The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
June 21, 2026
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      • 1 Peter 1:8NASB95

  • Joy Unspeakable
  • Doxology
  • Joy In Serving Jesus
  • When We See Christ
  • Joy To The World
  • Pre-service - things I read
    “Embarrassed by your livestream…?”
    We worship, praying it looks and sounds pleasing to the LORD
    JOY - real joy
    Lady catching a foul ball - crowd cheered for her
    Walk-off HR - waiting to be greeted at home
    “Smaller” things - you have taught him/her how to ride that bike, and then you push off, and he does!
    Watching others succeed..
    Joy is possible, just gotta know where to look…
    READ 1 Thess 3:5-13

    Joyful Thankfulness

    This section, much thankfulness, relief, and reliance on God
    Linked to joy
    When focused on God’s ways and work
    Prayers of thankfulness rooted in joy - A guide…

    1) Good Testimonies

    ILLUST: airBnB reviews - the real ones…
    But nobody’s perfect…
    (Good testimonies) of others
    There are people NOT giving in to temptation
    There are people NOT following false teaching
    Paul hears GREAT news of these spiritual children, and He praises God, thanks God!
    This brings him comfort!
    (Never says they are perfect)
    Fears of temptation are real
    Paul had to flee Thessalonica; and he bathed them in prayer
    Prayer for their faith to stay and then grow
    Prayer for strength through temptation
    Paul could preach and teach all he wanted…but
    ….If they abandoned the faith, his work was in vain (his perspective)
    Timothy returned with great news
    The testimony of believers was joyous!
    Not good news of health, prosperity, ease of life
    NO…
    News of faith and selflessness (love)
    Thinking kindly = holding dear
    Good news from believers helps one’s soul so much, because
    Believers are special to each other
    Because we share a bond of forgiveness others do not get!
    “Really living” = standing firm
    Not…complacency
    Sharing and hearing good news helps in the daily walk
    And supporting each other in this world, through this walk…
    It truly comforts me to experience the faith of others
    Highlight verses 6-9 (good news, comforted, joy, rejoice)

    2) Growth

    ILLUST: The best are always learning, growing, sharpening
    Verse 9 and 10 - Paul prays for growth
    Growth - always room for growth
    There is always room for growth
    Paul prays for him to be a part of helping others grow!
    They had progressed well with their growth
    It takes maturity to admit where you need to grow
    It takes humility to allow others to help you
    It takes tremendous faith to trust God’s process
    If you think you can do it yourself
    You are mistaken
    “I’ll just be stronger”
    “I’ll have more will power”
    “I can do this”
    NO, you can’t!
    God can
    What do you pray for, for yourself?
    Growth?
    This prayer in verses 11-13

    3) The Lord’s Direction

    ILLUST: We often make up our mind and THEN pray.
    How about praying first?
    ASIDE - Here is a prayer to Jesus, treating Him as God… (v 11)
    Praying NIGHT and DAY
    Where do you go for direction, wisdom?
    His way, not my way
    Let Him direct the path
    Psalm 119:105 NASB95
    Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
    Proverbs 16:9 NASB95
    The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
    Some specific prayer aspects…
    Paul asks for God to direct his way in where and how to serve
    In this case, he gets to go back there (Acts 20)
    He desires to be used by God to impact those God puts before him
    And God knows what He is doing!
    Don’t make it all make sense!
    The LORD works through even the smallest of details
    Illustration
    Blessed by meeting State Trooper/Preacher Craddock
    Man gets mail by mistake, takes it to woman, who invites him to church
    Later, gets saved
    Don’t force it to make sense
    Just see that God will work how He will work
    He just desires servants to be prepared and ready to reach those He puts in your path!
    2. Pray for the church to abound in love
    For one another (inside the faith)
    For all people (outside the faith)
    And Paul is the example
    US - this church
    Increase in love, abound in love
    For each other
    For others
    YOU be the example
    THIS is the work that prepares us to meet Jesus
    3. Pray for removal of barriers
    What keeps you from growing?
    What keeps others from joining us here?
    Let God show you and them, and open that way
    4. Pray to be prepared to meet Jesus
    Following God’s way prepares you to meet Him
    “…at the coming”
    V. 13 paints the picture of when we are all together in the personal presence of the Savior
    We, saints, will be fully established then, holy before Him
    Blameless, ready and acceptable to worship
    For eternity
    That eternity starts now
    God will work to “establish” your inner spiritual self, if you let Him
    God has consecrated you to Him, set you apart
    So you can serve Him for His purposes
    Allow Him to shape you
    Follow the Godly examples, and…
    BE the Godly example!
    Father’s Day
    Also, Dads, what is your true concern for your children, family?
    If you pray for them, what is it you are praying for? Health? Success? Happiness?
    What do you want to be thankful for in their lives?
    Challenge
    What spiritual example are you to your children and family!
    3 John 4, hear children walk in truth
    3 John 4 NASB95
    I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
    No GREATER joy? Do you hear that?
    The greatest joy from John is to hear that those he has taught are walking in truth!
    Hearing it, meaning others notice and tell of it
    Examine your prayer life
    Praying for family?
    Praying WITH family?
    Examine your connection to the Word
    Reading the Word?
    Reading Word WITH family?
    DADS
    Life is full of temptation
    Let’s pray each other through
    Your kids will be tempted by so much
    How you pray for them matters!
    Dads, how are you helping your children grow, spiritually?
    Really!
    JOY - real joy, leading your family in faith!
    That lady catching a foul ball - crowd cheered for her, that joy died down
    Walk-off HR - life continues
    The good times of this world, fun to experience
    JOY - connected with the spiritual realm, live that EVERY day!
    ILLUST: I gave you a tool - I hope you use it, small things, daily, equipping you in a small way
    God desires to equip you, using you, through the small ways, every day
    They add up
    CLOSING PRAYER
    Guide our ways,
    Mature us
    Humble us
    Complete us in growth
    Increase in love for each other
    Seek joy
    Let that joy spill over for others to experience

      • Psalm 119:105NASB95

      • Proverbs 16:9NASB95

      • 3 John 4NASB95

  • Jesus, Thank You
  • Hymn Of Heaven

      • 1 Thessalonians 3:13NASB95

The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
cornerstone@wabash.net
618-723-2779
https://cccnoble.faithlifesites.com
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