Sermons on Granted:

Clear The Road

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 5, 2017

How do we prepare for the Lord’s Coming? How did John prepare? How does the baptism of the Holy Spirit prepare us for His Coming? What do we need to clear out of our way back to God?

Intro How do we prepare for the Lord’s Coming? How did John prepare? How does the baptism of the Holy Spirit prepare us for His Coming? What do we need to clear out of our way back to God? Purpose: To show how preparation was made for the highway back to God. Plan: We will look at John the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8, Isaiah 40:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Light

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 12, 2017

Who is the light? How are we, like John, not the light? What does light change?

Prelude Who is the light? How are we, like John, not the light? What does light change? Purpose: Let’s learn to testify of the Light. Plan: Let’s look at John 1:6-8, 19-28 and John the Baptist as a witness who gave testimony about the One. John 1:6-7a Witness In John 1:6-7a we read, “There was ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Humble Virgin

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 19, 2017

What can we learn from a teenager? What can we learn from her faith? What can we learn from Mary the mother of Jesus?

Prelude What can we learn from a teenager? What can we learn from her faith? What can we learn from Mary the mother of Jesus? Purpose: Let’s learn about the simplicity of trust in God. Plan: Let’s look at Luke 1:26-38, the so-called Annunciation, the announcement to Mary of her pregnancy with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Is Christmas Pagan?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 21, 2017

Is Christmas pagan? Is it okay for Christians to observe? Is Christmas even in the Bible?

Prelude Is Christmas pagan? Is it okay for Christians to observe? Is Christmas even in the Bible? Purpose: Let’s examine the worth of Christmas and why it’s a perfectly fine Christian celebration. Plan: Let’s ask some questions that are controversial in some churches and look at the story of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-40

Denomination: Baptist

Senior Saints

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 27, 2017

What can we learn from senior saints in our midst? How many have lived just and devout lives? How many of them have been faithful despite life’s suffering?

Prelude What can we learn from senior saints in our midst? How many have lived just and devout lives? How many seniors have been faithful despite life’s suffering? Purpose: Let’s learn from the examples of elderly saints. Plan: Let’s look at the examples of Simeon and Anna in Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-40

Denomination: Baptist

Purpose Of The Creation Story

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 3, 2018

Is Genesis theistic evolution, day-age theory, a gap, literal 6 days, a polemic, an allegory, majestic prose, intelligent design or something else? If Christians can’t agree on the timing of creation, can we agree on the purposes of the creation story?

Prelude Berasheet bara' Elohim et hashamayim ve'et ha'aretz In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. What are the secrets behind the creation stories in Genesis? Is Genesis literal, allegory, or majestic prose? What are the forgotten purposes of the creation stories? Purpose: ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Relevance Of Noah's Flood

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 9, 2018

Is Noah’s flood allegory, myth or history? Is God genocidal? Is the flood story relevant?

Prelude Is Noah’s flood allegory, myth or history? Is God genocidal? Is the flood story relevant? Purpose: Let’s explore some questions about Noah and the flood. Plan: Let’s look at Genesis 6-9 and the relevance of the story. Who were the Sons of God? Genesis 6:2 says, “the sons of God saw the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Abraham, Father Of The Faithful

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 17, 2018

Why was Abram’s name changed to Abraham? Why is he called father Abraham? How did Abraham become father of the faithful?

Prelude Why was Abram’s name changed to Abraham? Why is he called father Abraham? How did Abraham become father of the faithful? Purpose: Let’s look at the life of Abraham and discover why he is called a father to those who believe. Plan: We’ll look at Genesis 12-25 and the life of a patriarch ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Secret Behind The Ten Commandments

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 28, 2018

Can politics, science, or education fix our world? What if everyone kept the Ten Commandments? Is it even possible for a nation to keep the Ten Commandments?

Prelude Can politics, science, or education fix our world? What if everyone kept the Ten Commandments? Is it even possible for a nation to keep the Ten Commandments? Purpose: What are the Ten Commandments for? Plan: Let’s look at Exodus 20 and the purpose of the Ten Commandments. 1) No Other ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Worship Principles In Leviticus, Part 1 Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 30, 2018

Can Christians, who worship in a very different manner from ancient Israel, learn anything about worship from the book of Leviticus? What are important principles of worship from Leviticus?

Prelude The book of Leviticus is about worship. Can Christians, who worship in a very different manner from ancient Israel, learn anything about worship from the book of Leviticus? What are important principles of worship from Leviticus? Purpose: Let’s learn to worship God from the first inspired ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Take Off The Grave Clothes

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 27, 2014

From the day we are born we begin to die. It’s as if our bodies are already dressed in grave clothes. As marvelous as science is, it has not yet mastered life’s greatest enemy, death. Yet there is one who has.

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 like a kind of Superman or Superwoman? Goal I want us to realize that immortality is not just the stuff of Hollywood fiction but a reality in Christ. Plan We will ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Denomination: Baptist

The Faith Of A Doubter

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 28, 2014

Thomas is called the doubter, but he is also the confessor, who made a remarkable confession like no other and did a marvelous work as far east as India.

Intro When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection what happened and what did he say? Goal I hope that we can learn that doubt is a normal and natural part of a life of faith. Plan We will look at Jesus’ appearance to ten of the eleven remaining disciples and then to ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-23

Denomination: Baptist

Nick At Night

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 16, 2014

Nicodemus who defended Jesus at his trial, helped bury him and was later kicked out of the Sanhedrin for being a Christian did not start out filled with faith. Like most of us, he had questions. The answers that Jesus gave him are wonderful.

Intro What does it mean to be born again? How are we born of water and the Spirit? Goal Let us understand the Spirit life. Plan We will examine Nicodemus, regeneration, and why we are not to condemn others. Nicodemus Nicodemus is also called Saint Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee and a senator ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Who Do We Follow?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 30, 2014

We may call ourselves Christians, but is Jesus our Shepherd? Are we really following him or merely using his name to excuse following a man, a tradition or our own stubbornness?

Intro: We often hear the 23rd Psalm read or recited at funerals, but did you know that it does not apply to everyone, only to the sheep of the Great Shepherd. Goal: To really understand the most popular of all the Psalms. Plan: We will go through Psalm 23 looking at some important details. I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Beauty Of Baptism

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 18, 2014

The Bible makes few mandates for baptism, but what it does demand makes it beautiful.

Intro In Matthew 3 we are introduced to the Baptism of Christ. This ceremony which has become the norm for almost all Christian churches is also the subject of some division and much misunderstanding. Goal To help us appreciate baptism and its significance. Plan We will look at what is and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Baptist