Washington Avenue Christian Church

We can't know how much angels know but we can see that one of their best days ever was the day when they got to announce the arrival of the newborn king. Heaven exploded with joy and praise as God wrapped himself in human skin, a present of his presence for all mankind.

In this week's Advent focus, God's penchant for using unsung people from out-of-the-way places continues as He chooses outcast shepherds to be invited to the birthday celebration of the ages.

We live in a culture where bigger is always better and just about everything is measured in terms of size and perceived impact. That may be true in our culture, but it’s not how God works. In our Advent journey today, we are reminded once again that God takes great delight in working mightily through little people and little places…

The Apostle John tells the Christmas story a little differently: “… The Word became flesh and lived among us for a while.” As Advent season begins, watch with us in wonder as we consider the impact of this one little Word, whose coming into our world 2000 years ago changed everything.

Never in history have a people been so abundantly blessed as we have; and it has never been so easy to take it for granted or even fail to see it entirely. As we move into a season called “Thanksgiving“ let us open our eyes and open our hearts and give thanks to God in and for all things. Even if life is really tough right now, there are lots of reasons to be thankful—if only we will look for them...

We often get confused about power. We think we know it and see it in technology and governments and political personalities. But the real power comes from a different source; it comes from the source of everything. GOD. In this amazing prayer covered by our text today, Paul is making sure that believers know and receive the enabling and empowering strength of God, and that we at least catch a glim...

As we move into chapter 3, Paul begins to pray but then segues into a detour in which he explains the mystery of God‘s plan to reunite the Jews and Gentiles, as well as the mystery of grace that allows him to be a part of it.

Today we have the privilege of hearing from CRF CEO, Milton Jones. He brings an update from CRF and explains what God's grace is doing for those around the world, and what his grace can do for you.

In our last look at Ephesians 2, we talked about how God, through Jesus Christ, took warring factions and brought them together through his peace. As we look further today, we will find out that not only have we outsiders been invited in, we are now fully a part of God’s family

One of the primary mistakes that Israel made was putting processes over people, thereby building walls instead of bridges. In Ephesians 2.11-18, Paul reminds us that all the walls have been torn down and a bridge has been built between God and humanity. As a result, Christ followers are called to be bridge builders as well.

“For we are God’s workmanship…” it says in Ephesians 2:10. Most of the time when we read that verse we focus on ourselves, feeling thankful, or even proud that God‘s fingerprints are all over our lives. And we should! But today, let’s turn our focus away from the creation—you and me—to the Creator. Because after all, that’s where the focus really belongs!

Sometimes looking back, it is probably a good thing we didn’t know how bad things really were in a particularly dicey situation. But in our Ephesians text today, Paul wants to make doubly sure we know exactly how bad our situation was before Christ came with a means to save and redeem us. Today we take a first look at the PROBLEM, the SOLUTION, and the RESULT. Beyond the death, burial and resurrec...

The most powerful engine is useless without fuel. The best table saw in the shop is no good when it is unplugged. The brightest searchlight remains dark until you flip the switch. In a similar way, a Christian life disconnected from the power of God will have no impact, no change. In our text today, Paul reminds us of the incredible power that is ours through Jesus Christ.

Are you too busy doing, and not just being? So often we can find ourselves doing the work of the Lord, that we forget the Lord of the work. Join us as we figure out together that God doesn’t need us to do anything, he just wants to do it with you.

Sometimes it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer size of a mountain, especially if you think you have to climb it! The first chapter of the book of Ephesians is kind of a “Mount Everest” in scope and bearing. Sometimes, all you can do is stand back and take it in and just be amazed! In our study time today, we’ll take a quick look at ten huge blessings that already belong to every believer...

Sadly, most people, Believers included, approach work and career as if it is a curse, or at best a necessary evil. But that's not the way God sees our work! On this Labor Day weekend, we'll spend our time considering two main reasons Americans have put so much effort into work, and we'll end with some considerations geared at helping us make sure our work ethic is grounded in biblical and spiritua...

As we take our first steps into the text of Ephesians we quickly find out that God has been busy making plans for a very long time, and that those plans include us! Today we'll take a first peek into the truckload of blessings we've already been given, and we'll spend some time being wowed by the mind-boggling paradoxes of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility.

It's called amnesia - the loss of the memory of one's identity. It's a serious diagnosis with serious consequences. In the Apostle Paul's day, Paul was concerned that the Christians at Ephesus had forgotten who they were and what they had in Christ. Maybe that's true of the Church today. We kickoff a new Series today - "WE ARE..." - as we take our first look at this New Testament letter, God's wor...

In our text today the people of Israel have just left Egypt, but their freedom quickly finds them up against impossibilities and certain destruction. In this very place they will learn that although people are only people, God is God – and He wants to fight or us.

As we come to the end of our series, we’ll take a last look at the two main points of our study: one, that forgiveness is a complicated and costly business, And, two, that there is nothing more powerful than the sovereign Grace and Providence of God. Then we’ll finish up with a touching, powerful, real-life ‘meant for good’ story.

The finish to our lives will say an awful lot about the years we’ve lived. In our message today, our focus is largely on two funerals—one for Jacob, the “father of the twelve tribes of Israel” and one for Joseph, the favorite son of that same father. As we look upon last scenes and last words, we will find out that our unconfessed sins will follow us and even dog our kids and grandkids and beyond-...

Joseph has proven to the readers, to his family, to Pharaoh, to the nation exactly what kind of man he is. He is capable. He is intelligent. He is wise. He is faithful. He is trustworthy. He is patient. He is selfless. No wonder the people were willing to sell themselves to him. Because when you trust your master, slavery doesn’t feel like slavery. We are all slaves to something. Fear, anxiety, gr...

Guest speaker Luke Greer serves on the executive team at Orchard Group, a non profit church planting organization. In John 8:12-18, Jesus declares He is the Light of the world. This proclamation sums up the good news about Jesus. He came not only to bring the light but to be the light; to show us a new way forward out of the darkness. Luke walks us through both the function of light and the conseq...

Sometimes when you read a passage of the Bible, it leaves us with more questions than answers. When that happens, one of the best things to do is to act like a tourist in a foreign country. Put yourself in the original audiences’ shoes and ask, “What would this mean to me if I were them?” In this week’s passage, it doesn’t look like much is going on, other than just the advancement of the story, b...

On this July 4th holiday we celebrate our nation’s independence and freedom, but more importantly, let’s explore the Bible’s teaching about our Freedom in Christ as His followers.