Sermons on Sponge:

When Christians Sin Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 3, 2018

How judgmental are we of others? How ready are we to confess our own faults? Do we admit like St Paul, that though we desire not to sin, we still do?

Prelude How judgmental are we of others? How ready are we to confess our own faults? Do we admit like Paul, that though we desire not to sin, we still do? Purpose: Let’s examine living in the light of God’s glory and an overcoming life versus the darkness of living in habitual sin. Plan: Let’s ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 27: Preach Logically Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 3, 2018

Let's learn to apply logic to our sermons

Lesson Goal I hope to teach how to preach logical sermons. Lesson Intro How do we recognize deception? How do we avoid self-deception? How often have we heard fellow Christians say things that seem rather half-baked and irrational? How often have people in the scientific or educational community ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 28: Preach A Jewel Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 4, 2018

Learn to to preach an exciting African-American style one-point sermon

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach a one point sermon. Lesson Intro The African-American church has had a unique and interesting development in the history of American Christianity. A unique style of one-point sermon developed which can have great impact in any culture. The jewel sermon is one ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:2-12

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 29: Preach A Ladder Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 5, 2018

Learn to preach a logical sequence of connected points, a German-style chain, pyramid or ladder

Lesson Goal This lesson is designed to teach a logical sequence of connected points. Lesson Intro Central Europeans are often very detailed-minded and diligent. A style of rhetoric that is popular among Germans is connecting ideas together in a chain. This is similar to building ideas on top of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 30: Preach A Label Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 8, 2018

Labeling can be abused. But there are correct labels. Let's live up to the labels God gives us.

Lesson Goal To encourage the correct labeling of things and living up to the labels used in the churches. Lesson Intro Like it or not, we are all labeled. Some of those are false labels and some are true descriptions. Some of the labels which we may not like are true of us as well as some of the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-26

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 31: Preach A Contrast Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 9, 2018

Teach people to think by contrasting two or more sides of a theological argument.

Lesson Goal Preach a sermon that contrasts different sides. Lesson Intro When we spoke of a false dichotomy, we realized that some stories have more than two sides. However, some stories have only two options, or sides and that is not a false dichotomy, but a genuine one. Let's contrast two or ...read more

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

Lesson 32: Preach A Q And A Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 10, 2018

A question and answer style sermon

Lesson Goal I hope to teach how to preach a question and answer style sermon. Lesson Intro Have you ever been interviewed or been asked a lot of questions that you had difficulty answering. Christians are encouraged to give an answer for the hope that lies within them, but so much of the time, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 26:4-5

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 33: Preach An Adventure Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 11, 2018

Preach a sermon that builds to an adventurous climax

Lesson Goal To create an adventurous kind of sermon that is like a fox hunt or a game of chase which builds towards a climax at the end. Lesson Intro In our neighborhood the old fashioned game of tag was called chasey. It was a chase, a mission and an adventure all wrapped up on one. As I grew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 34: Preach A Diagnosis-Remedy Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 12, 2018

Spiritual diagnosis and spiritual remedy

Lesson Goal I hope to encourage the preaching of a spiritual diagnosis and an appropriate remedy. Lesson Intro One of the most dangerous sermons a preacher/pastor/priest can give is, when he goes from preachin' to meddlin' by telling people that Houston, "we" have a problem and how to fix it. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:20-22

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 35: Preach A Hegelian Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 13, 2018

Solve a seeming contradiction, the Hegelian thesis, antithesis and synthesis

Lesson Goal I hope to encourage preaching a sermon solving a contradiction. Lesson Intro Non-Christian skeptics love to point out apparent contradictions in the Bible, the Church, Christian history or even Christian propositions like morality. Sometimes the point is valid, sometimes not. For ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 26:4-5

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 36: Preach An Analogy Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 15, 2018

Preaching analogies is very biblical

Lesson Goal I hope to encourage the preaching of sermons using an analogy. Lesson Intro Jesus is our prime model of good preaching. He used analogy continually. Many of his parables are analogies. Yet, his analogies are not limited to his parables. Jesus is the door, the bread, the light, the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 37: Preach Proof Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 16, 2018

What is proof and what are its limits?

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach a sermon that proves something. Lesson Intro Jesus presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs (Acts 1:3). Jews could not refute Paul’s proofs that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 9:22). What is proof? It is a process for establishing truth. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 38: Preach A Rebuttal Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 17, 2018

Preach a sermon that disproves something

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach a sermon that disproves something. Lesson Intro In Matthew 12:1-14, Jesus presents a number of rebuttals to the Pharisees. What is a rebuttal? It is a counterargument to disprove the evidence supplied by another party. It is a process for establishing truth by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

What Is A Good Shepherd

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 18, 2018

What is a Good Shepherd? What is the difference between David as a brave young shepherd and Jesus as the Good Shepherd? Did Jesus die for His sheep voluntarily?

Prelude What is a Good Shepherd? What is the difference between David as a brave young shepherd and Jesus as the Good Shepherd? Did Jesus die for His sheep voluntarily? Purpose: Let’s understand how good a shepherd Jesus is. Plan: Let’s look at what it means to be the Good Shepherd in John ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-18

Denomination: Baptist