St. Stephen's UMC Houston Sermoncast

After a year off, our podcast is back! This Sunday, we talk about Abram.    Show notes: Our church website is www.stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 11 on YouTube (www.youtube.com/stshtx) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/stshtx), and in-person again beginning May 23! 

Week 5 of the series, week 2 of social distancing. John 15:1-8, I am the true vine, and why maybe the pastor isn't the best arborist we have.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this livestream only worship service, Nathan talks about the Good Shepherd in the time of Coronavirus. He starts and stops and circles back several times, because of connectivity issues with the stream. John 10:1-10.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

Pastor Suzi shares her first sermon with St. Stephen's, in which she shares her own testimony and talks about Jesus Christ being the light of the world.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this second sermon from "The God We Can Know," Nathan talks a lot about bread, agrarian society, satisfaction, and other such things. Scripture was John 6:27-59.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this first (slightly early) sermon from our lenten "The God We Can Know" series, Nathan talks about a God who truly and desperately wants to be known by you. Yes, YOU! Scripture is Exodus 3:1-14.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

Nathan walks all the way through the wild and wacky story of Samson (Judges 13-16) in this final sermon from the Judges series.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

Nathan talks about one of his least favorite stories in the Bible this week, and about what it is we can learn from stories that are hard and messy. Judges 11:24-12:7.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

First sermon from a 3-part series on Judges, and we talked about Deborah and the context of the book. Judges 5:1-9, Deborah's song, was the text.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this final sermon from the Childlike Faith Series, Nathan talks about what it means to really make a joyful noise, and why singing is the scariest thing on earth. Psalm 71:14-24.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

This sermon is about how we are all, without exception, beloved Children of God. Scriptures were Psalm 131 and Matthew 19:13-15. The book referenced, "God's Dream" by Desmond Tutu is available from many online book sellers.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

First sermon from the Childlike Faith series, where Nathan talks about what it means to become like a child in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Scripture was Matthew 18:1-5, 10.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this Epiphany sermon, Nathan talks about how King Harod and the Persian Magi might just be exactly who we should learn from this year.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this sermon, Pastor Nathan talks about the birth of Jesus and his general preaching schtick. Luke 2 was the text, like it is most Christmases.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com. Visual art for the bulletin and this podcast comes from sanctifiedart.org 

Pastor Nathan's Advent sermon on Isaiah 7 to close out the Emmanuel Series. Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

Advent sermon by Rev. Lindsay Smith on Isaiah 11.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

This is the first sermon in our Advent worship series, where we'll be reading selections out of Isaiah. Scripture was Isaiah 2:2-5. The video referenced is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93sXg8qW5qQ Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

Last sermon from the Romans Series. Nathan talks about the people that make up the church. Romans 16:1-16.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this sermon Nathan talks about a passage that's easy to understand, which is, well, the problem. Romans 12:9-17.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this sermon, Nathan talks about how important it is to relax. The text came from Romans 10.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

Lindsay talks about a court that's even stranger than Judge Judy's in this week's sermon. Romans 8 was the text.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

Nathan clearly wrote the title for this sermon before he actually wrote the sermon. Text was Romans 5:1-5 and 6:22-23.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

This sermon from the Romans series, on 4:13-25, focuses on what it really means to base our hope in faith, rather than in our actions — or anyone else's.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

First sermon from the Romans series. Nathan talks about not judging, Karl Barth, and baseball. Romans 2:12-24.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

Final sermon from the Enough series, and Nathan talks about what actually makes up a good life.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this penultimate sermon from the "Enough" series, Nathan talks about being made to be generous and giving generously. Scriptures were 1 Timothy 6:17-19 and Proverbs 11:24-25.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this sermon from the Enough series, Nathan talks about how much he loves his grill and why we shouldn't be so invested in material things. He also talks about the witness of St. Mark's UMC and how it can inspire us. Scriptures read were Luke 12:15 and Ecclesiastes 2:10-11.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this second sermon from the Enough Series, Nathan talks about aligning our resources with our purpose. Proverbs 21:5 & 20 were the scriptures.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

This is the first sermon from our "Enough" series, where we'll be talking about how counter-cultural it is to eschew our desire to keep up with the Joneses. This week, we focused on how the American Dream can be skewed and manipulated to lead us in unwise directions.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

This was a great Sunday! It was a day in which we celebrated the completion of our work on our prescriptions from the Vibrant Church Initiative, a program designed to help us focus our mission and vision and serve God and our neighbors as well as we can. We talked about who Jesus invites to his parties, and we followed worship with a big celebration, lunch, and all sorts of fun! The scripture was Luke 14:1, 7-14. Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this final sermon from the "I've always known you" series on Jeremiah, Nathan talks about what it means that, in spite of all of our mistakes — personal and societal —  God really and truly wants the best for us. Scripture was from Jeremiah 29.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this sermon, Nathan talks about the fact that choices have consequences, and that God loves us and wants great things for us. The text was Jeremiah 18:1-12.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this first sermon in the series "I've always known you," Nathan talks about The Lion King, God's call on Jeremiah, and God's call on us. He realizes he accidentally said Mustafa instead of Mufasa one time, but he corrected himself eventually. Scripture was Jeremiah 1:4-10.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

To wrap up the action required series, Nathan talks about generosity of heart and action. Luke 12:13-31 was the scripture.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this sermon, Pastoral Intern Logan Brabson reflects on his summer serving at St. Stephen's and on the incredible importance of prayer. Text was Luke 11:5-8.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

On this Sunday, we arrived to find the air conditioner not working, so it was warm for the early service. The 11 o'clock service happened in the Fellowship Hall, so it wasn't recorded. But we talked about Mary & Martha and a church focused on Jesus. Luke 10:38-42.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this first sermon from the "Action Required" worship series, Nathan talks about the Good Samaritan, how people really didn't like Samaritans, and how we're called to love — and to be — Samaritans in a polarized world. Luke 10:25-37.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

Pastor Nathan shares how our plans for what we think God should do can often get in the way of the plans God has already planned for us.

Our Pastoral Intern Logan Brabson shares how our excuses don't work on a God who created us in his image.

In this first sermon in the Intervention worship series, Lindsay talks about how Solomon wasn't David's eldest son, but he became king anyway. God doesn't play by our rules, and chooses us even when we feel like the "wrong" one. Scripture was 1 Kings 1.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this Pentecost Sunday, Nathan wraps up the re: fresh series by talking about Hockey, of all things. Oh also and Pentecost and what it means to live a life in the Spirit. The article and video referenced can be found here.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

On this baptism and confirmation Sunday, Nathan talks about Kelvin Doe (google him, he's awesome), record players, creating, and following the call of the Spirit in our world. The scripture was Romans 8:9-19.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this first sermon from our Re:Fresh worship series on the Holy Spirit, Nathan talks about experiencing God in and through feminine images, why we don't talk about the Spirit more, and whether or not you can say Her about God. Scriptures read were Proverbs 8:1-11 and John 14:8-17.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this final sermon from the "As Promised" series, Nathan talks about scouts, why you should call your parents, shame, guilt, vunerability, Brene Brown, and Peter. The scripture was John 21:15-19.   Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

On this Mother's Day, Nathan talks about why it doesn't always work to go home and following Jesus over and over again. The text was John 21:1-14.    Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this sermon, Lindsay talks about how lots of people in today's world want proof, whether it's about the origins of avocados or the latest hot topic. Thomas wanted proof too, and what he got was a revelation that Jesus was more than just a teacher; Jesus is God. Text was John 20:24-31.   Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this second sermon in our Eastertide series, Nathan talks about a beautiful wedding, a bad hotel, and the shalom-filled Kingdom of God. Text was John 20:19-23.   Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this first sermon in our Easter Series, "As Promised," Nathan talks about the hope of the resurrection in the midst of the Good Friday world. Text was John 20:1-18. Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this final sermon from the "On the Way" Lenten Worship Series, Nathan discusses joining the throngs of disciples who were at Palm Sunday and the days that followed. Text read was Luke 19:28-40. Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.

In this sermon from the "On The Way" series, Nathan talks about Kodak, Judas, Mary, nard, spiritual growth, and sacrificing something good for something great. The passage of scripture was John 12:1-8.  Show notes: Our church website is stshtx.org, check us out! Join us for worship Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11:00 am at 2003 W. 43rd St. in Houston, Texas. The music in our intro is from bensound.com.