Immanuel Fellowship Sermons

THE LIGHT HAS COMEThe pandemic has made our hearts ache, like few other experiences, for light and life. “When will things return to normal?” became our repeated refrain. Yet, the Gospel of John reveals that God's light does not make things normal. It makes them new. Darkness may surround us in way analogous to God's people wandering through the wilderness, but the LORD was leading them somewhere. This Christmas, we remember the LORD is leading us too. The light has come.

THE LIGHT HAS COMEThe pandemic has made our hearts ache, like few other experiences, for light and life. “When will things return to normal?” became our repeated refrain. Yet, the Gospel of John reveals that God's light does not make things normal. It makes them new. Darkness may surround us in way analogous to God's people wandering through the wilderness, but the LORD was leading them somewhere. This Christmas, we remember the LORD is leading us too. The light has come.

THE LIGHT HAS COMEThe pandemic has made our hearts ache, like few other experiences, for light and life. “When will things return to normal?” became our repeated refrain. Yet, the Gospel of John reveals that God's light does not make things normal. It makes them new. Darkness may surround us in way analogous to God's people wandering through the wilderness, but the LORD was leading them somewhere. This Christmas, we remember the LORD is leading us too. The light has come.

In the final week of a series on The Gospel-Centered Life, Pastor Trent preaches on conflict. Is there a more striking area of needed growth for Minnesotans?! This sermon draws insight from "James the Wise." In chapters 3-4 of James' letter, we see the fruit, the root, and the harvest of gospel conflict.

In the eighth week of a series on The Gospel-Centered Life, Pastor Trent tells the setting, climax, and ending of the book of Genesis. It's a great saga of hurt, confusion, and forgiveness. At the finale, Joseph offers to his own brothers the lesson of his life: what God is doing surpasses what people have done.

In the seventh week of a series on The Gospel-Centered Life, Kaylin Miranda teaches from Isaiah 6 about living on mission. In this chapter, we see four insights straight from the throne room of God. The prophet is transformed by the gospel (inward) and then sent on mission (outward). Isaiah's atonement led directly to his assignment.

In the sixth week of a series on The Gospel-Centered Life, Rob Lord teaches from 1 Thessalonians about idolatry. One theologian calls the human heart a "factory of idols." So... What are idols? How do idols affect us? What does the gospel call us to do?

In the fifth week of a series on The Gospel-Centered Life, we study Naaman the Leper from 2 Kings 5:1-27. When it comes to the word "repentance," most of us tend to recoil. Pastor Trent shows how the story of Naaman offers a redefinition of repentance that leads to restoration and joy.

In the fourth week of a series on The Gospel-Centered Life, Pastor Trent preaches about the purpose of the law. If Christ can unite sinners to God, then surely He can align saints with God. The gospel is the power for joyful obedience. The love of God frees us to delight in the law of God. 

In the third week of a series on The Gospel-Centered Life, Pastor Trent preaches about developing a habit of faith. In order to grow in the gospel, we must continue to believe the gospel. The death and resurrection of Jesus is not the starting point but the path of the Christian life.

Pastor Trent sits down for a conversation with Kaylin Miranda and Laura Senske to talk about spiritual leadership. In this first conversation, they talk about healthy group dynamics, share past experiences of The Gospel-Centered Life, and reflect on how to create safety within a community.

The way you hide what you lack is the hold tighter to what you've got. Pastor Trent teaches Mark 10, challenging the church to honestly bring our needs to the Lord Jesus. Because of the cross, God sees and meets our lack with the fullness of his love. 

Pastor Trent starts a nine-week study of "The Gospel-Centered Life." The life of the Apostle Paul shows us three movements of fresh faith that are needed to keep the gospel central. Only fresh faith can prevent gospel drift.

Pastor Trent teaches Romans 12:1-2 showing how the mercy of God matters to spiritual formation. In Christ, God offers an "all of me" kind of mercy that goes to work transforming our ability to love with heart, soul, mind, and strength. If you want to grow into gospel maturity, you need and "all of me" spirituality.

If we want to grow toward gospel maturity, we need an “all of life” spirituality. Pastor Trent unpacks one essential piece of maturity this week. Our horizon is to live all of life with a sense of God's presence.

If you want to know God deeply, you must learn to relate to the Trinity. One of the sure signs of gospel maturity is firsthand knowledge of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Pastor Trent explains how the gospel reveals "all of God" by offering to us a relationship with the Trinity.

This passage is full of irony. Although he is captive, Jesus has not lost control. Throughout the trial of Jesus, Mark shows us that it’s really the other characters who are under examination. They are testing Jesus, but in the process he is turning them inside out. 

The faithfulness of Jesus in the final moments of his life and the crucifixion are dazzling. The darker the scene the brighter King Jesus shines. In this episode, Pastor Trent highlights the faithfulness of Jesus in prayer, persecution, and prophecy.

The disciples have come to the beginning of the end. One thing is clear as they sit at the King's Table for their last meal: Jesus knows their hearts. Bishop Dan Moose shows us how the anointing, the betrayal, the denial, and the scattering are all connected. Through them the Lord still questions us, "What is in your heart?"

After telling his original disciples about the cross, Jesus asks them to follow him there! To take up their own cross. To lose their own lives. This is all too much for them, and feels too much for us. How could we ever follow the way crucified King? Pastor Trent teaches from Mark 9 about the how "transfiguration" strengthens Jesus (and us) for the road to he cross.

In this Easter sermon, Pastor Trent explores the key turning point in The Gospel According to Mark. In order have spiritual life, Jesus teaches you have to stop trying to gain, stop working to earn, stop attempting to offer something “in return for your soul.” To have what is truly life, you must be willing to lose all you consider "life."

• The Big Idea: In Jesus, we have not just good teacher, but the divine leader we need. Sometimes you can’t be told, you must be led. • The Problem: We like the disciples are slow to understand, and we need multi-stage healing. What hope do we have to ever “get” the gospel Jesus? • The Proposition: Because Jesus is King of kings, we can learn by following the leader.

The connection between your heart and your habits matters deeply to Jesus. He confronts the religious leaders of his day saying, "It’s not what you eat, but what you express that stains you." Out of the human heart comes uncleanness, but out of the divine heart of Jesus’ comes purity — whatever he touches becomes the same. This is the King’s Heart! 

What do wind, waves, evil spirits, disease, and death have to do with one another? In this section of Mark, the gospel writer is stringing together stories to make a statement about Jesus' identity. Jesus is the Christ, the long awaited King with ALL authority in every sphere of existence. When Christ enters chaos, all is made well.

What do wind, waves, evil spirits, disease, and death have to do with one another? In this section of Mark, the gospel writer is stringing together stories to make a statement about Jesus' identity. Jesus is the Christ, the long awaited King with ALL authority in every sphere of existence. When Christ enters chaos, all is made well.

In this chapter of Mark's Gospel, King Jesus unveils the secret, the seed, and the surprise of the Kingdom of God. Many in his day and many in ours "hear but do not understand." And so, the Lord Jesus speaks today: “Listen up!”

In this section of the Gospel of Mark, the power of King Jesus is on display and calling for a response. When it comes to responding to Jesus, there are only two options — reject him or receive him. Pastor Trent teaches through the varied ways to reject Jesus in this passage: control, censure, or contain.

Who is the Real Jesus? What was He really like? In this episode, Pastor Trent teaches about “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” It is the announcement that God has come — the King is here.

What is the best offense for spiritual battle? How about the best defense? In this episode of the Blueprint Series, Pastor Trent teaches from Ephesians 6:10-20 and Isaiah 59:12-19 about the "helmet of salvation" and the "sword of the Spirit."

In this episode, Pastor Trent reflects on the call to STAND in spiritual battle by taking up the shield of faith. This sermon continues the study of the armor of God and emphasizes the gospel truth that Christians have authority in spiritual conflict.

In this episode of the Blueprint sermon series, Pastor Trent considers the armor of God. Ephesians challenges the church to put on the belt of truth and stand in the midst of spiritual battle.

What is the biblical truth that this cultural moment is showing us? Creation is in conflict. We live in the middle of a spiritual battle that is misunderstood by many and missed by others. In this sermon, Pastor Trent unpacks the real conflict we face.

Let’s work it out. On Father’s Day, Pastor Trent considers the Apostle Paul’s words to children and parents. This is the first of three key areas of life in which the gospel brings new life — new ways of living that need not merely one work out but continual exercise for us to be God’s blueprint.

Moments of transition are often illuminated by contemplation. It is the link that pulls the pieces of life together, and helps us see the whole. In this message, Pastor Trent teaches the key transition in chapter 5 of Ephesians, which links all that has been written before with the practical help that follows.