Unity Presbyterian - Denver, NC

What is the truth? In a world where so much information comes at you, how do you know what to believe? Those around Jesus had these issues, too, and Jesus had a lesson for them about truth. Let's listen to the words of Jesus to find what is true and right. 

What do you value? Consider how you might answer the question, “What are your core values?” Or “What do you value the most?” As Christians, we want to make sure our values match with Jesus’ values. Over the next five weeks, we will study the values of Jesus, beginning with the value of seeing the “other” as a neighbor. 

The Church is ekklesia, a group of people, a community, a gathering. It is all of us working together. One of us couldn't do it alone. We need each other. That not only applies to the Church of Unity but also to the greater Church around the world. We need all Christians working together to make the world a better place. What are you doing? Where do you fit in? What is your role?

This week in worship, we are talking about the church as a family. What is your family like? How do you fit in? What roles do you play in your different family systems? What are we called to do as a church family to be good family members?  Let's look at what Jesus and Paul have to say about the church as a family as we explore this metaphor. 

This week we begin a new series, taking a look at the metaphors of the church. This week, The Church is A... Body, specifically, the body of Christ. Take time to explore your own role in this church. Where is God seeking to use your gifts? Where can you deepen your involvement in God’s work?

Our last Symbol of Faith is the offering box. Giving is a spiritual discipline that reflects the state of your heart. Are you quick to give to others, or do you hold on to what you have? If it is "more blessed to give than to receive" how are you being blessed? This doesn't have to be just in terms of money, but can also be in our time and the use of our God-given talents.

This week's symbol is baptism. Do you ever think about the promises that were made for you at your baptism? Or dwell on those you made if you can remember them? Baptism is full of grace, and Pastor Dana explores the deeper symbolism of the water as it washes us clean.

This week's symbol is The Lord's Prayer. This is the example of how to pray that Jesus gave his disciples. What do the different sentences tell us about how we should pray? Do prayers even work? What do we do when they don't give us the results we want? Listen as Pastor Dana digs into this ancient text.

This week in worship, we continue to talk about the Symbols of our Faith with a look at the Apostles' Creed. Do you know why we say we believe in the holy catholic church or the communion of saints? Pastor David digs into this ancient profession of belief and why we still use it today. 

When you take communion, give offerings, or recite the Lord's Prayer or Apostles' Creed, do you know why? Do you understand what you're doing or saying or do you just go through the motions? Let's dig into these ancient practices and what they mean for us as Christians today

This week in worship, Obadiah is asked to risk his life to obey God. What risks do we take? Do we rise to the occasion or take the easy way out? Do we give God the opportunity to prove God’s faithfulness? We see the amazing results of Obadiah's faithfulness and explore the possibilities for our lives, too.

Are you in your own way? Do your own actions sabotage what you're trying to do? We all do to a certain degree. We don't eat healthy, or exercise enough. Maybe it is the negative self-talk in our head. This week in worship, Pastor Dana takes a look at one man who had a Divine Distraction by a pool as he meets Jesus, and decides for himself that he does want to be healed. 

What does it feel like to be lost and then found? This week, Jesus reaches out to a man who is a despised tax collector, even though the crowd tries to shut him out. Whenever we try to exclude people, Jesus has a way of bringing them back into His presence. Even if they’re not worthy. Even if WE are not worthy.

Have you had an experience where you can’t imagine what comes next? Maybe your boss retires, and you can’t imagine what the new boss will be like. Or you are facing a divorce and the future seems very uncertain. We are looking at that Divine Disruption this week as Joshua takes over leadership after the death of Moses. He is filled with self-doubt, but God reminds him that he isn’t doing this alon...

When life is disrupted by an illness, or a pandemic, or the loss of a loved one, what do you do? Do you stop and ask “what is God trying to show me” or do you go to bed and try to sleep off the misery? These divine disruptions can be painful, but can also be just the reset that you needed to send your life in a better direction. Pastor Dana takes a look at how we might remove the blinders from our...

What advice did you get from your parents? Did it stay with you? We turn to the wisdom of Proverbs to hear what Solomon wanted his children to make sure to take with them - Godly wisdom that should be written on their hearts. 

The practice of Jubilee was already out of favor in the days of Jesus, but one of his first acts was to declare freedom in the name of the Lord. What does that look like for us in 2024? What does a Great Jubilee mean to us who are broken, held captive by our addictions, and self-doubts, and fears?

The idea of Jubilee meant freedom - land sold to pay debts was returned to the original owners, those sold into slavery were set free, and loans were forgiven. This was designed to create a society where people were openhanded and generous, knowing that all they owned was temporary and ultimately belonged to God. When we give generously, we tell others that they are valuable to God despite whateve...

If you lived in ancient Israel, every 50 years a trumpet sound would mark the beginning of something new. A fresh start. A new opportunity. The Year of Jubilee. It was The Great Reset. We don’t celebrate years like this anymore, but can we apply some of the principles of Jubilee to our world today? Can we dedicate this next year to God as our own form of Jubilee?

He is Risen! It is still Easter, and Jesus is still alive! Easter isn't just one Sunday, but we continue to celebrate our risen Savior for the gift of eternal life. How does the power of the resurrection affect you? What does this mean to you, and how do you share that with other people?

Jesus did something! And he told Martha about it before it happened. Try explaining the resurrection now, and it is hard to believe. Eternal life? Death that cannot keep its grip on life? The hope of Easter is found in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ - do you believe? 

Palm Sunday begins Holy Week with sounds of "Hosanna! Hosanna!" We celebrate with Jesus and his disciples, but quickly turn toward the cross and reflect on the sacrifice of the cross. 

As we draw closer to the cross, Pastor David takes a look at Simon of Cyrene, who was literally asked to take the cross and follow Jesus. Like Simon, we don't often get to choose when our hard times happen. When we suffer, who is leading us through our trials? Are we ready to follow Jesus, even to the cross?

Do you find it hard to do the right thing when it goes against what everyone around you is doing? Is it easier to remain silent? What about when it goes against what your boss or your government has dictated to you? This week, we get up close to Jesus through the Man with the Withered Hand, who met Jesus on the Sabbath Day, when work of any kind, even healing, was forbidden by law. What does it me...

We live in a do-it-yourself society, where it is a sign of weakness to ask for help. But God tells us to rely on Him, and to not lean entirely on ourselves. What does it look like to reach out to God? Pastor David looks at this through the story of the bleeding woman who took a chance and touched the hem of Jesus' cloak to be healed.