JBC Connect

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Welcome to the Japanese Baptist Church (JBC) Podcast based in Seattle, Washington. Here you'll find sermons, conversations and reflections of all kinds relating to our community. We want to help people connect their daily lives with loving God and loving their neighbor. Although we originally began as a Japanese-American community, we continue to diversify in the makeup of our ages, backgrounds and opinions. Followers of Christ, seekers, skeptics and beyond are all welcome! As you listen with an open heart and mind to the Spirit, may God richly bless you!

Japanese Baptist Church


    • Aug 29, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 21m AVG DURATION
    • 96 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from JBC Connect

    Going to the Least of These

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2021 30:21


    Matthew 25:31-46 Pastor Sam shares about how this passage encourages us to go out to the margins and seek the disenfranchised because we see that this is very much what the life of Jesus was about. How can we meet the real needs of the world around us with the loving presence of God?

    Rev. Anita Peebles: "We Need Each Other"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2021 15:05


    Ecclesiastes 4:9-11

    Rev. Dr. Patricia Hunter: "What Does God Want?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2021 15:02


    Micah 6:6-8

    Rev. Dr. Tim Phillips: "Speaking the Truth in Love"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2021 16:13


    Pastor Angeline Lau: "Sabbath Rest"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2021 20:38


    Hebrews 4:9-11

    The Networked Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2021 27:01


    This message considers how we are living in a new world of networks and connections. How can this affect the life of the church and its mission? How can we be more discerning to what we connect with and let speak into our lives?

    Theology of Technology

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2021 22:54


    How should the church think about technology? What does ministry look like in a new world of new devices? Let's think about how we can use the gifts that God has given us in this world to make them available for God today.

    New Church/Old Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2021 26:59


    Matthew 5:17-20 This sermon explores how we are in a liminal time in the church and we need to think about our understanding of "old" and "new" within our story. How is God calling us to be the church today?

    God First

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2021 24:35


    Exodus 20:1-3 Our former Executive Minister of the Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches, Rev. Dr. Marcia Patton shared with her understanding of what it means to have God first in worship.

    Faith Comes Alive in Outreach

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2021 23:35


    Colossians 1:28-29 This sermon reflects on how a vibrant and dynamic faith is concerned with reaching out to others. It is because God's love reached out to us, and so, God is calling us to reach out to others.

    Faith Comes Alive in Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2021 21:02


    1 John 1:3-4 Pastor Sam shares about the importance of community as the place where God wants our faith to grow and be renewed. We are called to be a PEOPLE of God.

    Hospitality as Christian Discipleship

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2021 24:53


    Hebrews 10:24-25 Pastor Sam shares about how Hospitality is actually about Christian community and discipleship in action.

    Invitation to Participate (Dr. Paul Cho)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2021 29:29


    Exodus 4:10-13 Dr. Paul Cho gives this message in both English and Japanese. He challenges us to gladly take up the invitations that God sends out to us to join in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

    Time to Grow

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2021 18:51


    2 Peter 1:5-9 This sermon reflects on the need for Christians to desire spiritual growth as a part of their daily lives.

    Conversation with Rev. Lauren Ng

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2021 64:26


    Pastor Sam and Rev. Lauren Ng from American Baptist Home Mission Society share about how they have been personally dealing with issues of race and identity in their families and ministries especially in light of our current times. They also share about how creativity has played an important role in helping them process their journeys.

    Time to Rebuild (Pentecost Sunday)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2021 17:11


    Haggai 1:1-15 This message reflects upon what it was like for the exiles to return from Babylon their homes. In starting again, God challenged them to find God in the center of their lives as they sought to rebuild. Similarly, as we begin to return from this pandemic year, we are also called to keep God as our center. On this Pentecost Sunday and our 122nd Anniversary, let's seek the power of the Spirit.

    The Year of Jubilee

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2021 15:26


    Leviticus 25:1-7 This sermon talks about the biblical year of Jubilee for God's people. It was a time of renewal and change with God's people. As we begin to consider how life will be after the pandemic, let's make our own year of Jubilee as we open ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

    God's Mothering Heart

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2021 22:37


    Colossians 3:12-17 Pastor Angeline shares this message about God's Mothering heart and how it relates to our daily walk with God.

