First Baptist Arlington Sermons

Dennis R Wiles 

FBC Arlington 

October 1, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 

FALL 2023 - The Church: Why Does It Matter? 

September 3 – November 4, 2023 

First Baptist Arlington: We Worship! 

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.  

www.thesacramentaljourney.org – Please God book download 

WORSHIP: The early church was devoted to the practices of worship. 

ELEMENTS AND INFLUENCES OF EARLY CHRISTIAN WORSHIP 

Synagogue: Praise 

Prayer 

Instruction 

Temple: Sacrifice 

Upper Room: Sacrament 

Jordan River: Baptism 

Psalms: Singing 

Poetry 

Expression 

CONSIDER THESE THINGS: 

Worship emerges from salvation. 

Worship involves expectation. 

Worship involves preparation. 

Worship includes exaltation. 

Worship requires dedication. 

Worship invites sanctification. 

Worship results in edification. 

Worship leads to motivation. 

First Baptist Arlington: We Worship! 

Dennis R Wiles 

FBC Arlington 

September 24, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 

FALL 2023 - The Church: Why Does It Matter? 

September 3 – November 4, 2023 

First Baptist Arlington: We are Together! 

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.  

Scripture Ring

TRINITY: There is community within the very nature of God. 

We have fellowship with the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit (1 John 1:3; 2 Corinthians 13:14). 

Belief, Behavior, Belonging 

The Christian life is a shared life!  

No one gets the church they want, but everyone gets the church they need. 

-Jonathan Leeman and Collin Hansen, Rediscover Church 

One Another! 

FBC Arlington: We are together! 

Dennis R Wiles 

FBC Arlington 

September 17, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 

FALL 2023 - The Church: Why Does It Matter? 

September 3 – November 4, 2023 

First Baptist Arlington: We are Changing! 

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.  

Psalm 1 Tree – Purpose, Transformation, Influence 

Becoming fruitful believers, influencing our world for Christ. 

ENRICHMENT: Becoming fruitful believers 

DEVOTION: The early church was “all in” – these believers were steadfastly devoted to this new life in Christ. So are we! 

SPIRITUAL FORMATION: The early believers were devoted to the authoritative teaching of the Apostles. So are we! 

As He moves about He leaves behind him a trail of transformed scenes and changed situations—fishermen no longer at their nets, sick people restored to health, critics confounded, a storm stilled, hunger assuaged, a dead girl raised to life. Jesus’ presence is an active and instantly transforming presence: He is never the mere observe of the scene or the one who waits upon events but always the transformer of the scene and the initiator of events. 

-V. H. Vanstone, The Stature of Waiting 

As followers of Jesus, we are being formed, conformed, and transformed along The Jesus Way!

Dennis R Wiles 
FBC Arlington 
September 10, 2023 

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

First Baptist Arlington: We Believe! 
Acts 2:37-47 

FALL 2023:  THE CHURCH: Why Does It Matter? 

The Book of Acts – Luke’s account of the ministry of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, continued through the Church. 

Tell Me More Podcast 

Psalm 1 Tree – Purpose, Transformation, Influence 
Angel Tree – South Carolina 

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

We are a Believers’ Church! 

We believe in a regenerated church membership. The experience of conversion through faith in Jesus Christ is a prerequisite for baptism and subsequent church membership. 
-First Baptist Arlington Constitution and Bylaws 

fbca.org/what-we-believe/

The church was birthed at Pentecost and comprised of people who accepted (believed) the Gospel! 

The Gospel according to the Apostolic Witness: 
Jesus Christ lived as man, accredited as Divine through attesting miracles. 
Jesus Christ was put to death on a cross by men, though according to the divine purposes of God. 
Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead as foretold by the prophets and witnessed by the Apostles. 
Jesus Christ has ascended to the Father, been exalted as His Son, and has sent the Holy Spirit. 
Jesus Christ offers His Spirit to all who repent from their sins and believe in Him. 
Jesus Christ adds these believers to His new community (the Church). 

First Baptist Arlington: We Believe!

Dennis R Wiles
FBC Arlington
September 3, 2023

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

First Baptist Arlington: On Purpose!
John 15:1-17

FALL 2023: THE CHURCH: Why Does It Matter?

The Book of Acts – Luke’s account of the ministry of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, continued through the Church.

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

Theological Statement: Glorifying God by Following The Jesus Way!

Purpose: Becoming fruitful believers, influencing our world for Christ!

ENRICHMENT: Becoming fruitful believers

ENGAGEMENT: Influencing our world for Christ

FBCA: Seasons of focus and Kingdom fruit-bearing

First Baptist Arlington: On Purpose!

Dennis R Wiles 
FBC Arlington 
August 27, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 
AUGUST 2023 
The Supernatural: Why Does It Matter? 
August 6 – September 2, 2023 

We Have Been Empowered and Sent! 
John 20:19-23 

AUGUST 2023: The Supernatural: Why Does It Matter? 
The Supernatural: The Holy Spirit of God at work in this world! 

FEAR – The followers of Jesus had every reason to be sequestered and afraid. 

FACT – Jesus Christ is the resurrected Lord! 

PEACE – The peace of Jesus is deep and real! 

MISSION – The followers of Jesus have been SENT as an extension of His mission into the world. 

PRESENCE – The Holy Spirit has been given to the followers of Jesus! 

POWER – The Church embodies and expresses the eternally consequential Message of Jesus Christ!

Dennis R Wiles 

FBC Arlington 

August 20, 2023 

2023 - Why Does It Matter? 

AUGUST 2023 

The Supernatural: Why Does It Matter? 

August 6 – September 2, 2023 

The Holy Spirit: At Work in the World 

John 16:7-15 

Theme for 2023: Why Does It Matter? 

AUGUST 2023: The Supernatural: Why Does It Matter? 

The Supernatural: The Holy Spirit of God at work in this world! 

The Gospel of John is at once the easiest and hardest book in the Bible to understand. Here simplicity and sublimity are inseparably united. Theology has been put into monosyllables, yet they express one of the most breathtaking visions of ultimate reality to be found in Scripture. 

-William E. Hull, The Broadman Bible Commentary: John 

Our world’s views of sin, righteousness, and judgment are skewed! 

The Holy Spirit clarifies, convinces, and corrects! 

The Holy Spirit guides us into truth and glorifies Jesus!

Dennis R Wiles 

FBC Arlington 

August 13, 2023 

2023: Why Does It Matter? 

AUGUST 2023 

The Supernatural: Why Does It Matter? 

August 6 – September 2, 2023 

The Holy Spirit: Our Advocate 

John 14:15-21, 25-27; 15:26 

Theme for 2023: Why Does It Matter? 

AUGUST 2023: The Supernatural: Why Does It Matter? 

The Supernatural: The Holy Spirit of God at work in this world! 

The reality of the supernatural, spiritual world is to be acknowledged by God’s people. 

PROMISE: Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would be given to us. 

PARACLETE: The Holy Spirit “comes alongside” us. 

PEACE: The Holy Spirit brings the peace of Christ to us. 

PROCLAIM: The Holy Spirit gives testimony about Jesus.

Dennis R Wiles 
FBC Arlington 
August 6, 2023 
2023 

Why Does It Matter? 
AUGUST 2023 
The Supernatural: Why Does It Matter? 
August 6 – September 2, 2023 

This World is Not All There Is! 
John 1:1-5 

Theme for 2023: Why Does It Matter? 

SUMMER 2023: Eternity: Why Does It Matter? 

AUGUST 2023: The Supernatural: Why Does It Matter? 

The Supernatural: The Holy Spirit of God at work in this world! 

The Gospel of John 

Matthew, Mark, and Luke write like kayakers on a fairly swift flowing river with occasional patches of whitewater; there is never any doubt but that they are going where the course of the river takes them. But John is more like a canoe on a quiet lake, drifting unhurried, paddling leisurely to take in aspects of the shoreline, noticing rock formations, observing a blue heron fishing in the rushes, pausing and drifting to sketch cloud patterns reflected in the glassy water. 
-Eugene Peterson, Christ Plays in The Thousand Places 

John’s Prologue: John presents Jesus in terms of space, time, and being in the introduction to his Gospel. 

LOGOS – Jesus is the Word of God! 

LIFE - Jesus is The Life! 

LIGHT – Jesus is the Light of the World

Luke Stehr
July 30, 2023

Death Has Lost Its Sting
1 Corinthians 15:50-58