St. Stephen United Methodist Church: Sunday Sermons

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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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Welcome to the first message in our Lenten worship series, "A Place at the Table." In this week's sermon, Pastor Ken Curtis explores the power of gathering around a table and the transformative dinner party found in Luke 7. 
When Jesus accepts an invitation to dine at the home of Simon the Pharisee, the socially acceptable gathering is quickly interrupted by an uninvited guest — a woman known to the city as a sinner. Like the guests at the dinner, we are forced to examine our own hearts. Do we identify more with the judgmental, morally superior Simon, or the desperate, uninvited woman? 
In this message, we discover how Jesus sees past our labels and past our mistakes, recognizing our undiminished worth. Whether you feel broken, ashamed, or even a little self-righteous, there is room for you at God's table.
Sermon Reflections:

Pastor Ken points out that tables are often at the center of our most important life events, from birthdays to funerals. How have tables played a role in fostering connection and community in your own life?
Simon the Pharisee was dedicated to God but focused so much on external rules that he missed love and grace. In what ways do you catch yourself acting like Simon — feeling morally superior, judging based on appearances, or assuming the worst about others?
The uninvited woman risked tremendous social scandal to anoint Jesus' feet in a room full of religious leaders who despised her. What do you think drove her to overcome the fear of their judgment?
Jesus asks Simon, "Do you see this woman?" pointing out that Simon saw a label of a sinner, while Jesus saw a child of God. Who are the people in our society today that are often reduced to categories, stereotypes, or generalizations?
Reflecting on the illustration of the crumpled, dirty $20 bill, how does it change your perspective to know that your worth in God's eyes remains undiminished regardless of your past mistakes?
Jesus proclaimed forgiveness aloud so that both the broken woman and the self-righteous Pharisees could hear it. Why is it crucial to remember that everyone — regardless of their background or current standing — is in need of Jesus' invitation to the table?

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In this sermon, "The Transfiguration Code," Pastor Ken helps us explore the mysterious events of Mark 9:2-9, where Jesus is transfigured on the mountain before Peter, James, and John. Much like a secret code waiting to be deciphered, this passage is full of symbols — dazzling white clothes, the appearance of Moses and Elijah, and the voice from the cloud — that reveal a deeper truth about who Jesus really is. Pastor Ken breaks down the "code" to reveal three powerful lessons for our faith today:
1. The importance of answering Jesus' question, "Who do you say that I am?"2. The hope that suffering does not have the final word.
3. The reality that while we cannot stay on the mountaintop, we are called to carry its glory into the valleys of our daily lives.

Sermon Reflections:
Pastor Ken noted that six days before the Transfiguration, Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" How would you answer that question today, not just with a "Sunday School answer," but based on your personal experience with God?

The Transfiguration is described as a "preview" of the resurrection — a glimpse of glory before the suffering of the cross. How does having a "preview" of God’s ultimate victory help you endure difficult seasons or "valleys" in your own life?

Moses and Elijah appeared representing the Law and the Prophets, with Jesus as the fulfillment of both. In what ways does seeing Jesus as the completion of God’s entire story change how you read the Old Testament or understand God's long-term plan?

Peter’s immediate reaction to the glory was to build dwellings and stay on the mountain. Have you ever had a spiritual "mountaintop experience" where you wanted to freeze time? Why is it spiritually dangerous to try to stay there rather than returning to the "valley"?

The voice from the cloud gave a simple command: "This is my son, the beloved. Listen to him." What is one specific area of your life where you are struggling to "listen to Him" right now, and what might Jesus be saying to you about it?

While we can't stay on the mountain, we carry the experience with us like a "holy code" in our memory. How can you actively remind yourself of God's presence when you are in the midst of mundane tasks or stressful challenges this week?

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