Grace Church in Noblesville & Fishers, IN

What did Jesus actually teach, and why did it turn the world upside down? This message gives an aerial view of the Sermon on the Mount, exploring how Jesus fulfills the law and sets a new way to live. Think grace, truth, and transformation. Keywords: Sermon on the Mount overview, Matthew 5 sermon, Jesus fulfills the law, Jesus' teachings explained

In the wilderness, Jesus faces real temptation—and wins. But how? Pastor Barry reveals how Scripture and surrender shaped Jesus' resistance and what that means for us today. If you're battling temptation, don't miss this. Keywords: Jesus temptation Matthew 4, resisting temptation Bible, how to overcome temptation, spiritual warfare sermon

Why did Jesus need to be baptized? Wasn't he sinless? Pastor Maron explores this pivotal moment in Matthew 3 where heaven opens, identity is confirmed, and Jesus' mission begins. Learn what this moment means for your own identity and calling. Keywords: Jesus baptism meaning, Matthew 3 sermon, why Jesus was baptized, identity in Christ, John the Baptist message

Matthew 1 is a radical declaration of who belongs in the kingdom of God. This week, Pastor Barry unpacks the surprising people in Jesus' family tree and what they reveal about God's upside-down kingdom. Perfect for anyone wondering where they fit in God's story. Keywords: Matthew genealogy meaning, Jesus family tree explained, Gospel of Matthew intro, Bible genealogy sermon

On Easter Sunday, join us as we uncover the power behind Jesus' final words in the Gospel of Matthew. What does it mean to "go and make disciples"? Why does the resurrection launch a mission that still impacts us today? Dive into Matthew 28 with Pastor Barry and discover the authority, purpose, and promise of the risen Christ.

“Are we weak and heavy laden? Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer! Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer. In His arms He'll take and shield thee. Thou wilt find a solace there!” Many among us are carrying heavy burdens. Like Scriven, even as we bear the weight of our own suffering, we are also tasked with helping to shoulder the burdens of others. How can we manage to hold it all together? The answer: take it to the Lord in prayer! God is referenced all over the Bible as our refuge and strong tower. Prayer is our key to the doorway of the ‘secret place of the Most High' where we find shelter, and rest, and renewal!

“Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer! Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer!” Joseph Scriven's song is a personal testimony of God's tender and faithful love. In his weakness, he found encouragement and steadfast friendship in Christ Jesus. What does it mean for Christ to ‘know our every weakness?' What comfort and assurance does the Man of Sorrows/Suffering Servant have to offer us in our own suffering and weakness?

“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit! O what needless pain we bear! All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!” Joseph Scriven had written this song as a poem to encourage his mother who was ill. But he, himself, had suffered 2 tragic losses, and faced physical ailments of his own. Yet despite all the sorrow he faced in his lifetime, his primary focus was serving others in need, and walking humbly with his God. For Scriven, prayer was an anchor in a very tumultuous sea! What inspiration can we draw from Scriven's example? In John 15:15, Jesus said, “I have called you friends.” Are we living lives of prayerful intimacy with our Savior and friend? Are we truly taking everything to God in prayer?

This series began with a recognition that Paul's letter to the Philippian Church is one of his most joyful and encouraging in the New Testament. Nowhere is this more apparent than in his famous command, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” (4:4 NRSV). As we've seen, Paul had a lot to be joyful for in the lives of his brothers and sisters in Philippi: a church that took root deeply in the love of Jesus, a community overflowing with generosity, and a family that stayed true to Paul when others fell away. Paul's joy is well founded, and he wants the Philippians to carry that joy forward forever. Today, as we celebrate what God is doing at Grace through the Reimagine Initiative, let us not only dream about what is to come, but rejoice with thanksgiving at what he has done through those who have come before. Like the Church in Philippi, let us build on the gifts of our forebears and “keep putting into practice all we learned and received from them” (4:9), even as we grow, dream, and adapt to the new realities God has called us into.

Commitment Sunday. Leave 10 minutes in service for filling out commitment cards. Response moment in service for making commitments. Overview: As Paul considers the possible end of his life in an Ephesian jail, he wants the Philippians to understand that whether he lives or dies, he will “bring honor to Christ” (1:20). Why? Because if he dies, he will go to be with the Lord. But if he lives, he can live for Christ and even visit with the Philippians again to help them “grow and experience the joy of their faith” (1:25). This mindset, of complete confidence that God is working, is one we must have as we lead Grace Church into the future. If we face hardships, we'll experience God's presence in the midst of them. If we face abundance, we'll experience God's blessing in new ways. Either way, let us not be ashamed of what God is doing at Grace, but renew our dedication to join God in his mission to heal this broken world!

Paul knew a thing or two about endurance. In his ministry he faced prison, shipwrecks, whips, bandits, snakebites, and, perhaps most painful of all, rejection from those he cared about. Out of this hardship Paul developed a commitment to “press on” until the very end. Writing to his dear friends in Philippi while in chains, Paul wants to make sure they share this mindset as they serve Jesus. “Pattern your lives after mine” (3:17). There is much joy and excitement for Grace Church in the days ahead, as we see God's hand at work in our midst. But there will also be challenges and obstacles in our way. Because of this, let us take Paul's words to heart and renew our dedication to “press on to reach the end of the race” so we can see our community healed in Jesus' name.

Throughout his letter to the Philippians, Paul shares his heart's desire for the Philippian church, not knowing if he would ever see them again. In many ways, his advice reads like the last will and testament of a dying man. Ultimately, Paul longs for his brothers and sisters in Philippi to carry on the work which was started when he first preached the gospel to them. He pleads with them to “obey God,” “live clean, innocent lives,” “shine like bright lights,” and “hold firmly to the word of life.” Grace Church was started with a commitment to jump in wherever the Holy Spirit was moving. As we continue to listen for the voice of God in this new generation and pool our resources to invest in what's to come, let's join the Philippians in “working hard to show the results of our salvation” so that the “ones” God has laid on our heart can come to know the love of Jesus as we have.

One of the clearest distinctives of the Philippian church to Paul was their constant and overwhelming generosity. From opening their homes to opening their wallets (coin pouches?), this community was dedicated to sharing their resources to see the mission of God continue. In fact, the likely occasion for this letter was Paul's gratitude for the gifts the Philippian church had just sent with Epaphroditus to care for Paul in prison (4:18). In his thanksgiving, Paul reminds the Philippians that their generosity is more than just a tangible contribution; it is a sweet-smelling offering to God. At Grace we dream of finding new ways to use our building to reach our community. We have ideas of new ministry expressions which will help our church family reach their “ones” with the love of Christ. And we would love to make our space more welcoming to all who are longing for community. With the Reimagine Initiative we have an opportunity to share generously of our resources to do just that, and to celebrate the joy of seeing what God can do with our humble offerings, just as he did with the Philippians'.

To better understand Paul's overwhelming love and joy for the Philippian church, it is helpful to remember how their journey together began. Acts 16 tells the story of Paul's first visit to Philippi and the rag-tag group of believers who founded the church: a middle-class cloth merchant who hosted the city's first church gatherings in her home, a fortune-telling slave-girl delivered of demons, and a jailer spared from suicide by the graciousness of his Judean prisoners… Despite opposition in the city, Paul's ministry there was fruitful, and gave him newfound confidence in God's mission to bring salvation to the gentiles of Europe. Paul's encouragement to these Philippian believers six years later, after these beautiful events had faded into memory, recall the joy and community of those early days. “Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose” (Phil. 2:2). At Grace Church we too have fond memories of our early years, and yet our community must chart a new course through a world that has changed in many ways. As we consider what the path ahead holds for us, let us never forget what made us who we are: the fellowship, love, and compassion which knit our community together in the first place.

Paul composed his letter to the Philippian church from prison. Based on his words in the letter, Paul is suffering mightily and wondering if his death is near. If it is true, as some scholars now believe, that Paul was in prison in Ephesus when he wrote this letter (not Rome), this also would have been a time of deep pain and emotional turmoil for him as churches like the one in Corinth had all but turned their back on him. And yet, the opening words of his letter are filled with joy. “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.” It is obvious Paul's fond memories with and ongoing support from the Philippian Church were a balm to his soul during a very dark time. And thus, we see Paul's heartfelt desires on display as he encourages the church in Philippi to carry the torch forward in his absence. The Reimagine Initiative is an exciting opportunity for Grace Church to build on the tremendous legacy of those who have come before. As we improve our building and invest in our relationship with the “ones” God has laid on our heart, let us pray, along with Paul, that our community can “overflow more and more” with the love of Christ (1:9), and that God will continue his work among us that began over 30 years ago.

We end this series with a similar sentiment with which we began it: the troubles we face can be an opportunity for joy(!). This time, however, the person saying these words is none other than James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem, and no stranger to hardships himself. Why does James believe our response to troubles should lead us to joy? Because, according to him, troubles grow our hypomonē. And when our endurance has grown, our faith can fully develop. Do you want true joy this year? It won't be found in money or vacations or social media. True joy comes from the knowledge that even in hardships, we are squarely within the presence of our loving God. This is why we endure. Because it's not up to us. It is God who carries us through.

One of the first things to flee our minds during hardships is perspective. The challenges we face can become all-consuming, and we can forget where we've been and where we're going. The author of Hebrews provides an important reminder of the mindset we are to have in our hypomonē. If we want to patiently endure now, we must also remember “those early days when you first learned about Christ,” while also never forgetting the “promise” that is ours in Christ in the future. Looking back and looking forward helps us endure in the now. How has God come through for you in the past? What was it that first ignited your passion for Jesus? What hope do you have in the promises of God? How does the promise of God's New Creation bring light into the darkness of your current circumstance? This is a perfect time to gain some broader perspective on the challenges you're facing this year.

At the time when Paul wrote his letter to the church in Colossae, he had not yet visited their community. Nevertheless, he had heard about their faith and love and wanted to send along some encouragement along with his teaching. Thus, he prays from afar that they would have all the hypomonē they need. In this prayer we see a beautiful reality about the Church's call to endure. We do not do it alone! We can lift up, pray for, and encourage others to endure, even as we endure alongside them.

The Apostle Paul knew a thing or two about hardships. From prison to shipwrecks to rival teachers constantly undermining his ministry, Paul faced persistent struggles in his effort to be faithful to God's call on his life. In 2 Corinthians, Paul addresses believers in Corinth who began to see all these hardships as a stain on his reputation (maybe God wasn't blessing Paul's ministry?). Quite the contrary, Paul explains. Our hypomonē in the face of obstacles is the proof that we are God's ministers. In fact, facing (and enduring) hardship is part and parcel with what it means to join Christ in his kingdom mission in a broken world.

One of the most central images in the Christian imagination at Christmastime is that of baby Jesus lying in a manger. We picture a tiny infant resting calmly in a clean, cozy, wooden crib while Mary, Joseph, a few angels, some sharply dressed wise men, and some spotless animals look on. What we fail to consider in this beautiful nativity scene is the dirt, the noises, the stench of animal droppings, and the utter humiliation undoubtedly felt by Jesus' parents at this most humble of beginnings for their son. What do we learn about the profound love of God that he chose to be born not in a palace, but in relative squalor and humility?

In his letter to the Roman Church, the Apostle Paul makes a startling claim. We can rejoice in the face of problems and trials. Why in the world would obstacles make us joyful? According to Paul, because it develops hypomonē in us. This patient steadfastness in turn develops our character, which ultimately bolsters our hope. What would it mean for each of us, as we consider what 2025 will hold for us, to take such an attitude toward the inevitable hurdles which will be in our way? How might we allow our faith in Christ to build our confidence and trust, instead of allowing worry and anxiety to call the shots? Maybe 2025 is the year for us to learn what it means to truly endure.

Most of the biblical texts envisioning the coming of the Messiah associate him with royalty. The vision of a gilded savior at the head of an army, ruling on a throne, and bringing prosperity to Israel gave the lower classes hope that their fortunes would one day change. How shocking and unexpected, then, for the Messiah to be born into a low-class family of peasants, too poor to afford a lamb as a sacrifice, too unimportant to sleep in their crowded family's guestroom? What do we learn about the love of God that he would so radically associate himself with the poor and marginalized by being born as one of them?

When the New Testament was written, the might and rule of the Roman Empire was at its peak. In fact, the shadow of Rome falling over everything was such a common phenomenon that the biblical authors rarely draw our attention to it. For example, Luke does not mention that the census of Augustus in 2:1, which leads Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem, also sparked off a violent rebellion in Galilee. The shadow of Rome and the unrest it fomented in Israel was just a part of life. However, as we look back at the first century with two thousand years of history between us and Rome, we can gain a lot of new insight by grasping the implications of Jesus being born under foreign military occupation. What do we learn about our savior as we consider his deep identification with a people oppressed by empire?

We too often take the incarnation for granted because of how familiar it is. In this message, however, we will explore the staggering implications of the eternal Word of God taking on flesh and walking among us as a fully human man. What does it tell us about the love of God that he would willingly enter his own creation as one of us?

Tim's Final Sermon by Grace Church

Now that Joseph is in a position of extreme power over Egypt, he can prepare the country for seven years of famine. Because of his wise stewardship, the land has grain to see them through a time of shortage. This is a blessing to the Egyptians, but also to his own family, who seek Egypt's aid as they struggle to survive. In the story we see how Joseph is reunited with his brothers, tests them to see if their hearts have changed, and ultimately reveals his identity through tears. In this emotional reunion, Joseph explains that God had a purpose behind all of it, even him being sold into slavery at his brothers' hands. The story ends with the family of Abraham reunited, safe from famine, and sheltered from hardship in Egypt where they can “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:22). The stage is set for the family of Jacob to become a nation… a nation called to bring God's blessing to the world.

As Joseph's story continues, we see him yet again rising from a place of destitution to a position of wealth and authority. Through his gift of dream interpretation, the prisoner Joseph is introduced to Pharaoh, earns his trust, and ultimately becomes his second in command. It's an even more meteoric rise than his earlier ascent out of slavery. Now we begin to see God's master plan at work: the salvation of not just Joseph, but of many people at risk of famine. The author of Genesis is here inviting us to meditate on God's sovereignty. If Joseph hadn't been hated by his brothers, he might never have been sold into slavery. If he hadn't been sold into slavery, he would have never ended up overseeing Potiphar's house. If he hadn't been falsely accused there, he would have never ended up in prison. And if he had never ended up in prison, he would have never ended up as Egypt's second-in-command. How does such a roller coaster ride change our expectations of God's hand at work in our lives? And how does it invite us to live differently in the waiting?

When making his covenant with Abraham, God said, “I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2-3). As Joseph serves in Potiphar's household, we see this promise beginning to come true as God blesses Potiphar's family and flocks. However, this cycle of blessing is threatened by the sexual advances of Potiphar's wife towards Joseph. Will this young man give in to the temptation and breach his master's trust? Thankfully, the answer is no. Joseph remains faithful, despite the consequences. After being falsely accused of attempted rape, Joseph once more finds himself in chains. This sequence of events raises important questions about our life with God. Do hardships in our lives mean God's plan has been knocked off course? Do setbacks indicate that God has abandoned his plan of salvation? Are we willing to reject temptation, regardless of the consequences, if it means staying faithful to God's desires? The story of Joseph in Potiphar's house is a strong reminder to be steadfast as we seek to live out the heart of God for our broken world.

In this final week of the series, we will attempt to draw these biblical threads together and talk about what it takes to truly become a steward full of contentment and faith: wisdom. If we are to use our finances in a way that leads to flourishing for others and for ourselves in light of God's abundance, we must be wise in the decisions we make with our money. With wisdom and intentionality, we can become stewards who multiply God's investment in our lives by bringing healing to the world around us and releasing ourselves from stress and worry in the process.

October 6 | Biblical Stewardship | Making Change | Barry Rodriguez by Grace Church

A final component of God's healing work to consider is that so much of it happens through the community of faith. Through prayer, service, and tangible support, God works in and through us to bring healing to others' minds, bodies, and spirits. This is a part of what it means to be Christ's representatives in a broken world! In this message we will explore our responsibility to use our gifts, our presence, and our resources to help bring healing to others as representatives of Christ. We'll be reminded of the importance of listening and having compassion for the healing others desire instead of coming in with all the answers and healing what we think is broken (e.g. My Body is Not a Prayer Request). Finally, we will remember the importance of trusting our community to journey through pain together and not try to weather these challenging storms alone.

We have established that our God is in the business of healing pain. We have also begun to grasp the shocking truth that he experiences that pain alongside us. But this still raises an important question. The Bible is full of declarative promises that God's healing for us is assured (Psalm 91 is a perfect example). What do we do when the healing of God doesn't happen when we feel we need it most? In this message we will wrestle with what to do when we don't find healing from God when and how we want it. We'll enter into the mystery of a God whose ways are beyond our own and consider the (sometimes frustrating) idea that God doesn't always answer our prayers the way we want him to. What does it mean to trust in God's promises while being patient in the waiting?

As we continue to explore the meaning of pain in our world and the actions God is taking to heal it, we must wrestle with the most provocative idea of all: that God sent his own Son to not only heal our pain, but to bear our pain with us. How does it change our understanding of our own pain to know that Christ is “a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief” (Isaiah 53:3)? How might we experience our pain of mind, body, and spirit knowing that our savior is, in many ways, there with us right in the middle of it? Even more challenging: as Christ's representatives in the world, what does it look like for us to willingly share in the pain of others like Jesus?

