Sermons on Sponges:

Parables & Secrets (Mark 4)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 16, 2024

What secrets lay behind Jesus' use of parables? Let's discuss this in Mark 4.

What are the four places where the seed of the word is broadcast? Why did Jesus speak in parables to outsiders? Is light to be hidden under a basket? How is God’s kingdom like harvesting? How is God’s kingdom like a mustard plant? How would we have reacted as Jesus calmed a lake storm? Let’s ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Tower Of Babel (Genesis 11)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 16, 2024

Does Pentecost begin to reverse the curse of Babel? Let's discuss this in Genesis 11.

God separated our ancestors into language groups at Babel to encourage them to migrate and populate the whole world. On Pentecost, God began a process of reversing the language division at Babel, bringing the nations back together again in one church (Acts 2), through the miracle of hearing the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Honest History (Genesis 12)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 17, 2024

Nations often give a dishonest history, leaving out the bad. Does biblical history give an honest view of patriarchs, prophets, and apostles? Let's look at Genesis 12.

Nations often whitewash their history leaving out the bad. Does frank honesty about the strengths and weaknesses of patriarchs, prophets and apostles help us trust the Bible as true history? Let’s discuss this in Genesis 12. How did Abram become Abraham, father of the faithful? Does the letter to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus' Suffering (Matthew 27a)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 13, 2024

What pampered king, president or prime minister of this world would suffer for the sake of his people? Yet, Jesus, king of the world did. Let's look at Jesus' suffering in Matthew 27:1-33.

How much did Jesus suffer even before His crucifixion? Let’s glimpse His suffering in Matthew 27:1-33. Who was Jesus taken to next? Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:1-33

Denomination: Baptist

Addressing Felix (Acts 24)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 16, 2025

Why did God have Paul address governor Felix.

Did Paul’s imprisonment enable him to share Christ with the Governor? Does persecution have a divine purpose? Let’s review Acts 24. What were the high priest’s accusations about Paul before Felix the governor? And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Addressing Festus (Acts 25)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 18, 2025

Are we willing to go to dangerous places for the Gospel?

Did Paul’s enemies bring him before another governor? Are we willing to enter dangerous places for the Gospel? Let’s look at Acts 25. After Antonius Felix left office, did Paul appear before Porcius Festus? Festus then, having arrived in the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Addressing Agrippa (Acts 26)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 18, 2025

How would you preach the Gospel to a government official?

Did Paul’s trials lead him to higher and higher government officials? Are we willing to suffer so that the Gospel may reach more people? Let’s look at Acts 26. How did Paul begin his defense before King Herod Agrippa II? Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” So Paul gestured with ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Dangerous Voyage (Acts 27)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 19, 2025

Will God protect us?

Does God often protect the faithful? Even in martyrdom is our eternity protected? Let’s review Acts 27. What happened as Paul began his voyage? How kind was the guard Julius? Now when it was decided that we would sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Paul In Rome (Acts 28)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 21, 2025

Would we have courage to tell the Emperor about Jesus?

Was Paul released, but later possibly rearrested and executed? Despite opposition, did Paul preach to both Jews and Gentiles in Rome? Are we willing? Let’s look at Acts 28. Where was Paul shipwrecked? Did a snakebite harm him? When we came ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. The ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Adam To Edom (1 Chronicles 1)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 24, 2025

Does the longest genealogy in the Bible lend historical credibility to scripture?

Does the longest genealogy in the Bible (1 Chronicles 1-9) teach us that humanity really is one large family? Do these family trees lend credibility to the historical accuracy of scripture? Did the male roles evident in these genealogies hurt or strengthen families? Let’s begin in 1 Chronicles ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Descendants Of Judah (1 Chronicles 2)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 26, 2025

Do human still make bad decisions?

Do humans still make bad decisions? Did polygamy bring family problems? Can a perfect Savior descended from a sinful family save a sinful church? Let’s look at 1 Chronicles 2. Did Israel (Jacob) have twelve sons by four women? Were they lonely women, barely having a quarter of Jacob’s attention? ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Descendants Of David (1 Chronicles 3)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 28, 2025

Who were the most notable descendants of David?

Were David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jotham, Hezekiah and Josiah the most faithful kings of Judah? Why was Josiah deemed the most righteous? Why was Zerubbabel important? Let’s look at 1 Chronicles 3. Which sons were born to David in Hebron before he ruled over the whole of Israel? These were David’s ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Judah & Simeon (1 Chronicles 4)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 1, 2025

What can the generations teach us?

In the genealogies of Judah and Simeon, what’s missing? Were many faithful to God? Were our ancestors? Let’s look at 1 Chronicles 4. Who were tribal leaders of note in Judah? Was Karmi another name for Chelubai, or Caleb, the man who surveyed the promised land? Did these generations forget ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Reuben, Gad & East Manasseh (1 Chronicles 5)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 3, 2025

Will we be in the blessings of Revelation?

Who were the two and a half tribes who lived east of the Jordan River? Are they mysteriously included in Revelation? Do we want to be included? Let’s begin in 1 Chronicles 5. How did Reuben lose his birthright? Who got the right of the firstborn in his stead? Here is a record of the descendants ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Priestly Tribe (1 Chronicles 6)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 6, 2025

How did Jesus become our high priest?

Were the Levites scattered throughout Israel? Who is our high priest today? Does God still work through families? Let’s look at 1 Chronicles 6. Who were the main descendants of note among the Levites? Does ministry still run in families in the church? The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist