Churches in Des Moines

Active churches in Des Moines

9001 Fleur Drive, Des Moines
lifenow.org
15 sermons · 3 days ago
1639 Garfield Ave., Des Moines
philadelphia.adventistchurch.org
12 sermons
4114 Allison Ave, Des Moines
westpres.org
3 sermons
1701 25th Street West, Des Moines
simple.church
5 sermons
5990 NE 14th St, Des Moines
capitolcitychurch.com
3 sermons

Types of churches in Des Moines

Contemporary Des Moines Churches

Many congregations across downtown, Ingersoll Avenue, and the South Side offer modern worship music, practical teaching, and a casual, family-friendly vibe. They often meet in renovated spaces or flexible auditoriums and draw young professionals from the East Village and families from nearby neighborhoods.

Des Moines Churches for Students

Churches near Drake University and Grand View University focus on college-friendly service times, small groups, and rides from campus. You’ll find student outreach concentrated around the Drake neighborhood’s Dogtown corridor and along East 14th Street, with free meals, mentoring, and volunteer opportunities that fit semester rhythms.

Historic Liturgical Churches

In neighborhoods like Sherman Hill, River Bend, and Beaverdale, long-established congregations worship in brick and stone sanctuaries with stained glass, pipe organs, and choirs. These churches emphasize traditional liturgy and multi-generational stability, often hosting seasonal concerts and community service rooted in their historic campuses.

Multicultural and Spanish-Language Churches

Reflecting Des Moines’ growing diversity, many congregations on the East Side, along MLK Jr Parkway, and the South Side offer services in Spanish and other languages such as Karen or Swahili. They often provide ESL classes, immigration support, and vibrant cultural celebrations that connect immigrant families with long-time residents.

Sermon clips from Des Moines churches

61s
#WelcomeTheLost
“``If I had to put it really plainly, it would be this. The person in your life that you most prayed for, the most prodigal, the most lost. If they walk through the doors of a church this morning, what would you hope they encountered? And be that for every single person. We can love bigger. We, as a church, can say it's time to continue to grow in the culture that we wanna build, which is love and community. Now, I know you might be thinking, I I this is really practical and really elementary. But I mean what I said because we can create a space for the presence of God. But what does God most desire? The hearts of his sons and daughters. And let it never be said that he led them here and we somehow pushed them away. Let it be said that when they hit the doors of this church, they found the most love, the most unity, the most fellowship that they've ever experienced.”
58s
#GradualSpiritualBirth
“The man who had a conversation at night that it didn't look like anything happened, but the seed of God's word had taken place. I wonder if we don't have a revelation of what born again really looks like. I'm thankful for the moments where it's an instant and a moment and everything changes. But for some of us, it goes from hidden conception to gradual pregnancy to birth that is undeniable. don't know where you are in the journey, but here's what I know. You must be born again. This is not a gospel of try harder. This is a gospel of start over.”
44s
“He hesitated when Jesus walked on the water over to the boat as the storm is crashing down and he says, get out. Trust me. Walk on walk with me. And it wasn't the word doubt. The same Greek word that we use for doubt is translated in that story as hesitated. Peter hesitated. He was scared and he began to sink. It's alright. God didn't say, go ahead and drown you fool. You don't trust me. He pulled him up. He kept going and became the foundation of the church.”
45s
“And and I want to explain something to you that's important to remember. It's important for me and it's important for you. You are not the center of the universe and you're not the star of the show. We are all supporting actors in God's story and Jesus is the center, and your waiting might be because God is blessing somebody else. And you don't see it, and you may not like it, but he may be working all things together in your life and someone else's life. And he's not gonna show you if or why until it's time.”
52s
“Jesus does not ask for us to sacrifice without modeling it himself. He didn't wear a graduation cap cap, but he did wear something else, something much more important. He wore a crown, a crown of thorns, while showing us the most beautiful sacrifice that you or I could ever imagine. He endured rejection. He suffered on the cross. He gave his life. He gave all of himself for our sake that we may have a way to be in right, right relationship with God the father. How can we say no when he asks for our obedience? Jesus' sacrifice happened once, but its purpose and its payment applies every single day.”
37s
#PeopleArePurpose
“Jesus did not see people as an interruption. People were the purpose. There is no job description here to love people. K? It's not like when we sign up for ministries. We have a greeting ministry. They're amazing. We have a coffee shop ministry, kids ministry. That's amazing. However, there is no, how do I sign up to love people here? If this is your church home, you're drafted. You're in. It's your responsibility.”
33s
#BringYourNeedsToJesus
“I'm gonna just pause and say, that's the question every time you come into the presence of God. What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked. What do you need? Because as sons and daughters of the Most High, do you know there is no answer to that question that God would ever say back to you, That's too hard for me? That's too big for me? That's outside of my responsibility?”
38s
#YouAreSeenAndLoved
“But especially no one should ever feel like that at church. No one should ever feel like I'm in a crowd of 99 and no one sees me being the one. Nobody here really knows my story. Nobody here really knows my name. Nobody here really cares what happens to me. Church should never feel that way. No matter how many people gather here on a Sunday morning, you should always know that you being here is celebrated, that you are valued, that you are seen, that you are loved.”
55s
#StepOfFaith
“``The truth is some of us are praying for results today while resisting the movement that faith requires. We want the promise without the step. We want provision without obedience. We want change without movement. But sometimes, the miracle is waiting on the other side of your obedience. What's the last thing that God commanded you to do? And have you done it yet? The Lord's bringing us back to that. You may not know the whole plan, but guess what? You can take the next step. You can take the next step. You may not understand everything God's doing, but you can obey the last thing he told you. You may not feel ready, but faith isn't confidence in your readiness. Faith is confidence in God's faithfulness to keep his covenant with you. So again, the question isn't simply, what do you believe? The question is, what is your belief moving you to do?”
50s
#PowerOfConfession
“By confession. Understand, God's word in your mouth is a mighty force. The words you speak are containers of either fear that beats you down or faith that lifts you up. And your covenant with God through Christ, it comes by confession, by confession of your sins, by confession of Jesus Christ as Lord. So our confession of faith is a powerful thing. Amen? That's why the bible says life and death are in the power of the tongue. Now how many know we shouldn't be praying the problem? Amen? Jesus didn't pray the problem. He prayed the words of his father. We pray the scriptures. We pray the truth of God. We pray the promises of the Lord. We don't pray the problem. Amen? Amen. But”

Why Des Moines churches are unique

As Iowa’s capital, Des Moines blends an intimate downtown around the East Village and Drake with family-friendly suburbs like West Des Moines and Ankeny, giving worshipers both urban and neighborhood options. Churches in Des Moines mirror this landscape with flexible service times, contemporary and traditional styles, and weeknight gatherings that fit commuter life small group culture strong kids programs for young families. The city’s influx of new graduates and career starters also shapes ministries for early-career believers young adults and professionals.
Des Moines churches serve a notably diverse population, including long-time Midwestern families alongside growing Hispanic, African, and Asian communities and recent refugees. This diversity shows up in language options, music styles, and practical help like ESL, food assistance, and immigration guidance multilingual or bilingual services cross-cultural worship gatherings refugee and immigrant support ministries. The result is a welcoming, globally aware expression of faith rooted in local needs.
Set along the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers and anchored by institutions like Drake University and Grand View, the city fosters civic-minded, volunteer-driven congregations. Churches in Des Moines often coordinate seasonal service projects and collaborate across neighborhoods from Beaverdale to the South Side, extending their reach through shared networks and satellite sites community service and local outreach college student ministries multi-site campuses across the metro.

Recent sermons from Des Moines churches

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