Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church of Washington DC

A Place to Stand

In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10-20, Pastor Jim explains that we are to depend on God’s inward strength to empower us. We are to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the dark evil forces of our day. We are to take our stand upon the unshakeable foundation that is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Rock. We are to withstand the evil attacks from our adversary, the devil. We are to oppose evil in our midst. We are to hold our ground as people of peace and light in a dark world. We truly have a powerful place to stand in Christ. 

Blessed Are the Forgetful (Who Remember They Are Blessed)

On this first Sunday of the New Year, Pastor Lynn preaches on Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Isaiah 43:18-19 by reminding us to not get stuck in the past. The blessing of forgetfulness is built on God's forgiveness. We can only find healing and well-being when we receive forgiveness from God and then give forgiveness to others through God's grace. We can't give something we haven't received. And as Jesus teaches in the Lord's Prayer, we can't hold back the forgiveness we have received from God. 

God's Unfolding Story

On the Sunday after Christmas, Pastor Jim preaches on Luke 2:21-40 and how Jesus' birth narrative has the power to change the way we see ourselves, see others, see the world around us, and, most particularly, see God. It is a story by which we witness God working in first century Palestine, and it is a story through which we can see God operating in our lives and world today. We can be empowered by the Holy Spirit to see God’s unfolding story. A story we are invited into. A love story, an adoption story, a story God wants you to make your own.

The Peace of God

On the second Sunday of Advent, Min. Leslie instructs us that the peace of God is a lasting peace, and it is not contingent on any circumstances we may be facing. As Paul writes about in Philippians 4:4-7, there can be chaos all around us, but we can still walk in the peace of God. Now, that's something to celebrate!

Activate Hope!

In this sermon on the first Sunday of Advent, Pastor Jim reminds us that there is no avoiding the passage of time and dealing with the future. So, the important question for all of us is: How will I face the future? What is my disposition toward what the future may hold? Am I filled with hope and joyful anticipation? Or, am I dealing with dread and the possibility of disappointment? Whether we like it or not, when we talk about hope we have to talk about our inclinations toward the future. The prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 9:1-7) and the apostle Peter (1 Peter 1:3-9) understood this too, and they have something important to say to us. 

Thanks-LIVING:Saying YES to Life

In this Thanksgiving sermon, Pastor Lynn says, "When we follow Christ, we are part of a spiritual realm that cannot be shaken by anything else. . . And this reality provides a spiritual foundation that empowers us to always be thankful no matter what our circumstances in life might be at the time. . . Thanksgiving can be a lifestyle, a life philosophy, that shapes how we think and act and respond to the things that happen in our lives. It is a way of saying "YES" to life!"

Let us Pray

In this sermon, Pastor Jim preaches about the importance of living a prayer-filled life as both individuals and as a church family. Learning to pray as Jesus taught his disciples in Luke 11:1-13. First, Jesus said what to pray, and then, Jesus explained how to pray. In other words, Jesus not only gives us the words which to pray to God but he also tells us how to speak to God, how to make our requests known to God and what to expect from God. We should pray with "shameless audacity" (Luke 11:8) and with the expectation that God will faithfully respond to our requests (Luke 11:10). 

Civility: The Battle of Spirit vs. Tongue

With James 3:1-12 as his central text, Pastor Lynn exhorts us to consider that civility is dependent upon the condition of the human heart. Namely, the tongue reveals what is truly in one's heart. So, for there to be civility, the tongue must be governed by a good heart, which can only happen through the power and work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. Which will be evident in a person's public and private speech when it is seasoned with salt (Col 4:6). 

Holy Infection

In this message, Pastor Jim preaches about a single day in the life of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of Mark. Suggesting that when it comes to living our lives we should imitate the way in which Jesus lived his own life. A daily rhythm that involved the inward journey of prayer followed by the outward journey of love and service for others. The video clip referred to at the end of the message can be viewed here. 

Reformation?

On Reformation Sunday, Pastor Lynn tells us how the core of reformation is the return to Scripture, the need for change and the renewal of covenant. So, in your personal life, is your guide the Word of God with the Holy Spirit illuminating your mind to understand and strengthening your will to obey? Is the Bible missing from your life?