Sermon Podcast

Pastor Paul opens this Independence Day Weekend sermon by sharing his love of country, admonishing listeners to cherish and defend our nation’s ideals while “longing for a better country—a heavenly one” (Heb. 11:15). Apply America’s Freedom of Religion by making disciples for Jesus Christ! He then breaks down this familiar passage from Matt. 28 in three parts: “Believe the Authority of Jesus” (vv....

Week 4 of “What Does the Bible Say?” focuses on eschatology. Using an opening analogy of the unknown timing of earthquakes, Pastor Brent encourages the congregation that despite the unknown timing of the definitive “last day,” God’s people will be faithful to the end! He then outlines Matthew 24: “A Revealing Conversation” (vv. 1-3); “Signs of the End” (vv. 4-35); and “Our Job in the Meantime” (vv...

It’s part 3 in our 13-week summer sermon series, “What Does the Bible Say?”. After an opening example of childhood building sets and the necessity of a good cornerstone, Pastor Brent preaches a “1-2-3” sermon about the Church in 1 Peter 2: “One Cornerstone” (vv. 4-6); “Two Responses” (vv. 7-8); and “Three Results” (vv. 9-10). The Church is built on the Cornerstone of Jesus, the Living Stone and Pe...

In our second week of our summer series “What Does the Bible Say?”, Ernest Stellingwerff from our Elder Team brings us a message from Genesis 2 with four key words from the whole counsel of God: “Creation: You Were Created to Work”; “Fall: The Curse Affected Our Job Description”; “Redemption: The Gospel Redeems Work”; and “Restoration: Work in Eternity”. Work is not a curse; it’s part of God’s ori...

Taking a break before Romans 12-16 this fall, Pastor Brent kicks off a topical summer sermon series entitled “What Does the Bible Say?” This week focuses on Genesis 1: “God is Creator”; “Humanity as Image Bearers” (not an ability, but the gift to be living representatives of God); “Effects of Sin” (alienated relationship with God; foolish rationality; self-centered role); and “Through Christ” (we...

Concluding Romans 11 before a topical summer series, Pastor Brent opens with an example of an elaborate mystery devised in 1861 to thwart an assassination attempt on newly elected President Lincoln. The word “mystery” is used 28 times in the NT (21 by Paul) meaning “unclear things become clear.” He then opens Rom. 11 and unfolds the “Mystery” (vv. 25-27); “Reversal” (vv. 28-32); and “Doxology” (vv...

Continuing our three-part series in Romans 11, Pastor Paul opens by tying in Pentecost Sunday with Christianity’s roots in Judaism. He uses an illustration from the art and science of tree grafting to reflect the spiritual truths of this chapter: “Gentile Salvation Should Lead to Jewish Salvation” (vv. 11-16); “Faith is Always Humble, Never Arrogant” (vv. 17-21); and “Consider God’s Kindness, Seve...

The word “remnant” occurs 60 times in the Bible. In mid-20th century Germany, Hitler expelled Christians from “The Reich Church” but pastors such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer helped to keep true Christianity alive, and today Germany has a flourishing movement of Evangelical churches. In this first of three sermons on Romans 11, Pastor Brent brings us both “Encouragement” (vv. 1-6) and “Warning” (vv. 7-1...

We’ve come to the great Chapter 10 in the great book of Romans. Whereas the theme of Ch. 9 is God’s sovereignty in salvation, the theme of Ch. 10 is the call to trust in Jesus. Pastor Brent unfolds this by explaining “What Do We Receive?” (9:30-10:4); “How Do We Receive It?” (10:5-10); and “Who Can Receive It?” (10:11-21). We must avoid the grave error of substituting zeal for the law of God for s...

Pastor Brent tackles one of the most challenging chapters in the Bible, Romans 9. He directly faces an age-old question: “Why doesn’t God save everyone?” The Apostle Paul himself expressed his anguish and sorrow for unbelievers among his fellow kinsmen according to the flesh (vv. 2-5). Pastor Brent first examines this passage with “Zoom In: What to Do with Israel?” He outlines “God’s Promise” (vv....

Pastor Brent opens with a timely thank-you to the dozens who showed up for our April 25 Work Day and a save-the-date for a May 17 Groundbreaking Ceremony in advance of our new classroom wing construction. In this 4th and final sermon on Romans 8 in our year-long series in this Pauline masterpiece, Pastor Brent outlined “The Work of God For Us” (vv. 31-34) and “The Love of God For Us” (vv. 35-39)....

Pastor Brent opens with a praise and call to prayer for our growing Youth Group, many of whom attended District Blitz in Duluth. He then dives into another passage in our walk through Rom. 8, encouraging the church that “You Are Not Alone” (vv. 26-27); “Your Life Has a Purpose” (vv. 28-29); and “Your Future is Secure” (v. 30). Two lies that we are tempted to believe are that Christians don’t suffe...

Pastor Paul continues our series in Rom. 8 with a six-month update on his increase in groaning—and joy—since being commissioned as associate pastor. After an opening illustration of creation groaning from the true-story film “Only the Brave” (2017), Pastor Paul outlines this passage as “Suffering vs. Glory” (vv. 18-19); “Slavery vs. Freedom” (vv. 19-22); and “Adoption and Hope” (vv. 23-25). A pers...

In this Resurrection Sunday message, Pastor Brent unfolds Luke 24 and the initial events occurring after Jesus rose from the dead—“Seeing is Believing: Part 1” (vv. 1-12) and “Seeing is Believing: Part 2” (vv. 13-35). A key to both parts of this long account is that the words of Jesus brought clarity to the confusion of the tomb visitors and the Emmaus road walkers. Their physical sight became spi...

After services were cancelled on 3/15/26 due to a March blizzard, Pastor Brent kicks off Holy Week with Rom. 8 and a glimpse into the life of the late Herb Brooks, legendary coach of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team. Underlying Brooks’ coaching success was a desire to prove something and pay a debt. By contrast, Romans 8 teaches us about our “Debt Paid” (vv. 1-11) yet we still have a “...

Pastor Brent continues our year-long series in Romans with an opening illustration from the late Christian apologist G.K. Chesterton. When asked to write an editorial answering the age-old question, “What is wrong with the world?”, Chesterton answered the conundrum with two words: “I am.” With the premise that the questions raised in Rom. 7 have plagued all world religions, Pastor Brent addressed...

Pastor Brent opens his sermon with a rare supplementary announcement sharing the good news of our Building Project’s recent approval by the Cottage Grove City Council! Our architect even witnessed to the assembly, saying that approving a restaurant is good, but approving a church project helps to bring the Bread from Heaven to our area! (The audience warmly laughed.) Pastor Brent then shares wisdo...

Pastor Brent continues in Romans 6 culminating in one of the most well-known gospel verses in all of Scripture. He outlines “Two Masters” (vv. 15-18); “Two Trajectories” (vv. 19-22); and “Two Approaches” (v. 23). Outside of Christ, we are all captive to sin; in Christ, we obey from the heart. Christianity is not a behavioral change that results in a new status; faith in Christ is a new status that...

Pastor Brent begins by reviewing where we’ve been and previewing where we’re going in the book of Romans. We need a power from the outside to save us, and Christianity is about following the Person of Christ, not a set of ideas. This passage shows us the “True Function of the Law” (5:20-21); “Good News of Union with Christ” (6:1-7); and “Living for a New Master” (6:8-14). The gospel redeems us fro...

As a gift to our church amidst his first year of retirement after four decades of ministry as a local church pastor, Reach Global director, and president of the EFCA and then TEDS, Kevin Kompelien brings us this message from Rom. 5:12-19. With affection for New Life EFC for loving his son and his family for more than seven years, Kevin reminds us that the Holy Spirit is our ultimate teacher, bring...

“The gospel is received , not achieved. ” After an opening illustration from the great Reformer Martin Luther and his desperate need for the assurance of his salvation in Christ, Pastor Brent presents a “3-2-1” outline for his sermon on Rom. 5:6-11: “Three Types of People” (vv. 6-8); “Two Reasons for Assurance” (vv. 9-10); and “One Person Gets the Glory” (v. 11). Using further illustrations from A...

Pastor Brent brings us many encouraging truths from this precious passage in God’s holy Word in the beloved book of Romans. In addition to the rarity of him sharing two film illustrations (“Apollo 13” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”), Pastor Brent shares three reasons why the gospel is good news: status through peace with God; relationship through access to God; and certainty of the hope of the glory...

The Book of Romans continues as our primary sermon series in 2026, and Pastor Brent finishes ch. 4 today. After an opening illustration from the ministry of 20th century British preacher Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Pastor Brent preaches “Trust in God’s Promise” (vv. 13-17) and “Hope in God’s Power” (vv 18-25). Salvation by works is dependent on the enduring validity of one’s own goodness; salvation by...

Pastor Brent returns to our Romans series after our hiatus for Advent and the holidays. He begins by once again honoring the life and recent passing of long-time Hastings pastor and chaplain Jim Bzoskie, whose recent funeral featured many public officials testifying to Pastor Jim’s influence on them for Jesus and the gospel through his prayer, pastoral care, and encouragement. Pastor Brent outline...

Pastor Paul rings in the New Year with a stand-alone message about Christ-centered attitudes and disciplines even in the midst of suffering. These six verses from Phil. 4 offer timeless wisdom for followers of Christ: “Rejoice Always in the Lord Our God” (vv. 4-5); “Pray Expecting God’s Peace and Protection” (vv. 6-7); and “Think and Practice Empowered By God’s Presence” (vv. 8-9). After sharing a...