Dennis R. Wiles

October 20, 2019

Hope for Our Church

Fall 2019

September 2 – November 2, 2019

Our Church is Out of This World!

Ephesians 3:7-13

Hope for Our Church

Vision 2020 . . .

Our Church is Out of This World!

Ephesians 3:7-13

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

REVELATION – God has chosen to reveal Himself!

Our ministry is rooted in the Revelation of God.

Our church is an instrument of God’s Revelation!

Do You Not See It?

Isaiah 43:15-18

I am the Lord, your Holy One,

Israel’s Creator, your King.”

This is what the Lord says—

he who made a way through the sea,

a path through the mighty waters,

who drew out the chariots and horses,

the army and reinforcements together,

and they lay there, never to rise again,

extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

“Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

Dennis R. Wiles

October 6, 2019

Hope for Our Church

Fall 2019

September 2 – November 2, 2019

Vision 2020 . . .

Acts 2:42-47; 11:19-21; 13:1-3

Vision 2020 . . .

Acts 2:42-47; 11:19-21; 13:1-3

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

“I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

-Jesus

Hope for Our Church

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 lead them to become Christ-formed, fruitful believers who live in authentic community with one another. To mobilize them 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.

VISION 2020 . . .

A Plan for the Next 5 years and Beyond

MINISTRY CONTEXT

Downtown Arlington

City of Arlington

Global Context

BIBLICAL CONSIDERATIONS

-Core commitments

-Acts 2/11/13

The transformative nature of the Gospel

Commitment to Biblical authority

Meaningful worship

Authentic fellowship/community

Generosity

Engagement/Expansion/Mission

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

GETTING OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT

Priority #1 is . . . PRIORITY #1!!!

Rediscovering the Main Thing and keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing!

Priority #1: ENRICHMENT – Deepening the spiritual life of our congregation: creating and cultivating a transformative community

TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

-Spiritual Formation

-Emotional Health

COMMITMENT TO BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

-Biblical Literacy

-Biblical Interpretation

MEANINGFUL WORSHIP

-Deepening our Base

-Expanding our Worship Diet, Worship Dialects

AUTHENTIC FELLOWSHIP AND COMMUNITY

-Deepening our Fellowship

STEWARSHIP/GENEROSITY

-Stewardship Training/Stewardship Ministry

-Financial Strategy for the Next 5 Years

ENGAGEMENT/EXPANSION/MISSION

Priority #2: ENGAGEMENT – Deepening our spiritual impact on Downtown Arlington

-Residents, Business, UTA, Culture

Priority #3: ENGAGEMENT – Deepening our spiritual impact on the broader Arlington community

-Mission Arlington

-Evangelism, Fresh Expressions

-Engage Arlington

Priority #4: ENGAGEMENT – Deepening our spiritual impact globally

-Strengthen our investment in our current Global Centers

-Historic missional commitments

-Missional Formation

-Entrepreneurial Missional Developments

We are committed to developing and strengthening the transformative community known as First Baptist Arlington!

Dennis R. Wiles

September 29, 2019

Hope for Our Church

Fall 2019

September 2 – November 2, 2019

Influencing Our World for Christ

Matthew 5:13-16

Hope for Our Church

THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION

Glorifying God by Following The Jesus Way

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Becoming fruitful believers, influencing our world for Christ!

ENRICHMENT: Becoming fruitful believers

Influencing Our World for Christ

Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

ENGAGEMENT: Influencing our world for Christ

Salt of the earth

Light of the world

Influencing our world for Christ is lived out in the ordinary places in our lives.

GOAL: Through our influence, people will be drawn to our Heavenly Father.

Dennis R. Wiles

September 22, 2019

Hope for Our Church

Fall 2019

September 2 – November 2, 2019

Becoming Fruitful Believers

Ephesians 4:7-16

Hope for Our Church

Becoming Fruitful Believers

Ephesians 4:7-16

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high,

    he took many captives

    and gave gifts to his people.”

(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

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

GIFTS: The resurrected and ascended Christ has gifted His church with just what is needed for the church to fulfill its calling.

GOAL: The people of God are equipped for service and the body of Christ is edified.

GROWTH: Each believer is to be on a spiritual growth trajectory that bears fruit in our lives and benefits the rest of the body of Christ.