Sermons on Grant:

Lesson 47: Preach With Humor Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 5, 2018

Preach with joyous, godly humor

Lesson Goal In this lesson I hope to teach how to preach a humorous sermon. Lesson Intro The top pay for professional comedians is probably in the multiple millions. That's far more than we pay the average preacher laboring in the word of God. Why? Why is it that the hollow, immoral message of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 48: Preach Apologetics Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 7, 2018

Basic elements of preaching to defend the Christian faith

Lesson Goal Introduce some basic elements of preaching apologetically. Lesson Intro In Philippians 1:7, 17 Paul defended the Christian faith. Defending the Christian faith has a long history. Those who have a particular gift in this area have served the church well throughout Christian history. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Two Ways

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 8, 2018

Among all the varieties of cultures and ways to live in this world, there are really only two ways to live, God's or the world's.

Intro If we could boil all the world’s religions and political philosophies down to their essentials what would we come up with? Are there real alternatives or just varieties of the same worldly way of life? Our purpose is to see that there are only two ways, God’s and the world’s. Our plan is to ...read more

Scripture: John 17:6-19

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 49: Preach With Balance Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 9, 2018

How can we teach our congregations to balance Christian essentials with non-essentials? How can we overcome bigotry on non-essential doctrines, while still maintaining our preference.

Lesson Goal Introduce some basic elements of balanced preaching. Lesson Intro In Acts 20:27 Paul informs the the church of God in Ephesus that he had preached to them the whole counsel of God. Most preachers that do not have a structured annual preaching plan are guilty of over-preaching their ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

We Preach Christ Not Ourselves

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 1, 2018

How are we to understand the New Testament? Are some of its instructions now irrelevant to us? Should we preach ourselves, our denomination, or popular opinion which contradicts the New Testament?

Prelude How are we to understand the New Testament? Are some of its instructions now irrelevant to us? Should we preach ourselves, our denomination, or popular opinion which contradicts the New Testament? Purpose: Let’s examine the popular notion that we can ignore or reinterpret clear New ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Denomination: Baptist

Suffering And Hope

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 5, 2018

Have we ever been ostracized by family? Have we ever been falsely accused even by a few religious people? Do we suffer in other ways? Let’s learn to appreciate the majority of our church family that shares our suffering and our hope.

Intro Have we ever been ostracized by family? Have we ever been falsely accused even by a few religious people? Do we suffer in other ways? Purpose: Let’s learn to appreciate the majority of our church family that shares our suffering and our hope. Plan: Let’s look at Mark 3:20-35 and 2 ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-35

Denomination: Baptist

The Future Of The Church

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 11, 2018

What is the future of the Church? Should we worry about it? Who is responsible for church growth?

Prelude What is the future of the Church? Should we worry about it? Who is responsible for church growth? Purpose: Let’s understand the unstoppable growth of God’s kingdom. Plan: We will look at Mark 4:26-34 and why optimism over the church’s future is valid, why the church will continue to grow ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:26-34

Denomination: Baptist

The Faith Once For All Delivered

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 12, 2018

As some move away from 2000 years of traditional Christianity, does Jude have anything to say? Would the author approve or disapprove of such progressive theology? Was our faith meant to move on from what the Apostles wrote in the New Testament?

Intro As some move away from 2000 years of traditional Christianity, does Jude have anything to say? Would the author approve or disapprove of such progressive theology? Was our faith meant to move on from what the Apostles wrote in the New Testament? Purpose: Let’s see if Jude gives us some help. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Overcoming Giant Problems

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 18, 2018

Are our problems too large for God to handle? Let’s learn that God helps us conquer giant problems. Let’s learn from the story of David and Goliath (Gol-YATH) in 1 Samuel 17:1-49 and a squall on Lake Galilee in Mark 4:35-41.

Prelude to Part 1 Giant Personalities Are our problems too large for God to handle? Purpose: Let’s learn that God helps us conquer giant problems. Plan: Let’s learn from the story of David and Goliath (Gol-YATH) in 1 Samuel 17:1-49. 1 Samuel 17:1-19 Israel’s Fear Saul ignored the advice of God’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1-49, Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Baptist

Are We Greatly Mistaken

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 25, 2018

What if we are greatly mistaken in our understanding of Christianity? If our ideas do not square with the Bible, will we change? As the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth, will we follow?

Preamble After preaching the lectionary through in these churches, I find myself drawn more and more to a year of preaching the texts the lectionary leaves out. My suspicions were aroused when I learned that Jude was eliminated, a letter which condemns many practices engaged in by the modern ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Foreigner Preached Repentance

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 3, 2018

What business does a foreigner have telling any nation to repent? Jonah was such a foreigner, but he ran away because he despised Assyria. Are we running away from God? Are we bigoted against other nations?

Prelude What business does a foreigner have telling any nation to repent? If his name is Jonah, it’s God’s business. But, Jonah ran away because he despised Assyria. Are we running away from God? Are we bigoted against other nations? Purpose: Let’s learn that God cares even for our enemies. Plan: ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God Invites Us

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 10, 2017

What is our response to God’s wedding invitation? What kind of clothing does God require?

Prelude, Purpose & Plan What is our response to God’s wedding invitation? What kind of clothing does God require? What are we doing with the opportunity God has placed before us? Let’s see that our invitation to salvation has a twofold responsibility. Let’s look at the Parable of the Wedding ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14, Revelation 19:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

Citizenship

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 16, 2017

Ought Christians be good citizens? What’s the difference between love of country and idolatry of country? Is paying taxes participation in evil acts by governments?

Prelude, Purpose & Plan Ought Christians be good citizens? What’s the difference between love of country and idolatry of country? Is paying taxes participation in evil acts by governments? Let’s understand that Christians are to be good citizens and paying taxes ought not be a moral ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Denomination: Baptist

Complete Love

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 29, 2017

Do we love God completely? How do we love God with our whole heart, soul and mind? What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself?

Prelude, Purpose, Plan Do we love God completely? How do we love God with our whole heart, soul and mind? What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? We are tempted to emphasize only one dimension of loving God. Let us learn of the more complete love taught by Jesus. Let’s examine the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-46

Denomination: Baptist

True Leadership

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 31, 2017

When is religious authority right and wrong? How should we behave in an imperfect church? Should we quit church and return to the devil or stay and be a force for good?

Prelude When is religious authority right and wrong? How should we behave in an imperfect church? Should we quit church and return to the devil or stay and be a force for good? Let’s look at Jesus’ blunt assessment of human religious leadership in Matthew 23:1-12 and see if we can learn a better ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Baptist