Sermons from New Life Church in Washington, Illinois
Brian and Jake push on without their fearless host, Cody. Together, they explore what faith is and is not and discuss what it has looked like in their own lives.
Faith is listening to God's voice and growing in active trust.
Show Grace & Truth : Enemies
Show Grace & Truth to those we move away from.
Brian talks about parenting his kids and his staff. Staff then responds to how they feel about being parented by someone shorter than them.
Pastor Brian speaks to us on how to allow God to show you grace and truth so you can show grace and truth to your kids.
how to make sure friends stay....friends forever
Worship Pastor Cody speaks to us about pursuing the friendships God intended for us with grace and truth.
Cody and Jake Dig into marriage and what it looks like to be a married person full of Grace & Truth.
Kirk Bode speaks to us about pursuing the marriage God intended for us with grace and truth.
Jake and Cody touch base on yesterdays message and connect about future messages in the series.
Pastor Jake Harper begins our new series on being Full of Grace and Truth in our relationships and how we become people of love as we receive the love of God.
The trio debrief Easter and talk about the next series coming up.
Pastor Brian speaks to us about how Jesus' resurrection turns our stories around.
Brian and Jake talk about what unity is, how to pursue it, and why it is so important for the Church. Cody is absent for an unknown reason.
Pastor Brian speaks to us on because we're united with Jesus, we're to pursue unity with one another.
Cody is back in the studio today! We're sitting down to unpack Brian's latest message, peeling back the layers and diving even deeper into the conversation.
Pastor Brian speaks to us on how to be defined by knowing Jesus, trusting Him and living like Him.
In this episode, Brian and Jake discuss Jesus' honest words to His disciples about suffering and hope. We talk about how the resurrection reshapes the way we face pain, helping us move through suffering with hope and courage.
Pastor Brian continues in The Upper Room series speaking to us of how His resurrection, turns sorrow into joy.
In this episode, we dive into Week Two of our series on the Holy Spirit's presence in the Upper Room. We explore the profound shift from Jesus walking beside the disciples to the Spirit dwelling within them—and what that internal shift means for our lives today. We also hold space for a personal update as we discuss Jake's transition. Whether you're in a season of waiting or a moment of massive change, this conversation serves as a reminder that the "in-between" is often where the Spirit does His deepest work.
Pastor Brian continues in The Upper Room Series with a message on how the Holy Spirit guides, convicts, and empowers us to become like Jesus.
Together, the team explores the different challenges kids face in friendships at every stage. The conversation offers practical wisdom on helping kids navigate conflict, building meaningful relationships, and see healthy friendships modeled at home.
What happens when we stop talking at God and start listening to Him? In this conversation, we pull back from the noise of the world to enter the "Upper Room"—a space of total surrender and Holy Spirit encounter. We explore what it means to host the Presence of God in our daily lives and how one moment in His company changes everything. No scripts, no agendas—just a hunger for more of Him.
Pastor Brian speaks to us on how the Holy Spirit is God's personal presence dwelling in us, forming us and bringing life and peace.
It's one of the most sobering warnings in the New Testament: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first."In this episode, we sit down in the intimate, dimly lit space of the Upper Room Discourse (John 13–17) to explore Jesus' final, radical instructions to His disciples. While the world often views "being liked" as the ultimate social currency, Jesus prepares His followers for the exact opposite. We're breaking down why the world's friction isn't a sign of failure, but a sign of belonging.
Pastor Jake speaks on being the Compelling Alternative in the world
Abiding isn't a passive state; it's an active, daily choice to tether our souls to the source of life. Just as a branch draws its nutrients from the vine, we draw our strength, character, and peace directly from our relationship with God.
In a world that demands we "produce" at all costs, Jesus offers a different rhythm: "Abide in me." This week, we explore the profound simplicity of John 15. We're moving away from the exhaustion of self-striving and into the rest of spiritual connection. Join us as we discuss what it practically looks like to stay attached to the Vine, how to handle the seasons of pruning, and why true fruitfulness is never forced—it's grown.
We often talk about the Kingdom of God like it's a retirement plan—a distant destination we're waiting to reach once the clock runs out. But in the intimacy of the Upper Room, Jesus began to flip the script. He didn't give the disciples a map or a set of coordinates; He gave them a Father.
In this episode of Digging Deeper, we peel back the layers of obligation and duty to discover the joy of giving from a transformed heart. We discuss why the posture of the giver matters just as much as the gift itself.
In a world shaped by constant noise, distraction, and urgency, silence can feel uncomfortable—or even unproductive. But Scripture and the way of Jesus tell a different story. In this episode, we unpack this week's message on silent prayer and why stillness is not an escape from formation, but a pathway into it. We explore how silence helps counter distraction, exposes what noise often hides, and invites us to bring our whole selves—both strength and weakness—before God. Grounded in Psalm 46:10, this conversation reframes silence not as emptiness, but as intentional presence and trust in who God is. Whether silence feels unfamiliar or long overdue, this episode invites us to reconsider stillness as a vital rhythm in a growing prayer life—and a practice that shapes us from the inside out.
Pastor Jake speaks on how in silence, we bring our whole selves into the loving presence of God
n this episode, we explore prayer as a dialogue—learning not only how to speak to God, but how to listen for His voice. We unpack the ways God often speaks through Scripture, worship, wise counsel, circumstances, and quiet promptings, while also addressing why hearing from God can feel confusing or difficult. This conversation also invites healthy discernment: grounding what we hear in God's Word, practicing humility, and remaining both expectant and wise. Ultimately, prayer is about relationship—and relationships require communication. Whether you're confident in hearing from God or still learning how to listen, this episode offers encouragement, clarity, and a simple invitation to take a next step toward deeper life with God.
Kirk talks to us about using prayer as a dialogue.
In this episode of Where We're At, we explore what it looks like to parent from Grace and Truth. The team helps parents recognize their default responses and learn how to recalibrate towards a call-up posture.
Prayer can feel confusing. Whether prayer feels natural to you or feels like a struggle, this conversation is an invitation to slow down.
Pastor Brian speaks to us on Praying consistently to experience relationship with God.
Prayer often becomes a place where we ask God for things—but what if the true purpose of prayer isn't getting what we want, but being changed by Him? In this episode, we unpack Week 1 of our prayer series and explore how prayer is meant to be an expression of trust and dependence, not a transaction or formula. We talk about how prayer shapes our hearts, deepens our awareness of God's presence, and forms us over time. If prayer has ever felt frustrating, inconsistent, or discouraging, this conversation offers a fresh and hopeful perspective on what prayer is really for.
Pastors Brian, Jake and Cody are all together for a Live Digging Deeper from the Sanctuary.
Pastor Brian Wilmarth discusses how Jesus is God's presence with us...truly.
God's presence can feel complicated — sometimes clear, sometimes distant. In this episode, we reflect on 1 Kings 6–9 and John 2 to see how God's presence was never meant to be tied to a building, but ultimately revealed in Jesus. He is the true temple, the better sacrifice, and the rightful King. Even when we don't feel Him, God's presence is established, personal, and here with us.
Pastor Brian Wilmarth shares how God's true established, kingly presence comes in Jesus.
From the very beginning, God's desire has been clear: He wants to be with His people. In this episode, we trace the theme of God's presence—from Eden, to the center of the Israelite camp, to Jesus, Immanuel—God with us. We talk about how God pursues us, how His presence shapes our faith, and what it means to follow Jesus as a life lived with Him.
God's presence goes with us and mediates rescue.
The Christmas season can feel busy and overwhelming. In this family podcast, we talk honestly about expectations, traditions, and the pressures that come with the holidays—while refocusing our hearts on Jesus, the true reason for the season. Join us as we slow down, laugh together, and seek a more meaningful, Christ-centered Christmas.
In this episode, we explore the sweeping biblical theme of God's presence — from Eden to Immanuel. We talk about what it means to be created for life with God, how sin disrupts that relationship, and how the entire story of Scripture is God pursuing us to bring us back to Himself. Together we'll unpack why His presence is the core of our identity, our purpose, and our deepest fullness. If you've ever wondered what it really means to walk with God in daily life, this conversation invites you to rediscover the beauty of His nearness.
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