Sermons on Sponge:

Christian Freedom

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 13, 2023

Are Christians free or still tied to the law of Moses?

Are Christians free or not? Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1 KJV) Will laws like circumcision make us right with God? Is circumcision symbolic of the whole law? Listen! I, Paul, tell you ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Is His Body

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 20, 2023

Who are saints? Who are holy ones? Who are Christ's body?

Who are saints? Who are these “holy and faithful people” (CEB), also called “God's people” (CEV), and “God’s holy people” (NIV, NLT) that Paul is writing to? Are saints the church? Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Is A Temple

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 25, 2023

What's the foundation of the church? What did the cross do for the nations? Let's find out in Ephesians 2.

What is the bedrock that the church is built upon? What did the cross do for the nations? Paul answers these questions in Ephesians 2. Let’s begin by asking, what were we like in the past? At one time you were like a dead person because of the things you did wrong and your offenses against God. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Church's Mystery

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 28, 2023

The church contains a great mystery. What is it?

Are God’s ways a mystery? Is gentile inclusion in the church part of that mystery? What consequence did Paul face for preaching the good news to gentiles? This is why I, Paul, am a prisoner of Christ for you Gentiles. (Ephesians 3:1 CEB) Who chose Paul for this mission? You have surely heard ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Church & Nation

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 4, 2023

Christians ought to be a nation's best citizens, but are we fully in the kingdom or is our loyalty divided?

Are Christians fully part of a kingdom not of this world or do we have divided loyalties? Was Paul imprisoned by Rome and hated by his own nation for his faith? How did he encourage us to live? Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God's Children & Christ's Bride

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 14, 2023

What guides our actions? Are we God's children and Christ's bride? Let's find out in Ephesians 5.

What guides our actions? Are we God’s children and Christ’s bride? Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 CEV) What behaviors ought not to be found? But sexual ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Church's Armor

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 15, 2023

How can we face the great spiritual battles around us? Let's look in Ephesians 6.

How can we face the great spiritual battles all around us? Let’s start with the family and obedience to a child’s parents? What if they want us to do something outside of obedience to the Lord? As for children, obey your parents in the Lord, because it is right. (Ephesians 6:1 CEB) Do the ancient ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Repentance

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 20, 2023

Repent sounds weird in today's language. What's it all about?

Jesus’ first messages were summarized by two words, repent and believe in the Gospel (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15). What does repent mean? Turn Back Often translated as repent is the Hebrew word “shoob,” which means to turn back or return. What did Solomon, that wise backslider, say about national ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15

Denomination: Baptist

Kings

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 22, 2023

As we look at the kings of Israel and Judah, we see the faults of human leadership. Even in the church, do we look to faulty human beings or to God?

What good is having the word of God without faithfulness to God? Most of Israel and Judah’s kings were evil. Even the good kings had huge weaknesses. What happens to nations when their leaders go astray? First and second Kings contain the history of a few good national leaders among many bad. Key ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Free Will

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 1, 2023

Are we like clay in the hands of the master potter? Does that mean that we have no choice in the matter? Let's find the truth about the master potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18.

Potter Are we like clay in the hands of the master potter? Does that mean we don’t have free will or can the clay be stubborn and unworkable? And whenever the clay would not take the shape he wanted, he would change his mind and form it into some other shape. (Jeremiah 18:4 CEV) What did the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Living Faith - Good Works

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 5, 2023

Have the ancient churches got it right? Do too many Protestant churches teach a cheap grace? Is there a balance between easy believism and works salvation?

Is faith a dead, intellectual belief without works or alive with good works of obedience to Christ? Martin Luther added the word alone to scripture as follows: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith [ALONE] apart from the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28 NKJV) This then became a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:24

Denomination: Baptist

A Living Faith - Judged By Works

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 6, 2023

If we're justified by faith not works, why are we judged by works? Are good works evidence of a living faith?

If we are justified by faith not by works, why are we judged by our works? Are works proof of a living faith? … The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:12-13

Denomination: Baptist

A Living Faith - James On Works

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 8, 2023

How does James present faith and works?

When reading James, we must understand that works of the law (Romans 9:32; Galatians 2:16; 3:2, 5, 10) are not the same thing as good works of obedience to Christ (Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:18; Titus 2:7, 14; 3:8, 14). How does James present faith and good works? Is Christianity ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Sower

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 6, 2024

Jesus often spoke in parables, stories or allegories that illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. With the natural amplification of His voice reflecting off the water, did Jesus hold a large meeting? Let’s find out in Matthew 13.

Jesus often spoke in parables, stories or allegories that illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. With the natural amplification of His voice reflecting off the water, did Jesus hold a large meeting? Let’s find out in Matthew 13. On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Wheat & Weeds

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 6, 2024

Why is there evil in the world? The world is a mixture of good and evil. Let’s discuss the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds in Matthew 13:24-43.

Why is there evil in the world? The world is a mixture of good and evil. Let’s discuss the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds in Matthew 13:24-43. Lolium temulentum, darnel, tares, cockle, or false wheat exists worldwide. It has deep roots. It’s toxic, and similar to wheat until maturity. Wheat is ...read more

Denomination: Baptist