Christ City Church, Washington DC

Guest preacher Rev. Delonte Gholston challenges us to examine our certainty and be honest with ourselves and with God. [ Mark 14:27-31 ] Rev. Delonte Gholston is pastor of Peace Fellowship Church in Deanwood. Pastor Delonte is a native Washingtonian whose parents moved to the city to escape racial terrorism in South Carolina and Georgia. He is faithfully and joyfully married to Claire Wiggins Ghol...

"The last meal Jesus shared with his disciples looked back to Passover, God’s liberating action in history; and it looked forward to the kingdom feast, God’s full and final liberating action at the end. And every time we partake of communion, we mark God’s liberating action through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection." Pastor Justin Fung preaches on Mark 14:12-25 .

Pastor Matthew Watson preaches on Mark 14:1-11 and what the woman who anointed Jesus' head with oil can teach us about worship. 

Guest preacher Rev. Dr. Leroy Barber preaches on Mark 13:28-37 . The big question isn't when will things end, but rather, what are we here to do?  Rev. Dr. Leroy Barber is an innovator, entrepreneur, and lover of the arts. He has dedicated 30 years to living and working towards what Dr. King called “the beloved community," ministering in multiple communities and capacities. Leroy is curr...

Pastor Justin Fung preaches about having "a future-oriented faithfulness now." [ Mark 13:1-27 ]

Pastor Andrea Ackermann preaches on Mark 12:28-44 . She reminds us that the greatest commandment to love God and love others is an invitation to thrive and flourish, to see the kingdom of God on display in every life and every sphere of life. 

In this passage--which is not actually about marriage--religious leaders are once again questioning Jesus, and Jesus' answer shows us that he is the ultimate authority.  [ Mark 12: 18-27 ]

Pastor Lisa Rodriguez-Watson challenges the divides between sacred and secular, reminding us that everything is God's. [ Mark 12:13-17 ]

Pastor Justin Fung links the exploitation carried out by religious leaders in Jesus' time with the harm often perpetuated by leaders in American Christianity. Those who lead on behalf of God will answer to God—and that is both a comfort and a convicting word. How is God calling you to flourish and to promote the flourishing of others? [ Mark 12:1-12 ] Follow along with our Mark Reading Guide .

Pastor Andrea Ackermann preaches on Mark 11:12-33 .  Follow along in our Mark Reading Guide . 

We're back in the gospel of Mark for the new year, with Pastor Matthew Watson preaching on Jesus' triumphal entry, and how when the people cried Hosanna, or "God, save!" it was both a celebration and a prayer. [ Mark 11:1-11 ]

Pastor Justin Fung welcome us into the new year with a short homily. [ Jeremiah 17:7-8 ]

In the tempest of so much distress and disharmony in our world and in our lives, it can be hard to know how to accept the angel's message of peace to the shepherds. Pastor Matthew Watson preaches about shalom , when things are as God intended them to be.  "Peace isn't simply a concept, or even a future state of transcendent perfection. Peace is a person. That is what Advent reminds us. That i...

Joy is the result of knowing that God is near. Joy holds strong in the midst of hardship and darkness. Pastor Andrea Ackermann challenges our misconceptions about joy, and asks us to reflect on these phrases throughout the week: Where God is, there is joy. Where I am joyful, God is there. [ Luke 2:8-11 , John 15:1-11 ]

Pastor Justin Fung explores the theme of love in the second week of our Advent series. [ 1 John 4:7-21 ]

Pastor Matthew Watson opens our advent series with a message of hope, reminding us, "Do not be afraid." [ Luke 2:8-15 ]

Pastor Andrea Ackermann preaches about how the disciples were not able to see who Jesus was or understand what he was trying to teach them about following him. Bartimaeus, however, was held up as the model disciple, who truly saw Jesus, and whose faith led to wholeness. [ Mark 10:32-52 ]. 

Guest preacher Dr. Rev. Eun Strawser preaches on Mark 10:13-31 . Dr. Rev. Eun K. Strawser is the co-vocational lead pastor of Ma Ke Alo o (which means "Presence" in Hawaiian), a BGAV Watch Care Church with missional communities multiplying in Honolulu, HI, a community physician, and an executive leader at the V3 Movement, the church planting arm of the BGAV.  She is also the author of Centeri...

Content Note - This sermon discusses the sensitive topics of divorce, marriage, and sexuality.  Pastor Justin Fung takes a deep dive into a difficult passage in Mark about divorce. What did divorce mean in Jesus' historical context? What was Jesus really saying about relationships and God's divine intent for each of us? [ Mark 10:1-12 ]

Three members of Teen City (Annabel, Jaemin, and Nate) share their insights on Mark 9:30-50 .

As we enter the second half of the book of Mark, Jesus starts talking more about the path of suffering and death. Jesus' power is the power of a love that is willing to sacrifice, a love that is willing to suffer for the good of the other. Pastor Justin Fung shares six observations from this passage (the Transfiguration) about how we are to follow Jesus. [ Mark 9:2-29 ] Resources: Lectio 365 app P...

Pastor Matthew Watson preaches on Mark 8:27-9:1 . 

Pastor Lisa Rodriguez Watson reminds us that Jesus won't abandon us if we don't get it right the first time. His compassion extends to us and is sufficient for us [ Mark 8:1-21 ].

Have you ever felt like an outsider? Pastor Matthew Watson preaches on the stories of two people who shared their status as outsiders and their desperation in coming to Jesus. But their acts of desperation were also the signs of faith that Jesus wants us to emulate. [ Mark 7:24-37 ] Listen to the sermon that Pastor Andrea preached during our Ezer series on the Syrophoenician Woman.

Everyone can relate to the feelings of hurt that come with being let down by a leader, the damage it can cause to our trust in people, the effects of unease or fear of commitment that may still linger to this day as a result. Spiritual trauma, because of its nature—the depths, the expansiveness—can go deeper and more into the unconscious than we even know. Pastor Justin preaches from Mark chapter...