The Christmas Sermon

Synopsis

Ex-R&B singer, Darius Phillips (40s), is running "The Spot" nightclub with his wife, Monique (40s), and their young adult daughter, KJ (20s). He and his family are busy preparing for a big Christmas Concert and have no time for church. Meanwhile, Darius’ mom, Sandy (70s), the pastor of Cornerstone Church, is preparing for the annual Christmas Service where this year she will be honored for her years of faithful service. She visits Darius and his family at their home to implore them to attend. KJ, whose sights are on being the next Beyonce’, is a definite “no,” and Darius tells Sandy they are just too busy making money at the Club. Sandy warns Darius that life is about “quality time” spent with loved ones, not just making money. Later that night, Darius reflects on Sandy’s words and Darius and Monique agree to make time to spend with Sandy over the holidays. Suddenly they receive a call. Sandy has died from a heart attack! At Sandy’s funeral, Darius is so brokenhearted that he can’t speak. Later, the Church Board meets and discovers that in addition to Sandy leaving money and property to her struggling church, she has also asked the Board to please allow her son, Darius, to become the next pastor of Cornerstone. When Darius learns of Sandy’s dying wish, he states that he is not qualified to be considered in the running. Cornerstone’s Assistant Pastor, Reverend Johnson (60s), is the heir apparent to become the next pastor. Darius shares this news with Monique and, to his surprise, she tells him that something needs to change because all they do is live to work! Meanwhile, Rose (40s), a board member and lifelong friend of the Phillips family, convinces the Board to keep the selection process open and reminds Darius of what a great Christmas Sermon he gave 20 years ago before he fell out with his dad and left the church. Now convinced that he should at least give it a try to honor his mom, Darius readdresses the Board and they agree to give him a shot, with the understanding that he no longer sings and dances like he used to when he was in a raunchy boy band. Darius tells them they have nothing to worry about. All that is in his past. Now, all he has to do is find a way to tell his wife and daughter the news and convince them to support him in his new direction. Darius tries to share the news about the Board’s approval with Monique, but KJ interrupts his timing. Rose finds Sandy’s journal and gives it to Darius. Darius reads an inspiring passage and attempts to write a Christmas sermon. When Monique walks in on him trying to write the sermon, he confides in her about the Board’s approval. Monique is offended that Darius didn’t tell her earlier, but overall she is glad about it. Still, Darius has to tell KJ. When Darius finally shares his news with KJ and asks for her to join him in church, she is convinced that she must now do whatever it takes to start her career in the music business. She meets with a mysterious concert promoter who promises to break her into the business, but he expects her to pay a whopping audition fee. Meanwhile, a week before Christmas, Darius receives a surprise visit from ex-bandmate, Kirk (40s), whom Monique has hired to headline the Christmas Eve concert. Before Darius knows it, he’s caught up in Kirk’s bad-boy antics on stage, only to be videotaped by Darius’ rival, Reverend Johnson. Darius rehearses with Rose to be ready for the Christmas Sermon, but the Board tells Darius he can no longer preach on Christmas because of his unbecoming behavior seen in Reverend Johnson’s video. It seems that Darius will never fulfill his mother’s dying wish and his daughter, KJ, is lost to the music business forever. Will KJ ever see the error of her ways? Will Darius ever recover from his mistake and get a shot at the Christmas sermon? If he gets a chance to preach on Christmas, what will lie in his future?