Sermons on Granted:

Lesson 51: Preach Impromptu Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 13, 2018

Occasionally a preacher is required to give a sermon with only a few minutes notice and completely without preparation. Here's how to do it.

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach without notice. Lesson Intro 2 Timothy 4:2 tells preachers to always be ready to give a sermon. There comes a time when you will show up at a church service only to be asked to pinch hit for someone else who had been scheduled to speak. Perhaps you are on vacation ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 52: Gourmet Preaching Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 14, 2018

Preaching lessons from the best sermon ever given, the Sermon on the Mount.

Lesson Goal In this lesson I hope to teach some features of a rich sermon gleaned from the greatest sermon of all time, the Sermon on the Mount for a sermon filled with splendid content. Lesson Intro Have you ever sat through one of those sermons where you wished you could remember every line, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What's The Holy Spirit Doing In You

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 18, 2018

The Holy Spirit as teacher

Prelude How can a mere human being understand the things of God? Goal: Let’s understand the means by which God reaches out and touches us. Plan: Let’s look at John 15:26-16:15 and discover how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. John 15:26 Testify John 15:26 says, “When the Advocate comes, whom ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Does Trinity Make Sense

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 21, 2018

How is God both three and one?

Intro How is God both three and one? [Note: All scriptures are given for reference. Obviously it would be a very long and tedious sermon to turn to each and every one. I recommend turning to very few, but leaving a scripture list for those who wish to study further.] Goal: Let’s understand why ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

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

Biblical Leaven

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 10, 2018

The Bible uses leaven to symbolize how both good and bad things grow in our lives. Let's put in the good leaven and leave out the bad, because either one can fill our lives.

Prelude The Bible uses leaven to symbolize how both good and bad things grow in our lives. It’s important for us to know the difference, so that we make sure that the good things in our lives grow and not the bad. Purpose: Let’s learn about the meaning of leaven in the Bible. Plan: We’ll look at ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:13-21

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Christian Love?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 16, 2019

What is the sign that we are Jesus’ true disciples? Let’s look at what Jesus said distinguishes his disciples and see why this old command is new in Jesus. Let’s see what Jesus said about glory and love in John 13:31-35.

What is the sign that we are Jesus’ true disciples? Let’s look at what Jesus said distinguishes his disciples and see why this old command is new in Jesus. Let’s see what Jesus said about glory and love in John 13:31-35. John 13:31-32 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of ...read more

Scripture: John 13:31-35

Denomination: Baptist

Vision Of Eternity

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 26, 2019

What will life be like in eternity with God? Revelation 21-22 is an end-of-the-book description of a wonderful eternity awaiting the faithful.

What will life be like in eternity with God? Revelation 21-22 is an end-of-the-book description of a wonderful eternity awaiting the faithful. Revelation 21:1-4 reveals “a new heaven and a new earth” that God will dwell among His people, and there will no longer be any death, mourning, crying, or ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Christian Unity

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 3, 2019

What does Christian unity mean? Does it mean that we agree on everything? Does it mean that we allow the sinful standards of the world to infiltrate? Jesus prayed for our unity. Let’s look at part of the long Lord’s prayer in John 17:20-26 and see what unity truly is.

What does Christian unity mean? Does it mean that we agree on everything? Does it mean that we allow the sinful standards of the world to infiltrate? Jesus prayed for our unity. Let’s look at part of the long Lord’s prayer in John 17:20-26 and see what unity truly is. Christian Unity Before we ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-26

Denomination: Baptist