Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church of Washington DC

Facing Your Giants

Pastor Jim begins this message by saying, "When you encounter crossroads in life, these are always opportunities to exercise your faith." An important part of a faith journey is having to make decisions based on what you believe to be true and trustworthy.  For instance, the people of Israel needed to make a decision when they arrived at the boarder of The Promised Land in Numbers 13:25-33, 14:1-11.  Either they would follow God into this exceedingly good land and face the giants or they would turn from God and return to the wilderness. As was the case for Israel, God will sometimes lead us to a crossroads of decision too.  How will we make our choice and what will we choose? 

The Lord Jehovah

As Min. Leslie explains in this message, "Names are important. They mean something." There are many biblical names for God. They all reveal something about God's nature and character. The Lord Jehovah, also known as Yahweh, is God's name mentioned most often in the Old Testament. As true today as it was in the days of King David or the Prophet Isaiah, we can more deeply know God through his many names (Isaiah 12:1-6, 26:3-4). 

Dreams Amid Disaster

Pastor Lynn continues his series of messages on the extended family story of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Turning now to the story of Joseph who was Jacob's favorite son (Genesis 37:1-36). However, due to the jealousy of his brothers, Joseph was sold into slavery and found himself serving an official in Egypt. Still, even though these disastrous events unfolded, Joseph's dreams came true, but in a far greater way than could ever have been imagined. As Paul writes in Romans 8, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Discovering Yourself in the Wilderness

In this message, Pastor Jim preaches on Exodus 16:1-8, 13-31, 35, when Israel had to depend on God for their survival in the wilderness. A time when God tested the people to reveal their own hearts to themselves. God became their sole provider of daily sustenance as well as spiritual nourishment through weekly Sabbath rest. Likewise, God may take us into the wilderness to show us a new way of life too. Making us truly dependent on God as we rest assured there will be enough of what we need to live our lives. 

Wrestling with God

In this message Pastor Lynn preaches on the story of Jacob wrestling with the Divine Presence in Genesis 32:22-30. As he explains, "If your life needs to change it often will involve incredible struggle." A struggle between God's purpose and your will, your desires. And this wrestling with God is always a necessary part of the process of transformation, but it's not the solution. As with Jacob, when our struggle ends, a new day has dawned, which is the result of God's supernatural blessing. When God makes someone new by giving them a new identity to reflect this new reality.  

When You're Caught in the Middle

In this message on the Exodus story, Pastor Jim preaches on the sequence of events when God's people were led out of Egypt and trapped at the edge of the Red Sea (Exodus 13:17-18, 20-22, 14:1-31). How God situated them between the sea and Pharoah's encroaching chariots and warriors. How the people had to trust God in this predicament. No other options were available to them. And through this turn of events, we learn what it means to put our lives into the hand's of God and for God's glory to be revealed to all who are watching Him save us.  

Promises that Cannot Fail: Grace and Consequences

In this message Pastor Lynn preaches on the powerful promises of God. Recognizing that in the midst of human imperfections and stumblings, these have been foundational for thousands of years and have endured it all. Promises fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah as Galatains 3:5-9 and 2 Peter 1:1-5 remind us. Indeed, God's promises are rock solid and assured for all time. Even when Old Testament stories like the one found in Genesis 27 may cause us to question this. Listen to how God works through the harsh realities of an ancient melodrama involving Isaac, his wife Rebekah and their twin sons Jacob and Esau. 

From Mess to Miracle

In this message on Esther 4:12-17, Min. Leslie reminds us that life can be messy because people are messy.  The book of Esther, in fact, tells a messy story intended to underscore how it's ultimately divine intervention which saves a nation of people from extermination. And even though God's name is never mentioned, we see the hand of God at work from beginning to end. Which encourages us to look for God working in our world today as well. 

Walk by Faith

In this message, Pastor Jim preaches on Daniel 3, a story about a massive gold statue and a blazing furnace. A story which raises the question about where faithful believers are to place their ultimate allegiance when they are challenged by national powers. A story that depicts unavoidable conflict when unconditional loyalty is demanded for something other than God. Which choice would you make?

The Inside Story

In this message Pastor Lynn looks at the inside story in John 15:1-11 to see how the Holy Spirit works within us to make us more like Jesus. To become the person God created us to be as a child of God. How we can be transformed into a person who truly resembles our Lord Jesus. The truth of the matter is this: God works from the inside out.