St. Stephen United Methodist Church: Sunday Sermons

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What happens when your expectations don’t match reality? Pastor Ken Curtis opens this final installment of our Lenten series, "A Place at the Table," with a humorous story about a dinner invitation gone wrong to illustrate a profound spiritual truth.
In this sermon, "A New Meaning," we journey to the Upper Room where the disciples gathered for a traditional Passover meal. While they expected a familiar ritual of remembrance, Jesus gave the bread and the cup a transformative new meaning — shifting the focus from the historical deliverance of Israel to the ultimate deliverance from sin and death through His own body and blood.
Discover why this table is not just for the "perfect," but a place where even betrayers find a seat. Whether you are seeking forgiveness, strength, or a sense of belonging, there is a place for you here.
Sermon Reflections:

Pastor Ken shares a story about expecting a simple dinner but finding himself in an awkward "blind date" setup. When has God met you in a way that was completely different from what you expected?
How does understanding the Passover's history of deliverance from Egypt deepen your appreciation for the "new meaning" Jesus gives to Communion?
Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, yet He still shared the bread and cup with him. How does this radical inclusion challenge your own views on who "belongs" at the Lord’s table?
Reflect on the lyrics of the song shared during the sermon: "At this table, everyone is welcome... at this table, mercy is seen." Which of these promises do you need to hear most today?
Pastor Ken describes the table as a place of transformation where the weary find strength and the broken find healing. In what area of your life are you currently seeking Jesus’ transforming grace?
If we are changed at the table, we are called to leave and "make room" for others. Who in your life needs an invitation to experience the grace and inclusion of Christ?

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In this powerful message for the fifth Sunday of Lent, Jesse Enniss explores the story of Zacchaeus — a man whose height forced him into a tree but whose reputation kept him at a distance from his community. While the crowds saw a "sinner" and a "traitor," Jesus saw a son of Abraham.
Pastor Jesse dives into the Methodist understanding of grace — prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying — and challenges us to consider how our own "grumbling" might become a stumbling block for others. We are also reminded that sometimes we must get close to someone to see the good fruit God is producing in their lives.
Are we keeping a seat open at the table for the ones Jesus is redeeming? Join us as we learn to move from judgment to proximity.
Sermon Reflections:

Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus, risking his dignity as an adult and a high-status official. What "trees" do we need to climb today to get a better view of what God is doing in our lives?
The crowd judged Zacchaeus from a distance, but Jesus drew near. Who in your community are you judging from a distance, and how might your perspective change if you "got close enough to see the fruit"?
Pastor Jesse outlines three types of grace: Prevenient, Justifying, and Sanctifying. Can you identify a time in your life when God’s "prevenient grace" was working before you even realized it?
When Jesus went to Zacchaeus’s house, the crowd grumbled. Why is it so difficult for us to celebrate the redemption of those we consider "unlovable" or "unsavable"?
Zacchaeus’s change was visible through his actions (giving to the poor and repaying fourfold). In what ways is the "sanctifying grace" of God producing visible fruit in your own life today?
Christianity is "not a solo sport." How can your small group or our church as a whole more intentionally create "a seat at the table" for those with lower social status or those who have been hurt by the church?

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Are you tired of standing on the outside? In this fourth installment of our Lenten series, "A Place at the Table," Pastor Ken dives into Luke 14:1-8 to uncover the "Kingdom Values" that Jesus modeled during a Sabbath meal at a pharisee's home. From healing on the Sabbath to the parable of the Great Banquet, Jesus turns the world's social hierarchies upside down. 
In this sermon, we explore three core values of God's Kingdom: (1) People before rules and how compassion always outweighs legalism; (2) Others before self and the beauty of choosing the lowest place and practicing true humility; and (3) First things first and how to recognize and avoid the "good excuses" that keep us from God's invitation. 
Join us as we learn what it means to pull up a chair for others and live out the invitation that God has extended to everyone. No one has to stay on the outside — the King is calling you to the table.
Sermon Reflections:

