FALL 2019 - HOPE FOR OUR CHURCH
September 1 - November 2, 2019
Introduction
What do you think of – when you think of The Church? Do you think of a building? Are you reminded of sweet memories of fellowship? Do you think about the People of God at worship and at work?
All of these, and many other images flood my mind when I think of The Church. In all honesty, I actually think of our church first. I think about First Baptist Arlington. I think that is okay. I am a member of this church. This is my spiritual family. I love this church!
In this series, we are going to give attention to The Church and to our church. We need to give thought and reflection to both. On the one hand, I need to have my understanding of The Church to be guided by Scripture and sound theological reflection. On the other hand, I need to be actively engaged in a real local church. My life should be shaped by life in a local congregation of believers.
In this series, we will experience some very important days for our church. We will dedicate our new Children’s Building on September 8. I will share a 5-year vision for our church on October 6. We will host Dr. Tod Bolsinger on October 13. This is a strategic and significant season for our church! Here we go!
September 1, 2019
Having Church on Purpose!
First Baptist Arlington exists for a reason! We have been in this community since 1871. God has used us to share the message of hope in three different centuries! Today, we will give due consideration to our purpose as a church as we consider our future: Becoming fruitful believers influencing our world for Christ.
Daily Bible Readings
September 2: Acts 1:1-11
September 3: Acts 1:12-26
September 4: Acts 2:1-21
September 5: Acts 2:22-36
September 6: Acts 2:37-47
September 8, 2019
Blessing the Generations!
This is Dedication Day for our church family. We are gathering on this Sunday morning in one Worship Service to celebrate all God has accomplished through our Blessing the Generations Campaign. We will celebrate our families in a time of worship. Obviously, we will highlight our new Children’s Building as we hold a special time of dedication at the conclusion of the service.
Daily Bible Readings
September 9: Acts 3
September 10: Acts 4:1-22
September 11: Acts 4:23-31
September 12: Acts 4:32-5:11
September 13: Acts 5:12-16
September 15, 2019
Glorifying God by Following The Jesus Way
Today we will focus on the theological foundation of our church. We have been created by God to bear His image and reflect His glory in His world. We are unable to live into our purpose without God’s presence and power in our lives. Praise God for Jesus and the power of His Spirit!
Daily Bible Readings
September 16: Acts 5:17-42
September 17: Acts 6
September 18: Acts 7:1-22
September 19: Acts 7:23-43
September 20: Acts 7:44-8:3
September 22, 2019
Becoming Fruitful Believers
Our church should be filled with fruitful believers—men and women who are mature in our faith, unified in spirit, and established in love. This is the portrait painted by the Apostle Paul in this landmark text in Ephesians.
Daily Bible Readings
September 23: Acts 8:4-25
September 24: Acts 8:26-40
September 25: Acts 9:1-19
September 26: Acts 9:20-31
September 27: Acts 9:32-43
September 29, 2019
Influencing Our World for Christ
God has called us to engage our world for His sake. Our lives are to be living testimonies of His power and His presence. As we are enriched in our walk with the Lord and with each other, we are to be engaged in ministry and mission for His glory.
Daily Bible Readings
September 30: Acts 10:1-23
October 1: Acts 10:24-48
October 2: Acts 11:1-18
October 3: Acts 11:19-30
October 4: Acts 12:1-24
October 6, 2019
Vision 2020
On this Sunday, I will share a 5-year plan for our church to be launched in 2020. We will focus on the priorities that emerge from our Statement of Purpose. The Church at Antioch serves as an example for us as we forge ahead into our future as a church family.
Daily Bible Readings
October 7: Acts 12:25-13:12
October 8: Acts 13:13-25
October 9: Acts 13:26-37
October 10: Acts 13:38-52
October 11: Acts 14
October 13, 2019
Canoeing the Mountains: Dr. Tod Bolsinger, Pulpit Guest – Tod Bolsinger has sounded an alarm to the church in North America. He is challenging us as American Christians to engage the “new normal” of our missional context with boldness and fresh expressions of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Daily Bible Readings
October 14: Acts 15
October 15: Acts 16
October 16: Acts 17
October 17: Acts 18
October 18: Acts 19
October 20, 2019
Our Church is Out of This World!
The Church actually has a cosmic dimension to it. God is at work through the Church to display His wisdom and express His glory. Our church is a local expression of His grace and an example of His glory!
Daily Bible Readings
October 21: Acts 20
October 22: Acts 21:1-36
October 23: Acts 21:37-22:29
October 24: Acts 22:30-23:35
October 25: Acts 24
October 27, 2019
Our Future is Bright!
The Church belongs to Jesus! It is His Church! He has promised a bright future for the Church! As followers of The Jesus Way, we are engaged in the work of Christ in His world. What a privilege for us!
Daily Bible Readings
October 28: Acts 25:1-22
October 29: Acts 25:23-26:32
October 30: Acts 27:1-26
October 31: Acts 27:27-28:10
November 1: Acts 28:11-31
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MISSIONS 2019 - HOPE FOR OUR WORLD
NOVEMBER 3 - NOVEMBER 30, 2019
Introduction
Our world is a large and complex place. Our planet is now home to 7.7 billion people. According to the Joshua Project, there are 17,094 distinct People Groups in our world today. Over 7000 of them have yet to be reached with the Gospel. Our church is currently engaged through our sent workers in three major Global Engagement Centers: Spain, Slovenia, and Sierra Leone.
Locally, there are almost 400,000 people in Arlington, Texas. We are the 49th largest city in America! There are folks in our community from across the world. We live in one of the most diverse communities in America. Adjacent to our campus is a large and complex research university with a huge international population.
