Podcast
Tell Me More
Hosted by First Baptist Arlington · EN
Tell Me More is a weekly podcast hosted by Katy Reed Hodges and Luke Stehr, where they unpack the Sunday sermon with Dr. Dennis Wiles. This podcast is designed on the premise that Dr. Wiles always has more to say than can fit in a 35 minute sermon - so we have fun discussing it here each week. We hope that in listening you are educated, encouraged and more connected to the pastor and his teaching!
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep. 189 - The Ascent Movement
Mar 1800:45:28Tap to summarizeHosted by Katy Reed Hodges, Luke Stehr, and Dennis Wiles, this episode of Tell Me More trades the usual sermon recap for a candid reflection on their experience at Ascent.After a brief, lighthearted start about Saint Patrick’s Day, the conversation centers on what made Ascent so meaningful: deep friendships, thoughtful moments of prayer and encouragement, and a shared sense of calling. Each host reflects on their experience—Luke on building ministry relationships, Katy on witnessing others step into their calling, and Dennis on seeing decades of vision and prayer come to life.They describe Ascent as a humble, collaborative movement rooted in historic Christian faith, not a denomination, but a space for partnership and shared learning across churches and cultures. The episode highlights how these relationships—especially with global partners—are reshaping their understanding of mission as something mutual rather than one-sided.Overall, it’s a warm and hopeful conversation about connection, calling, and joining God in a bigger story beyond any one church.
Transcribe →Ep. 188 - Encounter Weekend Special
Mar 1100:47:56Tap to summarizeJoin Chelsea Judkins, Tanner Watson and Brian Sepulveda as they talk all things Encounter Weekend, FBCA and more.
Transcribe →Ep. 187 - Bread from Heaven
Mar 300:40:42Tap to summarizeKaty Reed Hodges and Curt Grice kick off this week’s Tell Me More with a lively (and very un-scripted) conversation about Ash Wednesday—why it matters, how FBCA prepares the ashes, and what it means to practice repentance in a way that’s thoughtful, Baptist, and deeply formative (including a sweet at-home moment as Katy and her husband help their boys understand: “God loves me.”).Then they shift into a rich walk through John 6: the feeding of the 5,000 (and then some), Jesus’ abundance, the crowd’s mixed motives, and the hard words that follow—where many walk away, but the disciples stay because, as Peter says, “You have the words of eternal life.”Along the way, Katy highlights key life-of-the-church moments coming up at FBCA (youth Encounter Weekend, ordination/licensing, and congregational votes), while Curt offers pastoral and theological insights on Jesus’ authority, presence, and refusal to be molded by public expectations.Warm, funny, and full of depth—this episode points us again to the powerful, good Jesus.
Transcribe →Ep. 186 - The Word Of God
Feb 2300:42:48Tap to summarizeIt’s a busy season at First Baptist Arlington—and you don’t want to miss what’s coming. In this episode of Tell Me More, Katy Reed Hodges, Luke, and Dr. Wiles walk through what’s happening in the life of our church over the next few weeks, from the preschool playground grand opening and midweek events to Faith at Home Weekend, Encounter Weekend for students, and an upcoming ordination service on Sunday, March 8.Then the conversation turns to Lent and why this season matters—especially for those who didn’t grow up observing it. Dr. Wiles shares the “why” behind this year’s Lenten preaching series, The Good Shepherd, and explains how the Gospel of John (especially John 1) shapes our understanding of Jesus, discipleship, and what it means to be shepherded by Christ. The team also reflects on the meaning of Ash Wednesday, the richness of Holy Week, and why we shouldn’t let the season pass us by unnoticed.From ribbon cuttings to spiritual formation, this episode is an invitation: don’t miss what God is doing in this season.
Transcribe →Ep. 185 - Faithful Witness
Feb 1800:49:17Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Tell Me More, hosts Dr. Wiles, Katy Reed Hodges, and Luke Stehr reflect on what it looks like to faithfully shepherd a church family in a season marked by both grief and gratitude—sharing updates on recent funerals and the lay leaders who help care so well for First Baptist Arlington.From there, the conversation pivots to Sunday’s message on John the Baptist—including a lively (and clarifying) detour into Baptist history. Dr. Wiles explains why “John the Baptist” is better understood as “John the Baptizer,” unpacks the Trail of Blood idea and why it faded, and traces Baptist origins to the English Separatist movement and early figures like John Smyth and Thomas Helwys.The episode then returns to the heart of the sermon: being a faithful witness today. The hosts talk practically about personal evangelism—praying, preparing, and proclaiming in a way that’s authentic, gospel-centered, and Spirit-led—along with stories from ministry that illustrate how God opens doors at the right time.Finally, they highlight important moments in the life of the church, including Ash Wednesday, Ramadan outreach, gospel conversations training, the budget presentation meeting, upcoming men’s and college events, Faith at Home, youth Encounter Weekend, and the launch of the Heart of Arlington Foundation as a way to invest in the church’s long-term future.
Transcribe →Ep. 184 - Worship God!
Feb 1100:45:00Tap to summarizeDr. Wiles is back from Rome—and this week’s episode is part travel debrief, part church-life update, and part deep dive into worship.The team swaps stories about jet lag, Super Bowl naps, and the behind-the-scenes “moose-level” logistics of leading a church pilgrimage through Rome. Along the way, Dr. Wiles reflects on one unexpected highlight: the remarkable hospitality of Roman Catholic priests and friars who welcomed a Protestant group with generosity—letting them lecture, tour, and even share the Lord’s Supper on sacred ground.Back home, the conversation turns to what’s ahead at church: Ash Wednesday and the start of a Good Shepherd focus, a men’s retreat, Faith at Home (“Mission Possible”), and the kickoff of Ramadan gift bags—along with encouragement to engage Muslim neighbors with humility, prayer, and simple faithfulness.They also honor the long-awaited retirement celebration for David Butts, celebrating decades of faithful children’s ministry and the lasting impact on families across the church.Finally, they unpack Sunday’s sermon from Isaiah 6, exploring worship as a whole-life response to God’s holiness—one that confronts sin, heals what we can’t fix ourselves, and sends us back into the world with purpose: “Here I am. Send me.” Next week: John the Baptist.
Transcribe →Ep. 183 - True Confession
Feb 300:48:18Tap to summarizeWith Dr. Wiles in Rome, Katy and Luke welcome Bud Houston, a First Baptist Arlington member who works with the Joshua Project maintaining data on unreached people groups worldwide. Bud, a former automotive technician with seven children (expecting an eighth named Conrad), previously worked with Global Gates before joining Joshua Project as director of people group data.The conversation centers on the church's upcoming Ramadan outreach, explaining that Muslims fast from sunup to sundown during this holy month. Bud shares that Arlington has approximately 20,000 Muslims, primarily Arabs and Kurds from the Middle East, many of whom came due to persecution. He offers practical advice for engaging Muslim neighbors using what he calls the "F words" - asking about family, food, friends, fun, future, faith, and ultimately forgiveness. The key is building genuine relationships through proximity and presence rather than programmatic approaches. Bud emphasizes understanding honor/shame cultures versus guilt/innocence cultures, noting that Muslims often make communal rather than individual decisions about faith. The church's gift bag distribution serves as a catalyst for relationship-building, with the ultimate goal of positioning Christians to be available when God works in Muslims' lives through dreams and visions.
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