Podcast
First Baptist Arlington Sermons
Hosted by First Baptist Arlington · EN
Join us each week as we dive into God's Word
44episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Radical Obedience - January 18, 2026
Jan 1900:37:59Tap to summarizeDennis R. Wiles First Baptist Arlington January 18, 2026 2026: Flourishing Together: Transformed on The Jesus Way Romans 12:1-2 (Gospel Guide: John) WINTER 2026: Designed to Flourish January 1 – February 17, 2026 Psalm 92:12-15 Radical Obedience Genesis 22:1-18 Theme for 2026: Flourishing Together: Transformed on The Jesus Way Theme for Winter 2026: Designed to Flourish TREK: Abraham’s life with God was a long journey characterized by calling, connection, and commitment. TEST: The story of Abraham and Isaac begins with God’s plan to test Abraham’s faith. The test, instead of breaking him, brings him to the summit of his lifelong walk with God. -Derek Kidner, Genesis In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. -1 Peter 1:6-7 TRUST: Abraham learned to trust God completely. Faith has to do with marrying Invisible and Visible. When we engage in an act of faith we give up control, we give up sensory (sight, hearing, etc.) confirmation of reality; we give up insisting on head-knowledge as our primary means of orientation in life. The positive way to say this is that when we engage in an act of faith we choose to deal with a living God whom we trust to know what he is doing, we choose a way of life in which bodily senses and physical matter are understood as inseparable and organic to vast interiorities (soul) and immense beyond (heaven), and we choose to no longer operate strictly on the basis of hard-earned knowledge, glorious as it is, but over a lifetime to embrace the mystery that must dazzle gradually/ Or every man go blind. -Eugene Peterson, The Jesus Way For we live by faith, not by sight. -2 Corinthians 5:7 When our life is illogical, we must become theological. -Skip Heitzig By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. -Hebrews 11:17-19 TRUTH: God demonstrated that He could be trusted, and He provided a sacrifice in the place of Isaac. TRACE: In this story, we recognize that it points to a greater sacrifice in Jerusalem (Mt. Moriah) that culminates in the redemption of humanity!
Transcribe →
The Path of Life - January 11, 2026
Jan 1200:40:36Tap to summarizeDennis R. Wiles First Baptist Arlington January 11, 2026 2026: Flourishing Together: Transformed on The Jesus Way Romans 12:1-2 (Gospel Guide: John) WINTER 2026: Designed to Flourish January 1 – February 17, 2026 Psalm 92:12-15 The Path of Life Psalm 16 Theme for 2026: Flourishing Together: Transformed on The Jesus Way Theme for Winter 2026: Designed to Flourish FORMATION: All human beings are being formed and shaped! The process of formation is inevitable in all human experience. The question is, “Who – or What – is forming you?” FORMED, INFORMED, CONFORMED, TRANSFORMED: These concepts are all inter-related With the rise of social media empires and their spooky digital algorithms, these powerful forces now have direct access to our flows of consciousness every time we slide our thumbs across our phones. What we are led to believe are just ads, news links, retweets, and random digital flotsam are, in reality, mass behavior modification techniques intentionally designed to influence how we think, feel, believe, shop, vote, and live. To quote the tech philosopher Jaron Lanier, “What might once have been called advertising must now be understood as continuous behavior modification on a titanic scale.” The “world” (as it’s called in the New Testament) is forming us, constantly. -John Mark Comer, Practicing The Way INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP: This phrase captures what we often refer to as spiritual formation. PERSON: For Christians, our spiritual formation (intentional discipleship) is centered on the PERSON of JESUS CHRIST! A Disciple: A person being formed by Jesus as they follow Him in accomplishing His mission. The Church is a purposeful community of gathered believers following The Jesus Way together in the fulfillment of His mission. PATH OF LIFE: God has provided a path for His people that leads to life – abundant life, meaningful life, purposeful life, ------ eternal life! “Way” is a stock metaphor in both our Scriptures and the traditions that have developed from them. At the entrance to our prayer book, the Psalms, the opening meditation uses this metaphor to set two ways of life before us. Will you live a solid life of prayer, listening to and answering God, rooted in the soil of God’s revelation, your life growing like God’s Torah, a tree with fruit-laden branches? Or will you live an insubstantial life of chatter and gossip, using words without God-context, oblivious of God, your life reduced to a pile of incoherent syllables, leaves blown every which way by the wind? Choose your way. -Eugene H. Peterson, The Jesus Way Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. -Proverbs 10:17 I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. -Jesus (John 14:6) Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him. -Genesis 18:18-19 PROCESS FOR FLOURISHING: God has revealed a process that leads us to a life that flourishes. The journey towards flourishing includes these three vital steps: -Knowing God -Experiencing God - -Serving God KNOWING GOD: We must be saved from our sins! EXPERIENCING GOD: We need to be shepherded into community. We need to be shepherded past our past. We need to be shepherded through the challenges of life. We need to be shaped into disciples. SERVING GOD: We need to be sent into purposeful places of service and ministry. PERSPECTIVE: As we follow Jesus and we are formed into disciples, God provides us with a new, profound, meaningful, and eternal perspective. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. -Ecclesiastes 12:13
Transcribe →
Designed to Flourish! - January 4, 2026
Jan 500:42:31Tap to summarizeDennis R. Wiles First Baptist Arlington January 4, 2026 2026: Flourishing Together: Transformed on The Jesus Way Romans 12:1-2 (Gospel Guide: John) WINTER 2026: Designed to Flourish January 1 – February 17, 2026 Psalm 92:12-15 Designed to Flourish! Psalm 92:12-15 Theme for 2026: Flourishing Together: Transformed on The Jesus Way Theme for Winter 2026: Designed to Flourish God’s first words to human beings: Be fruitful! FLOURISH: This Hebrew word (parach) is used 36 times in the Old Testament. It means to “break forth as a bud” – to “bloom” – “to blossom” – to “break forth in life” – and it is consistently connected to the truth that God and God alone initiates and sustains true life. God has designed us to flourish in every season of life! Six Domains of Human Flourishing Happiness and Life Satisfaction Mental and Physical Health Meaning and Purpose Character and Virtue Close Social Relationships Material and Financial Stability PATH TO FLOURISHING: We cannot choose any path and expect to flourish the way God has designed us to flourish. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. -Proverbs 14:12 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. -Psalm 16:11 For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. -Jesus (Matthew 7:13-14) I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. -Jesus (John 14:6) PROCESS FOR FLOURISHING: God has revealed a process that leads us to a life that flourishes. The journey towards flourishing includes these three vital steps: -Knowing God -Experiencing God -Serving God PROVISION FOR FLOURISHING: God has not left us alone to find our way. He is the Divine Gardener Who provides for us in every season of life. I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. -Jesus (John 15:1) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. -Jesus (John 16:13) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, as whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. -Jesus (John 15:7) www.fbca.org/Biblereadings
Transcribe →
Go Now! - December 28, 2025
Dec 2900:36:08Tap to summarizeDennis R. Wiles First Baptist Arlington December 28, 2025 Flourishing Together First Baptist Arlington 2025 – 2030 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (Gospel Guide: Matthew) ADVENT 2025: The King! November 30 – December 31, 2025 Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. Matthew 2:2 Go Now! Matthew 9:35-38 Theme for 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ Theme for Advent 2025: The King! K --- December 7: Born The King, Ne’er a Prince! I ---- December 14: Identity Gift N --- December 21: Now and Not Yet! G --- December 28: Go Now! MODEL: The ministry of Jesus was characterized by going, teaching, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing the sick. MOTIVATION: People need the Lord! MANDATE: Pray to the Lord of the Harvest for workers to be sent into the fields! 9:38 PRAYER – I’ll be praying each Monday and Saturday at 9:38 for workers to be sent into the harvest. MISSION: Pray! Go! Send! Allow God to use you to BLESS others! You can be the chaplain of your neighborhood, your family, your workplace, your school, your friend group, your child’s classroom, your networks, etc. We all have primary gifts that God uses in the Harvest: PRAY – We must all pray! PREPARE – Some of us are gifted at cultivation. PLANT – Some of us are more gifted at sowing the seeds of the Gospel. PRODUCE – Some of us are more gifted at gathering the produce of the harvest. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. -1 Corinthians 3:6-9
Transcribe →A Servant King - March 16, 2025
Mar 17, 202500:39:43Tap to summarizeDennis R. Wiles First Baptist Arlington March 16, 2025 Flourishing Together First Baptist Arlington 2025 – 2030 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (Gospel Guide: Matthew) LENTEN EASTER 2025: The Real Story Gospel of Matthew March 5 (Ash Wednesday) – April 26, 2025 A Servant King Matthew 3:13-17 Theme for 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ Theme for the Lenten/Easter Season: The Real Story FLOURISHING – Living life as God intended! EXAMPLE – The best example of human flourishing is the Lord Jesus! SERVICE – Jesus was completely committed to serving the Father and obeying His will. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. -John 6:38 HUMILITY – Through His baptism, Jesus identified with all humanity – thus demonstrating His humility as the Son of God. HISTORY – The Baptism of Jesus is the inauguration of the public ministry of Jesus, and it marks a significant moment in salvation history. The righteousness of God will be on display through Jesus – His life, teachings, example, death, burial, and resurrection. Then Jesus said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” -Matthew 28:18-20 BAPTISM – Baptism is an ordinance of the church (ordained by God, communicated through Christ) to be performed by an agent of the local church. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward reality. It points the congregation and the candidate to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It is reserved for believers only as it is a public profession of faith that ushers the believer into the regenerate church. It is not salvific nor is it necessary for salvation. However, it is a sign of obedience, humility, and discipleship.
