A weekly message from the worship staff of St. Stephen United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Vision: to Be the Hands, Feet and Heart of Jesus Christ.
St. Stephen United Methodist Church
We continue in our “God Calling” series as we turn our attention to Peter and Jesus' call to walk on the water. What made it possible for Peter to respond to Jesus' call and why was he the only one?
We begin a new sermon series complementing our Summer Study Series. What is God calling us to do? Who is God calling us to be? Throughout the series we'll look at some ordinary people whom God called to do some pretty amazing things and how their stories still speak to us today. We begin with Abraham and Sarah... their faith, their call, their life and how their story still speaks to us today.
Austin Holland wraps up our “Behind the Music” series. This week the focus is on the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” It's a great old hymn that resonates even today because we all struggle in our faith from time to time.
We continue in our “Behind the Music” series as we dig into the hymn “Blessed Assurance” and especially the person “behind” this great old hymn.
Dr. John Blizzard takes us behind the hymn "God of Grace and God of Glory". What's the story behind the hymn and how does it speak to us today.
Methodist history is full of outstanding and iconic hymns. You sing them all the time — some of you for decades. You might have even memorized their lyrics, melodies, and harmonies. But have you ever heard the stories behind some of your favorite songs of worship? In this short sermon series, we'll uncover the stories behind some of our most cherished hymns. Who wrote them? Why? What special story do they tell?
This Sunday we recognize, honor, and hear from our high school graduates!
Throughout history, fire has been one of life's basics of civilization. In the days of early civilization, a tribe would designate one person to be the fire carrier — entrusted to take the fire from one camp to another, to protect that fire, and to make sure that it never went out. Fire has also been a physical demonstration of the presence of God — in bushes, in plows, in tabernacles, and during the first Pentecost. On Sunday, May 28, we will celebrate Pentecost, the “birthday” of the church, birthed with fire and filled with the Holy Spirit.
This Sunday we'll look at what it means to be "good" and how we "close the gap" between who we really are and who God desires for us to be.
Did your mom, dad, or an adult give your "advice" growing up? For example, how many times did you hear things like… “Money doesn't grow on trees!” or “If 'so and so' jumped off a bridge would you jump off a bridge too?” Believe or not, behind those statements are some important biblical and life lessons.
Today we wrap up our “Changed” series as we look at the woman at the well and how her life was changed after her encounter with Jesus. In many ways, her story speaks to all of us.
On this Sunday we turn our attention to the disciple Peter and how his encounter with Jesus “changed” his life forever. If you remember, Peter was the disciple that vowed never to deny Christ and yet he did three times. So what happened? How did Peter move from being a disciple who denied Christ to the one whom the church was built upon? Take a listen…
We begin a new series looking at how people's lives were changed after encountering Jesus. On this Sunday we turn our attention to Joseph of Arimathea. After Jesus' death Joseph had a decision to make – would he stand up and be counted? Would he have courage and conviction? Or continue in secret to be a follower of Jesus?
This Sunday, our Minister of Music, Dr. John Blizzard focuses on Jesus', "Famous Last Words."
On this day we journey with Jesus as he triumphantly enters Jerusalem, as people wave palm branches and shout, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord”, and then ultimately to the cross where Jesus utters his final words before his death.
This week we move one more step closer to Easter. Jesus is doing the same. He's on his way to Jerusalem where ultimately he will be crucified. However, during his journey, he is stopped by ten lepers seeking mercy. And once again we see Jesus' compassion for the “least, last, and the lost.”
This week we turn our attention to one of Jesus' parables. Depending on who you ask, there are 30 to 50 different stories or parables that are recorded in the gospels. One of the most well known is the parable of the Good Samaritan but still speaks to all of us.
We turn our attention to Jesus' ministry with prostitutes and prodigals as found in Luke's gospel, and more broadly on his ministry to "sinners".
We continue in our Lenten series… “The Gospel of the Least, Last, Lost” as we turn our attention to the am ha-aretz. Listen to find out who they are and how Jesus call us to connect with them.
Most of us have at some point felt like an outcast, an outsider, lost. The Gospel of Luke is well known for its particular portrait of Jesus' ministry to those often marginalized, forgotten, and downright hated by society. Join us starting February 26 as we enter our Lenten sermon series, "The Gospel of the Least, Last, Lost," and embark on a study of the Gospel of Luke.
Part two of our series... "Misquoted". This week we look at the common phrase, "Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin." Is this something that Jesus said? Or have we misquoted him?
We've all heard these phrases before, maybe in a passing conversation, a hallway in church, or scrolling through your Facebook feed. We've all seen the Facebook post that has a picture of Jesus that says “If you loved me then you would share this photo.” Guess what? Jesus never said that. It's not in the Bible. This isn't new — from the early church and the apostles to now, we have a habit of misquoting things Jesus said or never even said in the first place. Join us on February 12, and again on February 19, for our new series: "Misquoted - Things Jesus Never Said."
Director of Youth Ministries relates being involved in sports to what it means to be a community of faith.
Our Director of Youth Ministry, Austin Holland shares his experience of being "both" and in "the middle".
Do you know the you, you were meant to be? If you peeled back the layers of you – who are you? The person, the values, the ideals, the character, the person that you were created to be? In this three part series we turn to the "fruit of the Spirit" found in Galatians 5:22-23 for a picture of who God intends us to be.
We begin a New Year by looking at the last of the eyewitnesses to Christmas.... The Wisemen.
We continue in our Eyewitness to Christmas series as we turn our attention to Mary who said to the the angel Gabriel, "Here I am the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."
We continue in our Eyewitness to Christmas series as we turn our attention to Joseph... Jesus' earthly father.
During Advent, you're invited to begin a journey - a journey with those who were in some way an “Eyewitness to Christmas.” Each Sunday we'll take a look at the people the Bible tells us witnessed this simple event that changed the world. Look through the eyes of those who met Jesus in that humble stable and learn from them as we prepare to symbolically meet Him anew at Christmas.
Austin invites us to pause before Advent begins, to give thanks and ponder the fact that we serve a King who has already made a place for us at his table.
Today we welcome special guest speaker, Yevette Christy, founder of The Restoration Project (TRP). TRP is a non-profit agency working hard to provide survivors of addiction and commercial sexual exploitation with practical resources, long-term housing options, vocational/educational guidance, and a supportive community. In addition to our services, TRP works to ensure that women have safe spaces to reclaim their lives. At TRP, safe spaces aren't just the safety and security of a home with four walls but a healthy, trauma-informed culture intentionally cultivated by those who posture themselves as advocates and direct care service providers.
We wrap up our "Words of Life" series as we focus on the word "joy." What are the sources of joy? What does the Bible say about joy? How can we best experience “true joy” in our lives?
In this series we're looking at words we find in the scriptures that give life. Words like contentment, gratitude, generosity, and joy. All of these words help us discover what life is really all about.
In this series we're looking at words we find in the scriptures that give life. Words like contentment, gratitude, generosity, and joy. All of these words help us discover what life is really all about.
In this series we're looking at words we find in the scriptures that give life. Words like contentment, gratitude, generosity, and joy. All of these words help us discover what life is really all about.
The late author, poet, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou said once, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” Jesus said it this way, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” So what does that mean? What does it mean to thrive in life rather than simply survive? What does that look like in a person of faith? Join us as we discover what it means to "thrive in life rather than simply survive."
God is everywhere - even in movies that might at first not seem spiritual.
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