Sermon Podcast

Pastor Brent wraps up our 17-week Summer in the Psalms series with Psalm 145. Old Testament scholar James Mays describes this psalm as “the overture to the final movement of the Psalter,” and Psalms 145-150 are symphony of praise to the LORD! The theme of Psalm 145 is testimony: testifying to God’s work, who He is, and what He has done. This acrostic poem of the entire Hebrew alphabet is a “Guide for Testimonies” (vv. 1-7) and an “Example of a Testimony” (vv. 8-21). There is a missional purpose of testimonies, and Pastor Brent offers one chapter of his own testimony from the difficulties of church planting as a young pastor in San Francisco. His lesson learned and offered is to be restful in one’s identity in Christ as the Father’s beloved child in whom He is well pleased (see Matt. 3:17).

Back in the pulpit for the first time in 15 weeks, Pastor Brent brings the penultimate message in our Summer in the Psalms series. After recapping his sabbatical with a few examples of adventures with his family, he opens Psalm 133 and describes “What Unity is Not” (neither harmony nor uniformity), “What Unity Is” (founded, focused, and fixing our eyes on Christ), and “Why Unity is Important”. Pastor Brent asserts, “Unity comes when each of us are growing closer to the Lord Christ and to His throne” (Rev. 4-5). He also shares a powerful anecdote of advice given to someone praying for peace with an estranged loved one: “Don’t necessarily pray for peace, but pray that he or she will grow closer to Christ.” In tying together vv. 1 and 3 of this psalm, Pastor Brent reminds us that when we dwell in unity together, it is there we see the Lord bestow His blessing.

The last in a series of 11 different preachers spanning 14 weeks through Pastor Brent’s sabbatical, New Life welcomes Carlton Harris, acting president of the EFCA. Drawing on his 46 years as a husband, father, grandfather, and church leader, Carlton offers fatherly wisdom from a shepherd’s heart through Psalm 51. After a personal introduction, Carlton welcomes back Pastor Brent and admonishes the congregation to give the Kompeliens space to ramp back up into the inevitable stresses of church ministry. As he opens Psalm 51, Carlton asks a very personal question: “What is the most terrible thing you have ever done?” He then encourages listeners to read 2 Sam. 11-12 for historical background on this psalm. Written in four stanzas, Ps. 51 features multiple words for sin; multiple pleas for mercy; and a reminder that all sin is ultimately rebellion against God. The end result of all repentance is restoration, and Carlton offers a key statement: “No one is so holy that he or she can’t fall, nor so fallen that he or she can’t be forgiven.” God’s heart is for the repentant believer, and Carlton ends by leading a responsive reading with excerpts from Ps. 32.

Psalm 121 is precious to many people who love the Lord and love Psalms, which preacher Paul Arneberg prays applies to all who are listening. Paul shares personal stories from his recent and distant past of how the Lord has powerfully used Psalm 121 in his own life and through three women who died in faith in Christ. The second in a series of 15 “songs of ascent” sang by ancient Jewish pilgrims journeying up to Jerusalem for three annual feasts, Psalm 121 features include “The LORD is our Helper” (vv. 1-2); “The LORD is our Protector” (vv. 3-8); and “The LORD is our Preserver” (vv. 7-8). Rather than looking to creation, worthless idols, or even our loved ones for our ultimate help, protection and preservation, we are challenged to more and more to the Lord our God both now and forevermore.

Frank Lanier is the Director of Leadership Development for the North Central District of the EFCA. In this message, Frank begins with his family background and a personal announcement that he and his family are soon leaving the NCD for a church planting call in his home state of North Carolina. After overviewing Psalm 119 as an acrostic of the entire Hebrew alphabet and highlighting several terms representing God’s Word, Frank preaches on “The Blessing of Hunger” (vv. 33-35); “The Blessing of Perspective” (vv. 36-37); “The Blessing of Fear” (vv. 38-40); “The Blessing of Promise” (vv. 41-43); “The Blessing of Perseverance” (vv. 44-45); and “The Blessing of Joy and Worship” (vv. 46-48). Frank concludes by extolling Jesus, the Word of God (John 1:1-5, 14-18). “The hinge point of all reality is Jesus Christ.”

Just three weeks into his retirement from four decades of service through and to the EFCA as pastor, president, and TEDS president, Kevin Kompelien preaches God’s Word in Psalm 62. While Kevin purposefully avoided any “Brent stories,” he offered heartfelt appreciation to New Life EFC for loving Brent and his family these past seven years (and counting) and sending him on his current sabbatical. Kevin also transparently shared how Psalm 62 has been deeply impactful in his life, most notably in the last lap of his career with restless nights over difficult decisions in Fall 2024. Kevin emphasized the “drumbeat” of Psalm 62 (NIV): “truly…surely…yes.” Kevin concluded with a powerful exegesis of vv. 11-12: “We Can Trust God Because He Is: 1) Powerful. 2) Loving. 3) Just.” His closing illustration came from Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4 and presenting the gospel through 2 Cor. 5:21.

Halfway between Memorial Day and Labor Day 2025, Paul Arneberg reminds New Life to keep reading Psalms as we continue our summer sermon series. After exploring the phenomenon of singing (by angels, birds, people, and in films), Paul highlights three themes from Psalm 96: “Sing to the LORD” (vv. 1-6); “Ascribe to the LORD Worship and Reverence” (vv. 7-9); and “Share the LORD by Declaring His Glory, Rule, and Judgment” (vv. 10-13). Supporting texts and quotes are taken from Romans, Acts, Isaiah, Revelation, C.S. Lewis, John Piper, Ralph Winter, and both old and new songs. Some Christ-followers are called to missions (here, near or far), but ALL who bear His name are called to testify of the marvelous works of the Lord God to all the peoples!

Mark Revell, EFCA Director of Training and Development for ReachGlobal, returns stateside from his missionary work in Hungary and brings us this sermon on Psalm 46: “Water Scene #1” (vv. 1-3); “Water Scene #2” (vv. 4-7); and “The Choice: Be Still” (vv. 10-11). As a member of New Life who has preached several times but is living overseas, Mark included updates on his and Jodi’s work in Hungary; the challenges of stepping up for ReachGlobal during a leadership transition; and transparent illustrations about being still and trusting the Lord amidst the real chaos right now surrounding the heavy lift of many responsibilities.

Glenn Olson rounds out June where all four elders took turns preaching during Pastor Brent sabbatical. In addition to being a long-time elder, Glenn was New Life’s youth pastor for 23 years and now serves as Director of Student Ministries through the EFCA’s North Central District. In emphasizing the need for believers to truly dwell in God’s presence, Glenn preaches through Psalm 91: “The Believer Declaring Trust” (vv. 1-2); “God’s Protection Described” (vv. 3-8); “Conditions of Protection” (vv. 9-13); and “God’s Promise” (vv. 14-16). In addition to heartfelt stories from his 38 years of marriage to Anne and their top priority to keep encouraging their six kids (and 14 grandkids) to continually “take one step closer to Jesus,” Glenn reminds us of the gift of the gospel; to fear God and nothing else; and to persist in a vibrant prayer life with the Father through Jesus.

Scott McCall is a long-time elder at New Life EFC and has made this his family’s church home for 25 years. Along with Glenn Olson and James Galland, Scott helped New Life to survive as a church for several years before Pastor Brent Kompelien and his family were called here in 2018. In this sermon, Scott teaches on God’s Word from Psalm 130: “Our Need for God” (vv. 1-4); “Waiting on the Lord” (vv. 5-6); and “God is Our Only Hope and Redeemer” (vv. 7-8). Scott interweaves his personal testimony with church history and challenging questions: "What is our first reaction when we are in a desperate situation? What is our posture when waiting on God? What or who do we put our hope in? Do we fully understand God’s love?” His call to action: “Don’t trust in ourselves. Trust in God alone.” Scott ended by encouraging groups of three to pray for the lost in our lives.