Sermons on Granted:

Conflict

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 17, 2016

Is conflict always avoidable? Is conflict always a sign of failure? Can good come from conflict?

Intro Is conflict always avoidable? Is conflict always a sign of failure? Can good come from conflict? Goal I want us to learn that conflict is a part of the full Gospel message. Sermon Plan We will discuss Luke 12:49-56, a world on fire, family conflict and interpreting the times. Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56

Denomination: Baptist

You Are Set Free

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 22, 2016

Are we truly free in Christ or are we still in a state of bondage?

You are Set Free Intro Are we truly free in Christ or are we still in a state of bondage? Goal Let’s learn that religious bondage is every bit as bad as slavery. Sermon Plan Let’s discuss Luke 13:10-17 healing, the Sabbath and freedom. Luke 13:10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

Rethinking Community

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 29, 2016

Do Christians have a Christ-given responsibility towards the marginalized?

Intro Our world has many marginalized people. The socially excluded lack access to housing, employment, healthcare, civic participation, and legal protection. Second class citizenship leads to poverty, crime, suicide, and drug addiction. The solution begins with something that Jesus taught, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Talking Tough

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 1, 2016

Let’s examine Luke 14:25-33 and the cost of being a disciple.

Intro If church size is more important than faithfulness to Jesus, then here are 5 ways to build a mega church. 1) Promise that obedience to Jesus will improve your worldly stature. 2) Promise that people will not have to carry their own cross, because Jesus did. 3) Tell them not to use their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Baptist

Seeking The Lost

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 11, 2016

How valuable are we to God? How valuable are those not yet in the church? I want us to learn that everyone is valuable to God. Let’s discuss a lost sheep and a lost coin from Luke 15:1-10.

Intro How valuable are we to God? How valuable are those not yet in the church? Goal I want us to learn that everyone is valuable to God. Sermon Plan Let’s discuss a lost sheep and a lost coin from Luke 15:1-10. Luke 15:1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Heavenly Purposes For Filthy Lucre

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 18, 2016

What did Jesus teach about money?

Sermon Intro Why is money referred to as filthy lucre? Because we all sin, all money is tainted by sin of some kind. Is filthy lucre usable for heavenly purposes? Goal Let’s learn that filthy lucre can be used for heavenly purposes. Sermon Plan We will discuss a shrewd manager and his ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Great Reversal

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 26, 2016

Do we even care? Or are we so busy accumulating wealth and looking for healing for ourselves, that we don't even see the destitute poor?

Intro Are compassion and money incompatible? Goal Let’s learn how important God considers our care of the less fortunate. Sermon Plan Let’s discuss Luke 16:19-31, an unnamed rich man and a famous beggar, Lazarus. We will learn about the dangers of the hard-hearted, selfish use of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Baptist

Evangelism At The Well

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 19, 2017

Let’s see that the Gospel flows from ordinary people who have had an encounter with Jesus.

Intro What kind of people are able to spread the Gospel? Goal Let’s see that the Gospel flows from ordinary people who have had an encounter with Jesus. Plan Let’s examine John 4:5-42 and the woman at the well. John 4:5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field ...read more

Scripture: John 4:5-42

Denomination: Baptist

Who Will Never Die?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 1, 2017

Let’s examine John 11:1-45, the resurrection of Lazarus and the One who dares to call himself “the resurrection and the life.”

Intro What kind of life would we lead if we were guaranteed not to die? How would we live if we knew already that we were immortal? Goal Let’s realize that immortality is a reality in Christ. Plan Let’s examine John 11:1-45, the resurrection of Lazarus and the One who dares to call himself ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Denomination: Baptist

The Problem Of Sin Is Worse Than We Thought

Contributed by Grant Van Boeschoten on Apr 5, 2017

We underestimate the power and the gravity of sin. This message seeks to show from Romans 7 and Genesis 3 the ways that sin wars against us. Yet God is more than able to overcome sin's power through Jesus Christ.

Introduction - Our Society does not take sin seriously. You don’t often hear people publicly admitting to sin. I’ve made a mistake, I should have done that better When we look at ourselves with honesty, we admit that we don’t take sin seriously We make allowance for it in our lives We think that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:1-12

God’s Righteousness Is Better Than We Could Ever Dream.

Contributed by Grant Van Boeschoten on Apr 5, 2017

Paul desperately wanted to know God’s righteousness working throughout his life. He wanted to grow day by day. We see what the Holy Spirit gave Paul to write about not just knowing about God’s righteousness, but living and experiencing it as well.

The Problem of Sin is worse than we thought, but God’s righteousness is better than we could ever dream. Do you ever dream about what your life would look like if you had God’s righteousness flowing in every part of who you are? (What is Righteousness? Doing right things, for the right reasons, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14

God Bless You

Contributed by Grant Van Boeschoten on Apr 5, 2017

Our text today is often used as the benediction at the end of the service. It is taken from Numbers 6:22-27. I want to show both the meaning to this blessing as well as examples of how God throughout time has enacted this blessing on His people.

Some fun with origins to start the message. “God Bless You” - AD 590 Pope Gregory I commanded unending prayer and to say God bless you after a person sneezed, since sneezing was one of the first signs of the plague “Good Bye” - from 1565, the original phrase was “God be with ye” became contracted ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 6:22-27

Yashá Na!

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 8, 2017

How does Palm Sunday introduce a new perfect government, the government of God?

Intro Christianity teaches that God is love. Jesus showed this throughout his ministry culminating in the epitome of Godly love on the cross. Pontius Pilate is a caricature of all the false gods of the ancient and modern world. Jesus’ Palm Sunday parade into Jerusalem mocks false Roman gods and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Resurrection Faith

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 11, 2017

3 reactions to Jesus' resurrection

Intro What is your reaction to the resurrection? Goal Let’s learn about some typical reactions to the resurrection. Plan We will look at John 20:1-18 and three reactions to Jesus’ resurrection. John 20:1-5 They Have Taken Away the Lord Mary Magdalene was from Magdala a wealthy town on Lake ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Awakening To The Bread Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 25, 2017

The journey to Emmaus is a mystery. Along the way we meet a stranger and He explains the Scriptures to us. Then He breaks bread and the mystery is revealed.

Intro The journey to Emmaus is a mystery. Along the way we meet a stranger and He explains the Scriptures to us. Then He breaks bread and the mystery is revealed. Purpose Let’s introduce the stranger who accompanies us on life’s journey. Plan Let’s look at Luke 24:13-35 and the mystery on the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Baptist