2026: Flourishing Together:
Transformed on The Jesus Way
Gospel Guide: John

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
-Romans 12:1-2

LENTEN/EASTER 2026: The Good Shepherd
Ash Wednesday (February 18) – Easter Sunday (April 5), 2026

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
-Jesus (John 10:11)

Designed to Flourish!
John 15:1-17

Theme for the Lenten/Easter Season 2026: The Good Shepherd

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

THEOLOGY: This section of John is rich in theological truth and imagery. Jesus used the familiar imagery of the vine/vineyard to convey the profound theological truth that He is now The True Vine and His Father is the Divine Gardener!

OLD TESTAMENT CONTEXT: For background on this prophetic claim from Jesus – refer to passages like: Psalm 80:8-16; Isaiah 5:1-7; 27:2-6; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15; 19:10-14; Hosea 10:1.

INAUGURATED ESCHATOLOGY: Jesus established The Age to Come on earth. In this new era, people no longer are called to join Israel in its privileged position ------ but all people are invited to join the new Messianic Community created by Jesus Himself!

PERSONAL: This text is rich in personal application for all followers of Jesus.

What does it mean to be truly human?

Our deepest human needs regarding attachment are met in our life with Jesus!

How can we answer the fundamental desire to be productive?

In our life with Jesus, we can discover the beauty of a fruitful life.

Jesus offers us the only path to fulfill God’s original design for us.

Dennis R. Wiles

First Baptist Arlington

March 22, 2026

2026: Flourishing Together:

Transformed on The Jesus Way

Gospel Guide: John

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

-Romans 12:1-2

LENTEN/EASTER 2026: The Good Shepherd

Ash Wednesday (February 18) – Easter Sunday (April 5), 2026

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

-Jesus (John 10:11)

The Jesus Way!

John 14:1-14

Theme for the Lenten/Easter Season 2026: The Good Shepherd

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

FOCUS: Disciples of Jesus live a lifetime of focusing on . . . Jesus!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

-Hebrews 12:1-2

FAITH: Disciples of Jesus live a lifetime of faith!

For we live by faith, not by sight.

-2 Corinthians 5:7

FOLLOWING: Disciples of Jesus live a lifetime of following Jesus.

FUTURE: Disciples of Jesus life a lifetime with hope because of our future.

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

-Acts 1:9-11

FLOURISHING: God’s desire for Disciples of Jesus is for us to . . . flourish!

Glorifying God by Following The Jesus Way!

Dennis R. Wiles

First Baptist Arlington

March 15, 2026

2026: Flourishing Together:

Transformed on The Jesus Way

Gospel Guide: John

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

-Romans 12:1-2

LENTEN/EASTER 2026: The Good Shepherd

Ash Wednesday (February 18) – Easter Sunday (April 5), 2026

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

-Jesus (John 10:11)

Sheep With a Shepherd

John 10:1-18

Theme for the Lenten/Easter Season 2026: The Good Shepherd

Psalm 23 (We will read this text together as a congregation)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

CONTEXT: The events of John 10 are connected to both the Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of Dedication (3 months later) in Jerusalem. The healing of the blind man (John 9) and the response of Israel’s leaders are in the minds of the original hearers of Jesus’ teachings (John 10:21).

CRITIQUE: The Biblical context for the teachings of Jesus seem to be found in passages like:

Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded.

-Zechariah 11:17

Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but do not take care of the flock . . . I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them and be their shepherd.

-Ezekiel 34:2-3. 23

CLAIM: Jesus declares boldly, “I am the Good Shepherd!”

COMPETENT: Jesus is a competent Shepherd!

He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.

-Psalm 78:70-72

COMPASSION: Jesus is a compassionate Shepherd!

-He knows us!

-He has died for us!

CENTER: He is at the very center of God’s redemptive activity in all of creation!