Christ City Church, Washington DC

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,...

As we celebrate six years as a church (planted in 2013 as the East Side parish of The District Church and then launched in 2017 as Christ City Church), Matthew Watson helps us consider the call and the challenge of Christ to our congregation by looking at Jesus’ words to the church in Ephesus. [ Revelation 2:1-4 ]

On the weekend of July 4th, Justin Fung considers the very first words of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel—”The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news”—and what that means for us as Christians in America. [ Mark 1:14-20 ] Resources Book: James Cone,  God of the Oppressed Video:  Chadwick Boseman’s tribute to Denzel Washington

Marisa Stubbs closes out our Theology of Place series by talking about what it means and looks like for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will to be done on earth — and on our streets — as in heaven. [ Revelation 21:3-5, 22-27; 22:1-5 ]

Continuing our Theology of Place series, Dana Cunliffe talks about a theology of unbuilt spaces — creation itself — and how we are invited into a relationship of care for what God has made. [ Genesis 1:20-2:9 ]

The redemptive story of God begins in a garden but it ends in a city. Pastor Matthew Watson preaches on the idea of new heavens and new earth breaking into our city and how we can be a part of it. [ Isaiah 65:17-25 ]

Place matters. Because Jesus took on flesh and blood, lived in a neighborhood and identified with a people – we also root ourselves in neighborhoods and identify with people. Our place is Washington, DC. While many come to this city to consume it and to use it, we want to be among those who love it. On Pentecost Sunday, we considered the indwelling of the spirit in our particular geography. [ Acts...

Where are you using your gifts in the church? Where are you using your gifts for the city? Pastor Matthew Watson encourages us to examine the purpose and use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. [ 1 Corinthians 12:4-31 ]  

Just as there is a Holy Spirit, there are unholy spirits. Pastor Matthew Watson helps us understand spiritual warfare by shedding light on the ways the enemy works and the ways the Holy Spirit works.   [ Ephesians 6:10-12 ]

What does it mean to have freedom in the spirit? Andrea Ackermann explores Galatians 5 by looking at what we are free from, what we are free for, and how we know we are walking in freedom.  [ Galatians 5:13-26 ] Resources: Derrek Webb – A New Law

Are you curious about the Power & Possibility of the Holy Spirit and how to live a spirit-filled life? Pastor Matthew Watson looks at the ways that the Spirit has worked throughout the biblical narrative: Creation, Revelation, Redemption, Guidance, and Commission. Which of these modes of the Spirit’s work are you in need of today?  [ Acts 1:4-11 ]

We say goodbye to our series on John and hello to a series on the Holy Spirit. Pastor Matthew Watson opens up Jesus’ promises for an Advocate, a Comforter, and Helper – the promised Holy Spirit. [ John 14:15-18 ]

We are nearing the end of our “Life, Death, and Life Again” series on John as we reach John’s final chapter. Pastor Matthew Watson offers questions and prayers that can move us forward as we come face to face with a resurrected Jesus. [ John 21 ]