For the first message of Hope Month, we will consider two fundamental propositions about our world. First, we'll discuss the universality of pain and the many forms it takes (body, mind, and spirit), from the grief we experience at the loss of a loved one, to the anxiety and depression so often clouding our minds, to the chronic illness and pain which besets our bodies. Second, we will explore the character of our God as one in the business of healing that pain (a.k.a. Jehova rapha – “the God who heals,” Exodus 15:26). In Psalm 147 the psalmist depicts God as being actively involved in healing our pain: rebuilding broken cities, bringing exiles home, healing the brokenhearted, bandaging wounds, supporting the humble, and blessing children. Luke 6:17-19 describes Jesus doing very much the same thing (“He healed everyone”). What might it look like for us to put our trust in a God who heals? And how might we join him in that healing work in the lives of others?

What happens when we fail? With such a high call to biblical morality in our minds, this question is inevitable. None of us are perfect and we are all going to continue sinning even as we try to live in a new way. In this message, we will explore the concept of God's grace for us and consider what it looks like to accept his forgiveness daily. We will see how we are called not just to avoid acting like the person we used to be, but to become the image-bearing child of God we already are. With God's grace as our foundation, the grand vision of biblical morality becomes less of an audacious impossibility and more of a journey on which we can all make progress, no matter where we are at the moment.

All we have to do is read the Bible and do what it says, right? Well, it may not be quite so simple. For one thing, the Bible is full of “rules” which, for one reason or another, we no longer consider binding. Some biblical rules are emphasized differently (or ignored entirely!) in different parts of the Church. And it's obvious that the application of some biblical rules has changed significantly in the Church over time. How are we to make sense of the moral vision of the Bible with so many complicated factors to consider? In this message, we will explore the grand storyline of Scripture and see how God's Spirit weaves core moral principles throughout the text which call us to a way of living far deeper than simple rules. A way of living which, if we trust God enough to try it, can lead to his image being restored in each of us and to the very healing of our world.

At the core of all biblical morality is a posture which can and should define our lives. First, we love God with everything we have. Second, we love others as we love ourselves. As familiar as this sentiment is to those who grew up in the Church, the implications of this core posture remain staggering if we think about them deeply enough. Choosing to live each day completely surrendered to God's desires for our lives while simultaneously choosing to demonstrate self-giving love towards others? This is no easy task. And yet this is the invitation from God's Spirit which can transform us into the likeness of Christ if we let it.

What is sin? This may sound like an easy question to answer, but in truth we have a lot of baggage to unload to grasp its real biblical definition. In this message we will explore the grand narrative of Scripture and see how humans, created in the image of God, have had that image disfigured through our self-serving rebellion against God's intentions (a.k.a. “sin”). We will also begin to understand how Christ restores the image of God in us through the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we can begin to live out the core biblical moral principles in the midst of a still broken world.

In the final week of the series, we will explore Jesus' conclusion to this provocative section of teaching. Here he provides two metaphors to capture the idea that the fruit of our lives (e.g. loving our enemies) only comes about if we have our roots or foundations in the right place. It is fitting for us to conclude by considering whether our words and actions are flowing out of our surrender to Christ or in our own self-interest and desire. The storms of cultural rage are swirling around us. Will the faith we've built withstand it? If we dedicate our lives to being transformed by Christ's Spirit, building our lives on his self-giving love, perhaps the idea of loving our enemies in this divided time won't seem so crazy after all…

As we continue in the passage, Jesus begins to get practical about what this others-focused love looks like by turning the mirror back towards ourselves. If we want to love our enemies with non-judgmental compassion like the Father, we must first recognize our own shortcomings and brokenness and how deeply we have been transformed by his grace. The humility that comes from an acknowledgment of our own hypocrisy and sin is the key to offering grace towards others who do not measure up either, especially when those ‘others' are ones the world says we should hate.

In the next few verses of this passage, we discover the core motivation for loving our enemies: the compassion of God. It is his kindness, grace, and compassion towards us which has set us free from the sinful patterns of our old life. If we have been so graciously loved despite our sin, it makes perfect sense for us to begin offering that same compassion to others. We are children of the one who gave everything for undeserving humanity. It's time to start demonstrating the love our Father by loving those who don't deserve it ourselves.

The theologian Dallas Willard has been quoted as saying that loving one's enemies is the true test of Christlike character. It seems that Jesus would agree. As we continue into the next verses of this radical passage, we see that the inverse of Jesus's teaching – loving only those who love us, doing good only to those who do good to us in return, etc. – makes us no different from the rest of the world. If we truly desire the gospel message of Christ to stand out in a broken society, we must consider carefully whether our actions indicate that anything has really changed in us at all, or whether our behavior makes us indistinguishable from everyone around us.