St. Stephen United Methodist Church: Sunday Sermons

A quick note about this week's worship: Our worship on Sunday, December 14 was led by our children and youth, who guided us through the Christmas story in their annual pageant, The Living Creche. You can watch the livestream of the service on our website or on Youtube. The attached audio featured here — and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — is from a seminary class assignment from our director of communications, Matt Comer, assisted by our director of youth ministry, Shelby Wilkins. About Worship: Our annual children's Christmas pageant, The Living Crèche, is made up of songs, scripture, and legends of Christmas. We thank the hard work and dedication of all our children and youth singers and pageant participants, as well as pageant directors Julia Lathan and Ann Shaughnessy.PODCAST: The podcast audio is available above in a gray audio player immediately below the YouTube video.A personal note from Matt: What you’re about to hear is a sample podcast episode, recorded for an assignment in one of my seminary courses this fall, Communications for Church and World. Shelby was kind enough to volunteer her time to help. We had a great conversation about our youth ministry, and we thought it would be great for you all to hear it, too. This was a fun assignment, allowing me to learn some new communications techniques. Through this, I hope you learn at least one new thing about our youth ministry. Thanks for listening.About the Podcast: In this podcast, we sit down with Shelby Wilkins, director of youth ministry. Shelby shares her journey into youth ministry, which began during a college internship in Ohio. She gives us some insight into our current youth ministry program, describing weekly programs like our Sunday youth group meetings and special activities like retreat trips and Lock Ins. Listen in to learn more about how the Lord is moving in special ways for our youth and how you can support this ministry of St. Stephen. Get in touch with Shelby! Email her at [email protected], stop by her office during regular church hours, or say hi when you see her on campus on Sundays!Intro & Outro Credits: Anastasia Chubarova and Denis Pavlov, via Pixabay

SpotifyApple PodcastsOn this Second Sunday of Advent, Pastor Ken continues our current worship series, "God With Us," by exploring the often-overlooked Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. Drawing from Matthew's gospel, we discover the unexpected way God chooses to show up — in the chaos and in a dream — along with the profound mercy Joseph shows Mary, his courageous obedience, and how Joseph can model for us a universal call to care for and nurture all children, even those who are not our own. Joseph's story is a challenge to choose obedience over argument and mercy over revenge, reminding us that Emmanuel is with us every step of the journey.Sermon Reflections:Pastor Ken describes Joseph as the "patron saint of people who have no idea." What unexpected, chaotic, or difficult circumstance in your life right now is God inviting you to navigate with faith?Joseph was described as a "righteous man" because he chose to be merciful and dismiss Mary quietly, rather than pursuing public justice or revenge. In what area of your life is the Lord calling you to choose mercy over demanding what you feel you are owed?The angel's message to Joseph began with "Do not be afraid." What fear is currently weighing on you, and how does the message of Emmanuel ("God with us") offer peace to that fear?Joseph's act of naming the child Jesus was an act of adoption, connecting Jesus to the royal line of David. What does Joseph's silent, nurturing example teach you about the nature of true fatherhood, whether earthly or spiritual?As followers of Christ, we are called to care for all children, not just their own. What is one specific, faithful step you can take in this Advent season to invest in the lives of children in your community or church?Joseph obeyed God's command without hesitation. Reflect on the last time God presented a clear next step to you. What hindered your immediate obedience, and what can you learn from Joseph's willingness to act upon waking from his dream?Watch traditional worship livestream

