Roots and Branches Podcast

Pastor Paul follows up to Episode 114 discussing film as inspiring storytelling and an avid hobby. After reviewing his own “origin story” as a movie buff, including maintaining a Top 200 Movie List in various forms for 40+ years (with a list of rating criteria), he delves into the broad genre of biopics (and historical dramas). He gives extended attention to new releases A Great Awakening (2026) a...

Although we’re already a month into our summer sermon series, Pastors Brent and Paul banter about 13 topics under the banner of “What Does the Bible Say?” From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible teaches us everything we need for salvation; godly living as individuals and in community; living on mission; and anticipating our eternal destiny for those in Christ Jesus. Our sermons are available on Vime...

Now that the school year has ended and we’re in the full swing of summer, Pastors Paul and Brent are finally back behind the microphones to recap Pastor Brent’s recent one-off elective class. With the analogy of a building, Pastor Brent reviews his class with “Site Work” (e.g., Jude 3 and several examples of early creeds and councils in the Bible); “Foundation” (e.g., comparing capital “A” Authori...

Pastor Paul offers his first solo episode since New Year’s Day with a focus on various venues of formal prayer among the people of New Life EFC. Annual prayer priorities include big crowds (such as April’s District Blitz youth conference in Duluth) and cities (such as the Hastings Prayer Breakfast on the National Day of Prayer). Weekly and daily prayer priorities including among our church ministr...

As a follow up to his recent elective class, Pastor Brent along with Pastor Paul discuss the Bible’s geography, particularly the land of Israel as a stark contrast to the land of Egypt as experienced by the people of Yahweh during and after the Exodus. Geographically comparable to the state of California, Israel was (and is) a land of topographical extremes, and the Israelites learned that they ne...

After an opening ditty and a few comments about the late missionary to television, ordained minister Mr. Fred Rogers, Pastors Paul and Brent offer “preachers’ commentary” amidst our four weeks preaching through Romans 8. Beloved by believers and lauded by theologians, Romans 8 exudes eternal truths and deeply comforting verses as both a culmination of Paul’s writing in chapters 1-7 and a set up fo...

Pastors Brent and Paul drop a Holy Week episode focused on reading Colossians five times to prepare our hearts for Redemption Weekend. Whether reading quickly or slowly; taking notes or just taking it in; or looking for grand theological themes or nitty-gritty words and names, there are countless blessings to be had in reading God’s Word and seeking to understand and apply His whole counsel. Jesus...

With two weeks remaining in Lent 2026, Pastors Paul and Brent dedicate this episode to the wisdom and blessing for Christ-followers to prepare our hearts for Holy Week. The pastoral pair guide their discussion using four broad categories as we approach Palm Sunday through Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday: 1) Scripture and Prayer; 2) Music and Worship; 3) Fellowship and Corporate Gathering; and...

In early February, Pastors Brent and Paul again attended the Theology Conference offered by the EFCA National Office. This year’s theme was God Will Raise the Dead Bodily and Judge the World: Evangelical Convictions of Eternal Realities . Based on Article 10 of the EFCA Statement of Faith, the seven plenary sessions and five breakouts all focused on the Bible’s teaching on eternal salvation (Heave...

In Part 2 of this topic on the spiritual realm, Pastor Brent continues walking us through his recent elective class describing the good news of Jesus’ triumph over all demonic forces through both His first coming and His future Second Coming; biblical tactics for spiritual warfare; patterns, cautions, and encouragements; and how to pray. Two fictitious but helpful books recommended by the pastors...

After an unintentional month-long hiatus, Pastors Paul and Brent eagerly return to this all-purpose podcast as a unique aspect of our local church’s ministry. This two-part topic is based on a recent elective class taught by Pastor Brent. With many Scripture references (as always!), Part 1 defines the spiritual realm, angels, and demons. From the opener (Ps. 138:1-3) to the benediction (Rom. 16:20...

The pastoral team is back together for the first time in 2026 with an exciting update regarding the dream (now five years in development) to expand our facilities at New Life EFC. Pastor Brent reviews the vision undergirding our collaborative efforts to build a new classroom wing, lobby, and bathrooms, and he and Pastor Paul once again touch on the creative ministry strategy of disciple-by-doing....

Pastor Paul ushers in the New Year with a traditional goal setting refresher, building on Episodes 34, 35 and 92. After recapping five basic categories of goal setting (Spiritual, Physical, Financial, Skillful, Relational) and three types of measurable goals (Mini-Goals, Medium Goals, Mega Goals), Paul expounds on the theme of HOPE for why we should live intentionally through goal setting. Key sup...

Pastors Paul and Brent sit down with Mateo Hidalgo, Youth Group member and recently named Eagle Scout. Mateo shares his family background, his personal faith journey in Christ, and how Scouts BSA and New Life EFC (two key shaping influences in his life) converged for his Eagle Scout project in 2024. In addition to honoring his parents and naming several mentors and peers, Mateo shares his developm...

The great 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” On the occasion of challenging the New Life EFC Youth Group to read the entire New Testament in 2026, Pastor Paul admonishes the listeners to have a plan for systematic Bible reading as we rapidly approach a new calendar year. Regardless of translation, pacing, and perso...

Pastors Brent and Paul follow up on Episode 130 by offering commentary on Brent’s Advent sermon series in the book of Ruth. Pastor Brent highlights Naomi as the central character in ch. 1 and a woman of deep and exemplary faith despite her emotional distress. The Bible is direct and realistic about the pain and suffering that exists in this world. When we, like Naomi, reach the place of emptiness,...

Following up on his elective class on Dec. 2, Pastor Brent banters with Pastor Paul about the call for wisdom (“biblical truth lived out”) and restraint as we’re surrounded by digital technology in our lives. As image bearers and Christ-followers, we must cultivate and protect biblical priorities. In addition to personal and cultural examples of exercising self-control, the pastors discuss several...

Pastor Paul offers a Thanksgiving Weekend devotional on giving thanks for trials and difficult times in addition to what we think of as pleasant things and blessings. Using various Thanksgiving weeks from his own life ranging from 1985 through 2025 (most notably a depression-ending breakthrough in 2002), Pastor Paul focuses on 1 Thes. 5:18, Eph. 5:20, and Col. 3:15-17 as key thanksgiving verses. S...

Pastor Brent and Pastor Paul overview New Life’s Advent sermon series for 2025, The Book of Ruth (Nov. 23-Dec. 21). Conceived well over a year ago as a unique but gospel-centered Christmas message, Pastor Brent outlines several key theological themes in Ruth: 1) Suffering and Pain; 2) Trust and Commitment; 3) Redemption and Restoration; and 4) Unworthy and Worthy. Pastor Paul calls Ruth “a Samwise...

Three years ago today, the Roots & Branches podcast debuted! While the original purpose was to discuss the Biblical Foundations and Transformational Outcomes of our vision to expand the ministries and facilities at New Life EFC in Hastings, MN, Pastor Paul articulates five main reasons why this podcast continues: 1) church vision-casting; 2) fun conversations; 3) biblical teaching; 4) in-depth...

On this Reformation Day 2025, Pastor Paul and Pastor Brent address in broad terms the various crises being experienced within our church family right now. Hospitalizations, end-of-life struggles, financial stresses, and other “trials of various kinds” (Jas. 1:2) can sometimes feel overwhelming. In His sovereignty, God does what He pleases (Ps. 115:3); but in His providence, He works through both o...

One of the fruits of his recent sabbatical is that Pastor Brent strongly desires to regularly teach elective classes here at New Life. In this episode, he banters with Pastor Paul about five one-off elective classes coming up this school year on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Dome. Nov. 4: “The Last Days: Introduction to the End Times”; Dec. 2: “Wisdom in a Digital Age: Devices, Social Media,...

Reflecting on his recent commissioning on Sunday 10/12/25, Associate Pastor Paul Arneberg starts with an ABBA parody and then reviews three title changes since being hired on 10/1/23. This episode also includes lauding the plurality of leaders and teams at New Life EFC; Paul’s earnest prayers for the Lord’s direction regarding location, congregation and vocation starting in January 2020; endeavori...

Paul and Pastor Brent discuss the assassination of Charlie Kirk and its deep affect on many among us. Key points in their dialogue include boasting only in the cross of Christ; increasing our boldness for the gospel; and prioritizing in-person relationships, especially rooted in fellow believers through the local church. Paul also reflects briefly on Charlie Kirk’s faith and his Sept. 21 memo...

At 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 22, 1985, Paul witnessed his mom die after long battles with breast cancer and leukemia. This poem was written during the pandemic for Paul’s former monthly column for Jugheads Youth Juggling Co. As Audrey Arneberg’s death in the middle of Paul’s high school career is a major part of his testimony, he reads the poem along with brief commentary on death; how survivors should u...