Yesterday, we started the season of Advent with a message titled "Longing for Salvation." We heard how, during the Christmas season, we not only remember Jesus' birth, but we also long for him to come back; we long for him to deliver us from this world of sin and evil. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/LongingForSalvation

On Thanksgiving, we heard a message titled "The Blessing of Thanksgiving". We learned that, by expressing thankfulness to God, by remembering what he's done for us, we're enabled to trust in him in the present. This message can be found at http://www.archive.org/details/TheBlessingOfThanksgiving

Yesterday we heard the fourth and final part of our series, "Living In the End Times". We heard that, as we await the Lord's return, we're to use our gifts to serve one another. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/UseYourGifts

Yesterday, we heard the third part of our series, "Living in the End Times." We heard that, as we await the Lord's return, we've been called to show hospitality to one another. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/Hospitality_401

Yesterday, we heard part 2 of our series, "Living In the End Times". We heard that, as we anticipate the return of Christ, we're to love one another earnestly. Even though this sounds common sense, and even though it seems easy to obey, it's much more difficult than we realize. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/EarnestLove

Last week, we joined with the other churches in Northwood for a community service, put on by a group known as Harvest for Kids.

Yesterday, we began a series of messages that will take us up to Thanksgiving. We're told in Scripture that Jesus will soon return; we're told that the end will come. And we're told that we're to be prepared. So, how are we to live in the end times?

In this first message, based on 1 Peter 4:7-11, we hear that we're to be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of our prayers. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/SelfControl_111

We all want the grace of God for ourselves. We want it also for our family and friends. We even want it for many people that we don't know, for those we deem good people. However, there are certain people we believe to be unworthy of God's grace. If God is generous with them, we resent his grace. However, we should never resent the grace of God. We should always rejoice in it. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/RejoicingInGodsGrace

Yesterday, we heard from missionaries Steve and Alberta Knudtson. They shared with us about missionary life and also about the vision they have for ministry. Their message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/SAKnudtson

In the church today, even though we can articulate the gospel message, and even though we can recite John 3:16 from memory, many of us are depending on ourselves to earn forgiveness; we're depending on our obedience to the law to earn salvation. However, according to Galatians 3, by doing so, we remain under the wrath of God. We're saved only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/InGodWeTrust_414

Most people in our society know of Jesus. But they have many different ideas about him. And many of these ideas are not Scriptural. We sometimes think these differences are no big deal. But they are a big deal. Believing Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God, is the foundation of the Church.

We had some audio glitches during this message, which you will hear in the recording. We were attempting to fix them, and eventually switched microphones. I hope it's not too distracting, but the entire message is available. It can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/WhoIsThisJesus_386

Our God is deserving of worship; the Lord is worthy of our praise. And we're called to worship him. However, no matter what we do, his praise will go forth. No one and nothing can stop his praise from going forth. But are we giving him the praise he's due? This message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/HeWillBePraised

Young people have been leaving the church at an alarming rate. What can we do to stop the bleeding? This message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/PassingItOn

We often declare that our life is our own; we say that this is our body. And what we're saying is that no one can tell us what to do; we're saying that we're in charge of our own life. However, in Colossians 1 we're told that we were created by Jesus and for Jesus. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/CreatedByHim

We all have many things that we value in life. But what is most important to you in life? Jesus tells us that the kingdom of heaven is so valuable, that we should be willing to sacrifice everything in order to possess it. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/OurGreatestTreasure

The church in our nation is heading in many different directions; their are many different priorities on which they focus. But what does Jesus tell us about the mission of the church? What should be our primary focus? This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/TheMissionOfTheChurch

This week, Pastor Elden Nelson, president of the AFLC, was with us to install Pastor Kent at Ebenezer. He delivered a message about the call of God that can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/Installation

Here is my first message as pastor of Ebenezer Free Lutheran Church. We all have limitations. This includes me, as a pastor. If I try to do it all, it will take away from my primary calling, which is the ministry of the Word. So, as a church, we need everyone to pitch in. The more who serve and use their gifts, the more lives we'll touch for Christ. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/Limitations

Below is the link to my final sermon as pastor of Grace Free Lutheran Church in DeKalb, IL. In it, I focused on the call of God and how, as his people, we must follow his call. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/PastorKentsFinalSermonAtGflcDekalb

We often fail in our calling because we don't feel qualified to carry it out. However, as we see in 1 Corinthians 1, this is how God intends it to be. He calls and uses those who aren't qualified. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryUnqualified

In the church today, we too often fail to expect God to work through us as we serve him. We don't believe that God will do the miraculous through us. However, because of God's calling, we should expect him to do great things. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryExpectingGreatThings

Yesterday, we heard the last message in our series on Christian parenting. We heard how we must find the right balance. Just as we must not be permissive, neither must we provoke our children to anger. We must not do this because it hinders our ability to train them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/KentSperryRightBalance