Christ City Church, Washington DC

“Christ is Risen; He is risen indeed! It is a reminder that because of Christ we can have life and we can have it abundantly.”  Pastor Matthew Watson preaches on the Resurrection of Jesus from John 20 on Easter Sunday. We also heard a spoken word piece from Mazaré Rogers.  [ John 20:1-10 ]   Resources: Mazaré Rogers – Raw Honey on Bandcamp  

As part of our contemplative Good Friday service, observing the Way of the Cross (also known as the Stations of the Cross), we hear from Amy Sawyer, Tommy O’Keefe, and Tiffany Pyen. [ John 19:13-30 ] (Some elements of the service were not able to be included in the podcast for copyright reasons.)

Jesus entered into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey to shouts of adoration and acclamation. Andrea Ackermann examines how the different responses to Jesus challenge us to examine our own responses. [ John 12:1-19 ]

The idea of unity in the church can seem like a pipe dream when we look at all of the different Christian churches and denominations, all of the ways we section ourselves off, all of the issues we’ve splintered and separated over, all of the ways we’ve forced others out or made folks feel so unwelcome that they had to start somewhere new; it’s easier to name situations where we’ve failed than wher...

On our first Kids City Sunday, Jaemin and Nathan read our Bible passage, and Brian Lomax, one of our Kids City volunteers, gives the message about Jesus’ promise: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” [ John 16:16-33 ]

Dallas Willard describes joy as “a pervasive and constant sense of well-being that is infused with hope because of the goodness of God.” Jesus promises that that joy is available to us and that he will make our joy complete. Justin Fung unpacks how Jesus gets us there. [ John 15:1-25 ]

Elder Marisa Stubbs delivers the word of John 13:21-38 which predicts both Judas’ and Peter’s betrayals. She speaks of real pain of betrayal while pointing to the glory, grace, and mercy of Jesus. [ John 13:21-38 ]

Guest Preacher, David Bailey, brings us into the wilderness of Deuteronomy as he speaks those who seek justice, but don’t always see it. God’s provision is for those who are flourishing and for those under the weight of oppression. How we view God determines how we make sense of the wilderness walk.  [ Deuteronomy 8:1-3 ]

As we journey through John, we’ve reached the account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet as a example of servant leadership. Lisa Watson teaches on the love, knowledge, and vulnerability behind servanthood and the marks of a servant. [ John 13:1-17 ]  

In order to fulfill one’s purpose, one must have a process for getting there. Matthew Watson unpacks how Jesus’ purpose — bringing life, light, and salvation — necessitated a process that involved going through death, darkness, and isolation; and how that gives us hope. [ John 12:20-50] Resources: The Gospel of John: Life, Death, and Life Again Reading Plan

We rejoin the story after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and find him facing tremendous pushback from the religious leaders. Why does he encounter such opposition for doing good? Andrea Ackermann explains the threat that Jesus poses — to systems and structures … and to us. [ John 11:45-57 ] Resources: The Gospel of John: Life, Death, and Life Again Reading Plan

As we rejoin the Gospel of John, Matthew Watson tells the story of Jesus and his friend Lazarus, and reminds us that God is with us in our disappointment and grief, and that it isn’t about how we start that counts. [ John 11:1-44 ] Resources: The Gospel of John: Life, Death, and Life Again Reading Plan

Even as we come to the end of the first month of the year, the rest of 2019 stretches out before us. Who will we become this year, and how do we get where God wants us to go? Justin Fung introduces the SPIRES Plan tool and reminds us that love is the framework for our lives. [ Mark 12:28-31 ] Download an e-version of the SPIRES Plan card here . Prayers Maya Angelou: Father, Mother, God, Thank you...

Guest preacher Jonathan “Pastah J” Brooks unpacks Jeremiah 29 for us, drawing on lessons gleaned from living and pastoring in the same Chicago neighborhood of Englewood that he grew up in. [ Jeremiah 29:4-7 ] Our confession was “Morning Poem,” by Mary Oliver, who passed away this week. Every morning the world is created. Under the orange sticks of the sun the heaped ashes o...

St. Benedict (c.480-547AD) said, “Always we begin again.” At the start of a new year, we do that literally. Matthew Watson talks about the invitation that God extends to us over the coming months and how we might accept — and participate in the work of God. [ Ephesians 3:14-4:1 ]

Jesus came to bring peace,  shalom , not just the absence of conflict but the wholeness of relationship with God, with others, with nature and systems, and with ourselves. Matthew Watson walks us through how each of the characters in the nativity point to the peace of God. [ Jeremiah 33:14-16 ]

On the third Sunday of Advent, before Kids City led us in joyful worship by enacting the Nativity, Andrea Ackermann talked about how we might make room for joy — not counterfeit joy, which is really an escape, but real joy, which can stand alongside all of the difficulty and trouble of our lives. [ Matthew 2:1-2 ] If you would like to give to our Advent Offering, you can find out more and gi...

Looking at the story of Joseph and Mary, Marisa Stubbs encourages us to remember the love of God and challenges us to make room for it. [ Matthew 1:18-25 ]

On the first Sunday of Advent, we look at hope and how we make room for hope by remembering what’s already been done. Matthew Watson also led us in a time of giving thanks, the practical outworking of hope. [ Luke 2:1-20 ] (Note: we didn’t include people’s testimonies in the podcast for privacy reasons.)

Lisa Watson closes out  The Gospel of John: A Story of Life by looking at the opposition Jesus faced and the invitation he offered—and continues to offer. [ John 10:22-42 ]

In John 9, Jesus heals a man who was born blind. Justin Fung examines how this encounter offers an opportunity to look at what God’s life looks like in the midst of our lives — and in the face of suffering, in particular. [ John 9 ]

“The truth will set you free.” We may be familiar with the saying. But what did Jesus mean when he said it, and how will it happen? Guest preacher Aaron Niequist, liturgist and author of  The Eternal Current: How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save Us from Drowning , shares about the importance of actually doing what Jesus said, including a practice for how to love our enemies. [ John 8:31...

After a difficult week, Matthew Watson addresses the recent violence and points to Jesus as the light of the world—a source of endless hope in times of desperation and hopelessness. [ John 8:12-30 ]

In a famous encounter, a woman caught in adultery is brought to Jesus. What can we learn from Jesus’ response? Matthew Watson walks us through. [ John 8:2-11 ]

If you’ve felt like you’re in dire straits or at the end of the rope, guest preacher Ekemini Uwan, theologian and co-host of the popular podcast “Truth’s Table,” has an encouraging word for you from the Old Testament. [ 2 Kings 4:1-7 ]