Sermon Podcast

Paul Arneberg brings a Father’s Day message by first honoring his own 91-year-old dad, Ron Arneberg, and tying together God’s design for fatherhood with Psalm 23. Using illustrations from the film “Cinderella Man” (2005) and the books “Durable Trades” (2020) and “Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table” (2021), Paul outlines this beloved psalm (perhaps the most well-known passage in all of Scripture) as follows: “Yahweh as Shepherd: He Provides, Leads, Protects” (vv. 1-3); “Yahweh as Host: He Prepares, Anoints, Fills” (vv. 4-5); and “Jesus is the Good Shepherd-Host: He Pursues, Sacrifices, Dwells” (v. 6; John 10). Paul ends with an illustration of how the Lord applied Ps. 23:3 to restore, direct and correct his life and marriage for His Name’s sake in 2007.

Ernest Stellingwerff of our Elder Team makes his New Life preaching debut in Psalm 22. Ernest sets the tone for this thoroughly Messianic psalm with an opening illustration of a woman who suffered from debilitating migraines for many years. As her suffering intensified, she described her prayer through pain as “not a worshipful whisper but a cry of desperation.” That reflects Psalm 22 as written by King David and ultimately fulfilled by Jesus Christ in His passion on the cross. Ernest highlighted the structure of this psalm: alternating laments (vv. 1-2, 6-8, 12-18) and praises (vv. 3-5, 9-11, 22-31) with a plea for help in the middle (vv. 19-21). Ernest began and ended his sermon with this application: “Hope and encouragement for the forsaken is founded in the sovereignty of God.” The OT looks forward to the cross; the NT looks back to the cross. Jesus quoted/ fulfilled the very first and very last phrases of Ps. 22 while on the cross. By faith, we can agree with David about what Jesus accomplished for us: “HE HAS DONE IT!” (v. 31). And Jesus is coming again for us!

Terry Szymanski of our Elder Team at New Life returns with this message on Psalm 19. Terry shares his fascination with the universe through his degree in Aerospace Engineering and his ongoing interest in solar eclipses and the vastness of the universe. After quoting Charles Spurgeon (“He is wisest who reads both the Word book and the world book”), Terry walks us through Psalm 19 as “God Revealed Through Creation: General Revelation” (vv. 1-6); “God Revealed Through His Word: Special Revelation” (vv. 7-11); and “David’s Response: Repentance and Prayer for Grace” (vv. 12-14). Our response? We are small and sinful, but we trust in God through Jesus Christ, our strength and Redeemer!

Paul Arneberg continues our Summer in the Psalms with this sermon on Psalm 8. Paul began by acknowledging Memorial Day and the price paid for our earthly liberties, adding that Jesus paid the ultimate price for our debt of sin in order to restore us both spiritually and physically. Tying in his challenge to read all 150 psalms over summer 2025, Paul outlined Psalm 8 as “GOD’S NAME: Magnify Yahweh, Our Lord God” (vv. 1a, 9); “GOD’S GLORY: Infinite and Intimate” (vv. 1b-4); and “GOD’S WILL: Design, Deliverance, Dominion” (vv. 5-8). God establishes His strength in our weaknesses (Ps. 8:2), backed up by precious passages from Matt. 11:25-30; 21:16; Phil. 2:5-11; 4:13; 2 Cor. 12:9-10; and key parallel passages in Heb. 2:5-9; 4:14-16.

Pastor Dan Ford of Faribault EFC brings this message from God’s Word on Pastor Brent’s first Sunday of sabbatical. After sharing examples of his personal encouragement from our congregation (notably Glenn Olson, Director of Student Ministries for our North Central District of the EFCA), Pastor Dan outlines four voices in Psalm 2: “1st Voice—The World Speaks” (vv. 1-3); “2nd Voice—God Speaks” (vv. 4-6); “3rd Voice—The Anointed Speaks” (vv. 7-9); and “4th Voice—The Psalmist Speaks” (vv. 10-12). Pastor Dan also shares his “B.L.E.S.S.” acronym in bringing the gospel to the nations: Be in prayer; Listen well; Eat together; Serve and be served; Share a story.

Pastor Brent launches into our 17-week sermon series, Summer In The Psalms, just before his three-month sabbatical. Psalm 1 kicks off our series while serving as a introduction to the entire book of Psalms. With bookended illustrations from legendary Olympic track star Eric Liddle, Pastor Brent outlines Psalm 1 with “Two Paths” (vv. 1-3) and “Two Outcomes” (vv. 4-6). A key admonishment from Pastor Brent on the brink of his 14-week absence from the pulpit: “Delight in the Word of God so that we can relate to the God and Christ of the Word!” We are to seek Him, delight in Him, and LOVE Him with all our hearts.

This final sermon in our 11-week series on James coincided with Vision Sunday, a combined worship service with the second half focusing on staffing changes, budget adjustments, and renewal of our building campaign. Pastor Brent tied together the history of New Life (and the centrality that prayer has always had in our church family) with this last passage by the half-brother of Jesus with “Call to Prayer” (vv. 13-16); “Example of Prayer” (vv. 17-18); and “Purpose of Prayer” (vv. 19-20).

Terry Szymanski serves on our Elder Team here at New Life, and this is his first time preaching! After sharing a bit about his family and background, Terry reviews some keys to the Book of James, including God’s definition of patience in James 1:2-4. Terry outlines this short but powerful passage as “A Call to Action,” “Enduring Patiently,” “You too…Stand Firm,” “Don’t Grumble,” and “Examples—Look to the Prophets.” In addition to Terry’s use of humor and personal experiences, he ends with an illustration of the faith and patient endurance of Corrie ten Boom, author of The Hiding Place.

In this Resurrection Day message, Pastor Brent challenges us how to respond to Jesus’ resurrection through the invitation, command, and promise of Matt. 28:1-10. “Come and see…go and tell…you will see Him.” The proper response to the resurrection of Jesus Christ is to humbly come to Him, fall at His feet, and worship Him with one’s whole self and whole life. Jesus was raised to life so that you could become a new creation. You will see Him. He is the risen King, and He deserves our total devotion!

Pastor Brent takes a break from our James series for Holy Week. In his Palm Sunday sermon on Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-11), Pastor Brent outlines “Specific Instructions” (vv. 1-3), “Prophetic Fulfillment” (vv. 4-5), and “What Kind of King?” (vv. 6-11). Jesus alone will stir one’s heart to the things that matter. We must ask ourselves: “Am I deeply moved by the revelation of Who Jesus is?” The Lord Himself is here to save His people, His flock. Our only proper response is worship and praise of King Jesus!