Christ City Church, Washington DC

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 ]

Matthew Watson explains another of Jesus’ bold declarations about who he is and how he alone satisfies. [ John 7:33-41 ]

In light of this week’s happenings, Justin Fung addresses the topic of sexual assault, before talking about Jesus’ difficult-to-accept words and the choice we are offered. [ John 6:60-71 ]

After the miraculous feeding, Jesus explains to the following crowd what real food and true life are. Andrea Ackermann teaches us about some of Jesus’ difficult sayings. [ John 6:22-59 ]

Jesus feeds a large crowd and walks on water. Justin Fung talks about what we learn from Jesus through these encounters. [ John 6:1-21 ] Resources Map of 1st Century Palestine

We step back into the fall and back into the Gospel of John, looking at it as  A Story of Life . Matthew Watson reviews where we’ve been and what we’ll be looking at in the next few months, and asks us to consider: “What is a good life?” [ John 1:1-5, 3:16-17, 20:30-31 ] Resources The Gospel of John: A Story of Life Reading Plan Sabbath Guide

Matthew Watson closes out our Sabbath series and prepares us for our upcoming communal sabbath experiment by asking who we’re becoming and what will help us get there. [ Exodus 20:8-11 ] Resources Sabbath Guide How to Keep Sabbath with Kids

Pastoral Fellow Justin Henry delivers his last sermon before moving to California next week, and he talks about the interplay between sabbath and community. [ 1 Corinthians 11:33 ]

In our third week of the Sabbath series, we preview what’s coming up this fall and Justin Fung considers sabbath as justice, specifically as freedom for ourselves, for others, and for our world. [ Deuteronomy 5:12-15 ]

After sharing a response to the white supremacist gathering taking place in DC this weekend, Matthew Watson explains how conversations about sabbath can easily descend into making rules rather than giving life. [ Exodus 20:8-11 ; Mark 2:23-28 ]

We begin a new series on sabbath rhythm and its invitation to an entirely new relationship to work, to our community, and to God. Matthew Watson begins by sharing just what sabbath could be in our lives and challenges us to try. [ Exodus 20:8-11 ]

Members of the Christ City Church family share a question they’ve wrestled with in their lives recently or over a long period. On this Sunday, those questions were, “Does God embrace all of his daughters?,” “What if Jesus isn’t for me?,” and “How can I be strong and still rely on God?”

Members of the Christ City Church family share a question they’ve wrestled with in their lives recently or over a long period. On this Sunday, those questions were, “Who do You say that I am?,” and “God, can you really transform me?”

Matthew Watson closes out our  Ezer series by looking at the New Testament character Lydia, who has much to teach the Church, including us, about following Jesus. [ Acts 16:11-15]