Mission 1:8 with First Dallas

Welcome to our fall discipleship series—Go! Make Disciples. This episode is a recent sermon from our Senior Executive Pastor, Dr. Ben Lovvorn, entitled “Go! Make Disciples: The Great Commission.” In Matthew 28:19–20, Christ gives the church a clear objective and the means necessary to achieve it. We are called to make disciples. Throughout this series, we’ll talk about what it means to answer Chri...

This summer, we’ve been challenged from God’s Word to Be Prepared for Christ’s return. Prayer is essential for preparation. So each month this summer, we’re working through a biblical prayer from the Psalms that can serve as a guide for us. As the Lord prepares our hearts, our minds, and our hands—we’ll be ready to pursue His mission and bear great fruit for His kingdom. In this episode, Dr. Ben L...

This summer, we’ve challenged the church to take a significant spiritual step to Be Prepared for Christ’s return. Prayer is essential for our preparation. So each month this summer, we’re working through a biblical prayer from the Psalms that can serve as a guide for us. As the Lord prepares our hearts, our minds, and our hands—we’ll be ready to pursue His mission and bear great fruit for His king...

This summer, we’ve challenged the church to take a significant spiritual step this summer to Be Prepared for Christ’s return. Prayer is essential for our preparation. So each month this summer, we’ll work through a biblical prayer from the Psalms that can serve as a guide and model for us. As the Lord prepares our hearts, our minds, and our hands—we’ll be ready to pursue His mission and bear great...

In this episode, Dr. Ben Lovvorn recaps his sermon on Matthew 25:1-13, wrapping up his two-part mini series, Be Prepared. Together, Ben and Andrew dive deeper into aspects of the biblical passage and emphasize how this summer can be a major step for listeners to grow spiritually.   You can download a free PDF of our Be Prepared discipleship booklet by going to firstdallas.org/prepare .  We would l...

Here is the audio of Dr. Ben Lovvorn’s sermon on Matthew 25:1-13, “Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late.” When we stand before Jesus Christ one day, we will either be found ready or found wanting. This seemingly simple story, Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins, includes one of the most sobering warnings in all of Scripture. Christ cautions His followers to make sure they are ready . . . really ready. Thi...

In this episode, Dr. Ben Lovvorn recaps his sermon on Matthew 24:32-51 and shares insights on how it applies to our hearts and lives. Together, Ben and Andrew dive deeper into aspects of the biblical passage from our summer discipleship guide, Be Prepared, and reflect on how we can practically respond to Christ’s commands.    You can download a free PDF of our Be Prepared discipleship booklet by g...

Here is the audio of Dr. Ben Lovvorn’s sermon on Matthew 24:32–51, “Ready Or Not, Here He Comes.” There will come a day when everyone stands before Jesus Christ as either their Savior or their Judge. When that day comes, we will either be found ready or found wanting. Whether we go before He comes, or He comes before we go, we must all be prepared to meet Jesus.   This sermon is part of our Be Pre...

We are kicking off our Summer 2025 discipleship emphasis: Be Prepared. To get us started, Dr. Ben Lovvorn gives a brief overview of how the Lord has been challenging our church over the last few years and how Be Prepared builds on what has come before. As Jesus tells us in Matthew 24–25: Discipleship is a matter of urgency! This is our next step in following Christ together at First Dallas.    You...

In this episode, Dr. Ben Lovvorn walks us through the final passage in our Abide study, focusing on John 16:12-33. Then, Ben, Nate, and Andrew discuss what it actually means to “abide” in the Holy Spirit and what abiding looks like on a daily basis.   Today’s episode is meant to come alongside and encourage you as you work through the Abide book. You can download this resource for free from our we...

This is the fifth and final week of Spring Training: Abide! Together, we’ve seen the work the Holy Spirit does in each of us—He dwells in us, teaches us truth, gives us life, and brings conviction. But the Holy Spirit also does a work in us collectively, as His people. This final week’s theme is “The Spirit Guides the Church,” focused on John 16:12–33.    Today’s episode is an audio version of con...

In this episode, Dr. Ben Lovvorn walks us through this week’s passage in Abide, John 15:18–16:11. Then Ben, Nate, and Andrew discuss why the world responded to Jesus with such hostility and how that applies to us. We should take this seriously and be prepared, but we don’t have to be afraid. The church has been given the Helper, the Holy Spirit!   Today’s episode is meant to come alongside and enc...

