Spring 2021: Faith-Filled Families

Family life can be such a blessing and such a challenge! It is the oldest human institution. God placed a human family in the Garden of Eden. Since that time, families have come in all shapes and sizes. As archaeologists have unearthed civilization after civilization, anthropologists have documented the ubiquitous nature of families. Human beings are birthed into family units and these units serve as the core of every human society.

With that said, family life is not a simple, homogenous reality. As I said, families come in all shapes and sizes. Family dynamics can be incredibly complicated and layered with complexity. The fields of anthropology, sociology, and psychology have been home to countless hours of research in the attempt to better understand the human family.

In today’s world, family life is contextualized by a rapidly changing broader culture. Our culture is awash in conversations/discussions/disagreements about gender identity, the place of marriage, the definition of marriage, the emergence of polyamory, and basic definitions of family. This cultural setting can result in much confusion and only adds more layers of complexity to the family dynamic in America.

In this series, I will not attempt to address all of these cultural landscape realities. I have instead chosen to focus on some core commitments that may assist Christian families in developing healthy processes of spiritual formation and encourage them to strengthen their relational ties to one another.

Also – we will read through the Book of Proverbs as we seek to discern God’s wisdom for our family life.

June 6, 2021: Trust God!

At the heart of our relationship with God is trust. A faith-filled family must be characterized by a deep trust in God. The church comes alongside the family to assist the family in spiritual formation. But we spend more time with our families in our formative years than with any other institution. At home, Christian families learn to trust God. We learn that God is at work in His world, and He has invited us to trust Him as we engage His world.

Sermon Text: Proverbs 3:5-6

Daily Bible Readings

June 7: Proverbs 1

June 8: Proverbs 2

June 9: Proverbs 3

June 10: Proverbs 4

June 11: Proverbs 5

June 12: Proverbs 6-7

June 13, 2021: Treat Each Other Well!

Family life can be raw and emotional. We live real lives in real time in real families. Unfortunately, not all families handle the stresses of life well. We all know families that are characterized by abuse and hurt. Faith-filled families are developed through respectful and loving behaviors. God calls us to be respectful at home!

Sermon Text: Colossians 3:12-14

Daily Bible Readings

June 14: Proverbs 8-9

June 15: Proverbs 10

June 16: Proverbs 11

June 17: Proverbs 12

June 18: Proverbs 13

June 19: Proverbs 14-15

June 20, 2021: Teach the Word!

Our families are bombarded with all kinds of messages today. It can be confusing at times, even for the most spiritually mature families. Consequently, families need strong foundations! The Word of God is sturdy. Its message rings true today. Faith-filled families rely on the truths revealed through God’s Word.

Sermon Text: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Father’s Day

Daily Bible Readings

June 21: Proverbs 16

June 22: Proverbs 17

June 23: Proverbs 18-19

June 24: Proverbs 20

June 25: Proverbs 21

June 26: Proverbs 22-23

June 27, 2021: Taking It to the Streets!

One of the hallmarks of faith-filled families is a willingness to serve the community. Think about how our communities are strengthened by the selfless acts of service by volunteers. Our schools, neighborhood groups, recreational leagues, social services, churches, and civic organizations are all benefitted by the willingness of Christians to serve their communities in tangible ways. Faith-filled families put feet to their convictions!

Sermon Text: James 2:14-26

Daily Bible Readings

June 28: Proverbs 24

June 29: Proverbs 25-26

June 30: Proverbs 27

July 1: Proverbs 28-29

July 2: Proverbs 30

July 3: Proverbs 31

SUMMER 2021: OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.-Lamentations 3:22-23

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.-James 1:17

In 1954, in the evangelistic crusades of Billy Graham in London, George Beverly Shea introduced this hymn to those vast audiences:
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;There is no shadow of turning with thee; Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!Morning by morning new mercies I see;All I have needed thy hand hath provided;Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! 

Based on Lamentations 3:22-23, originally, these words formed a poem written by Thomas Obediah Chisolm. Chisolm wrote about 1200 poems in his lifetime, 800 of which were published in various publications. He sent this poem to hymnwriter William Runyan who set it to music and published it in 1923. After the Billy Graham Crusade, this hymn became a favorite in the US and began to appear in various hymnals. By the time of Chisolm’s death in 1960, this hymn had made its way into the hearts and minds of millions of Christians across the world.

