Sermons on Sponge:

Jesus' Prayer For You

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 8, 2016

If Jesus prayed for you, what would he say. Let's look at his prayer for you in John 17:20-26

Intro If Jesus were to pray for you and me, what would he say? Purpose We actually have record of such a prayer. He did pray for us and among other things he prayed for our unity. Plan Let’s look at part of the long Lord’s prayer in John 17:20-26 and see its great lesson for ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-26

Denomination: Baptist

Greater Works Than These

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 15, 2016

What could possibly be a greater work than the cross?

Intro On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit empowered the Church to do a mighty work. What is the work of the Church and what does it have to do with us? Purpose Let’s examine John 14:8-17 and the greater work that has been bequeathed to us. Plan 1. A Greater Work than The Cross? How can there ...read more

Scripture: John 14:8-17

Denomination: Baptist

How The Holy Spirit Guides

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 22, 2016

How do we discern the Holy Spirit's guidance?

Intro How can we tell if an idea comes from the Holy Spirit or not? Purpose Many people claim to be led by the Holy Spirit, but we need to test what they say and find out the truth for ourselves. Plan One place that we can look at is John 16:12-15 where Jesus teaches about what the Holy ...read more

Scripture: John 16:12-15

Denomination: Baptist

Such Great Faith

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 29, 2016

How can we have faith since we are at such a distance from the days of the Apostles?

Intro The culture and history in the Bible are in the distant past. How can we have faith in God when the stories we read are so far from us? Purpose Let’s understand that distance does not have to diminish faith may enhance it. Plan Let’s look at Luke 7:1-10 and see how one ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Is It Too Late?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 5, 2016

Is it too late for Jesus to give life back to a dead marriage, business, relationship, dream, or even a dead body?

Intro Who has the authority to give life to the dead? Is death too late for Jesus? Purpose Let’s look at Jesus’ authority over life and death. Plan We will look at Jesus’ resurrection of a widow’s only son in Luke 7:11-17 and how it is different than other resurrections ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-17

Denomination: Baptist

A Sinner Comes To Jesus

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 12, 2016

Do we look upon fellow sinners as a "super-righteous" person might or as Jesus does?

Intro When we look at people what do we see? Do we see others as a super righteous person might or as Jesus would? Purpose Let’s discover how to see people as Jesus sees them, for the love in their hearts and not for the mistakes they may have made. Plan Let’s look at Luke 7:36-8:3 ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Freedom From Our Demons

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 19, 2016

In a crazy world, can we be free from our demons?

Intro Can we be free in a world of insanity and self-destruction? Purpose Salvation is often seen as only for eternity. But, salvation is also for today. Plan Let’s examine Luke 8:26-39 and Jesus saving a gentile from his insanity. Luke 8:26 So they arrived in the region of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:26-39

Denomination: Baptist

The Beauty Of Baptism

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 18, 2014

The Bible makes few mandates for baptism, but what it does demand makes it beautiful.

Intro In Matthew 3 we are introduced to the Baptism of Christ. This ceremony which has become the norm for almost all Christian churches is also the subject of some division and much misunderstanding. Goal To help us appreciate baptism and its significance. Plan We will look at what is and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Way Of Righteousness

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 28, 2017

How do we answer hostile questions about our faith? How do we know where the authority of God resides? Is the authority of God in our lives?

Prelude, Purpose & Plan How do we answer hostile questions about our faith? How do we know where the authority of God resides? Is the authority of God in our lives? Let’s explore Jesus’ confrontation with religious leaders over His authority and the parable of the two sons in Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32

Denomination: Baptist

A Fruitful Life

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 2, 2017

Let’s look at the parable of the vineyard in Matthew 21:33-46 and what God requires.

Prelude, Purpose, Plan What kind of faith is saving faith? Is saving faith without visible evidence or a faith that produces fruit? Let’s understand that Christians carry fruit for the kingdom. Let’s look at the parable of the vineyard in Matthew 21:33-46 and what God requires. Matthew 21:33 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

Denomination: Baptist

God Invites Us

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 10, 2017

What is our response to God’s wedding invitation? What kind of clothing does God require?

Prelude, Purpose & Plan What is our response to God’s wedding invitation? What kind of clothing does God require? What are we doing with the opportunity God has placed before us? Let’s see that our invitation to salvation has a twofold responsibility. Let’s look at the Parable of the Wedding ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14, Revelation 19:7-10

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

Complete Love

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 29, 2017

Do we love God completely? How do we love God with our whole heart, soul and mind? What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself?

Prelude, Purpose, Plan Do we love God completely? How do we love God with our whole heart, soul and mind? What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? We are tempted to emphasize only one dimension of loving God. Let us learn of the more complete love taught by Jesus. Let’s examine the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-46

Denomination: Baptist

True Leadership

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 31, 2017

When is religious authority right and wrong? How should we behave in an imperfect church? Should we quit church and return to the devil or stay and be a force for good?

Prelude When is religious authority right and wrong? How should we behave in an imperfect church? Should we quit church and return to the devil or stay and be a force for good? Let’s look at Jesus’ blunt assessment of human religious leadership in Matthew 23:1-12 and see if we can learn a better ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Watchfulness

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 7, 2017

What must we do to prepare for Christ’s Coming? Should we closely follow world events, research prophecy and draw up wildly speculative timelines? Is there something spiritual that we should be looking at in ourselves?

Prelude What must we do to prepare for Christ’s Coming? Should we closely follow world events, research prophecy and draw up wildly speculative timelines? Is there something spiritual that we should be looking at in ourselves? Our purpose is to learn how to prepare for His Coming. Our plan is to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Baptist