Sermons on Sponge:

Who Do We Follow?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 30, 2014

We may call ourselves Christians, but is Jesus our Shepherd? Are we really following him or merely using his name to excuse following a man, a tradition or our own stubbornness?

Intro: We often hear the 23rd Psalm read or recited at funerals, but did you know that it does not apply to everyone, only to the sheep of the Great Shepherd. Goal: To really understand the most popular of all the Psalms. Plan: We will go through Psalm 23 looking at some important details. I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

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

Come And You Will See

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 19, 2014

Come to a church where Jesus is preached and you will begin to see the answer to the most important issues of life.

Intro What are we here for? What is the purpose of the church? Goal To show how important Jesus is to the church. Plan We will look at why we are here, John the Baptist’s example and the lamb of God. Why are we here Have we ever asked ourselves, why are we here? So, here we sit in a ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29-42

Denomination: Baptist

Take Off The Grave Clothes

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 27, 2014

From the day we are born we begin to die. It’s as if our bodies are already dressed in grave clothes. As marvelous as science is, it has not yet mastered life’s greatest enemy, death. Yet there is one who has.

Intro What kind of life would we lead if we were guaranteed not to die? How would we live if we knew already that we were immortal like a kind of Superman or Superwoman? Goal I want us to realize that immortality is not just the stuff of Hollywood fiction but a reality in Christ. Plan We will ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Denomination: Baptist

The Faith Of A Doubter

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 28, 2014

Thomas is called the doubter, but he is also the confessor, who made a remarkable confession like no other and did a marvelous work as far east as India.

Intro When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection what happened and what did he say? Goal I hope that we can learn that doubt is a normal and natural part of a life of faith. Plan We will look at Jesus’ appearance to ten of the eleven remaining disciples and then to ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-23

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus And The Law, Part 2

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 10, 2020

Imagine a commentary on the Old Testament by Jesus Christ. It would be the best, and we have one in the Sermon on the Mount. Let’s begin to understand the intent of the law by its author. Let’s look at murder, adultery and bearing false witness in Matthew 5:21-37.

Imagine a commentary on the Old Testament by Jesus Christ. It would be the best, and we have one in the Sermon on the Mount. Let’s begin to understand the intent of the law by its author. Let’s look at murder, adultery and bearing false witness in Matthew 5:21-37. Murder Matthew 5:21-26 “You have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-37

Denomination: Baptist

A Taste Of Eternity

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 17, 2020

What does life look like beyond the grave? Let’s examine our transformation now and its eternal result. We will look at the transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-9 and its application in transforming our lives today.

What does life look like beyond the grave? Let’s examine our transformation now and its eternal result. We will look at the transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-9 and its application in transforming our lives today. Small Group of 3 Matthew 17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Temptation

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 24, 2020

Life is filled with trials and temptations. Sometimes we fail. Jesus was also faced with great tests, but he succeeded. Let’s learn how Jesus battled temptations and won. Let’s look at the testing of Christ in Matthew 4:1-11.

Life is filled with trials and temptations. Sometimes we fail. Jesus was also faced with great tests, but he succeeded. Let’s learn how Jesus battled temptations and won. Let’s look at the testing of Christ in Matthew 4:1-11. Led by the Spirit Matthew 4:1-2 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Visitor In The Dark

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 3, 2020

What does it mean to be born again? How are we born of water and the Spirit? Let’s understand the newness of a spirit life in 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 spirit life in John 3:1-17. Nicodemus John 3:1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. Nicodemus was a senator in the Jewish ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17, John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Bearing Fruit

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 20, 2019

Where is God when bad things happen? Are people who die in calamities and atrocities just getting what they deserve? Let’s discuss time and chance, and God giving us one last chance to repent. Let’s look at what Jesus said in Luke 13:1-9.

Where is God when bad things happen? Are people who die in calamities and atrocities just getting what they deserve? Let’s discuss time and chance, and God giving us one last chance to repent. Let’s look at what Jesus said in Luke 13:1-9. Unless You Repent Luke 13:1-3 Now on the same occasion ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

A Bankrupt Son Returns Home

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 25, 2019

What would we think about someone who had spent all his inheritance on wild orgies, went bankrupt, dressed in rags, smelled of pig dung and wanted to come home? That’s our story today. It’s about a father and two sons and is found in Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32.

What would we think about someone who had spent all his inheritance on wild orgies, went bankrupt, dressed in rags, smelled of pig dung and wanted to come home? That’s our story today. It’s about a father and two sons and is found in Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32. The Wild Child Luke 15:11b-13 “A man had ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Giving Extravagantly

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 2, 2019

How extravagantly do we give? Do we give God our best or our leftovers? Let’s look at Mary’s anointing of Jesus in John 12:1-8.

One of the greatest secrets of the universe is in Jesus’ words, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35) It’s a simple gauge as to how blessed we are. Are we generous? How extravagantly do we give? Do we give God our best or our leftovers? Let’s look at Mary’s anointing of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Passion (According To Luke)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 10, 2019

How can humanity ever escape the stupidity with which we have ruled this planet? Why doesn’t God just toss us all away and start over? A merciful God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit made a plan to save us from ourselves. Let’s look at that plan’s darkest hours in Luke 22:14-23:56.

How can humanity ever escape the stupidity with which we have ruled this planet? Why doesn’t God just toss us all away and start over? A merciful God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit made a plan to save us from ourselves. Let’s look at that plan’s darkest hours in Luke 22:14-23:56. Luke 22:14-18 “I ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Evangelism At A Local Watering Hole

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 9, 2020

Who can spread the Gospel? Let’s see that the Gospel is spread by ordinary people who have had an encounter with Jesus. Let’s examine the woman at the well in John 4:5-42.

Who can spread the Gospel? Let’s see that the Gospel is spread by ordinary people who have had an encounter with Jesus. Let’s examine the woman at the well in John 4:5-42. An Unbiased Savior John 4:5-9 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his ...read more

Scripture: John 4:5-42

Denomination: Baptist

The Blind See

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 16, 2020

We often don’t know what we cannot see, because we’ve never seen it. There is a way to gain spiritual sight. What is it? How can we see what we are blind to in our world? Let’s learn what Jesus taught about it in John 9:1-41.

We often don’t know what we cannot see, because we’ve never seen it. There is a way to gain spiritual sight. What is it? How can we see what we are blind to in our world? Let’s learn what Jesus taught about it in John 9:1-41. Fault-Finding John 9:1-5 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Baptist