Our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces are filled with people who need the hope of the Gospel. God has placed us strategically adjacent to significant “Halls of Power” – civil government, academic institutions, and the entertainment industry. This is a huge and dynamic mission field.
Our responsibility for Gospel proclamation begins right here in our own front and backyards! It reaches across our city, state, and nation to the far reaches of our world. The good news is --- we have a message of Hope for Our World!
November 3, 2019
Our Engagement Radar!
Sermon Text: Acts 1:1-11
Remember our Purpose: Becoming fruitful believers, influencing our world for Christ. We have already learned that God is calling us to Engagement as individuals and as a church. So, who is on our “Engagement Radar?” Jesus commands us to be holistic, comprehensive, and intentional in our engagement efforts.
Daily Bible Readings
November 4: Acts 1:1-11
November 5: Acts 1:12-26
November 6: Acts 2:1-21
November 7: Acts 2:22-36
November 8: Acts 2:37-47
November 10, 2019
A Gospel of Hope
Sermon Text: Colossians 1:1-8
The Gospel is a message of hope for our world. It is really good news! It translates to every culture. It transitions across all barriers. The Gospel is good seed that bears fruit when it is sown. We are taking the Gospel message to a world that needs the hope this message embodies.
Daily Bible Readings
November 11: Colossians 1:1-23
November 12: Colossians 1:24-2:15
November 13: Colossians 2:16-23
November 14: Colossians 3:1-4:1
November 15: Colossians 4:2-18
November 17, 2019
Partnership in the Gospel
Sermon Text: Philippians 1:3-6
The world is a very big place. It is incredibly complex. We cannot accomplish the task of the Missio Dei on our own. We need partners. We need to live in collaborative relationships that serve the interests of the Kingdom of God. This also allows us to be better stewards of the resources God has provided for His work to expand across the world.
Daily Bible Readings
November 18: Philippians 1:1-26
November 19: Acts 1:12-26
November 20: Acts 2:1-21
November 21: Acts 2:22-36
November 22: Acts 2:37-47
November 24, 2019
Thank You!
Sermon Text: Luke 17:11-19
At the heart of all humble believers is an attitude of gratitude. Our service to God should grow out of a grateful heart. We are taking a Gospel to our world that has had its impact on us in tangible ways. One of the transformative effects of the Gospel is an acknowledgement of God’s blessings in our own lives.
Daily Bible Readings
November 25: Psalm 100
November 26: Psalm 103
November 27: Psalm 107
November 28: Psalm 118
November 29: Psalm 136
ADVENT 2019 - THE HOPE OF THE AGES
DECEMBER 1, 2019 - JANUARY 3, 2020
We are bringing our year to a conclusion. We have given this entire year to a study of HOPE. We will finish the year with a focus on the Person of Jesus --- The Hope of the Ages!
We will explore the encounters of Jesus with various folks as recorded by Luke’s account of the life of Jesus. Jesus offered many people hope in His day and He continues to do so in our day!
December 1, 2019
Filled with Awe
Luke 5:17-26
Everywhere Jesus went, He made an impact. He was like no other teacher the people had ever heard. He taught with such authority. He spoke with such clarity. And—he could even forgive sins! His power over disease and darkness caused the people to continually be filled with awe. May our Advent journey be filled with awe as well!
Daily Bible Readings
December 2: Luke 4:1-13
December 3: Luke 4:14-30
December 4: Luke 4:31-44
December 5: Luke 5:1-16
December 6: Luke 5:17-26
December 8, 2019
Lost on Purpose
Luke 19:1-10
Zacchaeus was a successful man who was living a life of purpose. He was accomplished and wealthy. However, in the midst of living his own purpose—He was lost and needed the hope of Jesus!
Daily Bible Readings
December 9: Luke 15:1-10
December 10: Luke 15:11-32
December 11: Luke 18:1-17
December 12: Luke 18:18-43
December 13: Luke 19:1-10
December 15, 2019
The Thrill of Hope
Luke 8:40-56
The loss of hope is a tragic reality for many people in our world. It has always been true. When people lose hope, a sense of desperation sets in. In this section of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus encounters two people who were desperate—a synagogue leader and an older woman. Jesus restored hope to both of them. They were thrilled!
Daily Bible Readings
December 16: Luke 7:1-17
December 17: Luke 7:36-50
December 18: Luke 8:1-18
December 19: Luke 8:19-39
December 20: Luke 8:40-56
December 22, 2019
The Hope of the Ages
Luke 2:1-20
Luke 2 is the record of the birth of the Messiah, the Son of Man, the Son of God. It is a humble account of the most miraculous birth in all of history! However, the angelic announcement on the hillside to the shepherds left no doubt as to the magnitude of this event. Jesus is The Hope of the Ages!
Daily Bible Readings
December 23: Luke 1:1-25
December 24: Luke 1:26-45
December 25: Luke 2:1-21
December 26: Luke 2:22-40
December 27: Luke 2:41-52
December 29, 2019
Hearts on Fire!
One of the most amazing Post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus is found in Luke 24:13ff ---- Jesus appeared to two of His followers on the road to Emmaus. After listening to Jesus explain the importance of His ministry, these disciples were overwhelmed, and their hearts “burned” within them. Wow. May it be so for us. He is the Hope of the Ages and He can set our hearts on fire!
Daily Bible Readings
December 30: Luke 23:26-43
December 31: Luke 23:44-56
January 1: Luke 24:1-12
January 2: Luke 24:13-35
January 3: Luke 24:36-53