Here at First Baptist Arlington we are nearing the end of the Lenten season. In this episode of Tell Me More, Katy Reed Hodges and Dr. Wiles are diving into the theological and emotional depth of John 14 as they prepare for Holy Week.

They explore the unique structure of John's Gospel, noting how John condenses three years of Jesus's ministry into the first 12 chapters, then dedicates chapters 13-20 to just one week—the most important week since creation. The conversation centers on the intimate setting where Jesus tells his closest followers, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me" (John 14:1).

Katy and Dr. Wiles emphasize how we often run "roughshod" through this familiar passage without considering the disciples' perspective. Here were fishermen who had watched Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, cleanse the temple, and intellectually dominate the religious scholars—and suddenly he's telling them he's leaving. They discuss Thomas's honest questions and Philip's request to see the Father, highlighting Jesus's profound response: "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). They encourage listeners not to miss the depth and mystery of this passage as we approach Holy Week, urging us to slow down and truly imagine what these men must have felt in that upper room.

Key Discussion Points

• The Structure of John’s Gospel:
  • The hosts note how John condenses three years of ministry into the first 12 chapters, while dedicating chapters 13–20 to just one week.
  • They compare this to the "Lenten pace," where the focus intensifies as Easter approaches.
• The "Upper Room" Atmosphere:
  • The dialogue centers on the disciples' confusion and fear. After seeing Jesus's power (cleansing the temple, raising Lazarus), they are blindsided by his announcement that he is leaving.
  • They highlight the humanity of figures like Thomas and Philip, who ask honest questions about where Jesus is going and how they can follow.
• "The Jesus Way":
  • The Pastor discusses his recent sermon theme, reflecting on Jesus's statement: "I am the way, the truth, and the life."
  • They contrast the "WWJD" (What Would Jesus Do) movement with a focus on "The Jesus Way"—living a life modeled after Christ’s character and relationship with the Father.
• Church Life & Community:
  • The hosts share updates on the "Welcome Home" center and the importance of lay leadership and committees within First Baptist Arlington.
  • They reflect on the beauty of the "tapestry of service" provided by church members who are deeply invested in the ministry.

Personal Anecdotes

• Ferry Follies: A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to lighthearted stories about ferry rides. Katie shares a "naïve" 2009 road trip through Canada involving accidental ferry hops, while the Pastor recounts a recent family trip to Crystal Beach and Galveston, including a mishap with a locked Airbnb and a single key.
• Grandparent Names: They share a laugh over modern grandparent names like "Mimi," "Poppy," "Christy," and "Boyd."

Hosted by Katy Reed Hodges, Luke Stehr, and Dennis Wiles, this episode of Tell Me More trades the usual sermon recap for a candid reflection on their experience at Ascent.

After a brief, lighthearted start about Saint Patrick’s Day, the conversation centers on what made Ascent so meaningful: deep friendships, thoughtful moments of prayer and encouragement, and a shared sense of calling. Each host reflects on their experience—Luke on building ministry relationships, Katy on witnessing others step into their calling, and Dennis on seeing decades of vision and prayer come to life.

They describe Ascent as a humble, collaborative movement rooted in historic Christian faith, not a denomination, but a space for partnership and shared learning across churches and cultures. The episode highlights how these relationships—especially with global partners—are reshaping their understanding of mission as something mutual rather than one-sided.

Overall, it’s a warm and hopeful conversation about connection, calling, and joining God in a bigger story beyond any one church.

Join Chelsea Judkins, Tanner Watson and Brian Sepulveda as they talk all things Encounter Weekend, FBCA and more.

Katy Reed Hodges and Curt Grice kick off this week’s Tell Me More with a lively (and very un-scripted) conversation about Ash Wednesday—why it matters, how FBCA prepares the ashes, and what it means to practice repentance in a way that’s thoughtful, Baptist, and deeply formative (including a sweet at-home moment as Katy and her husband help their boys understand: “God loves me.”).

Then they shift into a rich walk through John 6: the feeding of the 5,000 (and then some), Jesus’ abundance, the crowd’s mixed motives, and the hard words that follow—where many walk away, but the disciples stay because, as Peter says, “You have the words of eternal life.”

Along the way, Katy highlights key life-of-the-church moments coming up at FBCA (youth Encounter Weekend, ordination/licensing, and congregational votes), while Curt offers pastoral and theological insights on Jesus’ authority, presence, and refusal to be molded by public expectations.

Warm, funny, and full of depth—this episode points us again to the powerful, good Jesus.

It’s a busy season at First Baptist Arlington—and you don’t want to miss what’s coming. In this episode of Tell Me More, Katy Reed Hodges, Luke, and Dr. Wiles walk through what’s happening in the life of our church over the next few weeks, from the preschool playground grand opening and midweek events to Faith at Home Weekend, Encounter Weekend for students, and an upcoming ordination service on Sunday, March 8.

Then the conversation turns to Lent and why this season matters—especially for those who didn’t grow up observing it. Dr. Wiles shares the “why” behind this year’s Lenten preaching series, The Good Shepherd, and explains how the Gospel of John (especially John 1) shapes our understanding of Jesus, discipleship, and what it means to be shepherded by Christ. The team also reflects on the meaning of Ash Wednesday, the richness of Holy Week, and why we shouldn’t let the season pass us by unnoticed.

From ribbon cuttings to spiritual formation, this episode is an invitation: don’t miss what God is doing in this season.

In this episode of Tell Me More, hosts Dr. Wiles, Katy Reed Hodges, and Luke Stehr reflect on what it looks like to faithfully shepherd a church family in a season marked by both grief and gratitude—sharing updates on recent funerals and the lay leaders who help care so well for First Baptist Arlington.

From there, the conversation pivots to Sunday’s message on John the Baptist—including a lively (and clarifying) detour into Baptist history. Dr. Wiles explains why “John the Baptist” is better understood as “John the Baptizer,” unpacks the Trail of Blood idea and why it faded, and traces Baptist origins to the English Separatist movement and early figures like John Smyth and Thomas Helwys.

The episode then returns to the heart of the sermon: being a faithful witness today. The hosts talk practically about personal evangelism—praying, preparing, and proclaiming in a way that’s authentic, gospel-centered, and Spirit-led—along with stories from ministry that illustrate how God opens doors at the right time.

Finally, they highlight important moments in the life of the church, including Ash Wednesday, Ramadan outreach, gospel conversations training, the budget presentation meeting, upcoming men’s and college events, Faith at Home, youth Encounter Weekend, and the launch of the Heart of Arlington Foundation as a way to invest in the church’s long-term future.

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, Katy 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.