    Receiving Love

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2021 16:13


    This sermon is the final message in the "Receive" series that talks about the blessing of what we receive from God in the good news of Easter. May we all be blessed by the abundant and mysterious love of God. As we are, we will be transformed and compelled to love in Christ's name.

    Receiving Grace

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2021 18:52


    Luke 7:36-50 This sermon talks about the hope of Grace that comes in the resurrection of Christ. Let us release the burden of judgment and shame so that we can find the amazing Mercy of God.

    god jesus christ receiving grace
    Receiving Hope

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2021 21:21


    Romans 8:22-25 This sermon reflects upon the Good News of Hope that comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In our times of weakness, let's find strength in the hope of God.

    Be Like Thomas (Rev. Doug Avilesbernal)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2021 19:30


    John 20:19-29 For this sermon, Rev. Avilesbernal, the Executive Minister of our Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches, speaks about the need to move in love and to learn from the encounter of Thomas and the Risen Christ.

    EASTER: Receive

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2021 12:15


    John 20:19-22 This sermon reflects upon the risen Christ's encounter. From this long season of Lent, we have learned to release which brings us to Easter: we are called to receive the things of life in light of the resurrection.

    Passion Sunday: Releasing Fear

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2021 20:31


    Matthew 26:36-41 This sermon reflects about the experience of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. As we see Christ's example, we are called to release our fears unto God and to entrust our lives unto our Heavenly Father.

    Releasing Falsehoods

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2021 26:42


    Pastor Sam reflects on the growing reports of racism towards the AAPI community and its connection to Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman in Samaria from John 4.

    Releasing Addiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2021 15:52


    Matthew 4:1-4 This sermon reflects upon Christ's temptation in the wildnerness and its connection to our own struggles with addiction. Let us humble ourselves and recognize our unhealthy attachments and seek the necessary steps to find restoration.

    Releasing Shame

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2021 15:17


    2 Corinthians 7:10-12 This sermon talks about the power of shame and God's call to help us release shame so that we can discover the healing acceptance of God's grace.

    Releasing Control

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2021 13:30


    James 4:13-17 This sermon reflects on the lenten teaching of releasing control. How can we entrust our lives into God's good care in the midst of an ever changing world?

    The Story Behind "Release" for Lent

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2021 13:20


    Matthew 16:24-25 Pastor Jason Ashimoto of Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles and Pastor Sam of Japanese Baptist Church of Seattle share about how their two churches are embarking on a common journey of release for the season of Lent.

    Remembering the Past, Committing to the Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2021 11:59


    Hebrews 12:1-2 For the Day of Remembrance, we take a moment to recognize the past tragedy of the Incarceration of Japanese Americans but we also commit ourselves anew to be people of justice and equality for the sake of the kingdom of God. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses and Christ calls us to follow Him into the future.

    In Good and Trouble (Rev. Jason Ashimoto)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2021 18:15


    Pastor Jason Ashimoto from Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles shares a reflection on Job and how we see God and are held by God in times of good and trouble.

    Faith Like A Child

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2021 27:50


    Matthew 18:1-5 This sermon talks about how we must come to Christ with the heart of a child if we are to truly understand what it means to be a part of God's kingdom.

    Change From the Inside Out

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2021 21:19


    Luke 6:43-45 This sermon addresses how to go about change according to Jesus. More than changing external behaviors, we need a radical change of our inwward heart and motivations.

    Compassion Reveals The Heart of God

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2021 15:45


    For Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday, this sermon calls for compassion to see what God is doing in our world today. Let's be peacemakers like Christ and Rev. Dr. King.

    New Wine and Old Wineskins

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2021 24:21


    Mark 2:18-22 This sermon challenges us to think about the way we cling to the old patterns of the world and resist the new thing that God wants to do in our lives. We need to surrender old and false understandings of God so that we can receive the new Life of God. Let us exchange our old wineskins for new ones so that God can pour new wine into us!

    Pastoral Address about the Mob at the US Capitol

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2021 6:41


    Pastor Sam shares some thoughts in processing the events of the past week concerning the invasion of the US Capitol and the dangers of religious zeal without Christ.

