Sermon Archive
Title: Idle Tales
Sermon description: The Resurrection Story moves us to put faith into action, recognizing that God's raising Jesus from the dead gives us the hope and promise of New Life.
Sunday: March 31, 2025
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Luke 19:1-10
Topic: Relationship before Righteousness
Title: Biblical High School Musicals
Sermon description: We are reminded that Jesus showed mercy to others, especially to those who were different. We are called to welcome all and restore relationship with others and with God.
Sunday: April 6, 2025
Preachers: Ada Hicks, Sarah Duty, Aria LeGrand, Whittier Henry
Scripture: Luke 15: 1-7, 8-10, and 17-24 Topic: Youth Sunday
Title: Lost and Found - Three Short Stories
Sermon description: Through spoken word and animation, these young people, with contributions by many others, interpret the parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Prodigal Son in light of their lived experiences.
Title: The Sound of a Parade
Sermon description: Jesus entry into Jerusalem with his message of peace and justice is contrasted to the march of soldiers of the Roman Empire and religious leaders who bring a message of violence and oppression.
Sunday: March 23, 2025
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and Luke 13:6-9
Topic: Rest and Growth
Title: Now the Green Blade Rises
Sermon description: We are reminded that rest is necessary for both physical and spiritual growth, so take time and remain patient.
Title: Older Siblings and Presbyterians
Sermon description: We are called to share and nurture all gifts, including those of serving as well as those of developing relationships.
Title: Stranger and Neighbor
Sermon description: We are asked to imagine how it would be for us to bind our enemy's wounds or perhaps to have that done for us.
Title: What Changed?
Sermon description: We are called to seek and share God's strength and goodness through prayer and to live as followers of Jesus.
Sunday: February 23, 2025
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Luke 6:27-38 and Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-5
Topic: Testimony
Title: This is Your Sign
Sermon description: We are reminded to show our love of God through our words and actions.
Sunday: February 16, 2025
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Luke 6:17-26 and Jeremiah 17:5-10
Topic: Trust in God
Title: The Theology of the Lorax
Sermon description: We are like trees, planted in and fed by hope in Jesus, and looking forward to the future that God calls forth.
Title: Can You Imagine?
Sermon description: With our eyes on God's goal of healing the world's brokenness, we are called on to remain faithful, to persevere, to love all and to work alongside others toward achieving what God wants of us.
Title: Bathrobes and Wardrobes
Sermon description: We show love for our neighbors by caring for their needs without question.
Sunday: January 26, 2025
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1-13 and John 1:35-42
Topic: Trust in God
Title: God Knows
Sermon description: We are called to serve and love in the knowledge that God has equipped us for the tasks that we are called to do.
Sunday: January 12, 2025
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-5
Topic: Christ as the cornerstone
Title: Lego Jesus
Sermon description: We are created and shaped by what we have learned from Jesus - to love God and to love each other.
Sunday: January 19, 2025
Preacher: Robert Alexander
Scripture: John 2:1-11
Topic: Signs of God's Grace
Title: Is This Our Concern?
Sermon description: We should shine a light on the needs of those around us and share God's love and grace with others.
Sunday: January 5, 2025 - 11 AM service
Preacher: Bishop Wil Willimon Scripture: Ephesians 1:3 - 14 and John 1:1-5
Topic: Newness
Sunday: December 29, 2024
Preacher: Deborah Conner
Scripture: Colossians 3: 12-17 and Luke 2:41-52
Topic: Christmas
Title: Looking for Jesus
Sermon description: Jesus is ever with us, in places of service and hope, within us.
Sunday: January 5, 2025: 9:45 Service Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14
Topic: Epiphany
Title: All means All?
Sermon description: God welcomes all into God's family, even some we may be surprised to see there.
Title: The Last Straw
Sermon description: We find comfort in the birth of God's gift to our messy world.
Title: Waiting Together
Sermon description: Mary's and Elizabeth's shared experience and encouragement are an example to us of God's goodness.
Title: On the Way to Bethlehem
Sermon description: The youth of DCPC present the Christmas story in song and drama
Title: The Sound of Silence
Sermon description: We are encouraged to humble ourselves, to be silent, to listen and thereby to make space for others, pursuing reconciliation and walking into the path of peace.
Title: Your Time is Coming
Sermon description: We are asked to recognize that God's Kingdom is present, that we know what God has done for us through Jesus and that we have hope for what God will do as we live with grace and love.
Sunday: November 24, 2024
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-18 and
Topic: The Reign of Christ
Title: Memory Rules
Sermon description: Under the Reign of Christ, our precepts are Grace, our guidelines are Mercy and our commandment is Love.
Title: The End of the World As We Know It
Sermon description: The world changes, not in ways we expect, but we have hope because Jesus encourages us to remember that God is at work in the world and will always be with us.
Sunday: November 10, 2024 - 11:00 AM Service
Preacher: Rev Benjamin
Scripture: Colossians 3:1-12
Topic: New Life in Christ
Sermon Description: As children of God, we must concentrate on that which is pleasing to Christ, put off things of the world and clothe ourselves in the new things found through the teachings of Christ.
Sunday: November 10, 2024 - 9:45 AM service
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Colossians 3:1-12
Topic: New Life in Christ
Sermon description: As followers of Christ, we must think on those things that Jesus teaches us, putting away those things that destroy relationships and clothe ourselves with the gifts that the Sprit has give to us.
Sunday: November 3, 2024
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Romans 13:8-14
Topic: Fruit of the Spirit, Love
Title: Love Everyone Always
Sermon description: We are called to embody love, practicing it always, beginning with small acts of kindness and following through with love for every person we encounter, no matter how difficult.
Sunday: October 20. 2024
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: John 6:1-14 and 1 Peter 4:8-10
Topic: Fruit of the Spirit, Generosity
Title: An Attitude of Gratitude
Sermon description: Generosity connects us to others and we are grateful for the opportunities to serve with whatever gifts we have received from God.
Sunday: October 27, 2024
Preacher: John Ryan
Scripture: Proverbs 25:10-16, 25-28 and James 1:19-22
Topic: Fruit of the Spirit, Self-control
Title: Tending the Spirit of Self-Control
Sermon description: The Spirit's gift of self-control allows us to chose actions that are consistent with God's values and thereby enables us to do that which is loving both of ourselves and others.
Sunday: September 29, 2024 Preachers: Michael Mitchum and Daniel Presa
Scripture: Matthew 14: 22-33
Topic: Fruit of the Spirit - Faithfulness
Title: UKirk Sunday
Sermon description: Two Davidson students speak about their faith journeys.
Sunday: October 6, 2024
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: James 1:19-27
Topic: Fruit of the Spirit - Gentleness
Title: Slow and Quick
Sermon description: The Apostle James reminds us to be slow to anger, quick to listen and attentive to the needs of others as well as ourselves.
Sunday: October 13. 2024
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Psalm 103:6-16 and Luke 15:11-32
Topic: Fruit of the Spirit, Patience
Title: Patiently and Tenderly?
Sermon description: We are called on to model the patience of God who, like a father with his children, listens and empathizes thereby building reconciliation, relationships and unity.
Sunday: September 22, 2024
Preacher: Robert Alexander
Scripture: Zechariah 8:1-17
Topic: Fruit of the Spirit - Peace
Title: Visions of Peace
Sermon description: We are asked to consider our vision for Peace; what are we able to dream?
Sunday: September 15, 2024
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Ephesians 4:29-32 and
Topic: Fruit of the Spirit - Kindness
Title: The Legacy of Kindness
Sermon description: We are called on to share the gift of Kindness with others, knowing well that God's character is displayed through the loving kindness that God has shown to us.
Sunday: September 8, 2024
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scriptures: John 15:1-11 and
Topic: Fruit of the Spirit - Joy
Title: Positively Joyful
Sermon description: In relationship with God and with others we are called on to share joy in our homes, our community and around the world. Jesus has shown his joy in and for us and we should share this joy with others.
Title: An Under Armour Church
Sermon description: Through Jesus, we have a relationship to God that assures us of our wellbeing. The Church stands as a representative of God's presence in our lives.
Title: Do You See Who You Are?
Sermon description: As we consider the many influences on us and the way we act, we are asked to consider what witness we present to the world. We are encouraged to live up to the way that God sees us, in love and grace and, thereby, to allow others to see Jesus in our life and actions.
Sunday: August 18, 2024
Preachers: Peter Henry, Whittier Henry, Ada Hicks and Finn O'Brien Scripture: Numbers 27:1-11
Topic: Justice
Title: Noah's Gift
Sermon Description: A dramatic reading of scripture related to seeking justice.
Sunday: August 11, 2024
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scriptures: 2 Samuel 18:24-33 and Romans 12:9-18
Topic: Reconciliation
Title: God's Own Heart
Sermon description: We are asked to consider who we long to be reconciled with and are reminded that love and forgiveness are at the center of God's relationship with us.
Sunday: August 4, 2024
Preachers: Lyn Batty, Maggie Kinton, Claire Alexander
Scripture: Luke 10: 25-37
Topic: The Good Samaritan Story and DCPC's mission work in Nicaragua
Title: Who is My Neighbor?
