Hosts Luke Stehr and Dr. Dennis R. Wiles welcome missionary Sarah Pursley to discuss Ephesians chapter 5 and explore how believers discern convictions that go beyond explicit biblical commands.

Drawing from Dr. Wiles' sermon on the Holy Spirit, they examine why Baptists historically took stances on alcohol, tobacco, and dancing—practices without direct biblical prohibition. The conversation explores how cultural context shapes these decisions, using First Baptist Arlington's 1991 vote on deacon standards as a case study.

Sarah shares valuable perspective from her eight years in Slovenia, where church attitudes toward alcohol differ dramatically from American Baptist traditions. This leads to broader discussion about navigating cultural differences while maintaining biblical witness.

A key theme: the difference between baptism of the Holy Spirit (one-time) and being filled with the Spirit (ongoing discipline). Dr. Wiles reflects on his journey from a purely intellectual faith approach toward greater openness to the Spirit's leading.

The episode concludes with hopeful reflection on the current state of the Church—noting decreased denominational polarization and renewed spiritual hunger among younger generations.

This week, hosts Katy Reed Hodges and Luke Stehr are joined by Curt Grice, who filled in as guest preacher this past Sunday. The conversation covers everything from Curt's daily routines (Cliff Bars, PS5 RPGs, and morning coffee with his wife Kim of 46 years) to the heart of Sunday's powerful service. Preaching from Romans 12:1–2, Curt made the bold choice to feature a live testimony from Frank and Karen — a couple whose honest story of addiction, brokenness, and redemption moved the congregation to a standing ovation. Curt shares how the Holy Spirit led him to invite them to share, the careful preparation behind the moment, and his deep conviction that the church should be a safe place to be real. At the center of it all: a reminder that too many people try to do Christianity without ever falling in love with Jesus.

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In this episode of Tell Me More, host Katy Reed Hodges sits down with worship pastors Michael Glenn and first-time guest Aaron Tomes to explore the stories and convictions shaping worship at First Baptist Arlington. Aaron shares the powerful calling that led him into worship ministry, the unusual joy of leading a thriving classic service, and how God has used seasons of rebuilding in every church he has served.

The conversation also turns deeply personal as Aaron recounts meeting his wife Allison on a music mission trip, her call to international education, and their journey raising six children with intentional discipleship at home. Together, Katy, Michael, and Aaron reflect on prayer, spiritual protection, forgiveness in marriage, and what it means for families to model Christlike love so that children grow up wanting to follow Jesus for themselves.