Have you ever felt left out or unnoticed in a social setting? How does knowing that God always "pulls up another chair" for you change your perspective on your own worth?
Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, choosing the person over the rule. Are there "religious rules" or personal habits you hold onto that might be preventing you from showing mercy to someone in need?
In a culture that encourages us to "get noticed" and "climb higher," what is one practical way you can "take the lowest place" and lift someone else up this week?
Pastor Ken shared stories of leaders (like the CEO and the event planner) who prioritized others. When have you seen someone in a position of power choose humility, and how did it impact those around them?
The invited guests in Jesus' parable had "legitimate" excuses — work, possessions, and family. What "good things" in your life are currently distracting you from the "best thing" — spending time at God’s table?
At the end of the sermon, we are challenged to notice those on the margins. Who is one person in your workplace, neighborhood, or school who seems "left out," and how can you invite them in?

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In this third installment of our Lenten series, "A Place at the Table," Pastor Ken Curtis explores the familiar story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10. We often find ourselves caught in the tension between "doing" and "being" — the frantic preparation of Martha versus the quiet devotion of Mary.
Through personal stories and biblical insights, Pastor Ken challenges the idea that one sister is a "villain" and the other a "hero." Instead, he invites us to see the necessity of both: the "inflow" of sitting at Jesus’ feet to fuel the "outflow" of our service to the world. Are you distracted by many things, or are you making time for the one thing that is necessary? Join us as we learn to reorder our priorities and listen for Jesus calling our names.
Sermon Reflections:

If you received a text saying Jesus was arriving at your home in ten minutes, would your first instinct be to "panic-clean" like Martha or to "invite everyone over"? What does this reveal about your current spiritual posture?
Pastor Ken mentions the danger of "doing for Jesus without being with Jesus." In what areas of your life or ministry have you found yourself working hard for God while neglecting your actual relationship with God?
Research suggests we check our phones roughly 96 times a day. How does "digital hurry" act as a modern version of Martha’s distraction, preventing us from engaging with the "Bread of Life" in our midst?
While Martha’s risk is distraction, the risk for those wired like Mary is "disengagement" — learning without acting. How can you ensure your time spent "sitting at His feet" actually leads to "rising and going"?
Consider the metaphor of the heart’s contraction and release or a reservoir’s inflow and outflow. Which part of your spiritual "circulatory system" feels weakest right now — the stillness or the service?
If Jesus sat at your table today and said your name twice to get your attention, what specific invitation do you think He would offer you for this season of Lent?

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In this second installment of our Lenten series, "A Place at the Table," Pastor Ken Curtis explores the profound miracle of the Feeding of the 5,000. While we often view interruptions as inconveniences, Jesus demonstrates that "holy interruptions" are often the very moments where God’s grace is most active.
Pastor Ken challenges us to look at the "five loaves and two fish" in our own lives — our time, talents, and resources — and trust that when we place them in Jesus’ hands, they are subject to a divine multiplication. From making sandwiches for the hungry to mentoring youth for decades, the miracle of abundance continues today whenever we choose compassion over dismissal. Join us as we learn what it means to truly offer what we have so that everyone can be satisfied at the Lord's table.
Sermon Reflections:

Pastor Ken noted that much of Jesus’ ministry happened during interruptions. How do you typically react when your plans are disrupted, and how might you begin to see those moments as "holy opportunities"?
Jesus saw the crowd as "sheep without a shepherd" rather than a burden. Is there a person or group in your life that you currently view as an inconvenience? How might God be calling you to view them with compassion instead?
When the disciples wanted to send the crowd away, Jesus said, "You give them something to eat." Where is God currently calling you to take responsibility for a need you have witnessed?
What are the small things in your life — talents, moments of time, or resources — that you feel are "not enough" to make a difference?
Meditate on a time when you offered a small gesture or gift and saw God multiply its impact in a way you didn't expect.

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