Sermon description: Lessons of humility, mutual learning, mercy, and relying on partners from our Nicaragua mission trip participants.
Title: How Can I Keep from Singing
Sermon description: We recognize God's Glory through God's Creation, Mercy and Love. We should reflect this with praise and thanksgiving.
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Note: Enya's version of the hymn, "How Can I Keep from Singing"
Sunday: July 14, 2024
Preacher: John Ryan
Scripture: Luke 15:1-7 and Psalm 23 Topic: The Good Shepherd
Title: The Lord is My Shepherd
Sermon description: As the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus is with us, supporting us in our joys and struggles.
Sunday: July 28, 2024
Preacher: Robert Alexander
Scripture: Psalm 139
Topic: God's All-Seeing Nature
Title: Hide and Seek
Sermon description: Opening ourselves to a watchful God helps us benefit from his loving, healing powers.
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Title: A Little Lower
Sermon description: We should be confident that we have God's blessing of love, glory and honor as described in this Psalm.
Sunday: June 30, 2024
Preachers: Whittier Henry, Will Palmer and Meghan Leeper
Scripture: Ephesians 2:17-22
Topic: Youth Mission Trip to Cuba
Title: Mission Experiences in Joy
Sermon description: This group of nineteen youth and leaders hoped to share faith experiences on their trip to Cuba. They found great joy in the work and play that they experienced with their Cuban counterparts and learned much about sharing God's love with their neighbors.
Title: Sow So
Sermon description: As we do the work of the Spirit to grow God's Kingdom, we do not know how we effect others or even ourselves. Yet, we go forth in faith, trying to carry out God's will.
Sunday: June 23, 2024
Preacher: Robert Alexander
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Topic: Reconciliation
Title: Open-Heart Surgery
Sermon description: Remove the things that block the flow of God's love and grace, thereby reconciling to God and each other and enabling us to serve our neighbors.
Title: When Jesus Grows Up
Sermon description: As we "grow up" in our family of faith, we grow in love and grow together.
Title: Lives of Leadership and Service
Sermon description: Through God's power we may lead in service to others.
Sunday: May 26, 2024
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8 and John 3:1-17 Topic: Trinity
Title: CGI Lives
Sermon description: God's Love is shown through God's creation, through the love shared by Jesus and by the sustaining love of God's Spirit which calls us into the community of Life in God.
Title: Rattle and Hum
Sermon description: Our hope is renewed by the Spirit with the breath and life of God. Living in the community of the Church, we are called to prophesy to God's Love.
Title: "Don't Just Stand There"
Sermon description: God equips us to be witnesses in the world. We are to use our gifts to bring about God's kingdom.
Title: Curators and Property Managers
Sermon description: As we partake in Communion, we should remember that this gift of God is the celebration of the victory of life over death.
Sunday: April 28, 2024 (Caring for Creation Sunday)
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: John 15: 1-17
Topic: Trusting God as the Vinegrower
Title: Love in the Garden
Sermon description: Love one another as God has love us. God's love sometimes takes the form of pruning the branches (us) who are connected to the True Vine (Jesus).
Title: What's Love Got to Do With It?
Sermon description: As followers of Christ, we must show love to all in need.
Sunday: April 14. 2024
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Luke 24:36-48
Topic: Witnessing to the resurrected Christ
Title: Fish Tales
Sermon description: God's Holy Spirit gives us hope through the resurrection of Christ. We bear witness to this hope in Jesus through public worship, participation in the life of our church and community and through personal caring, listening and sharing with those in need.
Title: FOMO
Sermon description: Jesus comes to us in peace, calling us to live in community and, through him, to serve others as Jesus's hands in the world.
Sunday: March 17, 2024
Speakers: Jack Ridgeway, Cooper Bryan and Anne Arms
Scriptures: 1 Samuel 16:1-13,
Matthew 7:1-5, Romans 14:10-13
Topic: Youth Sunday
Title: Fasting from Judgement
Sermon description: Three young people reflect on Bible readings related to judgement and give us thoughts on how we can move from judgment to acceptance, including by seeking God's help through prayer.
Sunday: March 24, 2024
Preachers: Peter Henry and Matt Wiggins
Scripture: Mark 11:1-11
Topic: Palm Sunday
Title: Hungering for Acceptance
Sermon description: God continually comes for us, inviting our acceptance, and we should accept others, listening for their needs.
Title: What Are We Afraid Of?
Sermon description: While we sometimes have fears, it is important to remain hopeful, remembering that our hope is in Jesus who was raised from the dead.