God’ faithfulness! We are truly grateful for the profound truth that our God is faithful. We will spend this month reflecting on and exploring this truth. We will read selected portions of the Psalms as we engage God’s Word this month through our Daily Bible Readings.

Dr. Charles Wade, our beloved Pastor Emeritus will preach on July 4 in both services. We love Dr. Wade! He and Rosemary have been a vital part of our church for 45 years now! 

Gary Stidham is a deacon in our church, and he serves as the Director of the Baptist Student Ministry at UT-Arlington. Gary and Teresa and their family have been members of First Baptist Arlington since 2004. Gary’s ministry at UTA continues to be a model for Texas Baptists across our state. His love for the Lord, his zeal in evangelism, and his energy in discipling college students have inspired countless numbers of folks. Welcome Gary!

For the final two Sundays of July, our new Minister of Congregational Life, Katy Reed-Hodges will be preaching. She has served as the Director of College Ministry here at First Baptist for 6 years. She, and her husband, Ryan, are the Co-Presidents of the Truett Seminary Alumni Association. We are proud of them both and grateful for Katy’s new role at our church.

So, we are looking forward to July! I will be on Study Leave and will return to the pulpit on August 1. We will honor Tillie Burgin that day on her 35th Anniversary at First Baptist Arlington!

July 4, 2021: Freedom . . . and Responsibility!Guest Preacher: Dr. Charles Wade, Pastor EmeritusToday is our nation’s birthday. We are grateful for the grand experiment that is America. We are a flawed and imperfect nation. Yet, we were founded on a grand idea --- the idea of true liberty. The idea that all humans have been endowed by our Creator certain unalienable rights. As Baptists, we have long defended the principle that grows out of that conviction: liberty of conscience. With that freedom comes great responsibility.

Daily Bible Readings

July 5: Psalm 1

July 6: Psalm 2

July 7: Psalm 8 

July 8: Psalm 9

July 9: Psalm 16

July 10: Reflection

July 11, 2021: God Never Changes!Guest Preacher: Gary Stidham, Director of UTA BSMTheologians refer to it as the Immutability of God. We can trust God implicitly. He never changes! His purposes are certain. His character is pure and holy. His plans are in place. His unchangeable nature provides stability and strength to us and all of His creation.

Sermon Text: Psalm 102:25-28

Daily Bible Readings

July 12: Psalm 102

July 13: Psalm 105:1-25

July 14: Psalm 105:26-45

July 15: Psalm 106:1-27

July 16: Psalm 106:28-48

July 17: Reflection

July 18, 2021: God’s Love is Everlasting!Guest Preacher: Katy Reed-Hodges, Minister of Congregational LifeGod’s love has been on display throughout the history of creation! In that memorable encounter with Moses on Mt. Sinai, God gave Moses a glimpse of His glory. God declared about Himself, “The LORD, the LORD the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands . . .” (Exodus 34:6-7). Here God connects His love and His faithfulness. His love never diminishes. He draws from an eternal well of goodness and faithfulness. His love endures forever!

Sermon Text: Psalm 100

Daily Bible Readings

July 19: Psalm 100

July 20: Psalm 103

July 21: Psalm 108

July 22: Psalm 130

July 23: Psalm 136

July 24: Reflection

July 25, 2021: God Keeps His Promises!Guest Preacher: Katy Reed-Hodges, Minister of Congregational LifeSometimes we may be tempted to ask, Has God forgotten His promises (Psalm 77:8). However, when we reflect on God’s nature and the revelation of God in Scripture and in history, we are reminded that He is a Promise-Keeper! God’s promises are secure. He keeps his Word. His faithfulness is on display on a grand scale in the story of redemption and on a small scale in our individual lives. You can trust Him to be faithful!

Sermon Text: Psalm 77

Daily Bible Readings

July 26: Psalm 77

July 27: Psalm 78:1-25

July 28: Psalm 78:26-52

July 29: Psalm 78:53-72

July 30: Psalm 84

July 31: Reflection