Monument Presbyterian Church

Faith is not static belief but a lived journey of discipleship, and the church is the place where that journey is practiced together. This sermon will explore how Jesus calls people into a way of life, not just ideas, a lifelong journey of becoming more like him. The passage naturally unfolds into: Encounter (Who do you say that I am?), Formation (daily following), Mission (losing life to find it)...

Reflections on the gifts of the Magi. Audio from Tyson's sermon on December 28, 2025.

The greatest gift is not something God gives, but His presence with us. King Ahaz doubted God’s help and sought his own solutions, but God promised a sign of love: His presence. Advent reminds us that love draws near, especially in fear and failure. Audio from Tyson's sermon on December 21, 2025.

The gift is a King whose rule brings lasting joy. True joy is found not in comfort or ease but in trusting the good reign of Christ. Even when the world feels chaotic, His kingdom is already breaking in. Audio from Megan's sermon on December 14, 2025.

God’s greatest gifts often arrive in small, surprising ways. The people expected power from Jerusalem, but God’s peace began in obscurity. Advent teaches us to look for God’s peace not in control or success but in humility and trust. Audio from Tyson's sermon on December 7, 2025.

The gift God’s people longed for was a person — the Servant who would make things right with gentleness and power. Israel longed for political rescue, but God’s promised gift was deeper — the restoration of hearts, nations, and creation through His Servant. Advent invites us to hope in the One who quietly restores what is broken. Audio from Megan's sermon on November 30, 2025.

Peter closes his letter by turning to the leaders of the church. True shepherds are called not to domineer or seek status, but to serve with humility, following the pattern of Christ, the Chief Shepherd. Leadership in the kingdom is not about power but about faithful, sacrificial care for God’s people. Audio from Beau Smith's guest sermon on November 23, 2025.

Suffering is a part of life. In scripture we are told “In this life you will suffer” (John 16:33). Peter does not minimize the reality of suffering—in fact, he calls believers to expect it. But suffering is not meaningless. When we share in Christ’s sufferings, we also share in His glory. Far from being a mark of God’s absence, trials become opportunities for God’s Spirit to rest on us and for our...

Peter reminds believers that every part of life—our suffering, our love for others, our acts of service, even our hospitality—can become a testimony to Christ. When we endure hardship with grace, or when we open our homes and lives in love, we point beyond ourselves to the God who sustains us. At the heart of this passage is the call to always be ready to give the reason for the hope we have. This...

As “foreigners and exiles,” Christians are called to live honorably within a society that does not share their values. Peter emphasizes submission—not as passive weakness, but as a chosen posture that reflects trust in God’s greater authority. In a culture that prizes independence and self-assertion, these words may feel uncomfortable. Yet submission, rightly understood, is part of the calling of...

Peter gives a rich vision of what it means to be the Church. With Christ as the cornerstone, we are being built into a spiritual house—a living temple where God dwells. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, set apart to declare the praises of the One who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. This passage reminds us that the Church is not simply a building or a we...

Peter calls believers to live into their new identity in Christ. To be holy is not about withdrawing from the world, but about reflecting God’s character in the midst of a world that is indifferent at best and hostile at worst. Holiness means living as people who are different—not in self-righteous separation, but in love, integrity, and hope that bear witness to the God who has redeemed us. The c...

When we look at Elijah at Mt Horeb – before he ever saw the wind, fire, and earthquake and heard God in the silence, he spent a long time waiting and being ministered to. In other words, it took him a long time before he was even ready to hear the voice of God. There are times where daily times of silence and solitude just aren’t enough. Instead what we need is an extended time of retreat – just l...

The desert place isn’t always a place of renewal and ecstatic experiences of God. Sometimes the desert place is where battle for our soul is waged. Before Jesus ever began his ministry, he went into the desert for 40 days and was tried and tempted by the devil. This was the place where Jesus’ identity and purpose was tested. It was the place of his temptation. Solitude can be that for us too. The...

So far, we have been discussing what happens in silence. But equally important is solitude. When we look at the life of Jesus, he constantly retreated to a “a lonely place” or the “desert place”. His pattern was so significant that it is mentioned several times in scripture. That is significant. Jesus’ cycle was to do really powerful kingdom work and then retreat to be alone with God in the desert...

For some, silence is scary and disturbing. We keep ourselves busy and our lives noisy precisely because we don’t want to face what may come up in silence. In silence, we fear we will have to face our demons – our past, our failures, our brokenness, etc. But maybe that is precisely the point. When we come to God in silence, we will have to face those things. But we do it with God right beside us. J...

Just being silent and alone doesn’t guarantee that we will commune with God and hear from him. The truth is that even when we are silent, there is still a lot that comes up in our mind. In fact, we may avoid silence because there is so much going on our thought life! But there is a discipline to learning to calm the turbulent waters of our minds and soul – to set aside time to let the waters settl...

Part of the reason we need to practice regular times of silence is that God rarely shouts at us to get our attention. He does not want to compete with all the other things but asks us to seek after him. If anything, he speaks with a still small voice most of the time. Looking at the example of Elijah, we see that God is not in the earthquake, wind, or fire, but in the stillness and silence. We nee...

We live in a world that is busy, loud, and attention seeking. Between phones, TV, and internet, it is easy to never have time alone in silence. And this has a huge implications for our spiritual lives because without time alone, we will rarely hear God. Silence and solitude are counter-formational practices that enable us to cut through the noise of our culture and hear the voice of God.

Worship is our response to God’s faithful deliverance. When God brings us through the waters, our first response isn’t strategy — it’s praise. Salvation leads to song. Audio from Megan's sermon on August 17, 2025.

The exodus story is all about freeing us from slavery into life and relationship with God. If we look at this story from a metaphorical standpoint it mirrors the Christian journey. The significance of this story is in what God has done for us: He delivers us. Audio from Tyson's sermon on August 10, 2025.

Nothing can stop God’s power or promises. God delivers not only from Pharaoh’s grip, but into freedom — on His terms, in His time. The plagues represent our captivity which God systematically frees us from. Audio from Megan's sermon on August 3rd, 2025.

Obedience doesn’t always lead to immediate results — but God is faithful. When things get worse before they get better, it doesn’t mean God isn’t working — it means deliverance is coming. Audio from Tyson's sermon on 7/25.