Transcribe →
Born A King! - March 9, 2025
Mar 10, 202500:27:20Tap to summarizeDennis R. Wiles First Baptist Arlington March 9, 2025 Flourishing Together First Baptist Arlington 2025 – 2030 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (Gospel Guide: Matthew) LENTEN EASTER 2025: The Real Story Gospel of Matthew March 5 (Ash Wednesday) – April 26, 2025 Born a King! Matthew 1:1-17 Theme for 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ Theme for the Lenten/Easter Season: The Real Story Matthew! Photo: The Calling of St. Matthew RE-BIRTH OF HISTORY ROYAL REDEEMER – JESUS MESSIAH! REDEMPTIVE HISTORY – The genealogy of Matthew 1 reveals the grand sweeping story of God’s redemptive work in history. REDEMPTIVE MISSION AND MESSAGE - The genealogy of Matthew 1 reveals the inclusive, holistic nature of the Messianic mission and message of King Jesus: men/women, Jew/Gentile, and saint/sinner.
Transcribe →Flourishing in Persecution - March 2, 2025
Mar 3, 202500:42:40Tap to summarizeDennis R. Wiles First Baptist Arlington March 6, 2025 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (Gospel Guide: Matthew) WINTER 2025: Happiness Is . . . The Beatitudes January 5 – March 4, 2025 Flourishing in Persecution Matthew 5:10-12 Theme for 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ Theme for the Lenten/Easter Season: The Real Story Theme for Winter 2025: Happiness Is . . . The Apostles demonstrated their willingness to die for their faith. Photos: St. Peter in Chains St. Paul’s The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. -Tertullian The earth has been filled with the blood of the martyrs as with seed, and from that seed have sprung the crops of the church. They have asserted Christ’s cause more effectively when dead than when they were alive. They assert it today, they preach him today; their tongues are silent, their deeds echo round the world. They were arrested, bound, imprisoned, brought to trial, tortured, burned at the stake, stoned to death, run through, fed to wild beasts. In all their kinds of death they were jeered at as worthless, but “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” -St. Augustine 2 Corinthians 11-12 PRONOUNCEMENT: Persecution (to be chased, pursued, hunted down to harm) will be experienced by followers of Jesus. Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. POSTURE: The message from Jesus becomes very personal in verse 11 when He uses the pronoun “you.” His followers can expect to experience persecution, false accusations, and mistreatment. Our posture is to one of humility in rejoicing and gladness. PERSPECTIVE: As Christians, we must cultivate an eternal perspective (“great is your reward in heaven”) in the face of persecution and trial. PURPOSE: Jesus shares the goal of “beatitude living” in Matthew 5:13-16. We are to be salt and light to our world so that God will be glorified through us!