SpotifyApple PodcastsOn this First Sunday of Advent, Pastor Ken begins a new worship series, "God With Us," by exploring Jesus's genealogy as documented in the Gospel of Matthew. Why does this gospel begin with a boring list of names? Why is Jesus's family tree so important? While we often focus on the shepherds and angels from Luke's telling of Christ's birth, the first chapter of Matthew presents a different kind of miracle — a genealogy filled with imperfect people, outsiders, and "scoundrels" who God chose to be part of the Messiah's lineage. Pastor Ken helps us explore some of these people as we discover how God uses broken histories to write beautiful stories of redemption. Whether you're struggling with your own family history or feeling disqualified by your past, this message reminds us that God works through real people, not perfect ones.Sermon Reflections:Pastor Ken admits that genealogies can seem boring at first glance. How did the sermon change your perspective on why Matthew chose to open his gospel with a list of names rather than a dramatic nativity scene?Jesus’s family tree includes liars, cheaters, and outsiders (like Jacob, Manasseh, and Rahab). How does knowing that Jesus came from a "messy" family affect the way you view the imperfections in your own family or background?Matthew breaks cultural norms by including four specific women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba) in the genealogy. What common thread did the pastor identify among these women, and what does their inclusion tell us about God’s character?Pastor Ken used the metaphor of a bowl made of "spalted wood" — wood infected by fungus or disease — to illustrate how God works. In what ways have you seen God take something "diseased" or difficult in your life and turn it into something beautiful?Genealogy isn't just a record of the dead, but an ongoing story that we are invited into. How do you see your current life circumstances as a continuation of the story God began with Abraham?In Jesus’s family tree, barriers of gender, race, and moral failure disappear. Which of these barriers do you find hardest to believe God can overcome in your own life or in the lives of others?Watch traditional worship livestream

SpotifyApple PodcastsIs gratitude a "faded virtue" in our entitled world? In this final message of our "Faded Virtues" series, Pastor Ken Curtis challenges us to look beyond Thanksgiving as a single holiday and reclaim the transformative power of a grateful heart. Drawing on the biblical command to "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18), Pastor Ken explores the difference between mere thankfulness and a life-changing posture of gratitude. Together, we learn three key ways to reclaim our gratitude: by slowing down, remembering God's blessings, and practicing generosity.Sermon Reflections:Moses warns the Israelites not to forget God when they are prosperous and satisfied (Deuteronomy 8:17). Where in your life are you most at risk of forgetting God's hand in your success and attributing it solely to your own strength?Pastor Ken contrasts an attitude of entitlement with the virtue of gratitude. Can you identify an area in your current life where a sense of entitlement (e.g., toward a job, a relationship, or even God) might be overshadowing your ability to be truly grateful?Is there a difficult or annoying circumstance in your life right now for which you can sincerely try to find one thing to be grateful for?Pastor Ken gives us three strategies for reclaiming gratitude: by slowing down, remembering God's faithfulness, and being generous. Which of these three is the most difficult for you to implement daily, and why?In the story of the 10 lepers, the nine were healed, but only the one who returned to give thanks was told his "faith has made [him] well." What is the spiritual difference between being merely healed by God's blessings and being made whole through a posture of gratitude?Pastor Ken challenges us to write down 1-3 things we are grateful for every day [53:22]. If you were to start this practice today, what would be your first entry, and how do you plan to hold yourself accountable for the next week?Watch traditional worship livestream

SpotifyApple PodcastsAssociate Pastor Jesse Enniss continues our lessons in our current series, "Faded Virtues." What does it truly mean to have a faith that is loyal, not passive? Associate Pastor Jesse Enniss continues our series on "Faded Virtues" by challenging us to embrace the radical courage required to follow Christ. Diving into Luke 21:5-19, Pastor Jesse helps us distinguish between misinterpretations of "end-times" prophecy and Jesus's call to endurance during real-word persecution. We find inspiration in the powerful testimony of early Christian martyrs Perpetuate and Felicity and the 20th century example of Rev. James Reeb. Together, we learn that Christian courage today is not expressed through online aggression, but through our willingness to sacrifice our own comfort for the good of others, advocating for those without a voice, and confronting harmful beliefs in a loving, relationship way.Sermon Reflections:Pastor Jesses shares the stories of Christian martyrs to show that true courage involves joy in suffering. How does their attitude challenge your current perspective on the "small" discomforts or social risks you face when practicing your faith?A passive faith stands in contrast to a courageous loyalty. In what specific area of your life (e.g., family, workplace, online) is Christ currently calling you to move from being a "bystander" to taking courageous action?As believers, we should advocate for victims of abuse and discrimination. What is one specific, actionable step you can take this week to "show up for others" in a marginalized group, following Christ’s example?Jesus's words in Luke 21:18 state, "Not a hair of your head will perish." How do you reconcile this promise of ultimate salvation with the reality of persecution, discomfort, or loss that you may face in this life?The idea of confronting harmful beliefs is presented as a courageous act done "in a loving and relational way." Think of one difficult conversation you need to have: how can you prepare to approach it with relational love, rather than just trying to be "right"?Watch traditional worship livestream