Dennis R. Wiles

First Baptist Arlington

October 25, 2025

Flourishing Together

First Baptist Arlington

2025 – 2030

2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ

1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (Gospel Guide: Matthew)

FALL 2025: It is Not Good . . . to be Alone

September 7 – November 1, 2025

The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”

Genesis 2:18

I Want to Know What Love Is!

1 Corinthians 13

Theme for 2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ

Theme for Fall 2025: It is Not Good to be Alone

Theme for Engagement 2025: Call to the Wild

HUMAN FLOURISHING: One of the domains currently being researched in the Global Flourishing Study is Close Social Relationships

What’s love got to do with it?

Rare is the person who does not want to love and be loved. Love appears to be intrinsic to our humanity. Sociologists may dissect behavioral mechanics behind the claims of love. Branches of medical research may explore the biochemistry of love. But, however explained, it is almost universally agreed that we need love in order to live and flourish as human beings.

-Patrick Mitchel, The Message of Love

PRIORITY – Love is foundational to everything in our lives!

PERSONIFIED – Love is connected to feelings but love itself is not a feeling!

POWER – Love is a powerful force that can overcome selfishness and hate.

PERMANENCE – Love is forever!

Dennis R. Wiles

First Baptist Arlington

October 19, 2025

Flourishing Together

First Baptist Arlington

2025 – 2030

2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ

1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (Gospel Guide: Matthew)

FALL 2025: It is Not Good . . . to be Alone

September 7 – November 1, 2025

The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”

Genesis 2:18

Working 9 to 5!

Proverbs 6:1-19

God has designed human beings to live as relational, social, and communal beings. From family, to friends, to acquaintances, to our vocation – we live our lives in relational contexts. It is God’s desire for us to flourish in and through those relationships!

POTENTIAL: God has created all of us in His image, thus we all have great potential to serve and honor Him.

PRODUCTIVITY: God has placed within us a desire to be productive and fruitful.

PERSPECTIVE: As Christians, we should have a Biblical and theological understanding of work!

The Bible begins talking about work as soon as it begins talking about anything—that is how important and basic it is. The author of the book of Genesis describes God’s creation of the world as work. It fact, he depicts the magnificent project of cosmos intervention within a regular workweek of seven days.

-Timothy Keller, Every Good Endeavor

When we hear the word “work,” we often think of what we are paid to do. Of course, getting paid is important to make a living, but work is not limited to what we are paid to do. Work is not defined by its compensation but by its contribution to others. Work is not first and foremost about economic exchange, financial remuneration, or a pathway to wish fulfillment; rather, it is about God-honoring creativity and loving contribution.

-Tom Nelson, Why Your Work Matters

Avad – Hebrew word found in the Old Testament in both noun and verb forms (over 430 times). It is translated into English as – service, worship, or work.

PROFIT: The profit gained through our vocation extends far beyond economic value. God uses us through our work to contribute to the common good, serve others, cultivate fruitful relationships, and extend the Kingdom of God!

Dennis R. Wiles

First Baptist Arlington

October 12, 2025

Flourishing Together

First Baptist Arlington

2025 – 2030

2025: Flourishing Together: Rooted in Christ

1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (Gospel Guide: Matthew)

FALL 2025: It is Not Good . . . to be Alone

September 7 – November 1, 2025

The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”

Genesis 2:18

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!

Matthew 5:13-16

God has created all of us with an innate desire for significant and meaningful relationships. We find fulfillment and meaning as we live in relationship with God, with our families, with our friends, and with our church family.

As believers, we are also called to be disciples and to make disciples. We are to live purposefully in relationships so that we can help others to: Know God, Experience God, and Serve God.

Each person in our various relational webs needs . . . to be saved, shepherded, shaped, and sent!

This is for all the lonely people!

SALT AND LIGHT: Jesus challenges us to live influential, inspirational, and informational lives in the various relational contexts of our lives as disciples.

BIG PICTURE

Where and to the extent we are able, faithful presence commits us to do what we can to create conditions in the structures of social life we inhabit that are conducive to the flourishing of all.

-James Davison Hunter, To Change the World

INDIVIDUAL/EVERYDAY LIFE

Through our relational webs (neighborhoods, civic groups, athletic organizations, schools, etc.) we have numerous opportunities to practice faithful presence and Christian hospitality.

INCLUSIVE AND INVITATIONAL

We are to learn how to include people into our circles of relationships and invite them to a life with Jesus!

In a world where our neighbors do not understand our language, friendship—not argument—will become the place of evangelism . . . In the West, secularism is not an argument, it is a mood. The functional atheism we experience is not something that most of us have ever thought out, it’s just the way we feel. Anyone who knows relationship knows you cannot disrupt a mood with an argument, you must disrupt it with a presence.

-Justin Whitmel Early, Made for People