Sermons on Sponge:

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

Jesus As Refugee

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 1, 2023

Mistreatment of others is part of every nation’s history. Let’s recognize humanity’s mistreatment of foreigners and innocent children, and Jesus as the world’s only hope, in Matthew 2:13-23.

Mistreatment of others is part of every nation’s history. Let’s recognize humanity’s mistreatment of foreigners and innocent children, and Jesus as the world’s only hope, in Matthew 2:13-23. Fleeing to Egypt Now when they [the wise men] had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23

Denomination: Baptist

Chosen

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 2, 2023

Is there a group of people called the chosen ones, the elect?

Is there a group of people called the chosen ones, the elect? If God doesn’t make the time shorter, no one will be left alive. But because of God’s chosen ones [the elect], he will make the time shorter. (Matthew 24:22 CEV) How are people chosen for life? Does God’s sovereignty turn us into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:22

Denomination: Baptist

Born From Above

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 7, 2023

What does it mean to be born again? How are we born of water and the Spirit? Let’s understand the newness of a life in the Holy Spirit from John 3:1-17.

What does it mean to be born again? How are we born of water and the Spirit? Let’s understand the newness of a life in the Holy Spirit from John 3:1-17. Nicodemus There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. (John 3:1 NKJV) Nicodemus was a senator in the Jewish ruling ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Turning To God

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 13, 2023

What is conversion?

Conversion is turning to God. It is the action accompanying repentance, the outward result of a changed heart, a changed direction, in biblical Greek (epistrophé) a turning about. It is the fruit that John the Baptist demanded (Matthew 3:7-8). Do repentance and conversion go together? Repent ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

In Christ

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 15, 2023

What does it mean to be in Christ? Let’s allow the Bible to tell us. Several churches claim that eternal life is only available within their walls. Who does Jesus say will have eternal life?

What does it mean to be in Christ? Let’s allow the Bible to tell us. Several churches claim that eternal life is only available within their walls. Who does Jesus say will have eternal life? For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Keys To Permanent Happiness

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 23, 2023

What are the secrets of happiness? Are they really secrets or just ignored? Let’s understand secrets of true, permanent happiness, found in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12.

What are the secrets of happiness? Are they really secrets or just ignored? Let’s understand secrets of true, permanent happiness, found in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Poor in Spirit And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Adopted By God

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 1, 2023

Can we be adopted by God? How? What does that even mean?

In ancient times there was often no difference between an adopted child and a natural born one. An adopted child received all the rights and privileges of a biological child. That is the meaning in the Bible. We have a special relationship as an adopted child of God. When the Bible uses the term ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

Sanctified By God

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 13, 2023

Are all Christians saints? Are we to be holy?

Sanctify means to set apart as holy, or to dedicate for special use. Did God sanctify a people? And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. (Exodus 19:14 KJV) Does truth sanctify people? Would that make studying the Bible ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17

Denomination: Baptist

The Ten Commandments

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 12, 2023

How does the law point us to Christ? Are Christians to follow the letter or spirit of the law?

Let’s briefly look at the relevance of Deuteronomy and the Ten Commandments. There are many different ways of counting the Ten Commandments. In their excellent commentary A Survey of the Old Testament, Hill and Walton offer the standard Protestant numbering of the Ten Commandments as an outline of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist