Christ City Church, Washington DC

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 ]

In the final week of The Whole Story series, Pastor Justin focuses on testimonies of triumph. For Christians, our triumphs come from being faithful. Whether something is a triumph depends on what you’re looking at, when you ask, and whom you ask. ( Psalm 40:1-3 , 9-10 ) The Daily Examen (explained by Fr. Mark Thibodeaux) RELISH the moments that went well and all of the gifts I have today. I...

In the fifth sermon in our series on testimonies, Pastor Justin explores the topic of failure. He walks us through how we can learn and grow through our failures, and how the transforming power of the gospel can prevent failure from leading to rejection and shame. [ Psalm 40:9-13 ]

Every fifth Sunday of the month is Kids City Sunday, where our youth and kids serve and lead during the service. As part of our series on testimonies, Pastor Watson talks with two teenagers from our church family – Arkale Scroggins and Nathan Watson. These young men share what it’s like to follow God as a young person, who in their families inspires them, how God has comforted them, wh...

In the third sermon of our series on testimonies, Marisa Stubbs uses scripture and her personal story to unpack the who, what, when, where, why, and how of hope. [ Psalm 40:9-10 ] Questions What is hope? When is hope under attack? Why is hope important? Where have I seen hope? Where do I see hope? Who is the source of our hope? How do we cultivate hope?

In week two of  The Whole Story , our series on testimony, Dana Cunliffe shares about the important place of testimony in community and the equally important place of community in testimony. [ Psalm 40:9-10 ; Hebrews 12:1-3 ]

Andrea walks us through Psalm 40 and introduces our new series, where we’ll discover how to give testimony, receive testimony, and tell the whole story. ( Psalm 40 )

Preaching from the vision of the valley of dry bones seen by the prophet Ezekiel, Justin Fung talks about the vision of Christ City Church and who we are called to be. [ Ezekiel 37 ]

This week, Justin Fung wraps up our series on Jonah. He urges us to see ourselves as Jonah in the story, and highlights what Jonah 4 teaches us about God’s mercy and why we should love our enemies. [ Jonah 3:10-4:11 ] Creative Response : Jonah 4 Courtney Albon God, I don’t understand your indiscriminate love I’m confused by the way your mercy moves by the doors you hold open by t...

Justin Fung reads Deryn van der Tang’s poetic response to Jonah 3. Dana Cunliffe walks us through Jonah chapter three, focusing on the Ninevites. She reminds us that God is at work, and there is always hope that powerful and wicked systems and empires can change. [ Jonah 3 ] Creative Response:  Nineveh Repents  by Deryn van der Tang Three days did Jonah shout and sigh God’s wrath in every st...

Ashley Greeley offers a creative response to the prayer of Jonah 2, and Andrea Ackermann reflects on where God is in the midst of our troubles. [ Jonah 2 ] Creative Response:  Sonnets for Jonah – Despair and Hope  by Ashley Greeley Down to the bottom of the sea I sink, trapped in the gut of a diving sea thing. With, I suppose, plenty of time to think, desperate thoughts form in my mind and c...

For the month of August, we’ll be looking at the story of Jonah in the Old Testament — with a creative response to the text preceding the message. This week, David Hood offered a spoken word poem based on Jonah 1. Then Justin Fung addressed the shootings in El Paso, TX, and Dayton, OH, that happened within the last 24 hours; and raised some of the questions posed by today’s passage, in...

Today we began one of our most popular series: My Most Important Question . Too often churches ask us to check our doubts at the door, to leave our most important questions behind. But the reality is that we all have deep questions we have wrestled with throughout life, and at Christ City Church, we believe that when we wrestle with our biggest questions, it actually deepens our faith. In Mark 9,...

Today we began one of our most popular series: My Most Important Question . Too often churches ask us to check our doubts at the door, to leave our most important questions behind. But the reality is that we all have deep questions we have wrestled with throughout life, and at Christ City Church, we believe that when we wrestle with our biggest questions, it actually deepens our faith. In Mark 9,...