Sermons on Preludes:

Jesus' Mock Parade Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 19, 2018

The political implications of Palm Sunday

Prelude Where does the solution to all our problems, really come from? Does it come from here on earth? What does God have to do with national and personal deliverance from all our problems? Purpose: Let’s understand the political implications of Palm Sunday. Plan: Let’s look at Mark 11:1-11 and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Why Is Forgiveness So Hard

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 10, 2018

Where does repentance lead us? What does forgiveness mean for us now?

Prelude Where does repentance lead us? Repentance leads us into forgiveness. What does forgiveness mean for us now? Purpose: Let us look at the importance of knowing forgiveness as we live each day. Plan: We will look at Luke 24:36b-48; Acts 3:12-19; and 1 John 3:1-7 focusing on the topic of ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-7, Acts 3:12-19

Denomination: Baptist

Citizenship

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 16, 2017

Ought Christians be good citizens? What’s the difference between love of country and idolatry of country? Is paying taxes participation in evil acts by governments?

Prelude, Purpose & Plan Ought Christians be good citizens? What’s the difference between love of country and idolatry of country? Is paying taxes participation in evil acts by governments? Let’s understand that Christians are to be good citizens and paying taxes ought not be a moral ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Denomination: Baptist

Healing All Things

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 5, 2021

Where are we going in our spiritual lives? Do we trust Jesus to lead the way? Let’s learn to follow Jesus wherever he leads. Let’s look at Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law in Mark 1:29-39.

Prelude: Where are we going in our spiritual lives? Do we trust Jesus to lead the way? Purpose: Let’s learn to follow Jesus wherever he leads. Plan: Let’s look at Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law in Mark 1:29-39. Mark 1:29-31 Simon’s M-i-L Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:29-39

Denomination: Baptist

When Israel Went Out Of Egypt.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 15, 2023

A defiant celebration of God's sovereign power.

WHEN ISRAEL WENT OUT OF EGYPT. Psalm 114:1-8. The exuberance of this Psalm is immediately evident. It is a recollection of Israel’s redemption story, beginning from when the descendants of Jacob made their exodus from Egypt. It is the prelude to the founding of what Stephen, the first Christian ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 114:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Questions And Service At Home

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 22, 2021

Is Christmas okay or in the Bible? Let’s learn why it’s a good Christian celebration. Let’s ask some questions and look at the story of Christ’s birth including an at-home service from Luke 2:1-40.

Prelude: Is Christmas okay or in the Bible? Purpose: Let’s learn why it’s a good Christian celebration. Plan: Let’s ask some questions and look at the story of Christ’s birth in Luke 2:1-40. Questions What does the word Christmas mean? It literally means Christ’s Mass, or the Mass of Christ. Mass ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Xenophobia

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 23, 2022

An angry hatred of immigrants is popular. Purpose: Yet God’s promise to Abraham was that in him ALL nations would be blessed. Plan: Let’s see how Jesus challenged xenophobia in Luke 4:21-30.

Prelude An angry hatred of immigrants is popular. Purpose: Yet God’s promise to Abraham was that in him ALL nations would be blessed. Plan: Let’s see how Jesus challenged xenophobia in Luke 4:21-30. No Acceptance And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:21-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Fragments Of Our Lives

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 12, 2018

Our God is concerned about the fragments about what is left. Yield to the will of God, Give him every portion every fragment of your life. Allow him to mold you, to refine you into the image of His Son. Our inadequacy makes room for His sufficiency! Updated July 2021.

Read one of the following Gospel Texts: Matthew 14:13-21 / Mark 6:30-44 / Luke 9:10-17 /John 6:1-14 We have a story before us ... in the Gospel text ...that has been told ... and retold. An event from which ... numerous lessons ... have been drawn. One of the blessings ... of having four ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:3, John 6:1-15, Romans 3:23, Romans 3:10, James 2:26, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, John 6:1-14, 1 Kings 17:13, Luke 21:1-4, Luke 9:10-17, James 2:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

The Love Test

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 25, 2018

How can we tell a false from a true messenger of God? How does love separate truth from error? How do we know God loves us? Why is love of the church and its people such an important indicator of our love for God? How willingly and openly confess Christ?

Prelude to Part 1 How can we tell a false from a true messenger of God? How does love separate truth from error? How do we know God loves us? Let’s examine God’s love and the difference it makes, by looking at 1 John 4:1-11. 1 John 4:1 Test the Spirits In 1 John 4:1 we read, “Beloved, do not ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 2: Learning From Opening The Book

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 19, 2007

“ Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13)

A. INTRODUCTION: Revelation 5:1-14 1. The title deed to the universe. What is “the book and the seven seals”? (v. 5). 2. Sin separates and destroys. Why could “no man . . . open and to read the book, neither to look thereon” (v. 4). 3. Who had temporary rulership of the world? “The god of this ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14

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

Out Of The Heart

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 19, 2018

Are we so blinded by our church buildings and our rituals that we don’t see God? Are we blinded by the world’s sinfulness? Are we noble like the Bereans, studying our Bibles daily to see what God says?

Prelude Are we so blinded by our church buildings and our rituals that we don’t see God? Are we blinded by the world’s sinfulness? Are we noble like the Bereans, studying our Bibles daily to see what God says? What defiles us? Let’s look at Matthew 15:10-20 and see what Jesus has to say about ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-20

Denomination: Baptist

Moments Of Personal Transfiguration

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 3, 2019

The words of Mary in John’s Gospel are a clear call: “do whatever Jesus tells you.” But to know what that is, we must really listen.

Feast of the Transfiguration 2019 The visions of the prophet Daniel pertain to a community under persecution by a vicious, almost atheistic state. To encourage and console that community, Daniel pulls the curtain on what is really happening, to show the divine power and judgement on those ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 7:9-14, 2 Peter 1:16-19, Luke 9:28-36, John 2:5, 1 Kings 19:12-13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

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