Noblesville First Sermons

It is important that we continue to help children and youth discover that they are loved by God, valued by the church, and capable of making a difference right now. They are not just the future of the church. They are an important part of the church today. Their faith, questions, and enthusiasm strengthen our congregation and help shape who we are together.

In this sermon, we will meet a man named Jabez, who prays that kind of prayer. And we’ll be reminded that God hears all of our prayers. Even the ones that aren’t proofread or polished. The ones prayed through tears, fear, frustration, and trembling faith.

A Prayer for Pentecost

Spirit of the Living God, we’ve carried much too long, 

Give us the courage to surrender, to open clenched hands wide,

For too long we’ve held our breath through grief and fear and pain,

Help us breathe more deeply and be filled with sacred flame,

In this Pentecost season, awaken us once more,

True prayer moves us beyond ourselves. It lifts our eyes from “my life,” “my problems,” and “my people,” and teaches us to see all people as beloved children of God. Explore what it means to pray faithfully, boldly, and compassionately—for our nation and God’s people throughout the world. Because prayer does not shrink our vision. It expands it.

Prayer plays an important role in our lives, and it applies to everyone. Because the truth is, we all need it. Think about what you and those around you have gone through: trauma, illness, disappointment, addiction, betrayal, fear, grief—we can fill in the blank with whatever life has thrown our way. Prayer is our lifeline. It equips us to persevere through our deepest sorrows and to receive our greatest joys.  

Holy, loving, and mothering God, be with us and our families as we seek you. Deepen our trust and faith as we raise up the next generation as mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, foster mothers, spiritual mothers, aunts, and friends. We trust in your love and care for children and place them in your hands with faith. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Scripture tells us that all creation praises the Lord. Worship isn't confined to a building or a schedule. It is happening all around us. The zebras, the birds, the wind—they all participate in a kind of worship that is natural, constant, and unforced. And so are we invited to join. As we come to the close of our All Creatures Great and Small series, we reflect on this beautiful truth: worship is bigger than us. It is a chorus that includes all God has made.

Water is necessary for life on Earth, so it’s no surprise Scripture is filled with momentous encounters and sacred imagery centered around it. Wells become places of unexpected meeting, rivers become places of cleansing, and “living water” becomes a promise of renewal. Isaiah speaks of God pouring water on thirsty land and pouring the Spirit upon the people reminding us that creation itself is a vessel of God’s grace. The movement of water on Earth can mirror the movement of the Spirit in our lives. In this way, God’s creation and our faith journey are inseparably intertwined, each revealing the other’s depth and beauty.

Stewardship isn't just about having something - it's about caring for it, even when it's messy, inconvenient, or less exciting than we imagined. In Genesis, God entrusts creation to us, not so we can simply enjoy it, but so we can tend it with love and responsibility. As we continue this series, we'll explore what it means to truly care for the creation God has placed in our hands.

Psalm 24 begins with a simple but powerful truth: the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. Everything. Not just the parts we build or manage. Not just the spaces we occupy. But the birds singing before sunrise. The trees just beginning to bud. The soil, the sky, the creatures we notice and the ones we don't. It all belongs to God.

When Easter arrives, our response can only be one thing: Thankfulness. Thankfulness is the natural overflow of a heart that remembers. We remember a Savior who loves us in spite of us. A God who didn’t turn away from our brokenness, but stepped into it. A King who chose a cross. A Redeemer who laid down His life so we could experience abundant, eternal life.