, giving generously, and providing a political witness rooted in the local church. Bezner shows that Jesus's vision of discipleship points toward a different way of being in the world.
The book offers a welcome perspective for church leaders and congregants alike who are frustrated with the way many churches pursue values that are not in line with Jesus's teachings and are worried about the American church's credibility crisis. It includes a foreword by Beth Moore.
From the Back Cover
Confronting the Idols of Power and Influence and Returning to Kingdom Values
The American church faces a discipleship crisis. Instead of following the values of Jesus, many Christians are chasing after what our culture prizes: power, money, and political influence.
In Your Jesus Is Too American, Baptist pastor Steve Bezner shows that Jesus's vision of discipleship points toward a different way of being in the world. Bezner invites Christians to rediscover what Jesus treasured and to incorporate kingdom values into the church's witness.
"Steve has put his heart into this book, and I hope Christians will read it, consider it, and take up his call to 'obedience to the way of Jesus.'"
--Michael Wear, founder, president, and CEO, Center for Christianity and Public Life; author of The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life
"This is a book I will give to my friends, family, and fellow ministry leaders. It is a book to which I fervently pray we will listen."
--Beth Allison Barr, professor, Baylor University; bestselling author of The Making of Biblical Womanhood
"The American church has become too politics-centered rather than Christ-centered. We need a biblical worldview more than ever today. Read this work and experience the growth and implementation of such a vision."
--Eric Mason, senior pastor, Epiphany Fellowship
"What I have so deeply appreciated in [Bezner's] teaching is beautifully captured here in his writing."
--Beth Moore (from the foreword)
Contents
Foreword by Beth Moore
1. Hidden Treasure: (Re)Discovering Jesus Values
2. Heaven Help Us: Imagination and Kingdom Practice
3. Power Hungry: Jesus on Humility and Service
4. There Is No Them: Jesus on Enemy Love
5. Money Talks: Jesus on Possessions and the Poor
6. With Pleasure: Jesus on Sexuality
7. God and Country: Jesus on Politics
8. Black and White: Jesus on Race
9. Royal Pain: Jesus on Suffering
10. Get Busy Dying: Jesus on Finding Life in Death
- Title: Your Jesus Is Too American: Calling the Church to Reclaim Kingdom Values over the American Dream
- Authors: Beth Moore, Steve Bezner
- Publisher: Brazos Press
- Print Publication Date: 2024
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781493447862, 9781587436314, 1587436310, 1493447866
- Resource ID: LLS:9781493447862
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-09-12T07:31:20Z
Steve Bezner (PhD, Baylor University) is senior pastor of Houston Northwest Church in Houston, Texas. He is a local leader and participant in Multi-Faith Neighbors Network, where he builds bridges with Muslims and Jews, and he serves on the board of the Houston Church Planting Network. He also trains church planters through Glocalnet, serves on the executive committee of Texas Baptists, and is an adjunct professor at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. Bezner lives in Houston with his wife and two sons.