Pastor Brent and Paul discuss the why, what, and when of Pastor Brent’s 3-month sabbatical from pastoral ministry this summer. This period of rest, reflection, refocusing and realignment is based partly on Lev. 25 and is being advised by the North Central District of the EFCA, benefitting both the Kompelien family and New Life EFC. Paul’s opening passage (Matt. 11:28-30) and benediction (Rev. 7:15-17) both point to Jesus, the ultimate Shepherd and giver of rest, protection, presence, and peace.
Episode 103 - Credentialing & Ordination in the EFCA
Paul Arneberg and Pastor Brent Kompelien overview the purpose and process of ministry credentialing (licensing) and ordination in the EFCA. Paul is nearing the end of his 18-month journey (pending final approval from BOMS, the national board of ministerial standing), and Pastor Brent addresses the importance of this commendation from the Lord and the body of Christ. Key Scriptures shared include 2 Cor. 3:1-5; 10:18; and 1 Cor. 2:1-5.
Episode 102 - Elective Class - Foundations
Pastor Brent and Paul preview an upcoming elective class at New Life EFC entitled “Foundations.” Paul’s opener is from Psalm 102:25-27 (quoted in Heb. 1:10-12). Just as the Lord laid the foundation of the earth, He also gave us “foundations” to the Christian life, which Pastor Brent articulates as “Who is God?”, “What is the Gospel?”, “What is the Bible?”, “What is the Church?”, and “What is Spiritual Growth?”. These major foundational topics will be covered weekly and in-person from March 25-April 22, including Q&A and growth with brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of stage of spiritual maturity. In addition to Paul & Pastor Brent’s typical banter and color commentary, Paul ends with Heb. 13:8 as a benediction and antidote to the transient nature of this creation and this life: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Episode 101 - Elective Class - Reimagining Discipleship - Session 4
This episode (the final in a four-part series) covers the same material that Pastor Brent presented at New Life EFC on 3/4/25. “Session 4—Staging Parables of the Kingdom: Learning to Love People and Place.” With 2 Cor. 5:11-21 as his main passage, Pastor Brent discusses “Ambassadorial Discipleship,” Foretaste and Signpost of the Kingdom of God,” and “Staging Parables of the Kingdom.” He draws on Christian theologians and authors Lesslie Newbigin, Jonathan Leeman, and Kevin Vanhoozer.
Episode 100 - 100th Episode Jubilee!
What began as a communication strategy in Fall 2022 to kick off our building campaign has developed into our weekly, comprehensive all-purpose church podcast! Paul and Pastor Brent celebrate the origin, traditions, interviews, innovations, and purpose of this Roots & Branches podcast. They also recap the recent vote to hire Station 19 as our architect and look to the future of expanding ministry options to all ages, especially our kids and youth.
Episode 99 - Elective Class - Reimagining Discipleship - Session 3
This episode (the third of four) covers the same material that Pastor Brent presented at New Life EFC on 2/25/25. Session 3 is entitled “Capturing the Imagination: Gospel Transformation and Renewal.” Keying off of The Greatest Commandment (Mark 12:28-31), Pastor Brent discusses “Reordering What We Love” (heart); “Redefining Our Identity” (soul); “Rediscovering What Is True” (mind); and “Repatterning Our Behavior” (strength). He also covers “Instruments vs. Devices” and “Tacit Knowledge—Inhabiting the Biblical Story.” He ends with a proper understanding of improvisation as it relates not just to theater and music, but to the Christian life that relies on years of discipleship training to adapt to the constant changes we experience.
Episode 98 - Elective Class - Reimagining Discipleship - Session 2
This episode (the second of four) covers the same material that Pastor Brent presented at New Life EFC on 2/18/25. Session 2 is entitled “Biblical Solution: God Forms His People in Particular Places.” Pastor Brent begins with “The Importance of ‘Place’ in the Bible” (from Eden through the New Earth) and goes on to discuss “Places vs. Non-Places,” “Distortions in Western Culture,” and “Recovering God’s Good Design.”
Episode 97 - Elective Class - Reimagining Discipleship - Session 1
Whereas Episodes 94 & 95 previewed the four-week elective class taught by Pastor Brent Kompelien, this episode (the first of four) covers the same material that Pastor Brent presented at New Life EFC on 2/11/25. Incentives to attend in person include fellowship and ample time for Q&A (remaining sessions are 2/18, 2/25, and 3/4), but this is the next best thing! Session 1 is entitled “Identifying the Problem: Conforming to the Late-Modern World”. Using Romans 12:1-2 and Daniel 1 as key texts, Pastor Brent contrasts the world’s efforts to conform us into its image with the Lord’s will to transform us from within through the gospel. Several illustrations are used to encourage deeper discipleship through living out God’s truth in everyday life.
Episode 96 - EFCA Theology Conference '25 Recap
Paul and Pastor Brent were recently among 550 church staff, missionaries, and denominational leaders in Chicago. Their recap ranges from ancient church history to contemporary issues in the overall conference theme: “Theological Anthropology” (Gen. 1:27). Special attention is given to the teachings of Dr. Donald Fairbairn (1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed); Dr. Hans Madueme (Original Sin and Concupiscence); and Dr. John Kilner (Creaturely Limitations and Disability). To watch videos of the conference plenary and breakout sessions, go to efca.org and search “2025 EFCA Theology Conference” (posted by mid-February). You may also or instead listen to the EFCA Theology Podcast on iTunes.
Episode 95 - Reimagining Discipleship in the Local Church - Part 2
This second part continues overviewing Pastor Brent’s DMin dissertation and previewing his upcoming elective class (Tuesdays, Feb. 11-Mar. 4). His four sessions will cover “Identifying the Problem,” “Biblical Solution,” “Capturing the Imagination,” and “Staging Parables of the Kingdom.” The point of discipleship is the Greatest Commandment (Mark 12:28-31), and our call as believers being sanctified in Jesus is to learn to love the local church! This episode ends with brief plugs for our half-time Kids Coordinator opening and hope for our building project to move forward soon.
Episode 94 - Reimagining Discipleship in the Local Church - Part 1
As a fitting follow-up to Episode 93 and a complementary commentary to our winter-spring sermon series on the book of James, this two-parter overviews Pastor Brent’s DMin dissertation, Reimagining Catechesis: Embodied and Embedded Discipleship Through Placemaking. After swapping stories of how the year 1994 was pivotal in each of their lives, Pastor Brent and Paul go over the outline of Pastor Brent’s elective class offered at New Life EFC on four Tuesday nights—Feb. 11-Mar. 4—from 6:30-8 pm. In our post-Christian (and often anti-Christian) culture, disciple-by-doing goes beyond doctrine, theory and catechesis by using hands-on, whole-life discipleship for deeper formation of all ages in the local church body.
Episode 93 - Living Faith in Community - Overview of James Series
Paul and Pastor Brent co-host their first shared episode of 2025 with a preview of the book of James, Pastor Brent’s winter-spring sermon series. In addition to the many well-known themes of James (e.g.: trials and suffering; wisdom; faith and works; careful use of words; humility; interactions with fellow believers; prayer), the theme of disciple-by-doing / whole-life discipleship is also seen throughout this letter and reflects our unique ministry strategy at New Life EFC. Living lives of godly actions rooted in God’s grace are essential for the Christ-follower, and the Lord calls us to be sanctified in community through the local church.
Episode 92 - Goal Setting - Part 3
Paul Arneberg offers an annual refresher following up Episodes 34 & 35, “Goal Setting Parts 1 & 2.” Part 3 reviews and offers specifics on four basic categories of goal setting: physical (nutrition and exercise); spiritual (Bible reading and prayer journaling); financial (budgeting and saving); and skillful (vocation and hobbies). Healthy relationships should be the overarching end-result of all goal setting, so Paul ends by discussing a fifth category: relational goals (e.g., names, hospitality, gratitude). Whatever age, personality, or areas of gifting, each one of us can improve at setting and pursuing mini- (realistic) goals, medium- (reasonable) goals, and mega- (ridiculous) goals. Such intentionality better equips us to love others and to grow in Jesus’ grace and knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18).
Episode 91 - Teach Us To Number Our Days
Happy New Year, Roots & Branches church family and friends! Pastor Brent is on vacation, so Paul rings in 2025 with a solo episode as a follow-up and further commentary on his 12/29/24 sermon on Psalm 90. After overviewing this heavy psalm written by Moses, Paul highlights the grief and the hope represented by three family deaths: Wendy’s dad, Conrad DeGroot in 1970; Paul’s mom, Audrey Arneberg in 1985; and Paul’s nephew, E. Andre Larrea in 2002. Paul also addresses the death of his dream of fatherhood due to infertility—and how the Lord broke his depression on 11/24/02 using 1 Thess. 5:18. In addition to reading a poem of 15.5 couplets that he wrote for Andre’s funeral, Paul mentions “Teach Us to Number Our Days” by Marty Goetz, “All Glory Be to Christ” as sung by The Petersens, and “On Eagle’s Wings” by Michael Joncas. (Note: Charlie Seifert is the name of the Christian firefighter on the scene of Andre’s death.)
Episode 90 - Advent Promises Part 4 - Fulfilled in Christ
Paul Arneberg and Pastor Brent Kompelien conclude Advent 2024 with one of the most awesome chapters in the Bible, Revelation 5. Ever influenced by the arts to supplement his love for God’s Word, Paul opens and closes with samples of a great oratorio that he experienced in college, The Revelation of St. John the Divine by the late Dominick Argento. Pastor Brent reflects on his final sermon on “The Promises of God” by delving into the breathtaking nature of the Christ-exulting worship in Rev. 5. This final Roots & Branches episode for 2024 wraps up with a discussion of the “already” and “not yet” nature of Christ’s kingdom, admonishing the listeners to prioritize reading the whole counsel of God in order to grow in Christ and cling to the Lord’s promises for ultimate fulfillment at the end of the age, especially amidst trials. Keep Christ at the center, and keep in Christian community as a comfort and foretaste of the coming fullness of the Kingdom of God!
Episode 89 - Advent Promises Part 3 - Received By Faith
Paul Arneberg and Pastor Brent Kompelien continue their mini-series celebrating Advent 2024. After Paul recounts the four-fold life-changing nature of the year 1989 in his life, Pastor Brent returns to his sermon from 12/15/24 and offers bonus material on Abraham, the exemplar of faith and “the father of us all” (Rom. 4:16). He and Paul discuss atonement (meaning to “cover over”) as a human longing and NEED, but only fulfilled in receiving salvation in Christ through faith. Cross references abound, including Deuteronomy, Matthew, Mark, Ephesians, Galatians, and comparing the Mercy Seat in the Temple to our need to be covered by the mercy of Christ.
Episode 88 - Advent Promises Part 2 - The Anointed One
Paul Arneberg and Pastor Brent Kompelien return to their mini-series celebrating Advent 2024. As Pastor Brent wraps up his 15-week sermon series on “The Promises of God” this month, he and Paul discuss Matthew 1 and the arrival of the Promise in Christ (aka the Messiah, or Anointed One). After Paul connects his recent arctic distance run with the journey depicted in The Nativity Story (2006), Pastor Brent recaps the genealogy of Jesus in Matt. 1 and how both Judaism and Christianity are unique in world history by demanding that we hold up a mirror to ourselves and our need for salvation from our sins (Matt. 1:21). Paul ends with an admonishment to renew personal Bible reading in 2025 and he gives a plug to our New Life EFC sermon podcast (available on our website or search iTunes for “New Life EFC Hastings sermons”).
Episode 87 - The Necessity of Margin - Part 2
This two-part episode by Director of Discipleship Paul Arneberg focuses on the concept of margin inspired by the book Margin by Dr. Richard A. Swenson. In the 2019-2020 school year, the Lord led Paul to write a nine-part column series on margin. Using Scripture, personal examples and movies, Part 2 features four more key words related to margin: Contentment, Rest (incl. seven sub-category “S” words: Sleep, Stress, Schedule, Space, Sovereignty, Satisfaction, and Sabbath), Balance vs. Excellence (+ Negative Excellence), and Time.
Episode 86 - The Necessity of Margin - Part 1
This two-part episode by Director of Discipleship Paul Arneberg focuses on the concept of margin inspired by the book Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Dr. Richard A. Swenson. In the school year leading up to and including the COVID lockdowns (2019-2020), the Lord led Paul to write a nine-part column series on margin (https://jugheads.com/category/themarginseries/). Using Scripture, personal examples and movie references, Part 1 features Paul discussing four key words related to the concept of margin: Boundaries, Gratitude, Peace, and Simplicity.
Episode 85 - Advent Promises Part 1 - The Good Shepherd
Paul Arneberg and Pastor Brent Kompelien kick off a mini-series celebrating Advent 2024. As Pastor Brent wraps up his 14-week sermon series on “The Promises of God” this December, he and Paul discuss Ezekiel 34 and the Lord’s promise to shepherd His sheep and seek the lost. Cultural references include the classic “Rudolph” Christmas program; Aslan of Narnia; Aragorn of Middle-earth; and a special mention of an Advent song by the late Christian musician Jeremy Erickson. Supportive Scriptures include passages from Luke, John, Romans, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, and Revelation.