Sermon Podcast

Pastor Brent opens this week’s sermon by quoting Matt. 5:17-20. This sets the stage for his examination of Rom. 3:1-8: “Is God’s Promise of Salvation Conditional or Unconditional?” (vv. 1-4); “How is This Fair?” (vv. 5-6); and “Why Does It Matter How I Live?” (vv. 7-8). The gospel destroys both legalism and license, as both the conditional and unconditional are fulfilled in Christ! Because Jesus perfectly kept the law, He gives us His righteousness; because Jesus went to the cross, He takes away our sin. Because He fulfills both, only He gets the glory!

Rounding out our 3rd week in Rom. 2, Pastor Brent opens with Matt. 23:25-28 and a convicting illustration that salvation precedes true moral and behavioral change. He then preaches on “Self-Righteousness of Moralism” (vv. 17-24); “Self-Deception of Moralism” (vv. 25-27); and “Solution to Moralism” (vv. 28-29). Within his three main sections, Pastor Brent also outlines “Symptoms of Moralism” (false humility; over-sensitive; judgmental; anxious; anger) and the errors of righteousness and superiority as often seen through legalistic churches, experiential churches, and sacramental churches. A key to this passage and this entire chapter is the Apostle Paul’s assertion that the gospel requires a “circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit” (v. 29).

Pastor Brent continues in “The Glorious Gospel,” our year-long sermon series in the Book of Romans. Ch. 2 continues unfolding the bad news—and the good news—of the judgment of God. After Pastor Brent sets up this passage with v. 5, we see “Criteria for Judgment” (vv. 6 -11); “Conditions for Judgment” (vv. 12-15); and “Cure for Judgment” (v. 16). God is just in His judgment because all people are culpable for knowing right and wrong. For those in Christ Jesus, we rest in the truth that the criteria for judgment has been met and the conditions have been satisfied! Believers’ names are written in the Book of Life, and Judgment Day for Christians is good news, as we’ll be vindicated in Christ!

On the same morning as his commissioning, Associate Pastor Paul Arneberg preaches from Romans 2:1-4. After his introduction glorifying the Lord for His guidance and will in bringing him and Wendy to this area, church, and role, Pastor Paul outlines this passage as follows: “No Excuse” (v. 1); “Inescapable Truth” (vv. 2-3); and “Contempt or Repentance?” (v. 4). Using the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14) as a main supportive text, Pastor Paul warns against comparing oneself with others since we’ll all be judged by God’s standard of perfect righteousness. The solution to both unrighteousness (Rom. 1:18-32) and self-righteousness (2:1-29)? Repent and trust CHRIST ALONE for forgiveness and HIS righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21).

Pastor Brent Kompelien leads the commissioning of Paul Arneberg as Associate Pastor at New Life EFC. Comments by elders Ernest Stellingwerff, Glenn Olson, Scott McCall and Terry Szymanski are included. The Elders and other ministry leaders gathered around Paul and his wife, Wendy, to commission him to this new role which, as written in the Elders’ letter, “…will bring greater intentionality to Paul’s shepherding, especially as he will now be expected to support the Senior Pastor and share the load of pastoring the congregation”.

Continuing in our 2025-2026 series, Pastor Brent reminds us that the Book of Romans is all about the gospel, which includes the bad news. Building off of the thesis statement of 1:16-17, this week’s passage focuses on unrighteousness, and the next three messages will focus on self-righteousness (2:1-29). Pastor Brent’s opening illustration from The Prodigal Son (Luke 15) reminds us that both unrighteousness and self-righteousness are equally sinful in the sight of our holy God. This week’s outline features “Defining Unrighteousness” (1:21-23); “Descending Into Unrighteousness” (vv. 24-31); and “Defeating Unrighteousness” (v. 32). Referring to his “Master List of Cultural Idols” he’s been working on since 2020, Pastor Brent admonishes us to confess our personal idols, including a self-examination: “What makes me angry, sad/depressed, worried, prideful? What do I strive to achieve every day? To what do I turn for comfort? What makes me fearful of failure?” We need to stop moralizing, rationalizing, and to turn from idols, looking only to Christ for our salvation and joy!

Having covered the thesis statement of Romans last week (1:16-17), Pastor Brent now focuses on three powerful verses that serve to introduce Rom. 1:21-2:29. In 1:18-20, we see “God’s Wrath” (v. 18); “God’s Revelation” (vv. 19-20a); and “God’s Righteousness” (v. 20b). All are sinners, whether through rebellious unrighteousness (1:21-32) or pharisaical self-righteousness (2:1-29). We are dead in our sins; God gave us His own righteousness through Christ to save and give life to all who believe. That’s why the gospel is so GOOD!

In the third week of our Romans series scheduled through late 2026, we’ve arrived at the letter’s thesis statement. Pastor Brent explains “What the Gospel Does” (v. 16); “What the Gospel Is” (v. 17a); and “How the Gospel is Received” (v. 17b). Among his key lessons, he asserts that this short passage is intensely practical, driving us to trust in the power of God much like an ice skater (regardless of skill) trusts in the security of solid ice. He also defines “righteous” as both an attribute of and an action by God, and he points to Heb. 11 as a chapter which debunks the myth that salvation in the O.T. was by works. The righteousness of God is found in His Person (justice), His promises (faithfulness), and His power (justice and faithfulness applied to us).

Pastor Brent continues our new series by reminding us of the overview of the gospel as seen through the entire Book of Romans. The gospel: REVEALS our sin and God’s righteousness (ch. 1-4); TRANSFORMS us into a new humanity (ch. 5-8); FULFILLS the OT promises to Israel (ch. 9-11); and UNIFIES the church under Christ (ch. 12-16). After defining what faith is and what faith is not, Pastor Brent outlines Rom. 1:8-15: “Faith is Visible” (vv. 8-10); “Faith is Encouraging” (vv. 11-12); and “Faith is Sharable” (vv. 13-15). Both “the wise” and “the foolish” come on level footing to the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ to receive saving faith. We, as the church, have a treasure that has been entrusted to us in the gospel. Share it with all ages, from nursery to nursing homes!

Pastor Brent launches a sermon series on The Letter of Paul to the Romans. With breaks for Advent 2025 and Summer 2026, this series will last 15 months and focus on “the gospel of God" (Rom. 1:1). After overviewing this masterpiece written by the Apostle Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Pastor Brent walks through the first seven verses: “Gospel Call” (v. 1); “Gospel Message” (vv. 2-4); and “Gospel Task” (vv. 5-7). Pastor Brent asserts a key of this opening passage: “Paul has encountered the risen Jesus, been commissioned by the risen Jesus, and has a message of good news about the risen Jesus.” Just as this letter was pivotal in the lives of church history figures such as Augustine, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and John Bunyan, we are challenged to trust, relate to, speak to, marvel at, submit to, encounter, and KNOW Jesus.