Sermons on Look Upward:

Parables Of Money (Luke 16)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 23, 2025

Do we use money for selfish pursuits or to relieve the suffering? Let's look at Luke 16.

Do we handle money wisely? Is greed a misuse of wealth? Do we use money to relieve suffering? Let’s examine Luke 16. What did a manager do during the final days before his job was terminated? And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Prostitute's Faith (Joshua 2)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 3, 2025

What can we learn about faith from a Prostitute? Let's look at Joshua 2.

Are we scandalized that a prostitute can teach us about faith? Does she teach us the difference between a dead faith that does nothing and a living faith that acts? Do we sometimes act imperfectly even in faith? Let’s begin in Joshua 2. Did Joshua send scouts to spy out the walled city of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Rescue From Enemies (Judges 3)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 2, 2025

When does God rescue His people from enemies? Let's look at Judges 3.

Why did Israel often fall into enemy hands? Who rescued them? Will we have enemies? How should we treat them? Who will rescue us? Let’s look at Judges 3. Did God have another reason for letting enemies stay in the promised land? Do we have enemies in the church? And the Lord had another reason ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God Gives Victory (Judges 7)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 7, 2025

Can God give victory even against overwhelming odds? Let's look at Judges 7.

Did God purposefully set Gideon up for victory against great odds? Will we be granted victory over our greatest enemy, death? Let’s look at Judges 7. Why did God reduce the number of men in Gideon’s army? Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Cycle Of Sin (Judges 8)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 9, 2025

Is there a cycle of sin and repentance? Do we go through cycles? Let's look at Judges 8.

Do we see Israel’s repeated cycle of sin, suffering, sorrow and salvation in Gideon's story? Do we see it in us? Do we still need to repent long after baptism? Let’s look at Judges 8. How did Gideon appease the complaint made by the men of Ephraim? The men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Ruth's Redemption (Ruth 4)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 25, 2025

How does Ruth's redemption relate to ours? Let's look in Ruth 4.

Did redemption for Ruth and Naomi come in the form of salvation from poverty, a marriage and an inheritance? Does redemption for us come in the form of eternal salvation, the marriage of the Lamb, and an eternal inheritance? Let’s look at Ruth 4. Did a primary family redeemer want to redeem family ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Ark Returned (1 Samuel 6)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 1, 2025

How reverently do we handle holy things? Let's look at 1 Samuel 6.

Do we treat the things of God with proper reverence as holy or are we sloppy? Do we quickly turn from the error of our ways or stubbornly persist? Let’s look at 1 Samuel 6. How long did it take the Philistines to admit they made a mistake? Why are we so stubborn to repent of a bad decision? The ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Saul To Be King (1 Samuel 9)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 4, 2025

Do we put our trust in kings or God? Let's look at 1 Samuel 9.

Do we tend to want leaders based on superficial qualities? What outward traits did Saul have? What leader serves like Jesus did? Let’s begin in 1 Samuel 9. What were Saul’s outstanding physical characteristics? There was a wealthy man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish. He was the son of Abiel ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

David's Cave (1 Samuel 24)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 20, 2025

Should we show respect for even corrupt authority? Let's look at 1 Samuel 24.

Should we show respect for authority even when it is corrupt? Did God work things out for David even though he too was very flawed? Let’s begin in 1 Samuel 24. Did David have an opportunity to kill Saul while hiding in a cave? When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Waiting Patiently (2 Samuel 2)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 29, 2025

How long must we wait patiently for God? Let's look at 2 Samuel 2)

How many years was it since Samuel anointed David king in Saul’s stead and he became king over just Judah? How much longer would David have to wait to be king of all Israel? How long have we waited for our king from heaven? Let’s look at 2 Samuel 2. Where did God tell David to move to with his ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Imperfect King (2 Samuel 3)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 30, 2025

Was David very imperfect but had one important quality? Let's look at 2 Samuel 3.

Did David continue his legacy of faith? Was he a man with large faults, but even larger faith? Let’s look at 2 Samuel 3. Did David feel entitled to take more wives? Is polygamy selfish, where wives lack a husband’s exclusive companionship? Is narcissistic privilege a problem with human ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Chariots Of Fire (2 Kings 6)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 17, 2025

Are heaven's armies ready to fight for us? Let's look at 2 Kings 6.

Does God care about small things like lost tools? Does God give insight about hidden things? How great are heaven’s armies? Let’s look at 2 Kings 6. Had the number of disciples of the prophets grown to where they needed more space? Did God bless Elisha over a lost tool? And the sons of the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Enemy Threats (2 Kings 18)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 31, 2025

What do we do when an enemy threatens? Let's look at 2 Kings 18.

Do we still have faith when an enemy of God threatens us? Let’s look at Assyrian threats against Judah in 2 Kings 18. Who was the 13th king of Judah? Did he do what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight? Hezekiah son of Ahaz began to rule over Judah in the third year of King Hoshea’s reign in Israel. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Captivity (2 Kings 25)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 7, 2025

Would God send our sinful nations into captivity? Let's look at 2 Kings 25.

What would happen if our sinful people were punished by being deported to a foreign land? Would God possibly bless those who repented there? Let’s look at 2 Kings 25. What happened to Zedekiah as the king of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem? And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

4 - A New Life In Christ Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Oct 6, 2025

Paul gives us a clear look at NEW LIFE - He exposes it, explains it, and emphasizes it.

This week, I read about a man who was selling an old warehouse. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Gangs had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and thrown trash everywhere. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, he took pains to say that he would replace the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-14

Denomination: Baptist