Title: Do Dragons Love Tacos?
Sermon description: Much like the early Christian church, we can come together in community even when the world tells us that we should be individualists.
Sunday: March 3, 2024
Preacher: John Ryan
Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and Hebrews 10:24-25
Topic: Community
Title: Better Alone
Sermon description: We can move from individualism toward creating a faithful community of God's people.
Title: The Fasts We Choose: Excess
Sermon Description: What do we store up in excess - money, goods, information, power...? Can we consider needing less as we move closer to God's purpose for our lives?
Title: Eating Jello Salad
Sermon description: Knowledge of Jesus Christ leads us to love and serve others.
Sunday: January 21 2024
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Topic: A Transformed World
Title: Eyes on the Prize
Sermon description: Transformed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are called to remain focused on living with love.
Title: Lifting Others Up
Sermon description: Jesus proclaimed the coming Kingdom of God, lifting others up. We are called to do the same by opening ourselves to what God has done for us.
Title: Can Sequels be Better?
Sermon description: Can we, like Elisha, undertake God's call to ministry in humility, with loyalty to those who went before us and trusting in God's provision of the gifts that are needed?
Sunday: January 14, 2024
Preacher: John Ryan
Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10; 15-20 Topic: Discerning a Call
Title: An Adventure of Faith
Sermon description: Listen for the call of God and respond through action to take part in God's ongoing revolution.
Title: Hunger Pains
Sermon description: How you may be present and available to the presence of God and to God's people.
Sunday: 7:30 PM Service; December 24, 2023
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Luke 2:8-20
Topic: Christmas Eve
Title: Who Wants to Be a Shepherd?
Sermon description: When we feel left out and judged by others, we should remember the coming of Christ the Savior and receive the hope his coming gives.
Sermon description: The angel Gabriel's annunciation of the birth of Christ to Mary brings her to recognize God's power to accomplish the impossible.
Title: And Yet, Hope.
Sermon description: Along with the Elders Simeon and Anna, we receive the coming of Christ with hope for peace on earth.
Title: Magi-cal Thinking
Sermon description: Following the example of the Magi (aka Wise Men), we can't just wish for the good we want to happen but we must look, listen and put our Faith into action.
Title: Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Sermon description: Frustrated by loneliness and difficulties, we can receive comfort through the power of God that brings hope for the future in fellowship together.
Title: Between a Sheep and a Goat
Sermon description: The scripture distinguishes between the reward for those who answer the call to service and the punishment for those who don't. If you are asking the question of where you stand relative to your service to others, by God's grace you can be sure that God will give you an answer to this question as well as a direction for your service.
Sunday: November 26, 2023
Preacher: Robert Alexander
Scripture: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 Topic: The Reign of Christ
Title: The True Shepherd
Sermon description: The preacher urges us to follow Jesus model of using the power of loving relationships to do good and to bless others.
Sunday: December 3, 2023
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1: 3 - 9
Topic: Spiritual Gifts
Title: Riches of Christmas
Sermon description: We are enriched through the gifts of speech and knowledge of Jesus. These gifts should lead to Hope.
Title: All the Light We Can See
Sermon description: Grieving as Christians with hope.
Sunday: November 5, 2023
Preacher: Robert Alexander
Scripture: Psalms 107:1-9
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Topic: God's Faithfulness
Title: Steadfast Love
Sermon description: Bear witness to God's steadfast love as shown by God's saving us from troubles.
Sunday: October 29, 2023
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Psalm 78:1-4 and
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Topic: The Church Across Generations
Sunday: October 22, 2023
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Matthew 9: 9-13
Topic: Welcoming the Outcast
Title: Present Company Excluded
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Sermon description: The story of Jesus welcoming and eating with tax collectors and sinners is illustrated with ways in which we can we can follow Jesus' example by including others beyond our immediate circle of acquaintances.
Sunday: October 15, 2023
Preacher: Caitlyn Zold
Scripture: Matthew 5: 13-20
Topic: Christian Community
Title: Who You Are & Whose You Are
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Sermon description: What it means to live in Jesus call to be "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world."
Title: Stuck in Place
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Sermon description: We are reminded of the importance of reconciling with our brothers and sisters so as to maintain strong relationships of love and trust.
Sunday: October 1, 2023
Preachers: Anita Taylor and Robert Alexander
Scripture: Philippians 2:1-13
Topic: Global Mission partners
Title: Humble Partners
Sermon description: The preachers describe the impact that these mission partnerships have on both DCPC and our mission partners in Nicaragua and Kenya.
Sunday: September 17, 2023
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1: 18-24
Topic: The message of the Cross
Title: It's Not What You Think
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Sermon description: When confronting conflict, the world tells us to strike back or argue it out. Jesus crucifixion and resurrection show the power of humility in confronting conflict.
Sunday: September 24, 2023 Preachers: Ellie Stewart and Shawn An Scripture: Exodus 16: 2-15
Topic: Providence and Love
Title: UKirk Sunday
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Sermon description: Two students share their interpretations of the love that God shows God's people through the provision of food and drink in the desert.
Title: Forgetting to Remember
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Sermon description: The preacher reminds us that we need God, we need each other and we are better together.
Sunday: September 3, 2023
Preacher: Robert Alexander
Scripture: Romans 12: 9-21
Topic: Living Peaceably
Title: Prepping for the Big Game
Sermon description: Guidance is given for living a peaceful life, especially in your relations with others.
Title: Before the Fall
Sermon description: Humility plays a role in how we discern the use of our gifts within the body of Christ.
Title: Reading Between the Lines
Sermon description: Comparing two stories about utterance demonstrates the hard work needed to show love through what is said.
Title: You Give Them Something to Eat
Sermon description: In the story of the "Feeding of the Five Thousand" Jesus models the life of 'compassionate presence', demonstrating grateful acknowledgement of what we have been given and showing humility by sharing these gifts of God abundantly with others.
Title: The Courage to Wrestle
Sermon description: We struggle with the consequences of our actions or words much as Jacob did but we are strengthened because of the grace of God.
Title: The Masked Host
Sermon description: When invited guest decline the host's invitation to dinner, the host calls for guests among the lesser status neighbors and , eventually compels people from the general population to attend. What explains the host's behavior?
Title: That's How We Got to Memphis
Sermon description: Report on the recent youth mission trip to Memphis and what was brought back from the experiences.
Sunday, July 16, 2023
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Matthew 13: 1-9, 13-29
Topic: Parable of the Sower
Title: Bad Aim
Sermon description: Self-reflection on several questions arising from the Parable of the Sower.
Sunday: July 9, 2023
Preacher: John Ryan
Scripture: Jonah 4:3-10
Topic: God's universal Love for humankind
Title: Whale of a Tale
Sermon description: The sermon asks whether, like Jonah, will we hold onto our aggressive feelings toward our enemies or will we respond to God's call to share love with all.
Title: A New Understanding of God's Command
Sermon description: This sermon about the Bible story of God's command to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac leads to a new understanding of the transformation of God's character from demanding to providing.
Title: A Prayer of Faith
Sermon description: Remembering God's past faithfulness, we are assured that God is both able and willing to address our concerns as shared in prayer to God.
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Sunday: 8:45 am service, June 25, 2023 Preacher: Shannon Langston
Scripture: Psalms 86:1-10, 16-17
Topic: Prayer
Title: Unanswered Prayers
​Sermon description: Our relationship with God is built through prayer and we should recognize that God answers our prayers on God's timetable.
Title: Wishful Thinking
Sermon description: God will help us work through our suffering in order to become what God intends for us to be.
Title: Go!
Sermon Description: Looking and listening for God's call in our daily lives.
Sunday: June 4, 2023
Preacher: Mary Margaret Porter
Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2:4a
Topic: Exploring the meaning of the Holy Trinity
Title: Unity in Diversity
Sermon Description: As we strive to understand the nature of the Triune God, what can we learn about how to live in God's image?
Sunday: May 28, 2023
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Numbers 11:24-30
Topic: Gift of the Holy Spirit
Title: Pentecost Sunday
Sermon Description: Because of God's gift of the Holy Spirit, we do not face challenges alone.
Title: Leave No Trace?
Sermon Description: In Christ's prayer for Christian unity, he calls for his disciples to focus on love.
Sunday: May 14, 2023
Preacher: Peter Henry
Scripture: Acts 17:22-32
Topic: Finding common ground in a divided world
Title: Made in the Image
Sermon Description: When confronted with skepticism and division, the Apostle Paul looked for common ground to help connect with his listeners. Can we do the same?
Title: #blessed
Sermon Description: The Beatitudes tell us some characteristics of those who are favored of God.
Title: What Are You Laughing At?
Sermon description: The Joy of Christ's resurrection is shared among all.
Title: Having Our Eyes Opened
Sermon description: Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we should open our eyes to what Christ has done for us.
Title: The Ministry of Reconciliation in a Divided World
Sermon description: Reconciliation such as that in Mark's congregation along the US-Mexico border can help to bring about God's good creation
Title: Near Life Experience
Sermon description: The redemptive work of Christ allows us to live lives of service to others.