St. Stephen United Methodist Church: Sunday Sermons

SpotifyApple PodcastsWhat kind of seeker are you? In this message on the first Sunday after Christmas, Pastor Ken dives into the familiar story of the Wise Men to reveal three very different ways people respond to the news of Jesus. By looking at the Magi, King Herod, and the religious leaders of Jerusalem, we are challenged to move beyond mere religious information or the desire for control. Discover how true faith isn't just about knowing the right answers, but about allowing your heart to be transformed and your direction changed as you encounter the Light of the World.Sermon Reflections:Pastor Ken notes that the Magi, Herod, and the religious leaders were all "seeking" Jesus for different reasons. What is your primary motivation for seeking God in this new season of your life?The chief priests and scribes knew exactly where the Messiah would be born but stayed put. Are there areas in your life where you have "head knowledge" of God's word but haven't yet let it move your feet into action?Sometimes we can show a tendency to seek Jesus only the we want a blessing without worship. How can we guard against trying to negotiate with God rather than submitting to God?The Magi were "overwhelmed with joy" when the star stopped. When was the last time your faith felt less like a duty and more like an overwhelming sense of joy?After meeting Jesus, the Wise Men "left for their own country by another road." In what ways has your encounter with Christ caused you to change your life's direction or priorities?Pastor Ken suggests that the same news of Jesus' brith produced three different responses: (1) Worship and Joy, (2) Fear and the Desire for Control, and (3) Indifference. Which of these three responses most closely mirrors your current spiritual state and why?Watch traditional worship livestream

SpotifyApple PodcastsOn this Fourth Sunday of Advent, Pastor Ken continues our current worship series, "God With Us," by exploring the power of identity through the names given to the Messiah: Jesus and Emmanuel. In these two names, we learn of God's mission statement and the comfort God brings when God steps directly into our labors, our pains, our confusion and hardship. Together, we reflect on how to receive God's saving love and embody God's presence in the world this Christmas.Sermon Reflections:Pastor Ken mentions "nominative determinism" — the idea that names can influence who we become. How does your own name or identity shape the way you move through the world?The sermon notes that "Jesus" means "God saves." In what areas of your life today are you crying out, "God, help me," and how can you surrender those needs to Him?Where have you felt "unplugged" from God’s source of hope and peace recently?Using the analogy of the friend who jumps into the hole, how does the image of Jesus joining us in our struggle change your perspective on God’s character compared to a "distant" deity?God with Us vs. God Through Us: Emmanuel means "God with us." How can you transition from merely knowing God is with you to allowing God to work through you to comfort someone else this week?Pastor Ken speaks about being the "hands, feet, and heart of Christ" through acts like providing meals or advocating for justice. What is one practical way you can be "Emmanuel" to a neighbor during this Christmas season?Watch traditional worship livestream

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