Today, we're told that we should do what's right for us. We're told that, unless we fulfill ourselves, we'll never be happy or content. However, according to Romans 8, we're obligated not to the sinful nature, but the Lord. As believers, we're called to live for him rather than ourselves. This message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryYouOweIttoYourself

This week we looked at Mark 1:35-39. Many Christians today are so busy that they don't make any time for the Lord. And, in all reality, we have the time. The Lord just comes low on the priority list. We should instead follow the example of Jesus who, no matter how much he had to do and no matter how many expectations were placed on him, made time for God. This message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryTimeforGod

Last week, while I was on vacation, Michael Flechsig, a man newly approved to the AFLC fellowship roster, filled in for me. He talked about the hope of eternity and the impact it has on our lives. It can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/MichaelFlechsigEternityInYourHeart

In the church of today, most people are only interested in what they can get from their church. They give no thought to what they can do for others; they're unwilling to do anything for others. However, in Romans 1 we see that Paul had a desire to give. And this is a desire that all of us should have. This sermon can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryAHeartofService

This week, we had our service out at a park for our annual Sunday School picnic. Since we didn't have our wonderful sound system to record the message, I recorded one of my trial runs ahead of time. Essentially, you get the very basic, stripped down version. But you'll get the point all the same.

In Genesis 22, God called Abraham to sacrifice his only son as a burnt offering. And no matter how much Abraham loved his son, he loved his God even more. He went through with it until, at the last moment, God stopped him. In the same way, we see all throughout Scripture that we're called to lay all that is dear to us upon the altar; we're to love God more than anyone or anything else in this world. This message can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryLayItOntheAltar

Yesterday at Grace was confirmation Sunday. Two of our young people publicly professed their faith. You can hear their confession at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryconfirmation2008

Our message was also for this special occasion. We looked at the end of John 6. Many of Jesus' disciples stopped following him because they did not believe. The Twelve, on the other hand, kept on because they knew that Jesus is the Christ and the only way of salvation. If we sincerely believe, then we too will continue to follow Jesus each and every day. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryBecauseYouBelieve

Our children's message for the day was based on the words of Jesus, "I am the vine and you are the branches." Can Molly's stick come back to life? To find out, listen at http://www.archive.org/details/MollyBlobaumJune22childrensmessage

Yesterday, on Father's Day, we looked at the fact that fathers are helpers of the helpless. They love their children by doing for them what they cannot do for themselves. And the same thing is true of God, our heavenly Father. He too is a helper of the helpless. He helped us in our helplessness by saving us from sin and death. This message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryHelperoftheHelpless

We live in a culture of indebtedness. We want everything to be fair. If we do something for someone, we think they should do something for us. And this attitude often creeps into our relationship with God. Because we've been good, because we've tried to live for him, we feel entitled to his blessings. However, as we see in Job 41:11, God doesn't owe us anything. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryTitforTat

Our children's message, focusing on greed, can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/MollyBlobaumJune8childrensmessage

In our world today, there are many people who proclaim a different truth, a different gospel, than the one we find in Scripture. Jesus told us to watch out for such people, calling them false prophets. We must look out for them, we must beware, to protect our soul as well as the souls of others. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryBeware

This past Sunday we talked once again about evangelism. Even though we, in the church, know that we've been called by God to proclaim the gospel to all creation, we're too embarrassed to do so. We're ashamed of the gospel. However, we must not be ashamed because the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. Thi s message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryAshamedoftheGospel

Our children's message is also available. It focused on laziness. It can be found at http://www.archive.org/details/MollyBlobaumMay25childrensmessage

Where did we come from? This is a question asked by many, and it's highlighted in the creation/evolution debate. In this message, based on Genesis 1, we see that God made all things. We also see that a lot is riding on this truth. It ultimately affects our entire view of mankind and the world around us. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryIntheBeginning

Our children's message about unseen heros can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/MollyBlobaumMay18childrensmessage

Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday. Our message focused on the significance of Pentecost as we looked at a promise of Jesus in John 7:37-39. Jesus promised that, when we come to him, when we believe in him, the Holy Spirit would flow from within us. He'll not only live within us, but work through us so that many others can have the opportunity to receive the blessing we were given by God. This message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryBearersofBlessing

So often in life, we make our decisions, we determine our direction, based on what we want for ourselves. However, this is the wrong approach. We should find joy not in doing what we want, but in what God wants for us. Our lives should be devoted to him that they might be used for him and for his glory. This message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryWhatHaveYouAccomplished

This week at Grace, we're having our spring revival meetings. Pastor Peter Ward, of Faith Lutheran Church in Ottawa, IL, is with us. He's sharing a series of messages titled, "Discerning the Voice of God."

The first message is based on 1 Samuel 3:1-10 and titled "Speak, for your Servant is Listening." It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/PeterWardSpeakLord_0

The second message of his series, delivered Sunday night was based on Nehemiah 8:4-12. It's titled "God Speaks from the Pulpit". It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/PeterWardGodSpeaksfromthePulpit_0

Monday's message was based on Numbers 22:21-34 and was titled, "Our Hearing Problem." It can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/PeterWardOurHearingProblem

The last message, delivered Tuesday evening, is titled "When God Is Silent". In this message, Pastor Ward takes us through a few examples in Scripture when God seemed to be silent and what they could possibly say about our experience. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/PeterWardWhenGodIsSilent

At Redeemer, I also delivered a message based on 1 Samuel 3:1-10 to whet their appetite. The sound quality isn't great, because I had to record it on a portable recorder, not the wonderful sound system we have over at Grace. But, you can still here it, and I hope it blesses you. It's titled "Hearing the Voice of God" and can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryHearingtheVoiceofGod_0

Yesterday, we brought our series, "The Problem of Pain", to an end. We saw that one other reason why God allows bad things to happen is that he uses them for our good. This message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryTheProblemofPain4

Yesterday, we again looked at the problem of pain. A third reason why a loving, all-powerful God allows tragedies to take place is because he uses them as a call to repentance. This message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryTheProblemofPain3_0

Yesterday, we heard the second message of our series, "The Problem of Pain." In it, we saw that another reason why God doesn't stop evil from happening is his patience, his desire that all should be saved. This message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryTheProblemofPain2

With the shooting at Northern Illinois University about six weeks ago, it's now time to address a problem that gives people so much trouble: the problem of pain. Whenever something like this happens people ask: "If God is loving, why didn't he do something?" or "If God is truly all-powerful, why didn't he stop it from happening." The events suggest to them that either God is not loving or that he's not all-powerful. During the next four weeks, we'll be taking a look at these questions and the Scriptural truths that address them. The first reason why God allowed this tragic event to take place is the sinfulness of man. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryTheProblemofPain1

Many people today find the Christian message to be intolerant and exclusive. But what we find in Scripture is just the opposite. We find that God isn't partial to anyone; he'll receive anyone who repents and trusts in Jesus Christ. By Jesus death and resurrection, he provided salvation for all and he desires the salvation of all. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryGoodNewsforAll

Our children's message for the day is also available. You can find it at http://www.archive.org/details/MollyBlobaumMar23childrensmessage

In the message for Maundy Thursday at Grace and Good Friday at Redeemer, we heard the last message of the seried "This Is Most Certainly True." We looked at how essential it is to have both Law and Gospel present in our preaching and teaching. It can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryLawandGospel

Yesterday, we finished our series, "From Their Own Lips". We looked at the words of the centurion, who after Jesus' death, and after God's demonstrations of his power, confessed that Jesus truly was the Son of God. He realized it too late. Will we? This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperrySurelyHeWastheSonofGod