First Baptist Arlington Sermons

Dennis R. Wiles 

First Baptist Arlington 

April 28, 2024 

SPRING 2024 

Together . . . for God’s Glory 

April 7 – June 1, 2024 

Preaching Voice: Prophet 

He is Big Enough! 

Exodus 15:1-18 

Theme for 2024: Together 

Theme for Spring 2024: Together . . . for God’s Glory! 

Exodus 15: The Song of Moses/The Song of Miriam/The Song of the Sea 

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs form the Spirit, sing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” 

-Colossians 3:16 

Worship through singing is a tangible way we can respond to Who God is, what He has done, what He is doing, and/or what He will do. 

“It is not too much, I am sure, to expect the church’s worship of God to be thoughtful, biblical, and awe-inspiring. Our natural tendency throughout the week is to focus on ourselves. This should not be the case for Christians when we gather together in order to worship God; rather, we should make a decided effort to turn from ourselves and toward him who is truly worthy not just of our attention but of our adoration . . . We do not sing in worship to reflect our moods any more than our sermons and Sunday school lessons should reflect our pet theories on the gospel. Rather, quite bluntly, we sing in an effort to take us away from what we think and draw us toward what we ought to think, feel, experience. We sing to create a mood more than to reflect one. 

-Peter Enns, The NIV Application Commentary: Exodus 

Our worship must be content rich! 

Message of the Song of Moses 

-Praise for what Yahweh has done: He has defeated the Egyptians and delivered Israel! 

-Praise for what Yahweh will do: He will deliver Israel into the Promised Land! 

Our God is big enough for whatever you are facing! 

Footnote: Revelation 15:3 - We will hear the Song of Moses in Heaven!

Dennis R. Wiles 

First Baptist Arlington 

April 21, 2024 

SPRING 2024 

Together . . . for God’s Glory 

April 7 – June 1, 2024 

Preaching Voice: Prophet 

From Bad to Worse! 

Exodus 5:1-21 

Theme for 2024: Together 

Theme for Spring 2024: Together . . . for God’s Glory! 

INVITATION: God issued Moses an invitation. Like Moses, God invites us to join Him where He is working. 

ADJUSTMENT: When God invites us to join Him, we often must make adjustments to Him so that we can obey Him. 

OBEDIENCE: God is shaping us through our relationship with Him. Obedience is to be our response to His invitation. 

COSTLY: Obedience is not easy. Obedience to God is no guarantee to a life of comfort. Obedience is often costly and challenging.

Dennis R. Wiles 

First Baptist Arlington 

April 14, 2024 

SPRING 2024 

Together . . . for God’s Glory 

April 7 – June 1, 2024 

Preaching Voice: Prophet 

Your Way or Yahweh? 

Exodus 2:11-3:12 

Theme for 2024: Together 

Theme for Spring 2024: Together . . . for God’s Glory! 

Spring Devotional Guide Booklet 

Exodus 2:11-15

TEMPTATION: Have it your way! 

Moses “went out” and acted as a “redeemer” for his people. 

As Christians, we are immersed in a world that affirms and applauds so much of what the Bible condemns and calls us to forsake. 

The Glory of God! 

The Gospel is manifested at the intersection of our desire to express our humanness and the opportunity to demonstrate Godliness. 

Exodus 3:1-10 

TRUTH: The way of Yahweh is always best. 

God’s plan is always deeper, broader, greater, more holistic, and more effective than ours! 

God’s grace is greater than our sin!

Dennis R. Wiles 

First Baptist Arlington 

April 7, 2024 

SPRING 2024 

Together . . . for God’s Glory 

April 7 – June 1, 2024 

Preaching Voice: Prophet 

The Name of Names! 

Exodus 3:13-15; 34:4-7 

Theme for 2024: Together 

Theme for Spring 2024: Together . . . for God’s Glory! 

Spring Devotional Guide Booklet

Tell Me More Podcast - Deeper dive of sermon

EXODUS: These are the names! 

The narrative of the Exodus and its theological implications can hardly be exaggerated as we consider the development of both Jewish and Christian theology. 

At the heart of the Exodus story is the revelation of God Himself. 

Who is God? I AM!  -- YHWH in Hebrew – LORD in English. (Some Jewish theologians combined the Name YHWH with the Hebrew Name for Lord – Adonai – resulting in the English Name Jehovah.) 

The God of the Bible simply is!  

He is eternally present, eternally active, eternally sustaining, eternally causative, eternally creative, eternally relational, eternally powerful, and eternally eternal!

Dennis R. Wiles 

First Baptist Arlington 

Easter Sunday 2024 

LENT/EASTER 2024 

Together . . . in Ascent 

February 14 – April 6, 2024 

Preaching Voice: Shepherd 

He Has Risen! 