Transcribe →
Flourishing in Peacemaking - February 23, 2025
Feb 24, 202500:37:58Tap to summarizeDennis R. Wiles First Baptist Arlington February 23, 2025 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (Gospel Guide: Matthew) WINTER 2025: Happiness Is . . . The Beatitudes January 5 – March 4, 2025 Flourishing in Peacemaking Matthew 5:9 Theme for 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ Theme for Winter 2025: Happiness Is . . . Alfred Nobel World Peace: According to the United Nations, humans have been at peace for 268 of the last 3,400 years, which is about 8% of recorded history. The Geneva Academy is currently monitoring 110 armed conflicts around the world. Shalom is the Old Testament Hebrew word for peace. It can refer to the absence of conflict. It also carries the idea of “wholeness” or “completeness” or “well-being. He (Joseph) asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father you told me about. Is he still living?” They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” -Genesis 43:27-28 THE GOD OF PEACE Now may the God of peace . . . -Hebrews 13:20 PEACE WITH GOD Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. -Romans 5:1 PEACE OF CHRIST For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. -Luke 2:14 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. -John 14:27 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. -Colossians 3:15 PEACEMAKERS “Blessed are the peacemakers” is, I suppose, for another world. In this world they are frequently cursed. -Ben Franklin Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. -Ephesians 4:2-3 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. -2 Corinthians 5:17-20 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel . . . -Philippians 4:2-3 Peacemakers take risks, take the first step, seek the best, remain humble, trust the results to God, give God the glory, and . . . pray! Photo: Peace Bridge, Londonderry, Ireland CHILDREN OF GOD Peacemakers bear the family resemblance to our Heavenly Father as we reflect His character. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Transcribe →
Flourishing in Pity - February 16, 2025
Feb 17, 202500:38:50Tap to summarizeDennis R. Wiles First Baptist Arlington February 16, 2025 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (Gospel Guide: Matthew) WINTER 2025: Happiness Is . . . The Beatitudes January 5 – March 4, 2025 Flourishing in Pity Matthew 5:7 Theme for 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ Theme for Winter 2025: Happiness Is . . . Vocabulary Work The Greek Translation on the Hebrew Bible translates the Hebrew word, hesed (love, lovingkindness, steadfast love, loyal love, goodness, mercy) with the Greek word, eleos (mercy, pity, compassion). Eleos in the Greek New Testament belongs in the semantic domain of mercy, pity, love, tenderhearted, compassion, and favor.Biblical/Theological Reflection Mercy is a complex concept in the Bible. It is one expression of a divine attribute of God. Flowing out of His love, God displays His compassion towards us through His mercy. His mercy is undeserved and is closely connected to His grace. “Have mercy (chanan) on me, O God, according to your unfailing love (hesed); according to your great compassion (racham) blot out my transgressions.” -Psalm 51:1 “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions . . .” -Ephesians 2:3-5 “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” "God loves to show mercy... His anger must be released by a stiff safety lock, but his mercy has a hair trigger.” -John Piper On a human level, mercy is the ability to “feel” for others, experience pity, sympathy, empathy for them, and respond in grace to their need. It embodies both an attitude and an action. It also applies to the concept of demonstrating mercy through forgiveness. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” -Luke 6:36 Parables of Jesus (One slide) The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) The Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35) “Blessed are the merciful” – this is a statement about who we should be becoming! Meditation on Mercy (Charles Spurgeon) (One Slide) It is a tender mercy It is a great mercy It is undeserved mercy It is rich mercy It is abounding mercy It is unfailing mercy Promise: We will be blessed, and we will receive mercy (because we need it)! Our community of faith can only live out its mission if God’s mercy is on display and it is woven into the fabric of our identity as the people of God.
Transcribe →
Flourishing in Pursuit - February 9, 2025
Feb 10, 202500:37:58Tap to summarizeDennis R. Wiles First Baptist Arlington February 9, 2025 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (Gospel Guide: Matthew) WINTER 2025: Happiness Is . . . The Beatitudes January 5 – March 4, 2025 Flourishing in Pursuit Matthew 5:6 Theme for 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ Theme for Winter 2025: Happiness Is . . . Happiness and Life Satisfaction 1. Overall, how satisfied are you with life as a whole these days? 2. In general, how happy or unhappy do you usually feel? I can’t get no . . . satisfaction! So many in our world engage in wrong, meaningless, and/or “less than” pursuits! HUNGER AND THIRST As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. -Psalm 42:1-2 Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money without money and without cost. -Isaiah 55:1 RIGHTEOUSNESS For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 5:20 I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please, not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don't want enough of him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please. -Wilbur Rees FILLED
Transcribe →