Dr. Wiles is back from Rome—and this week’s episode is part travel debrief, part church-life update, and part deep dive into worship.

The team swaps stories about jet lag, Super Bowl naps, and the behind-the-scenes “moose-level” logistics of leading a church pilgrimage through Rome. Along the way, Dr. Wiles reflects on one unexpected highlight: the remarkable hospitality of Roman Catholic priests and friars who welcomed a Protestant group with generosity—letting them lecture, tour, and even share the Lord’s Supper on sacred ground.

Back home, the conversation turns to what’s ahead at church: Ash Wednesday and the start of a Good Shepherd focus, a men’s retreat, Faith at Home (“Mission Possible”), and the kickoff of Ramadan gift bags—along with encouragement to engage Muslim neighbors with humility, prayer, and simple faithfulness.

They also honor the long-awaited retirement celebration for David Butts, celebrating decades of faithful children’s ministry and the lasting impact on families across the church.

Finally, they unpack Sunday’s sermon from Isaiah 6, exploring worship as a whole-life response to God’s holiness—one that confronts sin, heals what we can’t fix ourselves, and sends us back into the world with purpose: “Here I am. Send me.” Next week: John the Baptist.

With Dr. Wiles in Rome, Katie and Luke welcome Bud Houston, a First Baptist Arlington member who works with the Joshua Project maintaining data on unreached people groups worldwide. Bud, a former automotive technician with seven children (expecting an eighth named Conrad), previously worked with Global Gates before joining Joshua Project as director of people group data.

The conversation centers on the church's upcoming Ramadan outreach, explaining that Muslims fast from sunup to sundown during this holy month. Bud shares that Arlington has approximately 20,000 Muslims, primarily Arabs and Kurds from the Middle East, many of whom came due to persecution. He offers practical advice for engaging Muslim neighbors using what he calls the "F words" - asking about family, food, friends, fun, future, faith, and ultimately forgiveness. The key is building genuine relationships through proximity and presence rather than programmatic approaches. Bud emphasizes understanding honor/shame cultures versus guilt/innocence cultures, noting that Muslims often make communal rather than individual decisions about faith. The church's gift bag distribution serves as a catalyst for relationship-building, with the ultimate goal of positioning Christians to be available when God works in Muslims' lives through dreams and visions.

Join hosts Katy Reed Hodges, Dr. Dennis Wiles, and Luke Stehr for a special remote edition of Tell Me More, recorded during an ice storm that shut down the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Broadcasting from their separate homes (all within a 5-mile radius), the team shares candid stories about weathering the "snowpocalypse" with family while diving deep into Sunday's powerful sermon about Moses' calling and what it teaches us about finding meaning and purpose in life.

This week on Tell Me More, Katy, Luke, and Dennis dive into one of the Bible’s most challenging passages: Genesis 22 and the story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac. Together, they wrestle honestly with the realities of suffering, testing, and the mystery of God’s ways—exploring how trials can either turn us inward toward bitterness or outward toward deeper trust.

Along the way, the conversation turns practical and pastoral: How can you tell the difference between natural grief and making pain your identity? What does it look like to walk with someone who’s hurting without trying to “snip the cocoon” and shortcut the process God may be using to shape them? They also discuss how to read difficult Scripture faithfully—slowing down, considering historical context, and remembering that God (not us) is the main character of every story.

The episode closes with updates on church life and upcoming opportunities, plus an exciting preview of the team’s Rome trip—capturing on-the-ground church history content to bring back to the congregation.

The Tell Me More crew kicks off a new semester at First Baptist Arlington with Luke back in the studio, a fresh staff structure, and a renewed focus on “the path of life”—the narrow road of discipleship to Jesus. After some light banter and life updates (including a whale-watching trip to Monterey and a memorable Pebble Beach outing), the conversation turns to heavier, timely themes: cultural polarization, how everyday decisions can escalate or de-escalate conflict, and why the church’s most urgent work is still making disciples.

From there, the group unpacks Sunday’s sermon emphasis on formation: the world is constantly shaping people (often through “spooky algorithms,” surveillance capitalism, and parasocial online influence), so following Jesus requires intentional counter-formation through spiritual practices and community. They explore what “flourishing” means biblically—distinct from prosperity or ease—highlighting that faithful discipleship can include suffering, persecution, and sacrifice, while still being a life marked by God’s presence, purpose, and fruitfulness. A vivid story about “Umaru,” a persecuted evangelist in West Africa, anchors this definition of flourishing.

The episode closes with practical next steps for listeners: Midweek programming is starting (kids, students, Perspectives, care groups, and more), and the church is launching daily Bible readings/devotional guides delivered by email to help members stay rooted on “The Jesus Way.”

First Baptist Arlington, hosts Katy Reed Hodges and Dr. Dennis Wiles gather around the mic to unpack Flourishing.

In this episode, the team reflects on the first Sunday of New Year and Dr. Wiles’ sermon, Designed to Flourish! -by discussing their theme of "flourishing together" and their upcoming study of the Book of John.

The Tell Me More podcast hosts return for 2025 with excitement about their church's new focus on "flourishing together." Drawing from the powerful imagery of a super bloom in Death Valley, they illustrate how God can bring extraordinary life from seemingly barren places. This becomes their central metaphor for the year - that under the right spiritual conditions, people who seem dormant can experience incredible growth and transformation.

The discussion centers on their upcoming study of the Book of John, which contains rich imagery about abiding, gardening, and spiritual fruitfulness. They emphasize that true flourishing isn't about material prosperity or the absence of pain, but about experiencing God's goodness even in difficult circumstances. The hosts share their partnership with the Global Flourishing Study and their commitment to intentional discipleship. They believe that consistently putting oneself in the right spiritual conditions - through Bible study, community, and faithful obedience - will bear fruit over time, not just in individual lives but in ways that bless everyone around them.

In this episode of Tell Me More, guest host Ryan Chandler introduces the episode, filling in for the usual host, Katie Reed Hodges. He is joined by Tanner Watson (filling in for Luke Stehr) and Dr. Dennis Wiles.

The trio briefly touches on the day's agenda:
Sharing their favorite Michael W. Smith songs.
Discussing upcoming Christmas Eve services.
Receiving an update on Tanner’s family and his work in youth ministry.

Exploring the theological concept of inaugurated eschatology (the "already but not yet" of the Kingdom of God). Key Discussion Points Following the Intro:
The "Dream Team": The hosts joke about the office being a "ghost town" during Christmas week and banter about their different generational perspectives (Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z).

The Candle Tutorial: Dr. Wiles provides a practical (and humorous) demonstration on how to light candles safely during the Christmas Eve service (3 PM, 4:30 PM & 6 PM) keeping the lit candle vertical while tilting the unlit one—to avoid getting wax on the sanctuary's new upholstery.

Youth Ministry Success: Tanner shares highlights from the year, including his marriage to Delaney, the success of "Encounter Week," and new initiatives like the "Disciple Project" that pairs students with mentors.

The Theology of Advent: The group discusses the importance of liturgy and sacred spaces. Dr. Wiles explains how his view on Advent evolved from a "low church" Baptist background to appreciating the symbolism of light penetrating darkness.

Inaugurated Eschatology
The conversation concludes by touching on the sermon's theme: the Kingdom of God is "here but not yet." This concept, often called Inaugurated Eschatology, suggests that while Jesus initiated the Kingdom during His earthly ministry, its final, perfect fulfillment is still in the future.