Episodi

  • We Belong to Each Other | 01/11/26

    We Belong to Each Other | 01/11/26
    Jan 12 2026
    On Baptism as a commitment to nonviolence and belonging to one another: "To separate each other, as we have in our hearts, minds, and rhetoric, is a first and easy step to no longer belonging to each other. It has taken over as an instinct in our lives, and I'm here to tell to you resist it. Forsake that instinct! Do not find a home in your heart for the ways of violence or revenge or separation from your neighbor. It will only grow. It will only become more normal. Instead, may we remember that in the waters of baptism, we put our entire trust in the hands of others and in the death of our Lord -- both of whom are beloved by God." + We're a church on a mission to know Christ and to make Christ known to others. Visit St. Stephen's online: www.ststephensboise.org
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  • The Way of Jesus, not Fear | 01/04/26

    The Way of Jesus, not Fear | 01/04/26
    Jan 6 2026
    "If a leader is fearful, the people will be ruled with fear. It will become their way." The Magi are a people on the way looking for the one who will be known later as "the way." In turning away from Herod, they are some of the first who will show us that Jesus' way is different -- and is the way of life. + We're a church on a mission to know Christ and to make Christ known to others. Visit St. Stephen's online: www.ststephensboise.org
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  • Seeking What Is Real and True | 12/28/25

    Seeking What Is Real and True | 12/28/25
    Dec 29 2025
    In this reflective sermon, we explore how faith calls us to discern and claim what is real and true—both seen and unseen. Drawing from John’s Gospel, we recognize truth that is not abstract but embodied: love in the flesh, grace in community, and forgiveness offered face-to-face. Today's sermon contrasts authentic, tangible expressions of faith—real bread, real people, real presence—with the temptation of virtual or artificial substitutes. Listeners are invited to embrace the incarnation not only as a theological truth but as a daily practice: to spend time in real places, with real people, doing true things. As we face an era of digital illusion and doubt, this week's sermon gently insists that God’s reality still abides among us, urging us to live truthfully, locally, and lovingly. + We're a church on a mission to know Christ and to make Christ known to others. Visit St. Stephen's online: www.ststephensboise.org
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  • Finding God in the Helpless Among Us | Bishop Jos' Sermon 12/21/25

    Finding God in the Helpless Among Us | Bishop Jos' Sermon 12/21/25
    Dec 22 2025
    In this deeply personal and powerful reflection, we are invited to consider the ways God offers signs—not through thunder or spectacle, but in the quiet, often-overlooked presence of the vulnerable and the weak. On a day of confirmations, receptions, and reaffirmations, Bishop Jos shares his own journey of discerning God's call, from his youth in India to his ministry in Idaho. He reminds us that Christ is made known not just in dreams or visions, but in the faces of the helpless around us. Drawing from scripture, personal experience, and the wisdom of St. Teresa of Avila, we are challenged to be the hands and eyes of Christ in the world. If you’ve ever asked God for a sign and struggled to recognize it, this message offers encouragement, clarity, and a call to compassion. God is here—wherever love, weakness, and care are present.
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  • When Christmas Teaches Us How to Wait | 12/14/25

    When Christmas Teaches Us How to Wait | 12/14/25
    Dec 15 2025
    In this Advent reflection, we explore how the joy and mystery of Christmas can shape our waiting in this sacred season. Centering on the beloved hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” we’re reminded that the hopes and fears of all the years find their answer not in certainty, but in presence—the presence of Christ who comes into our world. We also reflect on John the Baptist’s moment of doubt and Jesus’ powerful response: not a simple yes, but signs that echo Isaiah’s promises—the blind see, the deaf hear, the poor receive good news. This is the God who shows up, even in our fear and longing. This sermon invites us to trust that Jesus does arrive, and his coming brings everlasting joy, even in uncertainty. Come and see how Christmas can rekindle our Advent hope and draw us deeper into the mystery of Emmanuel, God with us.
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  • Advent as Time of Resistance | 12/08/25 The Sermon on Advent 2

    Advent as Time of Resistance | 12/08/25 The Sermon on Advent 2
    Dec 8 2025
    Advent is a time of resistance and repentance, for the kingdom of heaven draws near! John the Baptist leads the movement from the wilderness, and he urges anyone who will listen to be ready for the coming of Jesus. But the Enemy is ready, too: "The powers of Sin and Death are awaiting this Jesus to come. They are ready, and they will tempt him in the exact same place the resistance now lives -- in the wilderness." John urges repentance, he delights in forgiveness, and demands that those who hear him bear fruit -- will we join him? + We're a church on a mission to know Christ and to make Christ known to others. Visit St. Stephen's online: www.ststephensboise.org
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  • Waiting in Hope: The Humble Signs of Advent | 11/30/25

    Waiting in Hope: The Humble Signs of Advent | 11/30/25
    Dec 1 2025
    Advent begins not with fanfare, but with gentle symbols—small lights, a splash of water, quiet hope. In this sermon, we’re invited into the sacred rhythm of waiting, watching, and preparing for the coming of Christ. Drawing from St. Paul’s words in Romans, we are reminded that salvation is nearer now than ever before. But what does it mean to wait well? Through the humble beginnings of baptism and candlelight, we learn that God meets us not in our strength, but in our need. Advent is not about doing more—it’s about receiving, trusting, and remembering that Jesus comes quietly, humbly, and always in love. Join us as we begin our watch once more, putting on the armor of light and preparing our hearts for the arrival of our humble Lord. The night is far gone. The day is near. Let us begin again.
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  • The Royal Story: Christ the King in Luke’s Gospel | 11/23/25

    The Royal Story: Christ the King in Luke’s Gospel | 11/23/25
    Nov 24 2025
    As the church year draws to a close with Christ the King Sunday, we reflect on the unique royal vision offered by St. Luke’s Gospel. Unlike the celestial grandeur of John or the urgency of Mark, Luke presents Jesus as a monarch who reigns through humility, mercy, and vulnerability. From the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary to the crucified Christ speaking grace from the cross, Luke offers a radically different image of kingship. In a culture that often resists authority, how do we respond to a king who rules not by force, but by love? This sermon invites us to rediscover our devotion and consider Christ not only as teacher and friend, but also as our merciful king. In Luke’s royal story, we find a kingdom without end, and a love that meets us where we are. Come and see the king who comes in peace, and reigns in mercy.
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