Sermons on Granted:

Sent

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 7, 2022

What is the church’s mission? Studying the church’s mission is called missiology. Let’s discuss a mission trip from Luke 10:1-20.

What is the church’s mission? Studying the church’s mission is called missiology. Let’s discuss a mission trip from Luke 10:1-20. 70 Apostled Short term mission trips are as old as when Jesus sent the 70. They were 1) “sent” or “apostled” as the Greek says. The eastern churches call these the 70 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Persistent Prayer

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 10, 2022

God encourages us to be persistent and demanding in prayer.

Do we persist with God? Do we give up praying too soon? Let’s learn that God encourages persistent, demanding prayers. Let’s discuss prayers for ourselves, aggressive prayer and God’s justice in Luke 18:1-8. Purpose “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Righteous Or Sinner?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 17, 2022

Do we use our knowledge of God's word to criticize others, or to become more and more humble about our own sins? Let’s learn that we are all still sinners and that God alone justifies. Let’s discuss self-righteousness and self-justification in Luke 18:9-14.

Do we use our knowledge of God's word to criticize others, or to become more and more humble about our own sins? Let’s learn that we are all still sinners and that God alone justifies. Let’s discuss self-righteousness and self-justification in Luke 18:9-14. Self-Righteousness “Also He spoke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

Revelation 18-22

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 20, 2022

Revelation reveals a righteous king and kingdom to come. But first, will this world’s Babylonian system end?

Revelation reveals a righteous king and kingdom to come. But first, will this world’s Babylonian system end? “He cried with a mighty voice, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great…” (Revelation 18:2a WEB) Are kings and merchants alike corrupt? “Babylon's evil and immoral wine has made ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Reject Saved

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 29, 2022

Is there any hope for someone who has been rejected by the community? Let’s look at the change that allowed a man with a bad reputation to receive eternal salvation in Luke 19:1-10.

Is there any hope for someone who has been rejected by the community? Let’s look at the change that allowed a man with a bad reputation to receive eternal salvation in Luke 19:1-10. Taxes Before we examine the chief tax collector, we need to speak about taxes. In principle they are not wrong. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Has God Rejected Israel?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 12, 2023

Has God rejected Israel? Let's let Paul answer that question in Romans 11.

Paul answers an important question. So I ask you, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! I’m an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. (Romans 11:1 CEB) Were some in Israel faithful? God did not turn his back on his chosen people. Don't you remember reading in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Living Sacrifices

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 16, 2023

How can we apply the sacrificial laws in the Spirit to Christian worship? Let's find out in Romans 12.

How do we apply the spirit of the sacrificial laws to Christian worship? Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (Romans 12:1 NASB) Have worldly values ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Obedient Citizens

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 21, 2023

Leaders of nations that oppress Christians are only hurting themselves by persecuting their best citizens. Let's look at why in Romans 13.

Leaders of nations and communities that oppress Christians don’t realize that they are harassing some of their most loyal citizens. A Christian value is to be obedient citizens? We obey civil laws because God wants us to. Every person should place themselves under the authority of the government. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Christian Liberty

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 30, 2023

How do we handle the freedom we have in Christ? Let's find out in Romans 14.

Christ gives us liberty, but some are weak, and causing unnecessary offense is an abuse of that Christian freedom. How should we treat those who are weak in faith? Welcome the person who is weak in faith—but not in order to argue about differences of opinion. (Romans 14:1 CEB) What about food ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Christians Together

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 8, 2023

How was life in the early church? Let's find out in Romans 15 and 16.

Paul concludes his topic of patience over non-essentials with a glimpse of the early church. If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. 2 We should think of their good and try to help them by ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What Is The Church?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 16, 2023

A town gathering and a few word pictures help us understand what is meant by the word church.

What is the church? A Gathering The early church borrowed a Greek term, ?????s?a (ekklésia), meaning a gathering of citizens. Thus we call the study of the church ecclesiology. Can it describe a local church? To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:2

Denomination: Baptist

What Is The Church's Mission

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 19, 2023

What is the Church's mission? What is the commission?

What is the church’s mission? Studying the church’s mission is called missiology. Witness and Light Where were the disciples to be witnesses of what they had seen and heard? Do we collectively carry on that mission? but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

Paul's Authority

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 28, 2023

Did Paul just go about his missionary work without checking with others in the broader church to make sure that his message was orthodox?

The letter to the churches in Galatia describes a problem that still exists today, how they had fallen backwards from the grace of the Gospel into outward works of the law like circumcision. Thus, the theme of Galatians is justification by faith in Christ’s death and resurrection apart from the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Legalism Is Sin & Slavery

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 30, 2023

What did Paul teach about the law and faith? Let's look at Galatians 2.

Paul was directly taught by the resurrected Jesus, but did not act like a rebel. Instead he cooperated with the Apostles before him. Legalism is Sin & Slavery Where did Paul go to double check his teachings about the law and the Gospel? Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Justified By Grace Not Legalism

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 3, 2023

Are we justified by grace or lawkeeping? Do Jesus and Paul contradict each other?

Paul explained how we are justified by grace, not works of the law. How did we receive the Holy Spirit? You irrational Galatians! Who put a spell on you? Jesus Christ was put on display as crucified before your eyes! I just want to know this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works ...read more

Denomination: Baptist