Yesterday, we kicked off the Love and Respect Conference at Grace. Pastor Steve Heilmann from Grace Lutheran Church in Morris, IL was with us and, for the message, gave us an overview of this series. It can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/SteveHeilmannAGodPleasingMarriage

I shared on the passage of Scripture that ties in with the conference at Redeemer and preached a message titled "Love and Respect." I had to use a portable recorder, so the sound quality isn't great, but it can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryLoveandRespect

Our children's message for the day, looking at expressions of faith we find in our daily lives, can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/MollyBlobaumApril26childrensmessage

Yesterday, I was gone as my family attended my nephew's confirmation. Pastor David Skordahl filled in for me. His message showed us that we can be certain where we'll end up after we die and that we should share this with others. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/DavidSkordahlLeavingOurForwardingAddress_0

The children's message for the day can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/MollyBlobaumApril19childrensmessage

For Easter Sunday, we looked at a passage of Scripture in John 2. Jesus tells the people that his resurrection will prove his divine authority. His resurrection proves that he's none other than God himself, so this shows us that he has authority over all creation, including us and our lives. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryDivineAuthority_0

Our children's message for the day, based on the legend of the Easter egg, can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/MollyBlobaumApril12childrensmessage

Yesterday we finished our other Lenten series, on the Lord's Prayer. We looked at the last two petitions of the Prayer: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." We saw that, in this prayer, we seek the protection of God. It can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperrySeekingGodsProtection

Last night, Pastor Randy Nelson of Lisbon Bethlehem Lutheran Church brought our Lenten series to a close. He preached a message by the same name as the series, "Not I, But Christ." It can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/RandyNelsonNotIButChrist

Yesterday, we looked at the fifth petition of the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." We see that we must seek the mercy of God, but also that this is a very dangerous prayer. If we withhold forgiveness from others then, in this prayer, we're asking God to withhold his forgiveness from us. This message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperrySeekingGodsForgiveness

The children's sermon for today can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/MollyBlobaumMarch29childrenssermon

Last night, Pastor Steven Heilmann from Grace Lutheran Church in Morris, IL was with us. He continued our series, "Not I, But Christ", with a message titled "Not I, But Christ and His Grace." It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/SteveHeilmannChristandHisGrace

Yesterday, we heard about the fourth petition of the Lord's Prayer. In it, Jesus instructs us to seek God's provision for our daily needs. As easy as this sounds, most of us fail to do so. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperrySeekingGodsProvision_0

Yesterday, we continued our Wednesday night Lenten series with Pastor David Skordahl of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Morris, IL. He continued our series, "Not I, But Christ" with a message titled, "Not I, But Christ and His Life." It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/DavidSkordahlChristandHisLife

Yesterday, we heard our third message in our Lent series on the Lord's Prayer. We considered the second and third petitions of the prayer: "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." We learned that, when we offer these prayers, we're asking that God would be our Savior and Lord. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryOurSaviorandLord

Our children's message, based on the children's book "The Parable of the Lily" can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/MollyBlobaumMarch15childrenssermon

Last night, Patrick Lohse, the intern pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Morris brought the message. He continued our series, "Not I, But Christ" with a message titled, "Not I, But Christ and His Faith." It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/PatrickLohseChristandHisFaith

Yesterday, we heard the second message of our series on the Lord's Prayer. In it, we focused on the first petition of the prayer, "Hallowed be your name." We saw that we're to pray that God's name might be made holy among us. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperrySanctifyingGodsName_0

Last night, the second message of our Lenten series, "Not I, But Christ," was brought by Pastor Chuck Sampson of Newark Lutheran Church in Newark, IL. He spoke of the great love God has for us. It can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/ChuckSampsonChristandHisLove

Yesterday I began a new series of messages that will carry us through the Sundays of Lent. The series focuses on the Lord's Prayer.

Yesterday we heard specifically about the address of the Prayer, and learned that our prayers must be rightly directed. We can't just pray to anyone or to any god. Our prayers must be directed to our Father in heaven, the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryTheDirectionofPrayer

Last night, we started our Lent series. Several pastors of the Illinois District of the AFLC are participating in a "round robin." Each week, one of us brings the next part of the series. The series is titled "Not I, But Christ".

In the first message, we heard that, as Christians, we've died with Christ. Our old life, our life of sin, has come to an end. If we truly believe in Jesus, we cannot continue to live in sin; we cannot continue to live for the old nature. We must instead embrace death and receive the new life that God has provided for us. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryChristandHisDeath

We all know that we're sinners. But we're usually unwilling to open up about the specific sins we've committed or those we're struggling with. We try to hide our sin, making ourselves seem to be better than we really are. However, God knows all things. There's no hiding our sin from him. Because of this, we must acknowledge our sin, we must confess it and repent of it, that we can receive his grace. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryNoHidingIt

Our children's message for the day can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/MarkFagerstromFeb22childrensmessage

Many people today think that, as long as they don't hurt anyone else, their sin is no big deal. But it is a big deal. According to Scripture, every sinful act is committed against none other than the Lord himself. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryAgainstYouOnly

On Saturday, Grace hosted the Mid-Winter Bible Conference of the Illinois District of the AFLC. The theme was "Building a Strong Foundation for Our Youth." The passage used for this discussion was Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

I brought the first message, talking about loving the Lord with our whole heart. If we're to raise our young people in faith, we need to be faithful ourselves. This message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryBibleConf1

The second message was brought by Pastor Chuck Sampson of Newark Lutheran Church in Newark, IL. He talked about the importance of having God's Word in our heart. You can find this message at http://www.archive.org/details/ChuckSampsonBibleConf2

To start off the afternoon, we heard a book review given by Pastor Peter Ward of Faith Lutheran Church in Ottawa, IL. He reviewed the book "The Last Christian Generation" by Josh McDowell. Unfortunately, I didn't locate the recording for this presentation. If I find it, I'll post it.

The third and fourth sessions were lead by Pastor Steve Pappillon of Fox River Lutheran Church in Sheridan, IL. He talked about how important it is for parents to share the Word with their children, and how we can talk of God with them at all times. We did have a minor audio glitch in the third presentation, so keep listening if things get quiet for a minute. They can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/StevePappillonBibleConf3 and at http://www.archive.org/details/StevePappillonBibleConf4

Yesterday, on Feb. 8th, we talked about a trap the church has fallen into today. So often, we think that if we can't help people financially, if we don't have the money, to meet their needs, there's nothing we can do for them. However, the reality is that there's a much greater gift we have to give. Touching people with the power of Jesus is much greater than any worldly goods we can give. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryTheGreatestGift

The church today has lost its sense of purpose; the people seem oblivious to their calling. We see in Scripture that God has called us to make disciples of all nations. But most of us aren't even willing to be disciples, let alone make disciples. The church must regain its sense of purpose; it must receive the call God has placed upon it. And then, like Jesus, we must let nothing keep us from fulfilling it. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryACertaintyofPurpose