Sermons on Granted:

Bible Canon

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 7, 2022

How did we get the Bible? How do we understand it?

The Christian Bible forms the measure of our faith. While tradition, reason and experience can contribute in valuable ways to our faith, they are not always the teachings of Jesus, the prophets and apostles. Let’s look at the canon of the Bible. Compiling the Bible over thousands of years is ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17

Denomination: Baptist

Offended By Jesus

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 7, 2022

Are we offended by the real Jesus?

Was John the Baptist offended by Jesus? If He walked the earth today would we be offended by Him? Let’s examine the real Jesus and being offended at Jesus in Matthew 11:2-11. Are You the One? And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Salvation

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 17, 2022

People often ask, have you been saved? Do we even know what that means?

What is salvation? How does it work? In Greek the word for Savior or Deliverer is s?t?? (soter) and so we call the study of salvation soteriology. The word save means to liberate, deliver or rescue. We must look at the context to understand what kind of salvation is being referred to. Temporal ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

God With Us

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 17, 2022

The world’s most important birth was about to take place. Why was it almost unknown? What was Joseph's dilemma? What were the baby’s names? Was Mary a perpetual virgin? Let’s look at Matthew 1:18-25.

The world’s most important birth was about to take place. Why was it almost unknown? What was Joseph's dilemma? What were the baby’s names? Was Mary a perpetual virgin? Let’s look at Matthew 1:18-25. Joseph’s Dilemma Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 18, 2022

Christmas is a season mixed with good and evil. Let’s learn about the good from Luke 2.

Christmas is a season mixed with good and evil. Let’s learn about the good from Luke 2. A Decree “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Called To Be Saints

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 25, 2022

What are Christians called to? Are we called to be holy, set apart by God? Is that what the word saint means? Are all Christians saints?

What are Christians called to? Are we called to be holy, set apart by God? Is that what the word saint means? Are all Christians saints? To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7 HCSB) Unto the church ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:2

Denomination: Baptist

Abraham's Biggest Test (Genesis 22)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 28, 2024

What is the biggest test of your life? Let's look at Abraham's biggest test in Genesis 22.

Does God sometimes test our faith severely? Does a test also increase our trust in God? Did Abraham’s test foreshadow the cross of Christ? Let’s look at Genesis 22. How did God test Abraham’s faith? Was it perhaps Abraham’s biggest test of his life? What has been our biggest test? Some time ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Honored Except At Home (Mark 6)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 30, 2024

Was even Jesus honored except at home? Let's look at Mark 6.

Did Jesus do many miracles in places where He was dishonored? What was the purpose of the first short-term mission trip? Why was John the baptist killed? How did Jesus provide for the 5000? Did Jesus take time alone to pray? Were the disciples' hearts still hardened? Let’s look at Mark 6. Why ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Sarah Dies (Genesis 23)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 30, 2024

Such honor for a departed wife! Such honor and respect between parties in the Middle East! Let's look at Genesis 23.

Abraham and Sarah had their ups and downs. She encouraged him to have a baby by their housekeeper. They suffered greatly because of it. Abraham deceived two kings and was tested probably more than many of us could handle in offering his son. Yet in the end, their marriage survived. They had an ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Wife For Isaac (Genesis 24)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 3, 2024

How did it happen that the Lord provided a distant believing wife for Isaac, rather than a neighboring pagan wife? Let's look at Genesis 24.

How would we find a marriage partner? Would we choose a pagan or unbeliever who is close by or seek a fellow believer even if they come from far away? Would we follow a believing parent’s advice or ignore their wisdom and make our own choice? Do we trust that God can also provide for us? Let’s ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Abraham's Family (Genesis 25)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 4, 2024

How do we handle sibling rivalry? Let's look at an example in Genesis 25.

Sibling rivalry can drive families apart, causing people to leave town, the farm, the business, the country. It doesn’t help when parents take sides. How do we navigate the delicate balance between our children? Let’s look at Abraham’s family in Genesis 25. Did Abraham remarry after the death of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God Blesses Isaac (Genesis 26)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 4, 2024

We all face potential family problems. The patriarchs were no exception. Let's look at Isaac's family in Genesis 26.

The patriarchs had all the normal family problems that most of us experience. It seems there is always trouble in the human sphere, someone we don’t get along with, someone who brings trouble of some kind. Yet, in the midst of troubles there is faith. Is there also faith in us? Let’s look at ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God's Purpose Stands (Genesis 27)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 6, 2024

Can God use very faulty people to fulfill His purposes? Let's look at Genesis 27.

Sometimes we are blessed, not because we deserve it, but because God has a greater purpose than our sins. A native American once said that European settlers did not deserve the land they stole, but they brought an even more valuable gift, the Gospel. Can God use people who must repent of lies and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Human Heart (Mark 7)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 7, 2024

Do we add human traditions that overshadow or even disobey Jesus? Let's look at Mark 7.

What did Jesus say about using man-made traditions to disobey God’s commandments? Do evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness defile us? Does Jesus still make the deaf to hear and give ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob's Ladder (Genesis 28)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 7, 2024

Did God mysteriously promise Christ to Jacob? Do we limit God to a place of worship, or recognize His blessings on us everywhere we go? Let's look at Genesis 28.

Do we limit God to a physical place? Can we truly limit God to a house of worship or is He with us everywhere? Was a mysterious promise of Christ included? Let’s look at Genesis 28. Did Isaac come to his senses and bless Jacob according to God’s will? Later, Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist