I am looking forward to preaching at Rising Star Baptist Church this Sunday, November 25 at 8:00 am and 11:00 am. I'll be preaching on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). I'm thinking about how we can stop chasing blessing. By chasing, I don't think we'll ever catch the promises of the beatitudes. The beatitudes are promises from … Continue reading Preaching at Rising Star November 25 →

As an adult, I never had to figure out how to live out my spiritual life separately from my work life. My own spiritual practices and vitality were central to my vocation. And in my vocation I publicly worked out my spirituality. Now, though, I don’t work in the church. I have an office downtown, … Continue reading Baptism and Ordination →

I am looking forward to preaching tomorrow at Rising Star Baptist Church and helping them celebrate their 87th anniversary. They got their start in 1931 meeting in a restaurant/bar called The Greasy Spoon near what is now the corner of Rosedale and I-35. They have grown and done great work and worship over these last … Continue reading Preaching Sept. 30 at Rising Star →

I had never heard the word “pronoia.” Jamie sent me an email this week telling me about something she read about the concept of “pronoia.” She said that pronoia is the opposite of paranoia; it is the assumption that the universe is conspiring for you, not against you. The belief that the odds (and people) … Continue reading Pronoia →

A sermon preached by Dr. Brent Beasley at Rising Star Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas on May 6, 2018. An excerpt: I came across a phrase in something written by Thomas Troeger; the persistence of up-ness. And that phrase grabbed my heart—the persistence of up-ness. The direction “up” may have left our understanding of the … Continue reading The Persistence of Up-ness →

A sermon preached by Dr. Brent Beasley on April 21, 2018 at Rising Star Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. An excerpt: Now when we hear about sheep and shepherds, some of us naturally tend to identify more with the shepherd. Sheep are supposedly dumb and fearful animals, after all. I would rather identify with … Continue reading The Lord is My Shepherd →

A sermon preached by Dr. Brent Beasley on April 8, 2018 at Rising Star Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas An excerpt: Often we don’t recognize Jesus when he comes to us, because, like in this story, Jesus often comes to us when we’re going to Emmaus—being busy, escaping, running away. We’re not paying attention. We … Continue reading Meeting Jesus on the Road to Emmaus →

A sermon preached by Dr. Brent Beasley at Rising Star Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas on November 19, 2017 An excerpt: Notice: those who worked all day didn’t object to the grace the others received until they realized that they weren’t going to receive more. It wasn’t really what they received that they were … Continue reading The View from the Back of the Line →

This sermon was preached by Dr. Brent Beasley at Rising Star Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas on March 18, 2018. An excerpt: How did Jesus respond when his internal warning system sounded that told him he was getting too close to the cross? He said: Now my soul is troubled. And what should I … Continue reading Taking a Step Toward the Cross →

This sermon was preached by Dr. Brent Beasley at Rising Star Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas on June 24, 2018 Jesus never says, There is nothing to be afraid of. That storm in the Sea of Galilee was fearsome, no doubt, just like the “wind and waves” that threaten us sometimes. Jesus does not … Continue reading Do Not Be Afraid →