St. Stephen United Methodist Church: Sunday Sermons

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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?

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Is God only present when you "feel" Him? In this third installment of our "Twisted" series, Pastor Ken Curtis tackles the common misconception that spiritual goosebumps or emotional highs are the only indicators of God's presence. Pastor Ken shares a humorous yet poignant story from a high school encounter with a charismatic service, exploring what happens when our expectations of God don't match our reality. He reminds us that God's faithfulness is anchored in God's promises, not our fluctuating emotions. If you've ever felt like God is silent or absent, this messages offers you a roadmap for navigating seasons of spiritual dryness by choosing trust over perception.
Sermon Reflections:

Pastor Ken mentions that we can be loved or safe without "feeling" it. In what areas of your life are you currently prioritizing your feelings over the truth of God’s promises?
Have you ever felt like your faith was "broken" because you didn't have an emotional reaction during worship or prayer? How does the distinction between presence and feeling change that perspective?
The Psalmist in Psalm 88 was brutally honest about feeling rejected by God. How comfortable are you with being completely "real" with God about your frustrations or God's perceived absence?
Pastor Ken suggests that when our own faith is thin, we should "borrow" the faith of our community. Who are the people in your life you can lean on when you don't feel like singing or praying?
Rather than looking for "trumpets or tingly feelings," Pastor Ken encourages us to look for small signs of grace. What is one "small sign" of God’s presence you may have overlooked this week?
Just as the sun remains behind the clouds on a gray day, God remains present when life feels gloomy. What specific promise from Scripture can you "anchor" yourself to today to remind you the sun is still there?

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Is God just a "divine fun police" waiting to ruin your weekend? In the second installment of our "Twisted" series, Pastor Ken Curtis tackles the common misconception that following Jesus is nothing more than a joyless list of "dos and don'ts."
By examining Jesus' critique of the Pharisees in Matthew, we learn that while religion often focuses on the external "clean cup," true faith starts on the inside. Discover how God isn’t trying to restrict your life, but protect it — guiding us away from empty "joy" like doom-scrolling and toward the lasting fulfillment found in loving God and our neighbors. It’s time to untwist the image of a killjoy God and embrace the one who wants more for us, not less from us.
Sermon Reflections:

Pastor Ken mentions "National Quitters Day," when many quit their New Year resolutions. Have you ever felt that your spiritual life felt more like a "self-punishment" resolution than a life-giving practice?
Jesus tells the Pharisees to "clean the inside of the cup first." In what areas of your life are you focusing more on your "religious appearance" than your internal heart?
Using the analogy of a parent stopping a child from riding a bike down a steep hill, can you identify a "no" from God that you once saw as a restriction but now realize was protection?
Pastor Ken discusses "doom-scrolling" as a joy-drainer. What are the specific habits in your daily routine that promise happiness but leave you feeling empty or fatigued?
This week, what is one "anonymous" act of kindness you can perform to break the need for external approval?
Given the research mentioned about the health benefits of regular worship, how can you reframe "going to church" from an obligation into a vital part of your self-care and mental well-being?

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Pastor Ken Curtis kicks of this new year with a new worship series, "Twisted." This four-week series untangles some of the most common twisted beliefs that keep people at a distance from the God who loves them more than they know.
What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you expected? In this powerful and honest message, Pastor Ken tackles one of the most difficult experiences in the life of a believer: the feeling that God has failed us. Following the scripture reading, we join the disciples on the Road to Emmaus — men who were heartbroken because the "redeemer" they hoped for had been crucified. Ken explores how we can move through the pain of spiritual disappointment, the "death" of our expectations, and the surprising ways Jesus meets us in our disillusionment. This is a sermon for anyone who has ever felt abandoned by their faith or confused by God's silence.
Sermon Reflections:
Can you look back at a specific time in your life when you felt God didn't come through for you? What were you expecting to happen?

In the scripture, the disciples say, "But we had hoped he was the one..." How does the phrase "but we had hoped" resonate with your current season of life or past trials?
Sometimes the "God" who disappoints us is actually just our own limited image of God. How has your understanding of who God is changed after going through a period of disappointment?
Jesus walked with the disciples for a long time while they were still sad and confused. How does it feel to consider that God is present with you even while you are actively feeling disappointed in Him?
The disciples’ disappointment didn’t vanish because the circumstances changed, but because their vision changed. How can we seek a "new vision" when our external circumstances remain difficult?
The disciples shared their grief openly with a "stranger" on the road. Why is it often so hard to admit in church or religious circles that we feel disappointed by God?

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What 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?

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