St. Stephen United Methodist Church: Sunday Sermons

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What happens when we actually respond to God’s grace? In this third of our four messages on the book of Jonah, we discover how we are not only accepted but also transformed by God and God’s grace. When Jonah finally obeys and travels to Nineveh, he gives what has to be the shortest, most unenthusiastic sermon in scripture. Jonah says just eight words, but the entire city — from the king to the very least — responds by turning from their evil ways. God’s conviction isn’t condemnation. Like your car’s “check engine light,” God shows us what needs attention because God wants to heal us, not shame us. The question isn’t whether we receive God’s nudges, but whether, like Jonah, we will respond. 
Sermon Reflections:
When have you received a “check engine light” from God — a conviction or nudge about something in your life? How did you respond?
Why do you think the people of Nineveh responded to Jonah’s short, unenthusiastic sermon when we often ignore much more compelling messages?
The Ninevites’ repentance was both inward and outward, involving both their hearts and their actions. Which aspect of repentance do you find more challenging? 
What’s the difference between feeling bad about something and actually repenting? Think about an example in your life. 
In what areas of your life might God be inviting you to change direction? What would that practically look like?
What’s one practical step you can take this week to respond to God’s grace in an area where God has been nudging you? 

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This week, we continue our worship series exploring the book of Jonah. This week, we dive into chapter 2 as Jonah finds himself in the belly of a great fish. At first glance, this might seem like a punishment, but it’s actually a rescue. Pastor Ken walks us through the chapter, helping us discover what happens when we stop fighting and start surrendering — when we start letting go of the things we’re clinging to and start receiving God’s grace. Jonah teaches us that gratitude doesn’t wait for circumstances to improve and that hope begins the moment we stop pretending we can save our selves. 
Sermon Reflections:
Jonah calls the belly of the fish a “pit.” What pots have you experienced in your own life… what seasons of darkness or difficulty? 
What happened when you turned to God during these “pit” moments, instead of relying solely on yourself?
How does viewing the fish as God’s grace rather than punishment change the way you read this story?
Jonah gives thanks while still inside the fish, before his circumstances changed. Why is it so difficult to practice gratitude in the middle of hardship rather than waiting for conditions to improve?
In his letter to the Romans, Paul tells us that God works in all things for good. Reflect on a time when God brought something good out of a dark or difficult season in your life. 
Jesus said, 'Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.' What does this kind of surrender look like in practical, everyday terms?

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Most of us think we know the story of Jonah. We picture a man, a storm, and whale. But what if the whale isn't really the point? 
We begin a new worship series on the book of Jonah, discovering together that this story is actually about the surprising, unsettling, and life-changing grace of God. It's a grace that refuses to stay inside the lines we draw, reaches people we've written off, and pursues us even when we run the other way.
In this first message, we look at Jonah’s first chapter and the striking contrast between God’s call and Jonah’s response. God moves toward Nineveh — a place of brokenness and evil — while Jonah runs toward Tarshish — a place of comfort and escape. The contrast reveals something profound about God’s heart: God’s compassion flows toward the hurting, the overlooked, and the lost. 
Sermon Reflections:
When you think of the story of Jonah, what images or details usually come to mind first? How might focusing on those details cause us to miss the deeper meaning of the story?
Pastor Ken describes grace as "disruptive" because it ignores the categories we create for people. What categories or labels do you find yourself using to decide who deserves grace and who doesn't?
Jonah claimed to worship God while actively running from God. Can you identify times in your own life when you've said the right things about following Jesus but your actions went in a different direction?
Pastor Ken ended his sermon with this question: "Where is your heart?" If you honestly assess your life right now, are you moving toward the broken places God cares about, or are you running toward comfort and escape? What would it look like to change direction?

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Connect Four isn’t just a classic children’s game. It’s a picture of how God designed us to live. You can’t win with just one piece. Victory requires connection. In this message concluding our series, The Games We Played, we explore what Scripture teachers about meaningful relationships and community. From Genesis to Hebrews, the Bible shows us that we were created for isolation. Yet, despite living in the most digitally connected time in history, loneliness has reached epidemic levels. We’ve mastered digital connection but struggle with meaningful connection. Generation Z is perhaps the most digitally connected generation ever, but reports show they also have the highest rates of depression and social isolation. 
Sermon Reflections:
The first thing God declared "not good" was isolation, not sin. Why do you think God prioritized relationship and connection from the very beginning?
We live in the most digitally connected era in history, yet loneliness is at epidemic levels. What's the difference between digital connection and meaningful connection? Can you think of examples from your own life?
Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. What specific benefits of connection and companionship does this passage describe? Which one resonates most with your current season of life?
Not every connection is healthy. The sermon says Paul warns us that "bad company ruins good morals." How do you discern which relationships are healthy and which might need boundaries?
Read Hebrews 10:24-25 together. What does it mean to "provoke one another to love and good deeds"? Can you share an example of someone who has done this for you?
What is one practical step you can take this week to build more meaningful connection with someone in your life-whether that's deepening an existing relationship or reaching out to someone who might be isolated?

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We’ve all played Operation — that classic tabletop game where the problems are obvious and the solutions are clear. If only real life were that simple. Pastor Ken continues our “The Games We Played” worship series in this message exploring Mark’s story of the paralytic and his four friends. When they can’t get through the crowd to reach Jesus, they tear open the roof and lower their friend down. Everyone expects Jesus to heal the obvious problem, the man’s paralysis. But Jesus does something unexpected: he addresses a deeper issue first. Jesus sees behind the visible to what’s hidden in our hearts, addressing not just the symptoms but the root issues that bring lasting transformation. 
Sermon Reflections:
 In this week's message, Pastor Ken used the game Operation as the metaphor. In that game, the problems are obvious and labeled, but in real life our deepest woulds are often hidden. What are some of the hidden wounds or struggles that people often carry beneath the surface?
Mark tells us that Jesus saw the faith of the paralytic's friends. How does this story challenge us to be better friends to those who are struggling?
Sometimes what we think we need the most isn't actually what we really need the most. Can you think of a time when God addressed something deeper in your life than what you initially asked God to fix?
David's prayer in Psalm 51 was, "Create in me a clean heart, O God", rather than asking God to fix his circumstances or reputation. Why is the condition of our heart more important than our external circumstances? 
A surgeon can't repair what she cannot access. What are some barriers we put up that prevent God from accessing the wounded areas of our hearts?
Jesus sees all of our hidden wounds, failures, and shame — and, yet, he still loves us. How does this truth change the way we approach him with our deepest needs?

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