First Baptist Arlington Sermons

Dennis R Wiles 

FBC Arlington 

December 10, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 

Advent 2023 

Incarnation: Why Does It Matter? 

December 3 - 31, 2023 

The Hope of the Ages 

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 

Today is the Second Sunday of Advent.  

ADVENT CANDLE – PREPARATION: Today we have lit the Candle of Preparation. We are reminded today that God prepared the world for the birth of His Son. Nothing is haphazard with God! He is preparing our world for the Second Coming of His Son. He is also preparing our hearts to celebrate Christmas. 

ADVENT 2023:  INCARNATION: Why Does It Matter? 

www.whydoesitmatter.org 

CONTEXT: We live in a day where the fallacies of humanistic, relativistic, and mistaken religious worldviews dominate the cultural landscape. 

CORRECTIVE: Christians must engage in a meaningful pursuit of the ultimate meaning of reality as revealed by the only true God through the revelation of Himself through His Word, His world, and The Word. 

CHRISTMAS: The Light has dawned in the midst of the darkness through the birth and life of the Messiah Jesus, the Son of God, ---- The Hope of the Ages!

Dennis R Wiles 

FBC Arlington 

December 3, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 

Advent 2023 - Incarnation: Why Does It Matter? 

December 3 - 31, 2023 

The Hope of Glory 

Colossians 1:15-27 

ADVENT CANDLE – HOPE/PROMISE: We will have already lit the first candle of the Advent Season. It is the Candle of Hope. We begin the season in hope! Anticipation! Trusting in the Promises of God! 

ADVENT 2023:  INCARNATION: Why Does It Matter? 

In the beginning . . . The Son! 

THE LORD’S SUPPER – At the heart of the Lord’s Supper is hope! Jesus has invaded our world, inhabited our hearts ---- and now hope is a reality! 

We have been rescued, redeemed, restored, and reconciled! 

Christ in you ---- the Hope of Glory! 

Dennis R Wiles 

FBC Arlington 

November 26, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 

FALL 2023 - Religion: Why Does It Matter? 

November 4 – December 2, 2023 

Sacred Shepherds – Sacred Sharers 

John 21:1-14 

MISSIONS 2023:  RELIGION: Why Does It Matter? 

CONTEXT: Religion continues to be a vital part of our reality. Religions are rooted in beliefs that lead to behaviors that facilitate belonging. 

COMMITMENT: A core commitment of the Christian faith is that the Gospel is good news, and it is to be shared with the entire world. 

CATCH: A miraculous catch of fish serves as a parable for the evangelistic calling of the Church. 

CALL: Our missiology is holistic in nature. We are guided by our beliefs, committed to live Godly lives in any context, humbled to serve the needs of people, honored to shepherd God’s flock, and called to share the Good News with our world.

Dennis R Wiles 
FBC Arlington 
November 19, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 
FALL 2023 - Religion: Why Does It Matter? 
November 4 – December 2, 2023 

Sacred Servants – Sacred Shepherds 
John 21:15-25 

MISSIONS 2023:  RELIGION: Why Does It Matter? 

Podcast: Tell Me More 

Sacred beliefs lead to sacred lives. 

Sacred lives lead to sacred servants. 

Sacred servants lead to sacred shepherds. 

HEART: Shepherds connect with their hearts. 

HEAD: Shepherds tend with their minds. 

HANDS: Shepherds protect with their hands.

Dennis R Wiles 

FBC Arlington 

November 12, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 

FALL 2023 - Religion: Why Does It Matter? 

November 4 – December 2, 2023 

Sacred Lives – Sacred Servants 

John 13:1-17 

MISSIONS 2023:  RELIGION: Why Does It Matter? 

Podcast: Tell Me More 

Sacred beliefs lead to sacred lives. 

CONTEXT: John provides historical, theological, and spiritual context to the account of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. 

Divine Servant 

CONTENT: John shares a story from the final night of the earthly life of Jesus that is unique to his Gospel account. 

CHALLENGE: Jesus embodied the essence of sacrificial servanthood. As followers of Jesus, we are to follow His blessed example.

Dennis R Wiles 

FBC Arlington 

November 5, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 

FALL 2023 - Religion: Why Does It Matter? 

November 4 – December 2, 2023 

Sacred Beliefs – Sacred Lives 

John 12:37-50 

FALL 2023:  Religion: Why Does It Matter? 

RELIGION: Beliefs, Behavior, Belonging 

What you believe . . . matters! 

What you believe about Jesus . . . really matters! 

Belief in Jesus determines your eternity, shapes your worldview, and affects your everyday life. 

Sacred Beliefs – Sacred Lives 

Live . . . Sent! 

Dennis R Wiles 

FBC Arlington 

October 29, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 

FALL 2023 - The Church: Why Does It Matter? 

September 3 – November 4, 2023 

FALL 2023:  THE CHURCH: Why Does It Matter? 

First Baptist Arlington: We are Growing! 

Colossians 1:3-8 

Psalm 1 Tree – Purpose, Transformation, Influence 

Angel Tree – South Carolina 

The Church is a purposeful community of gathered believers following The Jesus Way together.  

The Church 

Believer’s Church 
 Devotion
Spiritual Formation
Fellowship
Worship
Ministry/Service 

 Evangelism/Mission 

 Supportive Infrastructure 

 Collaborative Partnerships 

 Expansion 

The Gospel of Faith, Love, and Hope! 

The Gospel: It is powerful and spiritually fertile! 

Western Context: The Great De-Churching 

Good News: The Church is growing across the world! 

First Baptist Arlington: We are growing!

Ryan Chandler
FBC Arlington 
October 22, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 
FALL 2023 
The Church: Why Does It Matter? 
September 3 – November 4, 2023  

First Baptist Arlington: Sharing the Gospel! 

Acts 4:32-35 

A community of believers is a community of purposeful sharers.  

A community of believers seeks to share itself with others. 

You have something to share.  

You can share your resources.  

You can share your time.  

You can share your abilities and talents. 

You can share a prayer.  

You can share encouragement.  

You can share the gospel.  

Dennis R Wiles 
FBC Arlington 
October 15, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 
FALL 2023 
The Church: Why Does It Matter? 
September 3 – November 4, 2023 

First Baptist Arlington: In Partnership with Others! 
Philippians 1:1-11 

In the United States, we are currently experiencing the largest and fastest religious shift in the history of our country, as tens of millions of formerly regular Christian worshipers nationwide have decided they no longer desire to attend church at all. These are what we now call the dechurched. About 40 million adults in America today used to go to church but no longer do, which accounts for around 16% of our adult population. For the first time in the eight decades that Gallup has tracked American religious membership, more adults in the United States do not attend church than attend church. This is not a gradual shift; it is a jolting one. 
-Jim Davis and Michael Graham, The Great Dechurching 

Partnership: To be in fellowship with – and to work together in sharing the Gospel. 

IMMEDIATE CONTEXT: Arlington – in the heart of the Metroplex! 

IMMEDIATE CONTEXT: Our closest ministry partners – we are in fellowship with and work together in sharing the Gospel. 

COMPLEXITY OF OUR MISSION FIELD 

HISTORIC MODEL OF DISCIPLESHIP 

Imagine if the local church simply began training its members to live as resident missionaries and make disciples in the places where they are already doing life. Imagine small bands of disciples living the missional-incarnational life of Jesus in the mission fields of their own neighborhoods, workplaces, and social spaces, such as cafés, gyms, art studios, and parks. Where you are now, wherever you spend the majority of your time—that’s your mission field. 
-Jon Ritner, Positively Irritating 

THE CHURCH: Empowered and Equipped for every era of human history. 

2024: TOGETHER - Ephesians 4:11-16

Dennis R Wiles 

FBC Arlington 

October 8, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 

FALL 2023 - The Church: Why Does It Matter? 

September 3 – November 4, 2023 

First Baptist Arlington: Serving Others! 

Acts 2:42-47 

FALL 2023:  THE CHURCH: Why Does It Matter? 

The Church is a purposeful community of gathered believers following The Jesus Way together.  

The early church was devoted to service and ministry. 

God’s people are servants! 

First Baptist Arlington: A legacy of service 

ONE ANOTHER!