Dennis R. Wiles

December 1, 2019

The Hope of the Ages

Advent 2019

December 1, 2019 – January 3, 2020

Filled with Awe!

Luke 5:17-26

Filled with Awe!

Luke 5:17-26

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

The Hope of the Ages

The Authority of the Son of Man: He heals the sick and forgives sinners!

Everyone was amazed --- ekstasis --- are you?

They were filled with awe --- phobos --- are you?

We have seen remarkable things --- paradoxa --- have you?

Dennis R. Wiles

November 24, 2019

Hope for Our World

Missions 2019

November 3 – November 30, 2019

Thank You!

Luke 17:11-19

The Hope of the Ages

Hope for Our World

Thank You!

Luke 17:11-19

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

GRATITUDE – we all qualify for it!

GRATITUDE – we all should express it regularly!

GRATITUDE – we all benefit from it!

GRATITUDE – we all are motivated because of it!

Dennis R. Wiles

November 17, 2019

Hope for Our World

Missions 2019

November 3 – November 30, 2019

Partnership in the Gospel

Philippians 1:3-6

Hope for Our World

Partnership in the Gospel

Philippians 1:3-6

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippian Church – Acts 16; Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 8-9

PRAYER -- God’s people support His Mission through prayer.

PRESENCE – We can encourage our mission workers with our presence.

PARTNER – We can accomplish more together than we can by ourselves!

Dennis R. Wiles

November 10, 2019

Hope for Our World

Missions 2019

November 3 – November 30, 2019

A Gospel of Hope

Colossians 1:1-8

Hope for Our World

A Gospel of Hope

Colossians 1:1-8

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

EXPANSION --- Jesus commissioned the Church to engage in Gospel expansion.

EXPRESSION --- Faith, Love, and HOPE!

EFFECTIVE --- The Gospel is good enough! It will bear fruit when it is sown faithfully.

Dennis R. Wiles

November 3, 2019

Hope for Our World

Missions 2019

November 3 – November 30, 2019

Our Engagement Radar

Acts 1:1-11

Hope for Our World

Our Engagement Radar

Acts 1:1-11

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

EXPANSION --- Jesus commissioned the Church to engage in Gospel expansion.

EVANGELISM --- Missional evangelism should be holistic, comprehensive, and intentional.

ENGAGEMENT --- Becoming fruitful believers, influencing our world for Christ!

ENGAGEMENT RADAR:

-Reached

-Unreached

Dennis R. Wiles

October 27, 2019

Hope for Our Church

Fall 2019

September 2 – November 2, 2019

Our Future is Bright!

Matthew 16:13-20

Our Future is Bright!

Matthew 16:13-20

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Theological Foundation

Glorifying God by Following The Jesus Way

Statement of Purpose

Becoming fruitful believers, influencing our world for Christ

ENRICHMENT – Becoming fruitful believers

ENGAGEMENT – Influencing our world for Christ

Vision Statement

To help people learn how to personally follow The Jesus Way. To become Christ-formed, fruitful believers who live in authentic community with one another. To love our city through genuine expressions of compassion, friendship, and service. Together, to share the Gospel globally through sending people, collaborative partnerships, and sacrificial generosity.

FOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Deepening the spiritual life of our congregation – creating and cultivating a transformative community

Deepening our spiritual impact on Downtown Arlington

Deepening our spiritual impact on the broader Arlington community

Deepening our spiritual impact globally

The FOUNDER of the Church

The FOUNDATION of the Church

The FOCUS of the Church

The FUTURE of the Church