Sermons from St. Stephen's Boise

"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. St...

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 tempt...

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...

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 Jesu...

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...

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...

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 ra...

"What we can promise you, and what we can tell you about what happens next, is however this path of ours unfolds it is the stories of scripture, the images of the tradition, the lives of the saints, and the spirit of Jesus that will always light your path." On a day in which we celebrate Holy Baptism, we are met with competing visions for the future in the scriptures. We're always wondering about...

"Hope is the fuel of the saints!" On a glorious All Saints' Day, we hear of the inheritance of the saints: hope, power, and eternal life. And while these holy things may point us toward heaven, they also call us to our life and work on earth. How can we understand eternal life as part of the day to day living of the saints of God? + We're a church on a mission to know Christ and to make Christ kno...

"Would it be possible for you to be one percent more curious about the lives of other people? Could you listen five percent more to someone's story?" In hearing the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, how might the story be different if there was more curiosity instead of assumption? What do we learn about others when we are honest in our prayers and try to see others the way we hope Go...

"Where do our prayers take us, and what kind of people do we want to be?" Reflecting on the perplexing parable of the unjust judge, we hear Jesus call us to a life of prayer -- a life that will be imperfect but faithful. + 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

How does having faith in everyday moments of our lives affect our faithfulness in God? And how might that faith make us well? + 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

This week, we heard twice from the book of Lamentations, traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah and his witnessing of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Yet, we rarely employ his genre of prayer: lament. If the old saying is true, that "praying shapes believing," how can we believe that which we do not pray? God can handle our desires, our honesty, and even our blame. How might...

This week at St. Stephen's, we celebrated Education Sunday, our annual tradition and fundraiser for the James and Alberta Davis Education Fund. Over the last year, the Davis Fund granted over $10,000 to students, teachers, and programs in the Boise School District. We were delighted to be joined by Emma Kennedy, a social worker from the district, to talk about the impact of these grants. To donate...

We introduce a new yearly theme for our program year: This is the Day!

Paul's shortest letter (Philemon) has a big impact on our understanding of baptism, status, and relationships. How can we, like Paul, look at how the encounters and decisions of our everyday lives ask "what is at stake here, and what does the Gospel have to say about it?"

Tyler Espinoza preaches on the importance of remembering one another, allowing for mutual love to continue, and the Eucharist as the key to both: "The power of the sacrament points towards the possibility of a kingdom filled with empathy and love and devoid of alienation. It points towards God's love for us, towards what it means to be fully human. At this table, a banquet of sorts, we are all wel...

This week, we continue to hear from the book of Hebrews, the "hidden gem" of the New Testament. Hebrews speaks to the Church with a sense of awe, wonder, and fullness, using images like fire, tempest, and trumpet for the God we cannot touch. And, it assumes we can handle and speak out these holy mysteries in our own lives. How will each of us tell the the story of how we have encountered this ever...

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." "Be not afraid" has been our theme all year at St. Stephen's. If we take Jesus at his word -- selling possessions, giving alms, living courageously -- God's kingdom comes into view. We do not know what will come because of our courage, but whatever does come would not have been possible through fear.

On Sunday July 27th, we welcomed Abdi Nour to St. Stephen's to share his story of his life as a refugee.

The Homily on the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost St. Stephen's Boise July 20th 2025 What does the text of this popular story actually tell us? What does it say about work and prayer?

The Homily on the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost St. Stephen's Boise July 13th 2025 The prophets help us appeal to God's mercy; Jesus, in the parable of the Good Samaritan, appeals to ours. How will be be merciful this week?

The Homily on the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost July 6th 2025 St. Stephen's Boise On the values of the Kingdom of God: "We have to talk about the idea of not just if we are around the kind of people the kingdom of favors, but if the society in which we live actively shuts down those people. If instead of lauding the things the kingdom of God lauds, we dismiss the worth of the poor, the outcast, th...

The Homily on the Third Sunday after Pentecost June 29th 2025 St. Stephen's Boise In the kingdom of God, we can't be kind only sometimes. We can't be peaceful sometimes and vengeful at others. We can't partially feed the hungry, partially clothe the naked, and God cannot be just only occasionally. There are no half measures in the kingdom of God: virtue cannot allow time for vice, righteousness ca...