Christ City Church, Washington DC

He is risen! He is risen indeed. This Easter Sunday, Pastor Matthew Watson explores the story of Simon of Cyrene, who was forced to carry Jesus’ cross on the way to Golgotha. We are reminded that we don’t have to carry our crosses alone. [ Mark 15:21-24 ,  Matthew 28:1-10 ]  

On Palm Sunday, we celebrate and remember that Jesus is King. Pastor Justin Fung helps us explore what that means for us in these times of chaos, anxiety, and turmoil. [ Luke 19:37-42, 45-46 ] Resources Wholeheartedness: Busyness, Exhaustion, and the Divided Life , by Chuck DeGroat Two-minute prayer (courtesy of Fuller FORMATION ) For 21 consecutive days, practice a quick prayer with a trusted fri...

As we close out our 12-week series on Learning to Live, Pastor Matthew Watson uses words from Paul’s letter to the Colossians to help us consider what’s next. [ Colossians 1:9-14 ]

As we begin to round out our Learning to Live series, we look at learning to live for the sake of the world. God does not invite us only into a one-on-one relationship between God and me but into one which directly affects and impacts those around us and the world in which we live. Pastor Lisa Watson talks about what it might look like for us to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with o...

In our first livestreamed service,  Pastor Justin talks about “Church” — unpacking the very real church hurt that most, if not all, of us have experienced — or will experience — but also the very real hope for what church should be and can be, particularly when the coronavirus has upended so much of ordinary life. [ 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-12 ] Resources What we can do: Foll...

Pastor Watson shows us the place of Scripture in Jesus’ life and asks us to consider what that means for how the Bible should be situated in our lives. He reminds us of the many ways that Jesus used Scripture to confront and comfort. [ Luke 4:1-21 ]

How do we deal with the hard things, the darkness, the very real brokenness in our lives and in the world? Andrea Ackermann teaches us the sustaining practice of lament for helping us overcome and endure. [ Psalm 13 ]

Jesus prayed all the time. But what is prayer? Prayer can take all sorts of different forms, but at its core, it’s about a relationship with God. Pastor Fung specifically looks at the prayer for God’s Kingdom to come on earth as in Heaven, and what this picture of justice would look like. [ Luke 18:1-8 ]   Follow along with Learning to Live at learningtolive.app .

In our Learning to Live series, we’re learning to live – and love – like Jesus. This week, Pastor Justin explains how this spiritual transformation can happen, and what it takes to live a full life. [ 1 Timothy 4:7b-10 ]

Lisa Watson reminds us that Jesus is the clearest reflection of God, and in him, we can see what love looks like. Our growth as followers of Jesus – our ability to live as Jesus lived – hinges on our growth in love. [ 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 , 13 and 2 Corinthians 3:18 ]

In this week’s Learning to Live sermon, Pastor Watson reminds us that the Gospel doesn’t start with the fall and end with the cross, but starts in a garden and ends in a city and has its defining moment in an empty tomb. This narrative is still unfolding and has a place for you in its midst. [ Luke 3:1-20]  

This week, Andrea kicks off the section of Learning to Live that focuses on story – our story, God’s story, and how those intersect. Knowing our own stories enables us to know ourselves. She explores how stories both form and transform us, and reminds us that our stories are not static, but continuous. [ Matthew 4:18-22 , John 21:1-7 , Acts 2:37-41 ]

Pastor Watson continues the Learning to Live series with a look at how Jesus invites us to spend time with him, since it’s relationships that lead to transformation. New life starts with an invitation, a conversation, a relationship. This invitation from Jesus is extended to us so that we may then extend it to others. [ John 1:35-42 ]

Jesus calls us to follow him — because he knows how to live a true, full, fulfilled life — but he always meets us where we are. Pastor Justin Fung kicks off a new series — and introduces a church-wide experience:  Learning to Live — by inviting us to be honest in answering a question that Jesus asked: “What do you want?” [ Matthew 6:25-34 ]

Pastor Watson starts off 2020 with a look at the lessons we can learn from the Magi. As we consider the things we’ll love—and the things we’ll pursue—this year, the wise men offer wisdom on how to run, fight, and wait in order to bring glory to God. [ Matthew 2:1-12 ] SPIRES Plan

Pastor Watson wraps up our series on Anticipating Advent by looking toward a future where Christ fulfills all that he began. Our Kids City Director, Nikki Wiggins, reminds us of the best gift we ever received at Christmas. [ Isaiah 61:1-6 ]

For the third Sunday of Advent, Dana Cunliffe preaches on how Advent exists in both the past, the present, and the future. At Christmas, it’s natural for us to celebrate what happened 2,000 years ago, and also how Jesus is present with us now. But Dana highlights how important it is to remember and anticipate the future advent – the second coming of Christ. [ Isaiah 40:1-11 ] “Pe...

In Isaiah 11, we find a people desperately waiting for the return of their King. Isaiah is anticipating the arrival of a King who will bring peace and gather the people. Jesus is this long-awaited King. Pastor Watson asks what it may look like now, to say yes to Jesus and the advent that we’re anticipating in our own hearts and minds. [ Isaiah 11:1-9 ]    

Pastor Justin Fung introduces our Anticipating Advent series, which will explore the prophecies about Jesus in the book of Isaiah. As Christians, we celebrate Christmas as Jesus’ first Advent, when the kingdom broke into reality; but we look forward to his second Advent, his return, when he promises that all things will be made new. In this sermon, Pastor Justin asks, “What are you wai...

In the final sermon in our series on Ruth, Pastor Lisa Rodriguez-Watson asks, “What does it mean to live faithfully forward?” We often believe the lies and labels that people give us because of our circumstances or things that have happened to us, but God wants us to see ourselves the way God sees us. Despite her background and challenges, Ruth was full of resilience and determination....

Pastor Watson highlights how Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz exhibit fidelity, integrity, and hope – and how these qualities in the book of Ruth point us to Jesus. [ Ruth 3 ]   Creative Response to Ruth 3 by Anna Wayne Under His Wings Counting the stars in the night sky and each sleeping breath he takes. She wonders what happens next? Sitting on the threshing floor in the middle of the night, wha...

Have you ever wondered how God provides? Pastor Justin Fung talks about how Ruth 2 shows us that God provides, in large part through people of compassion and commitment, who care for one another and the common good. Or to put it more personally: no matter our situation, we can be—we are called to be, we are needed as—instruments of God’s blessing, offering healing and grace to others. [ Ruth 2 ] C...

In the first sermon in our series on Ruth, Pastor Matthew Watson explores how the story of Ruth fits into the bigger story of God’s redemption. [ Ruth 1:1-6 , 22 ] Creative Response Empty By Ife Johnson Empty. I heard her say, “she went away full and came back empty.” Empty: defined as containing nothing, or not filled or occupied. But she came back with me. Does that mean I am nothing, not...

Guest preacher Nina Balmaceda invites us to rediscover a savior, teacher, and redeemer as he confronts issues of gender, race, violence, and oppression. She walks us through how three of Jesus’ encounters with neighbors in need display his radical care for vulnerable people, giving hope in a world of hopelessness. [ Mark 5:6-9 , Mark 5:27-30 , Mark 5:39-41 ] Dr. Balmaceda is president and CE...

Pastor Matthew Watson shares what God taught him during his two-month Sabbatical. Through several stories, he reminds us that God is with us, God loves us, and our rest, hope, and identity is in God. [ Hebrews 4:9-16 ]