Monterey Church of Christ: Recent Episodes
Monterey Church of Christ
Listen to our Sunday Sermons, Bible classes, and more. This podcast exists as another resource for you and your family. For more information, please visit our website at montereychurch.com
Thanks for listening!
What do we anchor ourselves to? And who SHOULD we be anchored to? Preachers and teachers are great, but they're not meant to be anchors -- they're sign posts that point us to the One who is.
Today we commission 12 new Stephen Ministers. Stephen Ministry is a ministry designed for one-to-one care, walking alongside people in grief and struggle.
Mother's Day is a joy for some and a challenge for others. How is the church called to live in that tension?
Luke 15 tells the story of a son who returns home to his Father. The good news of this story is that the Father holds no grudges.
Why is it that some people seem to connect to God more easily than others? The story of the parable of the sower (Luke 8) might offer some answers.
When the teacher of the law approaches Jesus and asks him what the greatest commandment is, Jesus refuses to engage in the debate about who is "is" and who is "out."
Who sits around your table? Many of us are comfortable with friends and family, but what about those whom we may not be as comfortable with?
Guest preacher Michael Joiner reminds us that the gospel of John invites us to believe some very important things about who Jesus is and was.
Eric Opton continues our Easter sermon series focusing on examples of how Jesus engaged with the “dirt” of humanity, bringing his glory into our brokenness.
Hudson Hutchinson, Connections Minister, kicks off our Easter series “Glory & Dirt” by redirecting our attention to the glory of Jesus as seen in John 1.
Aaron Dawson, Missional Life Minister, leads us to consider what it looks like to know our neighbors and how Jesus interacted with his.
Alan Howell, our friend from Mission Resource Network in Dallas, TX, comes to preach and kick off our series on global missions.
Confronting someone in their sin is not easy -- so why does Paul encourage it so much in this letter? This sermon reminds us of why confrontation is an important thing to do.
Churches and Christians can find just about anything to disagree over. Many times we do more to repel the world around us than draw them to Jesus. What would it be like if we lived out of freedom?
Today we celebrate 8 families who have had babies in the last year! This is more than just a baby dedication -- this is our annual reminder that as a church family, we are called to walk alongside one another.
This sermon explores the difference between the Law and the Promise, and how the two relate and are different.
Carson Reed, guest preacher from Abilene Christian University, kicks off our new sermon series on the book of Galatians.
Merry Christmas Eve! Love is an action, not a feeling. Thank God for His great love for us, that He would send Himself through Jesus into the world.
Aaron Dawson gives us an understanding of what joy looks like in a world where darkness seems to reign.
Hudson Hutchinson walks us through the kind of Peace that Jesus's coming initiates into our world.
Many times we expect a different kind of god than the God we got in a manger. But Jesus reminds us that the God we serve is greater than any other god we could ever hope for.
Today's service is a combined worship time with our whole church family! We use the Lord's Prayer as a focal point to move us from a season of gratitude and into a season of Advent.
What did we sign up for when we decided to follow Jesus? A life of persecution and a story with a homeless, unemployed poor man at its center.
God longs for a single-minded heart, a heart that is fully devoted to Him and Him alone. What kinds of things try to divide your heart and mind?
"Righteousness" is one of those words that gets used in church worlds a lot, but folks really may not understand a lot. What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness?
The word "meek" is one of the most often misunderstood words. What does it mean to be "meek?" That is the question we unpack this week.
Mourning is not just feelings -- it is action! The kind of mourning that our church does together ought to move us to action.
Andy Johnson, Care Director and Prayer Coordinator for Mission Resource Network, shares a message about hope in the midst of scars that we all have.
Carson Reed, guest preacher from Abilene Christian University, reminds us of the importance of humility and approaching the Father humbly.
Happiness as Jesus defines it in Matthew 5 is different from how the world portrays it. How can we choose moments of joy in every situation
this week?
Today is the last sermon for our Senior Minister, Barry Stephens. We celebrate him and Debbie and praise God for how He has used them over the last 23 years!
Hebrews 12 reminds us that we are not alone and that there is a great cloud of witnesses encouraging us and spurring us on.
What is God's calling on our lives? To love God, and to love others, as He Himself does.
Today, we are joined by John Cooper and his family from Budapest, Hungary. John preached this morning and walked us through what it is like to have "breakthrough faith" from Mark 2 and the story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man.
What do a hairdryer, a sink faucet, a vacuum cleaner, and a bird have to do with Romans 8? Find out in this week's episode!
Luke 5:1-11 tells the story of Peter's encounter with Jesus. How did he respond, and how should we respond when we come face to face with the grace and power of Jesus?
Psalm 95 provides us with three different "moods" of worship, moving from joy to reverence, and then to repentance.
Barry explores Acts 15 and the intentionality of the early Christians to focus on the saving grace of God.
Today we commission our Stephen Ministers who walk alongside those who are in times of crisis or grief.
Aaron Dawson, our Missional Life Minister, reminds us of the importance of staying connected to Jesus and abiding in him (John 15).
Barry begins his last sermon series as the Preaching Minister at Monterey, focusing on texts that still speak to us today. Today, we focus on the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11).
Memorial Day 2023 - we gathered for one service on Sunday to focus on Enoch (found in Genesis) and how he faithfully walked with God.
Genesis 16 tells the story of an Egyptian slave who runs away from her master and encounters a God who sees her.
Monterey is 60 years old today! We take some time this morning to look back at God's faithfulness and recommit to being the people God has called us to be for the future.
What comes after the resurrection? Living into this new life that Jesus offers us! Transformation comes through the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).
Palm Sunday reminds us that God through Jesus has come into our world to bear our pain and suffering to the cross.
From the very beginning, God has been in the business of restoration. Today we kick off a new series that reminds us of God's initial design and how the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus bring about the continuation of that plan.
Today's sermon focuses on the gift of baptism -- through baptism, we die with Christ, we are buried, and then raised to new life with Christ!
This Sunday we combined our worship services into one blended gathering, focusing on Communion and the gift it is to be invited to the table of Jesus.
Our annual Missions Sunday celebrates all that God is doing around the world! It's a reminder that God has invited us into the mission of restoring all things and it is our privilege to join Him in this.
Dan Bouchelle, President of Missions Resource Network (MRN), guest preaches today and shares what the kingdom of God looks like globally.
Aaron Dawson, our Missional Life Minister, kicks us off with a new series branching from "We Believe." What good is belief if our lives don't speak the good news of Jesus? There are more way to speak that with just words.
Today is a special day for our church! Over 20 families and their new children receive a blessing from our church, and we all commit to raising and loving one another as a part of this church family.
Aaron Dawson, Missional Life Minister, walks us through the importance of knowing scripture, but beyond that, knowing the God that scripture points us to. Scripture is a means to that end, it is not an end unto itself.
Love is not about the person GIVING it…it is all about who is receiving it. And God models this in the BIGGEST way by sending His Son Jesus into our world.
We continue our series on LIFE -- how does the coming of Jesus bring peace and assurance into our world?
We kick off our Advent season with a series focused on the book of 1st John! Jesus's coming brings light and life into our world!
Dr. Scott McDowell, President of Lubbock Christian University, is our guest preacher today! He speaks to us on the story of Jesus turning water into wine (John 2:1-11). 5 Phrases and 5 Insights.
The concluding sermon in this series: We interview Annie Luft, Sophie Drumright, and Emie Dawson as they describe a new ministry effort, "Bless You Bags."
This is a special Sunday in the life of our church body, where we celebrate and affirm the leaders that God has called to be elders in our church!
The funny thing about trying to climb "ladders" in life is that they ultimately lead to nowhere. Listen to this week's sermon to learn about the practice of becoming the least and giving up our power.
Our challenge this week is to be shaped by contentment and simplicity that Christ calls us to in the Beatitudes.
Aaron Dawson, our Missional Life Minister, preaches a message about giving and receiving today.
Today we introduce Stephen Ministry, and new ministry effort designed to equip us to walk one-on-one with people in crisis. Special guest speakers Darra Lansman, Tara Souder, Scott Gwinn, and Joey Drumright.
God has equipped ALL of his people for good works of service in the kingdom, for the sake of His Name!
Brian Starr preaches on the biblical theme of leadership as we kick off our church's elder selection process.
In this sermon, Barry walks us through the development and meaning of our church's Identity statement: When we are at our best, we are a Christ-centered, Grace-Oriented, Spirit-Led church. Identity statements are not just about who we ARE, but also about who we want to BECOME.
After a summer spent focusing on the fruit of the Spirit, we end with this question: how will we be known? How will YOU be known?
Self-control is the soil in which the rest of the fruit of the Spirit is grown. Guest preacher David Fraze walks us through the importance of self-control in our lives.
Our culture uses the word "good" in many different contexts. But how does the Bible define "goodness," and how can we make room in our lives for Holy Spirit to cultivate that fruit?
The second part of the fruit of the Spirit is Joy -- what does joy look like in today's world?
In this sermon, our Connection Minister Hudson Hutchinson preaches to us about the fruit of love.
We kick off our summer series on the Fruit of the Spirit by asking, “Do we treat the fruit of the Spirit like a check-list?” What kind of fruit is Holy Spirit producing in our lives?
We conclude our Holy Spirit series with Aaron Dawson (Missional Life Minister) bringing a word to us on the difference between "capturing" the wind and "catching" the wind.
The greatest manifestation of the Spirit’s presence in the life of a believer is that one is transformed more and more into the image of Christ. Likewise, a church “led by the Spirit” is transformed more and more into the image of Christ.
May 15, 2022
Senior Sunday is a big day to celebrate all that God has done in the lives of our high school seniors!
The New Testament uses many words to describe the work of the Spirit in our lives, but at the heart of the Spirit's presence is the word "guarantee." We are not alone in this world, and the Spirit is a deposit, guaranteeing our future in Jesus.
May 1, 2022
Scripture affirms that Holy Spirit lives in us! Just as the Spirit of God was alive in the early church, he is alive and well within the church today.
April 24, 2022
We kicked off a brand-new series this Sunday that focuses us on Holy Spirit and his role in our lives!
April 17, 2022
The end of the Christ Song reminds us that Jesus's life did not end on the cross...in fact, his new life calls US to new life too!
April 10, 2022
On Palm Sunday, we recognize the kind of king that Jesus was and is. Philippians 2 (The Christ Song) speaks to this king as well!
April 3, 2022
Today we start a new series on the Christ Song, found in Philippians 2:1-11.
March 27, 2022
Disciple-making is a global undertaking. Today, we hear from Patti Joiner, founder of Olive Branch Ministries, who has made over 60 short-term mission trips all over the world.
March 20, 2022
"Missions" is not just for those who are in other countries. Today we hear from Jordan & Taylor Payne about how they are making a difference in the community around them locally.
March 6, 2022
Our annual Missions Sunday focuses us on how we are invited to join God's mission outside the walls of our church building! Aaron Dawson and Jim Beck share with us.
February 27, 2022
This is the final week in our "LOVE SONG" series. 1 Corinthians 13 is less like a wedding, and more like a counseling session between Paul and the Corinthian church...if he were to come and counsel Monterey, what would he say?
February 20, 2022
We could have the greatest ministries, the best worship gatherings, and the most amazing leadership in the whole world, but if we don't have LOVE, we are nothing but a "resounding gong" or "clanging cymbal." What does a church that loves well smell like to God?
February 13, 2022
We start a new series today that looks at 1 Corinthians 13. What does culture say about love? How do we define love? And how might that be different from how God defines it?
February 6, 2022
Our annual Family Commitment Sunday! Each year we celebrate the new babies that have been born into our church over the last 12 months, and we commit as a church to walk alongside these families as they raise their kids to know Jesus.
January 30, 2022
This week we're joined by our Operations Minister, Sean Collins, to discover some of the "behind the scenes" ministry involved in the life of our church family.
January 23, 2022
This Sunday we talk about about our Congregational Life, Connection, and Missional Life ministries and how you can serve in these various ways!
January 16, 2022
As the body is made up of many parts, so is our church! Hear from several members on staff today and learn how you can be involved across the various age-grouped ministries that we have (children's, youth, and senior adult ministries).
January 9, 2022
Sacrifice is one of our values as a church. Three of our elders talk about what that looks like in their lives.
January 2, 2022
We kick off a new year by reflecting on our value of Worship, and Barry and Sam Souder (our worship minister) walk through what Worship looks like in our life as a body of Christ, and as individuals.
December 26, 2021
Christ has come into the world! So...what does that mean for us today?
December 19, 2021
Love came down in the flesh through Jesus Christ. That was 2000+ years ago...how does that truth affect our lives today?
December 12, 2021
Joy is more than an emotion or fleeting feeling -- it is a choice to look at the world through the lens of Jesus who has been born and recognize that Light has come, and that darkness has not won. Interview with Ryan & Shelbi Hannsz included.
December 5, 2021
One of our favorite quotes from this sermon message: "Peace is joy resting." What does a life of peace look like in a world of chaos?
November 28, 2021
The coming of Jesus brings hope for our "already," and promises future with God in our "not yet."
November 21, 2021
The gospel of Mark ends in a somewhat strange way...why would Mark end they story on a cliff-hanger, and what is he trying to tell us?
November 14, 2021
Imagine a world where everyone is in a hurry to serve the way Jesus did.
November 7, 2021
Mark 9 tells the story of a father whose son needed Jesus. The father admits that his faith is weak and prays, "Help my unbelief." What does it look like when our faith is weak, and is it okay to have doubt?
October 31, 2021
Mark 5:1-20 tells the story of Jesus interacting with the demon-possessed man in a graveyard. An appropriate sermon for Halloween Sunday!
October 17, 2021
What does the kingdom of God look like? The gospel of Mark gives us a glimpse into the world of Jesus as he engages with the world around him.
October 10, 2021
There is a certain rhythm that Jesus shows us in the gospels: the rhythm of moving from the Wilderness to the Marketplace. What does it look like to move from a place of solitude to ministry?
October 3, 2021
We've begun a new series called "The Unsettling Messiah" that is walking us through the gospel of Mark. How does Jesus unsettle you? What is the most unsettling thing about following Jesus for you?
September 26, 2021
Me...Us...Them...do these groups really exist? Or have we drawn lines where there shouldn't be? Let's commit to being a people who join God where He is working, regardless of whether it's "me," "us," or "them."
September 19, 2021
Aaron Dawson brings us a great message in our series "FROM ME TO US" about the importance of everyone's role within the church.
September 12, 2021
When one part of the body rejoices, the rest rejoice with it! When one part mourns, the rest of the body mourns with it. What does it look like for us to live as a part of a community that is bigger than any one person? That's what this week is all about.
September 5, 2021
Part of being a church family is being a witness in the world to the beauty and goodness of God. Many times, we don't get it right, but on those occasions when we do, may God be glorified in our actions and love for others.
August 29, 2021
Ever get the feeling like you are all alone? Like no one cares about you and what you may be going through? As a church, our calling is to be the exact opposite of that. May we endeavor to do better.
We kick off a new fall semester with a brand-new sermon series all about the importance of community! We were not created to live life alone; our faith is grown in the context of community.
August 8, 2021
The 8th commandment is "You shall not steal." So what is the opposite of taking? GIVING. And this, in many ways, is a window into the heart of God.
August 1, 2021
How many of us have ever told a lie? How many of us have ever lied while answering that question? This week's message explores the powerful danger of the tongue and all that we say, and how it affects our relationships with those around us.
July 25, 2021
At first reading, "You shall not commit adultery" sounds like a rule for married people. But there's more to this commandment than just keeping our marriage vows. Our very hearts are at stake.
July 18, 2021
If you were told to raise your hand if you've ever killed anyone, odds are you probably wouldn't raise it. But this command has MUCH more to do with how we live than simply taking someone's life.
July 11, 2021
The 5th commandment to honor your father and mother sounds like it's all about parenting...but is there something deeper to it?
June 27, 2021
The third commandment is "Do not misuse the name of the LORD." What does that mean? Does it have to do with swearing? Or is there something more to it than what we say?
The second command is "You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of ANYTHING..." In other words, stay away from idols and false images. What does that look like for us today? What idols do we tend to worship, rather than the One True God?
The first commandment God gives us is, "I am the LORD your God...you shall have no other gods before me." How should this impact the way we live?
Most of us have grown up hearing about the 10 Commandments as a list of rules and laws to follow. But what if we viewed the 10 Commandments as marriage vows between us and God?
We've been exploring Peter's life, and how God had written the rest of Peter's story. We've gotten to hear about how God has shaped the rest of the story in the lives of specific people in our church. But today, what is God doing in YOUR story?
Community is important. Community matters. Here's our Senior Minister, Barry Stephens, talking about why we need community in our lives.