Mark 16:1-8 

Mark details how faithful women continued to serve Jesus even in His death. 

A shocking discovery was made by these women: Jesus the Nazarene is no longer dead! He is alive! 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the very heart of Christianity (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ has changed everything! 

Christianity has provided and continues to provide unparalleled influence upon the unfolding history of the world! 

He is risen! He is risen indeed! 

Dennis R. Wiles 

First Baptist Arlington 

Palm Sunday 2024 

LENT/EASTER 2024 

Together . . . in Ascent 

February 14 – April 6, 2024 

Preaching Voice: Shepherd 

Hosanna! 

Mark 11:1-11 

HOLY WEEK: Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week for Christians. Mark devotes almost 40% of his Gospel to the events of this significant week! 

MESSIANIC SECRET: Mark’s Gospel contains accounts where Jesus instructs various ones to not reveal His identity --- for example: Mark 1:34, 44; 5:43; 7:36; 8:30; 9:9. 

MESSIANIC DECLARATION: The Royal Entry on Palm Sunday was a direct declaration from Jesus that He indeed is the Messiah! (Genesis 49:10-11; Zechariah 9:9; Psalm 118:25-26) 

THE KINGDOM OF GOD: The mission of Jesus is spiritual in nature --- not political or military.  

 THE AGE TO COME: Jesus engaged in word and deed during Holy Week to proclaim the inauguration of The Age to Come!

Dennis R. Wiles 

First Baptist Arlington 

March 17, 2024 

LENT/EASTER 2024 

Together . . . in Ascent 

February 14 – April 6, 2024 

Preaching Voice: Shepherd 

The Refreshment of Forgiveness 

Psalm 130 

REALITY: Sin is universal. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 

REGRET: Acknowledging the reality of our sin is manifested in our experience of guilt and regret. 

REPENTANCE: As God’s people, we respond to the conviction of sin with true repentance and seek God’s forgiveness. 

RESTORATION: God forgives! His forgiveness leads to being restored in our fellowship with Him. 

REDEMPTION: God’s true purpose is to bring full redemption to us all.  

PRAYER OF CONFESSION 

Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Dennis R. Wiles 

First Baptist Arlington 

March 10, 2024 

LENT/EASTER 2024 

Together . . . in Ascent 

February 14 – April 6, 2024 

Preaching Voice: Shepherd 

God is in the Everyday! 

Psalm 127 

We often look for God in the extraordinary and the miraculous! 

How often do you discover God in the everyday of your life? 

God makes a difference ----- in how you cultivate the rhythms of your home life. 

God makes a difference ----- in how you engage in your civic responsibilities. 

God makes a difference ----- in your everyday work experience. 

God makes a difference ----- in how you relate to your children. 

God makes a difference ----- in your everyday life! 

Dennis R. Wiles 

First Baptist Arlington 

March 3, 2024 

LENT/EASTER 2024 

Together . . . in Ascent 

February 14 – April 6, 2024 

Preaching Voice: Shepherd 

Lord, Have Mercy! 

Psalm 123 

Theme FBCA 2024: Together 

Theme for Lent/Easter 2024: Together . . . in Ascent  

CONTEXT: Some scholars place this Psalm during the time of Nehemiah in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The vocabulary of this Psalm matches that of Nehemiah 4. 

CRY: The Psalmist notes the pain of contempt and injustice, and he asks for mercy! 

WHAT IS THE RESPONSE TO INJUSTICE AND/OR DISTRESS? 

• Humble ourselves before God and ask for His help. 
• Express a willingness to learn the lessons that only come through suffering and distress. 
• Know that God is a God of mercy and grace. 
• Trust God to act in His time. 
• There are times when God will use us as instruments to address injustice in our society or in the lives of others. 

Dennis R. Wiles 

First Baptist Arlington 

February 25, 2024 

LENT/EASTER 2024 

Together . . . in Ascent 

February 14 – April 6, 2024 

Preaching Voice: Shepherd 

Peace in the Midst of . . . 

Psalm 122 

Theme FBCA 2024: Together 

Theme for Lent/Easter 2024: Together . . . in Ascent 

Psalms 120-134 are known as the Psalms of Ascent. These psalms were read/sung by Israelites as they engaged in pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the festivals in the Holy City. They were intended to prepare them to be in the presence of God in His holy temple. 

INVITATION: Let’s go! 

DESTINATION: We made it! 

SUPPLICATION: Pray for peace! 

PEACE: Hebrew word is shalom – this word refers to wholeness, completeness, fullness, well-being, serenity, health, joy, etc. 

Our well-being is connected to the presence of God in our lives, not just the absence of conflict or struggle. 

Our well-being is connected to our involvement in the community of God’s people. 

We should pray for the well-being of the People of God and yearn for the plans of God to be fulfilled.