Sermon Podcast

With a recurring challenge for our stated values to match our lived values, Pastor Brent preaches on the prophetic warning of James 5:1-6. We need to change our perspective and remember that God is on the throne. My money doesn’t exist to build my kingdom; it exists to build God’s kingdom. Helpful resource: Redeeming Money: How God Reveals and Reorients Our Hearts by Paul David Tripp.

Pastor Brent opens with an illustration from science fiction author H.G. Wells, a humanistic optimist at the turn of the 20th century who became a cynical pessimist about the depravity of man by the mid-20th century. Pastor Brent outlines James 4:13-17 with “Misunderstanding” (vv. 13-14) and “Missed Opportunity” (vv. 15-17). Just as the Puritans signed their plans with “D.V.” (Deo Volente, or “God willing”), a key to this passage is that worldly boasting is an exercise in pride, but biblical boasting is an exercise in humility. Supporting texts: Deut. 8:11-14, 17-19; Matt. 6:33; Ps. 90:12; Dan. 4:29-32; and Jer. 9:23-24. Quoted theologians: Kent Hughes, Os Guinness, John Piper, and Mark Sayers.

We’re more than halfway through our sermon series in the book of James, and God’s Word continues to convict and compel His followers in 2025. In James 4, Pastor Brent challenges us to “Search Your Heart” (vv. 1-3), “Check Your Heart” (vv. 4-6); “Soften Your Heart” (vv. 7-10); and “Show Your Heart” (vv. 11-12). There is power in humility. There is corruption in pride. The remedy to thwart Satan’s attacks is humble repentance. Confession and repentance is a regular part of the Christian life.

Director of Discipleship Paul Arneberg continues our series in James by contrasting two kinds of wisdom: demonic and divine. These six verses in the middle of James’ letter represent the heart of his message to us as he wrote God’s inspired words. Paul outlines his sermon as “Call to Wisdom: Humility” (v. 13); “Wisdom From Below: Pride” (vv. 14-16); and “Wisdom From Above: Purity” (vv. 17-18). He also contrasts King Solomon succumbing to wisdom from below with the Apostle Paul bearing the fruit of wisdom from above. We desperately need to cling to Jesus through the Holy Spirit in devotion and dependence as we sow peace in deeds done in humility. Jesus is Wisdom and Peace personified (1 Cor. 22-24, 30; Eph. 2:14)! Other key cross-references include Ps. 37:11; Prov. 8; Mic. 6:8; Matt. 5:5; 11:29; Mark 10:45; Gal. 5:16-23; Jas. 1:5; 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5.

Pastor Brent’s outline of this convicting passage from James 3 consists of “Teaching in the Church” (vv. 1-2); “Dangers of the Tongue” (vv. 3-8); and “Integrity and Purity” (vv. 9-12). Illustrations include The Boxer Rebellion of 1900 in China; the characters Talkative and Faithful in Pilgrim’s Progress; Mister Fred Rogers; and the tragically low percentage of America’s pastors (senior, associate, children’s, youth) who hold to a biblical worldview. A key takeaway from Pastor Brent: “Check your heart and check your words—because your life depends on it.”

Pastor Brent continues his sermon series in James with a self-examination challenge: Why do I claim to be a Christian? Moral values? Going to Heaven? The benefits only? He asserts, “Legalism makes Christ useful to me; the gospel makes Christ beautiful to me.” Pastor Brent outlines this passage as “Identifying the Problem” (vv. 14-17); “Faith and Deeds” (vv. 18-19); and “Living Faith” (vv. 20-26). He ends with three personal application challenges: 1) Examine my heart (Is God merely useful to me, or is He beautiful to me?); 2) Examine my life; 3) Examine my prayer life. Real saving faith has integrity and is often forged in the fire, such as with Abraham (Gen. 22) and Rahab (Josh. 2).

In this third sermon in our series in the book of James, Pastor Brent outlines “The Problem of Favoritism” (2:1-4); “The Heart of the Gospel” (2:5-7); and “Consequences of Favoritism” (2:8-13). Two key takeaways: 1) a primary way to live out the gospel is in the way you publicly and privately treat others; 2) you can’t love some people and not love other people, remembering that in the gospel, you too were underserving! Pastor Brent uses illustrations from classic hymn writers William Cowper and Augustus Toplady, the latter of whom wrote “Rock of Ages” in 1776.

Pastor Brent continues our 11-week series in the book of James through this highly practical passage. In addition to insightful quotes from theologians Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer and Dr. Douglas Moo, Pastor Brent shared his recent conversation with Dr. Mimi Larson, Executive Director of the Center for Faith and Children and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS). Schools like TEDS and churches like NLEFC can learn from each other in making the Bible come alive for disciples young and old! After his outline on discipleship that “Begins by Hearing” (James 1:19-21) and is “Proven through Doing” (James 1:22-27), Pastor Brent ends with our vision for discipleship: “Discipleship is a matter of hearing, believing, and doing the truth that is in Jesus Christ.”

Pastor Brent Kompelien launches a new series for winter-spring 2025 on the book of James. The central theme is “God has ordained the local church to be the context in which He forges faith in you and displays the gospel in living reality.” In outlining James 1:1-18, Pastor Brent addresses “What Do Trials Produce?” (vv. 1-4, 12); “What Do Trials Reveal?” (vv. 5-11); and “How Do Trials Change Our Perspective?” (vv. 13-18). Pastor Brent includes a personal story of the goodness of God through his family’s local church amidst the trial of his twin brother Brad’s bone cancer at age 12.

We’ve made it “To the Ends of the Earth,” aka Rome, in the book of Acts! Pastor Brent Kompelien outlines his final sermon on this critical historical narrative by outlining Why Rome? (vv. 11-16); Why Did Many Reject? (vv. 17-28); and What’s Next? (vv. 30-31). In addition to commentary on the achievements and atrocities of the Roman Empire, Pastor Brent touches on The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark (1997); Paul’s unique ministry in Rome; and reminders that God Himself is the main character in Acts, and nothing can stop the advance of the gospel! “Acts ends with an ellipsis (…), not a period (.). It asks, ‘What are YOU going to do next?’”