In Week 4 of Spring Training: Abide, we’ll be reading through John 15:18—16:11 together. Just before He left, Christ told us we would experience conflict with the world. But He promised to send the Spirit to dwell in us, to guide us into truth, and to empower us to be bold witnesses for Him. At the same time, the Holy Spirit will be at work in the world, convicting people of their sin and drawing...

In this episode, Dr. Ben Lovvorn walks us through the central passage in Abide, John 15:1–17. Then Ben, Nate, and Andrew discuss what it means for the Father to “prune” us, making us ready to bear more fruit. We hope Spring Training: Abide has been a time of spiritual growth and renewal for you!   Today’s episode is meant to come alongside and encourage you as you work through the Abide book. You...

This is the third week of Spring Training: Abide. We’ll focus together on John 15:1–17. Jesus teaches us that, just as a branch cannot survive apart from the vine, we cannot live apart from Him. Abiding in Jesus by the Holy Spirit is the only way we can find joy and bear fruit for God’s kingdom.   Today’s episode is an audio version of content from the Abide book, which you can download from our w...

As we near the end of week 2 of Spring Training: Abide, Dr. Ben Lovvorn walks us through this week’s passage, John 14:18-31. Then Ben, Nate, and Andrew discuss the promises Christ makes to us and the Holy Spirit’s role in our response. The group works through the reflection questions and challenges from Week 2 of the Abide book.    Today’s episode is meant to come alongside and encourage you as yo...

Welcome to Week 2 of Spring Training: Abide. In this episode, we will explore a vital aspect of what it means to abide in Christ—obedience to His commands. This abiding relationship is what sustains us, even when life’s challenges make us feel alone. Together we will read John 14:18-31, and discover the depth of Jesus’ promise to never leave us.   Today’s episode is an audio version of content fro...

We’re just about to wrap up week 1 of our 2025 spiritual habits emphasis, Spring Training: Abide! In this episode, Dr. Ben Lovvorn walks us through this week’s passage, John 14:1–17. Then Ben, Nate, and Andrew discuss what we can take away from this rich passage and the role the Holy Spirit plays in our lives as believers. The group works through the reflection questions and challenges from Week 1...

Spring Training: Abide begins today! To get you started, here is this week’s biblical passage and the Week 1 introduction, “The Spirit Dwells in Us.” In this week’s passage, Christ tells His disciples that He will depart from them. But He promises to send the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to live in them forever. We serve a God who has promised to live in us, and who invites us to live in Him.   Today’...

Spring Training: Abide starts next week! The biblical passage we’ll focus on during Abide is John 14–16. We wanted to give you an introduction to these chapters in Scripture, to help you get ready to start. Today’s episode is an audio version of content from the Abide book, which you can download from our website: firstdallas.org/abide . We’ll release audio content from the Abide book each week du...

We’re excited to tell you about our upcoming Spring Training, the annual spiritual disciplines emphasis at First Baptist Dallas. Our theme for 2025 is “Abide.” Over the course of five weeks, we’ll meditate on John 14–16 and seek to abide in Christ through a daily reliance on the Holy Spirit. Ben, Nate, and Andrew discuss the church’s heart behind this year’s plan and what biblical spirituality loo...

This episode is a recent sermon by Dr. Ben Lovvorn on Romans 12:1–2, preached at First Baptist Dallas on the first Sunday of 2025. God desires for you to experience a profound new beginning—one that so transforms your very nature that it becomes evident to everyone around you. Dr. Lovvorn challenges the church to reflect on what it means to make pleasing Jesus Christ our one desire. As Christ’s di...

It’s 2025! Mission 1:8 One Desire has begun. What is your next step in making Jesus Christ your one desire? How can you get started? We’ll talk about Romans 12:1–2 together. Scripture calls us to live transformed lives as an act of worship to the Lord—in response to His undeserved mercy and grace. Ben, Nate, and Andrew discuss why we’re encouraging everyone to focus in on one “next step” and what...

Today we’re wrapping up our One Desire series! We’ll talk together about the end of Psalm 90, our prayer as we launch Mission 1:8 One Desire and make our two-year commitments to this effort. This prayer of Moses has so much to teach us! We’re asking that God would satisfy us with His faithful love and establish the work of our hands.    To learn more about Mission 1:8 One Desire and to download a...

This is the first of two episodes focused on our One Desire Commitment Prayer Guide. Through this resource, we’re encouraging our church to pray Psalm 90 for 10 days before making a two-year commitment to Mission 1:8 One Desire. Dr. Ben Lovvorn will lead us through the first 11 verses of the psalm, and then we’ll discuss what it means for us.    To learn more about Mission 1:8 One Desire and to do...