Sermons on Sponges:

Faith To Forgive

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 26, 2022

Do we have enough faith to forgive? Let’s see what Jesus says about how much faith is needed to forgive in Luke 17:5-10.

Do we have enough faith to forgive? Let’s see what Jesus says about how much faith is needed to forgive in Luke 17:5-10. Faith to Forgive Let’s not isolate Jesus' comments from their context. “One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:5-10

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua-Judges

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 28, 2022

Joshua took over leadership from Moses. After him came a series of chieftains, who led Israel through a repeated cycle of apostasy, punishment and rescue.

Joshua took over leadership from Moses to bring Israel into the promised land. After him came a series of judges or notable chieftains of various tribes, who led Israel through a repeated cycle of apostasy, punishment and rescue. Leadership How important are the words even today, “be strong and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Ruth

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 29, 2022

Let's look at Ruth and Boaz, and how Boaz was a type of Christ the redeemer.

In examining Ruth it is essential to discuss one difficulty before we begin, the earlier prohibition against Moabites. “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation.” (Deuteronomy 23:3 NIV) Note that the prohibition does ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Revelation 1-17

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 7, 2022

Revelation is apocalyptic literature, a symbolic genre. Who and what does this book reveal?

Students of Revelation fall into four broad categories, those who believe it’s mostly 1) past history, 2) foretells Christian history, 3) mostly future or 4) symbolic. Revelation is apocalyptic literature, a symbolic genre. Who and what does this book reveal? “The revelation of Jesus Christ, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Sent

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 7, 2022

What is the church’s mission? Studying the church’s mission is called missiology. Let’s discuss a mission trip from Luke 10:1-20.

What is the church’s mission? Studying the church’s mission is called missiology. Let’s discuss a mission trip from Luke 10:1-20. 70 Apostled Short term mission trips are as old as when Jesus sent the 70. They were 1) “sent” or “apostled” as the Greek says. The eastern churches call these the 70 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Persistent Prayer

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 10, 2022

God encourages us to be persistent and demanding in prayer.

Do we persist with God? Do we give up praying too soon? Let’s learn that God encourages persistent, demanding prayers. Let’s discuss prayers for ourselves, aggressive prayer and God’s justice in Luke 18:1-8. Purpose “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Evil Kings Gone (2 Kings 9)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 20, 2025

Will evil national leaders eventually lose out? Can we wait on the Lord? Let's look at 2 Kings 9.

Do we trust in human political leaders or God? Will God eventually put a permanent end to evil human governments? Let’s look at 2 Kings 9. How did Jehu become anointed as the tenth king of Israel? Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, “Put your belt on your ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jehu's Fickle Repentance (2 Kings 10)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 21, 2025

Is repentance by half only? Let's look at 2 Kings 10.

Do our national leaders get rid of one evil while embracing others like Jehu king of Israel? How many of us or our church leaders are like Jehu? Let’s look at 2 Kings 10. Did Jehu get in contact with the guardians of all the children of Ahab? Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Evil Athalia (2 Kings 11)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 23, 2025

Does God eventually remove evil people from power? Let's look at 2 Kings 11.

Though evil people plot and kill, does God win in His time? Let’s examine wicked Athalia’s plan and God’s victory through Jehoiada the priest in 2 Kings 11. After Jehu had killed Ahazia, king of Judah, what did Ahazia’s mother do to take the throne? When Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, learned of her ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Boy King (2 Kings 12)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 24, 2025

How important is it to remain faithful lifelong? Let's look at 2 Kings 12.

How important is it to keep on doing God’s will throughout our life? Let’s look at the life of the boy king Joash in 2 Kings 12. Did Joash (Jehoash) start out doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord? Did the length of his reign indicate God’s overall approval? Was his biggest failure not ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Turning Back To Sin (2 Kings 13)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 24, 2025

How dangerous is turning back to sin? Let's look at 2 Kings 13.

Were the 11th and 12th kings of Israel also bad? What use is prayer and turning back to doing wrong? Let’s continue the saga in 2 Kings 13. Though God rescued Israel from an invasion, under king Jehoahaz, did the nation keep sinning? Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in the twenty-third ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Partial Obedience (2 Kings 14)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 25, 2025

What happens to those who start obediently, but turn back? Let's look at 2 Kings 14.

What is the result of partial obedience? Will we remain faithful or slide backwards? Let’s look at Amaziah the 9th king of Judah in 2 Kings 14. Was Amaziah a somewhat good king? Was he more like Joash than David, partial in obedience? Did he obey Moses’ law in regard to children’s innocence of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

5 Kings Of Israel (2 Kings 15)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 28, 2025

Will there ever be a good king of Israel? Let's look at 2 Kings 15.

During the reigns of Azariah and Jotham of Judah, were there five kings in Israel? Were Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah good or bad kings of Israel? Will there ever be a righteous king of Israel? Let’s begin in 2 Kings 15. How long did the 10th king of Judah, Uzziah, reign? Was he ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Hybrid Pagan Worship (2 Kings 16)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 28, 2025

Have we mixed in pagan worship? Let's look at 2 Kings 16.

Have we mixed the worship of the Lord with foreign religions? Let’s look at 2 Kings 16. Was Ahaz, 12th king of Judah, bad? Did he engage in child sacrifice and similar Canaanite abominations? In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham, king of Judah, began to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Fall Of Israel (2 Kings 17)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 30, 2025

What causes the fall of a nation? Let's look at 2 Kings 17.

Did Israel lose their land because of persistent wrongdoing? Did foreign immigrants to the land also persist in sin? Have we repented? Let’s look at 2 Kings 17. Who was the 19th and last king of Israel and taken prisoner by Assyria? In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist