St. Stephen United Methodist Church: Sunday Sermons

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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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St. Stephen Minister of Music Dr. John Blizzard explores the profound depths of God's unconditional and persistent love using the 1882 hymn by Scottish minister George Matheson and the promise of Lamentations 2:22-23. We explore the history of the hymn and the writer's personal suffering and isolation as we are invited to surrender our "flickering torches" of self-reliance for the "sun's blaze" of divine light. The hymn and this message reminds us that no matter our circumstances, God's mercies are new every morning and will never let us go.
Sermon Reflections:
How does knowing that George Matheson wrote "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go" during a moment of deep personal rejection and physical blindness change your experience of the hymn's lyrics?
Dr. Blizzard references "The Hound of Heaven" to describe God’s relentless pursuit of us. When in your life have you felt God seeking you out, even when you were trying to "flee" or hide?
The sermon discusses trading a "flickering torch" for "divine eternal light." What are the fragile, human efforts in your life that you find most difficult to surrender to God?
Dr. Blizzard notes that joy is not the absence of suffering but a deeper comfort found within it. How can you look for "the rainbow through the rain" in your current season?
How does the promise from Lamentations 3:22-23—that God’s faithfulness is great and His mercies never end—help you reframe a situation where your expectations haven't met reality?
Reflecting on the "blossoms red" that spring from the ground of the cross, can you identify a "blossom" of spiritual growth in your life that grew out of a period of sacrifice or brokenness?

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In-person worship was cancelled on Sunday, Jan. 25 due to the winter storm this past weekend, so we presented an online worship with a previous sermon from Pastor Ken. It comes from our Summer 2024 Mr. Rogers-themed worship series, Won’t You Be My Neighbor (see the full, original series here). We believe its themes are just as relevant to our times today as we continue to navigate what it looks like to be a good neighbor.
We will conclude our current series, Twisted, with you in-person on Sunday, February 1st at our 9am traditional or 11 modern worship services. We will also host our annual United Women in Faith program during the 9am service and their Soup for Missions Sunday in the gym from 10:30 am until 1pm. 
In this message from July 14, 2024, Pastor Ken takes some cues from Mr. Rogers, the pastor-turned-iconic-children’s-TV-show host. We explore how our faith guides us in being good neighbors and explore questions like “Who is My Neighbor?” and what it means to be hospitable.
Sermon Reflections:
What is the difference between being a neighbor and merely a person who lives nearby?

How did the sermon challenge your idea of who we consider our "neighbor"? Did the parable of the Good Samaritan bring up any interesting thoughts for you?

How can you embody the actions of the Samaritan in your own life?

How does the sermon challenge your understanding of love and compassion?

How can you reconcile the idea of loving your neighbor with the realities of conflict and difference?

What role does faith play in becoming a better neighbor?