    Conversation with Yosh Nakagawa

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2021 30:11


    We talk with our long-time member Yosh Nakagawa about his passion for diversity, peace and love in our communities. Yosh has been instrumental in advocating for Japanese American communities and for creating a voice for Asian-American Pacific Islanders within the American Baptist Church. He has also been a very influential figure in the formation of the Evergreen Association of Baptists. In this episode, he shares about why JBC's story is important to him and why it should be for others as well.

    Justifying Grace: You are Loved and Forgiven

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2021 21:07


    Acts 9:1-19 This sermon opens the new year with a reminder that at the heart of the Christian message is that God loves us, forgives us and gives us the hope of a new life. Before you embark on any resolutions for yourself this year, remember that Christ's grace for you is perfect and unconditional.

    Year End Vespers

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2020 33:53


    Our short gathering for prayer to close out 2020. We encourage you to use this time to recognize where God has been in this past year and to also dedicate yourselves unto God in the year to come.

    Prevenient Grace: Finding God's Presence in Our Past

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2020 19:09


    1 Timothy 1:12-17 This sermon reflects on how God's grace is at work in our lives even when we are not aware. As we look back on this difficult year, let's remember that even in our challenges God is here for us.

    Christmas: Rejoice! Christ is Here

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2020 19:00


    Luke 1:26-49 The good news of Christmas is that Christ is here! Mary saw this true, knew it in her deepest being and rejoiced. Let us pray for God to give us this special gift of Joy in this most challenging year.

    The Longest Night Service

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2020 25:36


    This is a recording of our reflective alternative service to recognize the Hope of Christ even when it feels like the nights are long. May you know that God's love and comfort are near.

    Advent: The Spirit Healing the Broken Hearted

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2020 16:23


    Isaiah 61:1-4 Pastor Angeline preaches on the significance of this prophetic passage in Isaiah and how it directly connects to Christ coming into our world. In Christ the Good News of God's promises are fulfilled.

    Conversation with Rev. Anita Peebles

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 28:10


    In our last conversation of the year, we hear from the Next Generation Ministries Pastor of Seattle First Baptist Church to share about her joy of Advent, ministering to children and learning to be flexible in uncertain times.

    Roberta Stephens: "A Flower With Roots"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 50:42


    Last year as a part of our 120th Anniversary we invited retired missionary Roberta Stephens to share and answer questions about her book, "A Flower With Roots." Her book gives an account of Mary D. Jesse and Shokei Girls' School. Mary D. Jesse, a woman from a family of means, abandoned everything to follow her vision to help lift the burden of Japanese girls during a time when education was a privilege and not a right. The book is a compelling account of the resiliency of a mission school where the love and loyalty of students shines through, even as the school leadership is embroiled in endless drama in management and personal relations.

    Advent: Awake! The Disruption of Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2020 16:08


    Mark 13:24-37 Christmas is not a time of only cheer and good will, it is a time of God's holy disruption. God is awakening us from our indifference and complacency so that we can see the gospel anew.

    Advent: Now Is The Moment (Rev. Doug Avilesbernal)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2020 13:50


    1 Cor. 1:3-9 Psalm 80:1-7 Our Executive Minister of our Evergreen Association of Baptist Churches extended a message of inspiration to our family of communities to recognize the significance of Advent and the opportunity we have in this moment as followers of Christ.

    Conversation with Rev. Jason Ashimoto

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 54:39


    In this episode, we invited Rev. Jason Ashimoto of Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles to share with us in his journey of pastoring in diversity and through conflict. We hear great insights about how he pastors compassionately with God's Grace in the times when the church can get easily divided.

    Humble Thanks

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2020 20:31


    Luke 18:9-14 This sermon reflects on the true nature of thanksgiving. As we recognize the power of God's Grace in our life, we can truly know what it means to give thanks unto God.

    Those Who Wait Upon The Lord

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2020 20:39


    Isaiah 40:28-31 This sermon reminds us that we can always come to God for strength and renewal. In these hard times, let us constantly seek God for our refreshing and sustenance!

    The City on a Hill

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2020 24:28


    Matthew 5:14-16 After the results of the election were announced, this sermon reminds us that our calling to be a "city on a hill" to the world remains. Let us stay steadfast in our commitment to living in the way of Jesus Christ.

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