Christ City Church, Washington DC

In a world full of injustice, how are we called to live? Guest preacher Leroy Barber talks about the spirituality of protest, one of the lost traditions of our faith. [ Exodus 1:8-22 ]

Dutch politician and philosopher Abraham Kuyper said, “There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus Christ does not cry out, ‘This is mine! This belongs to me!'” Justin Fung unpacks that statement as well as Jesus’ first sermon to explore our calling as individuals and as a church. [ Luke 4:16-21 ]

As we begin the new year, we take a look at our church’s vision — to see the Kingdom of God on display in DC, in every life and every sphere of life. This week, Matthew Watson invites us to see where and in whom God is already at work and to participate in what God is doing. [ Ephesians 2:12-13, 15b-16 ]

Jesus called the disciples to leave the familiar side of the sea and journey to the unfamiliar places of the world. As we look into the new year, we move ahead, knowing that despite the storms ahead, Jesus is with us, calling us to faith and courage in him. [ Matthew 8:23-27; Matthew 14:22-29, 34-36; John 21:1 ]

On Christmas Eve, Matthew Watson and Justin Fung talk about the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and what his coming to earth two thousand years ago has continuing effects in our lives today. [ Luke 2:13-14 ]

On the third Sunday of Advent, Matthew Watson explores what it looks like to keep vigil over love. [ Luke 2:11-12 ] Resources Christina Rossetti, “Love Came Down at Christmas” Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine, Love was born at Christmas, Star and Angels gave the sign. Worship we the Godhead, Love Incarnate, Love Divine, Worship we our Jesus, But wherewith for s...

On the second Sunday of Advent, Justin Fung reflects on how we keep vigil over joy in the midst of all that’s going on in our lives and in the world. [ Luke 2:10 ] Resources Dallas Willard,  The Great Omission: “Joy is not pleasure, a mere sensation, but a pervasive and constant sense of well-being. Hope in the goodness of God is joy’s indispensable support.”   Jan Richardson, &#8...

As we enter the season of Advent, preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we begin a four-week series on “Keeping Vigil.” Lisa Watson talks about what keeping vigil is and how to keep vigil over hope. [ Luke 2:8-9 ] Resources Poem: “Hope,” by Lisel Mueller It hovers in dark corners before the lights are turned on, it shakes sleep from its eyes and drops from mushroom gil...

As we close out our series on the Psalms, Justin Fung talks about the first and last psalms, and how, in order to truly know God, we have to step out of the safety of Psalm 1, into the mess and the questions and the suffering of all the rest of the psalms, and end up in the praise and delight of Psalm 150. [ Psalm 1 and Psalm 150 ] Resources Robert Plutchik’s eight basic emotions Fear Anger...

Matthew Watson talks about how the psalmist sets an example for us in how to live lives that are characterized by thanksgiving and gratitude. [ Psalm 116 ] Resources Communal confession (LEAD) God, you are our protector and comforter, (ALL) yet how often we avoid you. (LEAD) You say blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, (ALL) yet how often we crave praise and acknowledgment fr...

In a busy world, full of distractions and spin, how can we be true to who God has created us to be? Andrea Ackermann unpacks Psalm 139, reminding us of truths about our identity that are vital for living well. [ Psalm 139 ] Resources Prayer of Examen (from  Learning to Live , by Justin Fung) Centuries ago, a man named Ignatius of Loyola developed a prayer of daily examination—what people in recove...

Matthew Watson and Daniel Harris walk us through one of the most popular psalms of all, Psalm 23, and talk about God’s provision, presence, and perseverance. [ Psalm 23 ]

Almost a third of the one hundred and fifty psalms in the Bible are lament psalms, and up to 70% of the psalms contain some lament. Lament is woven throughout the Bible, and suffering and grief are intertwined with the story of the gospel; perhaps because that’s more reflective of the realities of life. Justin Fung walks us through Psalm 13, and how God longs to transform our pain and grief...

As we begin a new series — Psalms: Songs of the Heart — Matthew Watson gives an overview of the book of Psalms, while guest preacher Nina Balmaceda of Peace and Hope International talks about what biblical justice looks like and how it differs from charity. [ Psalm 146 ] Resources Peace and Hope (Paz y Esperanza) International

Creation began in a garden, but ends in a city. This week we conclude our our series in Revelation with John’s image of the renewed city of God and the flourishing found there. [ Revelation 21-22 ]

In Revelation 12-14, we encounter a Dragon, two Beasts, and a Lamb. Justin Fung helps us understood what this vision meant for the early church and what it means for us. [ Revelation 12-14 ] Resources “666” from Michael Gorman,  Reading Revelation Responsibly : Response song:  Kia Kaha , by Link Benediction: Bishop Kenneth Untener, in memory of Archbishop Oscar Romero It helps now and...

Have you ever wondered, “Who’s really in charge in our world?” Matthew Watson talks about the one who sits on the throne, even in the midst of the turmoil around us. [ Revelation 4-5 ]

Matthew Watson talks about the opening address to the seven churches of Revelation, focusing John’s words to the church in Ephesus. [ Revelation 2:1-7 ] Resources Map of the seven churches named in Revelation.

How would you summarize the book of Revelation? And how would you summarize your feelings about the book of Revelation? Justin Fung begins our six-week look at the book of Revelation by teaching some basics of biblical interpretation and helping us start to understand one of the most misinterpreted, misunderstood, and avoided books of the Bible. [ Revelation 1:1-3 ] Resources Prayer by Eugene Cho...

This Sunday, on the eve of Labor Day – a national holiday designed to celebrate the American worker – Matthew and Lisa Watson explore what God has to say about rest. We give consideration to God’s day of rest and what Jesus means that his yoke is easy. [ Matthew 11:25-30 ]

Justin Fung closes out our look at our calling as Christ City Church by talking about “church” — what the church is and what it means for us to be the church. [ 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10 ] We are called to the Church. Church isn’t a building, an organization, or an institution. And church isn’t a place for the perfect or pristine. Church is for the hungry, hurting, and hopeful. Church...

Matthew Watson continues our look at our calling as Christ City Church — to our city of Washington, D.C. — and what that means for us with our neighbors and in our neighborhoods. [ Acts 17:24-28; Hebrews 11:9-10, 14-16 ] We are called to the city. Place matters. Because Jesus took on flesh and blood, lived in a neighborhood and identified with a people – we also root ourselves in...

[August 13, 2017] We begin our life as Christ City Church by looking at the different parts of our calling. Matthew Watson kicks us off by talking about Christ. [ Colossians 1:15-23 ] We are called to Christ. Christ City Church revolves around the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ is the object of our faith and the One on whom all our hopes and dreams hang. He is the One with w...

[August 6, 2017] Justin Fung and Matthew Watson tag-team to bring us the message on the first Sunday of our life as Christ City Church. First, Pastor Justin talks about our continued identity and calling as resurrection people; then Pastor Matthew speaks about what it means to have a new name. [ Habakkuk 1:5, 2:2-3, 3:2 ] Resources Blessing: “For a New Beginning”, from To Bless the Spa...