Just about everyone knows who I'm talking about when I use the phrase, "I want to be like Mike." Because of his great talent, as well as his championships, money, and fame, many people wanted to be like Michael Jordan at the height of his career. In the same way, we all have role models that we look up to and aspire to be like. However, as we see in Ephesians 5:1-11, instead of imitating the ways of the world or the people of this world, we're to be imitators of God. He's to be our role model and the one we emulate. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryLikeMike

If you encounter problems with that link, as I have this week, try this alternate link, http://www.ourmedia.org/ia/details/KentSperryLikeMike

My family and I took one last trip before school starts, so we had a guest speaker at Grace and Redeemer. Dave Jameson, from Freedom Lutheran Church in Ottawa, IL was with us. He spoke about being prepared for action, and how this can remove distractions that hinder our service of God. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/DaveJamesonPreparedforAction

This week at Grace, everyone, including I, was distracted during the sermon. A bat made its way into the sanctuary in the middle of the message, flying back and forth over the heads of the congregation! Hopefully those who didn't catch it all (the sermon, not the bat) will listen again to it.

We heard in Luke 19 how Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. He knew the judgment that was coming on them because they didn't recognize his coming. In the same way, we too should weep for the millions of people in our world who don't know Jesus and are, as a result of their sin, going to hell. And this sorrow should motivate us to obey the calling of God to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth.

It can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryDoYouEvenCare It can also be heard at http://www.ourmedia.org/ia/details/KentSperryDoYouEvenCare

We all lead very busy lives, we have many different goals, and many things that we value. It get's very hard to balance everything because things often conflict with one another. God also gets brushed aside in the process. In today's message, based on Matthew 13:44-46, we see that God's kingdom is so valuable that the one who finds it gladly gives up all else to possess it. It can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryWhat_sTrulyImportant It can also be heard at http://www.ourmedia.org/ia/details/KentSperryWhat_sTrulyImportant

This week, we heard our final message in our series on Joshua, "The Making of a Servant." In this message we saw that, even though Moses was a very unique leader, he was not indispensable. God was able to raise up someone else to take his place. The same is also true for us. So the servant of God must not think to highly of himself, or place too great an importance on any one man. This message can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryUniqueButNotIndispensable

In this continuation of our series on the life of Joshua titled, "The Making of a Servant," we see that a servant of God must be willing to go against the flow. Society tried to lead us away from God, and we must be willing to stand against this pressure. It can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryAgainsttheFlow

The past couple of Sundays, I've been away on vacation. So we had a couple of guest speakers in at Grace. On July 8, Sheriff Roger Scott gave the message in which he looked at the life of Lot and what we can learn from him as we seek to follow Jesus. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/RogerScottLifeofLot

On July 15th, Pastor Don Barnes was with us and delivered a message in which he looked at Paul's desire to know Christ. He then shows that this is the desire every believer in Jesus should possess. The link for this message is http://www.archive.org/details/PastorDonBarnesKnowingJesus

In the fifth message of our series, "The Making of a Servant", we see that Moses was not at all concerned about his own glory and honor. In the same way, we're not to be concerned about these things in ministry. We're to recognize that all people, along with the gifts they've been given by God, are just as essential to the ministry of the church as we are. It can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryNoRoomforPride

In the fourth message of our series "The Making of a Servant" we see that God is our guide. Just as he spoke to Moses and in this way gave direction to the people of Israel, so does he speak to us today. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryGodIsOurGuide

In our third message of the series, "The Making of a Servant", we saw that God is a jealous God. He will not tolerate rebellion. He demands a whole-hearted commitment and devotion. This message can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryAJealousGod

In the second message of our series, "The Making of a Servant", we learn that God is present. He isn't a distant God, far removed from us. He's right here with us, living among us. And this has an important impact on us as we seek to serve God and minister to others. It can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryGodIsPresent

Last week we saw that, as believers, we've been called to serve the Lord and to minister to others. We also saw that we've been empowered by the Holy Spirit to do what we've been called to do. This week, we began a series of messages titled "The Making of a Servant." We're looking at lessons learned by Joshua as he prepared for the calling God would place on his life.

This week we saw that the servant of the Lord must look to the Lord. We're completely dependent on him in all things. Because of this, we must fix our eyes on him alone as we strive to heed his calling. This message can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryLooktotheLord

Even though we know we've been called by God to reach out with the message of the gospel, even though we know we're called to minister to others, quite often believers fail to do so. We often fail to do what we've been called to do because we feel unworthy of such a calling and incapable of it. But, as we see in our message for today, our ministry is empowered by the Holy Spirit. It's only as he works through us that we can do anything; it's only as he works in others that their lives are touched. This message can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryEmpoweredMinistry

Today, in a message based on 1 Peter 4:7-11 we see that the end of all things is at hand; this fact is stated all throughout Scripture. And because of this, we're told, we're to live for the Lord; in all things, we're to glorify him. This message can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryTheDayIsComing

It came out this past September that chaplains in the United States military have been told that they cannot publicly pray in Jesus' name. In this message, we look at why Christians end their prayers in this way, and why, despite orders, military chaplains must continue to do so. And not only them. So too must all believers who pray in public. This message can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryInJesusName

At Grace this week, we're hearing a series of messages entitled "Living the Life of Heaven." Our speaker is Pastor Dennis Norby from Helmar Lutheran Church. The first message in this series is titled "Welcoming the Message." In this sermon, based on 1 Thessalonians 1, Pastor Norby points out the effect that welcoming the gospel had upon this particular church and what it can have upon us as well. It can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/DennisNorbyWelcomingtheMessage

On Sunday evening, Pastor Norby preached a message talking about the work that's produced by our faith. It can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/DennisNorbyWorkProducedByFaith

Our Monday message reflected on love, and how it inspires works, our service of God and others. It can be found at http://www.archive.org/details/DennisNorbyLaborPromptedByLove

Our Tuesday message showed that our hope in Jesus Christ produces endurance for the believer. It can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/DennisNorbyEnduranceInspiredByHope

Yesterday, at Redeemer, we heard a message based on Isaiah 5:1-7. In this text we see that God has done everything possible for mankind; there's nothing more God can do to convince man that he's God and that he should place his trust in the Lord. And because of this, if people continue in their rebellion, if they continue to turn from the Lord, he will justly pour his wrath upon them. This message can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryWhatMoreCouldHeDo

In this week's message, we heard how, as believers, we're to abstain from the passions of the flesh. We're to do this because giving in to them is a danger to both us and others. As Peter points out in 1 Peter 2:11, these passions war against our soul. Giving in to them can lead us into a state of unrepentance. Peter points out that we're also to do this, that we're to do good, because doing so will cause unbelievers to glorify God when he visits them and because we'll silence the talk of ignorant people. It then stands to reason that the opposite is also true. By giving in to them, we validate the world's criticism of us and our message. This message can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryPlayingWithFire

Today, it seems, we live in a culture of cowards. People are often unwilling to do what is right out of fear. They fear what others may think of them; they're afraid of what they might lose; they're afraid of what others may do to them. But, as we see in 1 Peter 2, as believers, we're called to suffer for what is right. We're to follow in the footsteps of Jesus who wanted nothing more than to do the will of the Father. You can hear or download this message at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryHowFarWillYouGo

Scripture tells us that Jacob, rather than his brother Esau, was to receive the blessing of God. However, throughout his early years, Jacob tried to get the advantage, he tried to get God's blessing, by his own effort and cunning. However, he ended up learning that God is the only source of blessing and that, in order to get it, he had to hang onto him and not let go. The same is also true for us. God is the only source of blessing and in order to get it, we must hold onto Jesus. This message can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryOnlyJesus