Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church of Washington DC

The Cost of Love

In this message on Matthew 20:1-15, Pastor Jim draws our attention to how Jesus uses a parable about the workers in the vineyard to explain what the Kingdom of God (or Heaven) is like. Yet again, Jesus tells his closest disciples that God is quite different from what they may have been taught to think about God. Views that they may have learned from their religious leaders and heard through "God stories" from family, friends and local community members. A parable which declares in a vivid way how God is completely good. How God’s love is constant and enduring. How our relationship with God is never based on our performance. How God’s actions reveal God’s love for you! 

Child-like Trust

You may ask yourself, “What does it mean to enter the Kingdom of God anyway?” As Pastor Jim explains, the Kingdom of God belongs to those who trust Jesus like children. Those who lay aside what the world and our culture say are important in regard to status, power and prestige. Laying aside big egos and power plays. Laying aside those who are thought to be “in” and those who are thought to be “out.” Choosing, instead, to be the sort of person who trusts God with everything and in all situations. Becoming the kind of person who can give up their desire for control of what is happening, when it is happening and whether or not it produces an outcome they want. To be more like Jesus by having child-like trust in God. 

The Prison of the Past

In this sermon, Pastor Lynn contrasts two Scripture passages. The first one is the story of Lot's wife when she leaves the city of Sodom with her family. After she is warned not to do so, Lot's wife looks back. She is not able to flee the city without turning back to her past. This passage is then put in contrast to 2 Corinthians 5:17 where Paul explains, "if anyone is in Christ that person is a new creation."  Only Jesus has the power to heal us and release us from our past. And there is nothing beyond the power of God's love and forgiveness which cannot be healed.  

College Student Reflections & Youth Mission Experiences

During this special youth and college student service, WABC's youth share about their summer mission experiences while our college students offer some personal reflections. Isaac Bergfalk begins by sharing his views about the interdependencies between humanity and the created world. Followed by Nakeshia Diop who describes what she has learned from traveling abroad and why it is important to have empathy for other people. Then, Mira and Sophie Bergfalk talk about their collective experiences at a "Youth Summit at the Sea" which took place in Virginia Beach with other American Baptist youth. And finally, Luke Paraboschi gives his reflections on a recent mission trip to the Philippines and what he learned from the experience. 

The God Who Sees

In this sermon, Min. Leslie Harris draws our attention to the story of Hagar in the desert. An Old Testament story about God hearing and seeing Hagar, a former slave and second wife of Abraham, who is alone crying in the desert and in desperate need of help. A story which we may all be able to relate to at some level. While it is also a reminder that we are never abandoned by God. Rather, God wants every person to know that God hears you, God sees you and God will always take care of you.  

The Vibrant Life Empowered By the Spirit

In his final sermon on missions, Pastor Jim explains that we have to learn how to walk with the Spirit, listen for the instructions of the Spirit, and trust what the Spirit tells us to do. Not just with the big things in life, but with the regular moments too. In all things, we are all to remain open to what the Spirit is doing in us and around us. This is the vibrant life empowered by the Spirit as it is recorded in the Bible. How is the Spirit moving you?

Seeing with God's Eyes

In this message, Rev. Carmella Jones, an American Baptist missionary to Hungary, who delivers a message about her dependence on God, like the beggar Bartimaeus. A blind man who was living on the margins of society, yet Jesus shows up and calls to him through the crowd. Indicating how we should also wait for God as beggars, and expect God to show up and call us through other people. And in response, we are to throw off our "cloaks" and become students who willingly learn from Jesus as we continue to wait on God while sitting in the margins with those in needs of God's love and care. 

The Vibrant Life Formed by the Word

Pastor Jim continues his reflections on the recent mission trip to the Philippines. In this message, he considers the manner in which the Word of God was heard and received by the Filipino people at their worship services. Offering insights into Jesus' parable of the sower and the hearts of the people who receive the seed of faith when it is given to them.    

The Vibrant Life in Community

Pastor Jim shares about his recent mission trip to the Philippines. He explains how leaving western American culture and entering into a foreign culture showed him something new about himself and about God. This experience provided him new lenses through which to view himself and others.
In this message, based on Romans 12, Pastor Jim focuses on one area in particular: community. How the vibrant life with God involves participating as members of God's family, the fellowship of believers. Living as the "we" instead of just as "me." Something that requires challenging and breaking the stronghold of American individualism that westerners hold onto so tightly and defend so strongly.

The Compassion of the Shepherd

Pastor Lynn reminds us that as sheep in Jesus' pasture we are not only to enjoy the Good Shepherd's bounty, but we are also to go out into the fields and into our neighborhoods to help the lost sheep come home. Indeed, Jesus has other sheep that are not in his fold and they do not have a shepherd to call their own. Jesus loves them and wants to give them the fullness of life found with him. So, as Pastor Lynn exhorts, ask the Lord to show you who the sheep are in your neighborhood that do not have a good shepherd.