Sermons on Sponges:

What Is Salvation

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 17, 2022

People often ask, have you been saved? Do we even know what that means?

What is salvation? How does it work? In Greek the word for Savior or Deliverer is s?t?? (soter) and so we call the study of salvation soteriology. The word save means to liberate, deliver or rescue. We must look at the context to understand what kind of salvation is being referred to. Temporal ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

God With Us

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 17, 2022

The world’s most important birth was about to take place. Why was it almost unknown? What was Joseph's dilemma? What were the baby’s names? Was Mary a perpetual virgin? Let’s look at Matthew 1:18-25.

The world’s most important birth was about to take place. Why was it almost unknown? What was Joseph's dilemma? What were the baby’s names? Was Mary a perpetual virgin? Let’s look at Matthew 1:18-25. Joseph’s Dilemma Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 18, 2022

Christmas is a season mixed with good and evil. Let’s learn about the good from Luke 2.

Christmas is a season mixed with good and evil. Let’s learn about the good from Luke 2. A Decree “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Called To Be Saints

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 25, 2022

What are Christians called to? Are we called to be holy, set apart by God? Is that what the word saint means? Are all Christians saints?

What are Christians called to? Are we called to be holy, set apart by God? Is that what the word saint means? Are all Christians saints? To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7 HCSB) Unto the church ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:2

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus' Power

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 21, 2023

What kind of power did Jesus have that demonstrated who He is?

After the sermon on the mount, did many follow Jesus? Luke picks up from here as the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20–49). As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds. (Matthew 8:1 CEV) Healings Did He begin to heal many? What did a man with a skin disease do? A man with a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

New Wine

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 28, 2023

As Jesus healed people He spoke of new wine and patching clothing. Did He mean there is a something new in the the new covenant? Let's look at Matthew 9.

Amidst various healings Jesus taught about old and new ideas. Healing Did Jesus heal a paralyzed man? Was Jesus falsely accused? And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Persecuted Missions

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 5, 2024

What dangers and blessings await those who dare to share God's Good News in a hostile world? Let's find out in Matthew 10.

What dangers and blessings await those who dare to share the Good News in a hostile world? What authority did Jesus give the twelve disciples? He called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to throw them out and to heal every disease and every sickness. (Matthew 10:1 ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Offense Or Rest

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 13, 2024

Do we take offense or rest in Jesus? Let's find out in Matthew 11.

Can we find rest in Jesus in the midst of a troubled world? Did John the Baptist need rest from doubt? After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left and began teaching and preaching in the towns. John was in prison when he heard what Christ was doing. So John sent some of his ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Money Morality

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 14, 2024

The basic rule of money morality is well known, but often misquoted and misunderstood. Let's examine a godly approach to money.

The basic rule for money morality is well-known, but most people seem to either misquote this principle or stop after the first clause. Let’s read the whole principle. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

Denomination: Baptist

Usury & Extortion

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 16, 2024

Why do western banks engage in usury and extortion? Why do Christians go along with it without trying to change this practice?

One of the earliest principles of money lending is a law against usury. If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest. (Exodus 22:25 NKJV) This is the exact opposite of how western banks operate today. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 22:5

Denomination: Baptist

Disguised Fraud

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 18, 2024

Fraud in politics and business is common. How should we as Christians behave in such a dishonest world?

How are political and business leaders frequently described in the Bible? Political Frauds Evil national leaders are pictured in the Bible as predatory wild animals, political frauds. For instance, Daniel had a vision of four successive empires, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greco-Macedonia and Rome, and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Accused

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 20, 2024

Are Christians often falsely accused? How did Jesus handle being falsely accused? Let's find out in Matthew 12.

Jesus faced many false accusations. How did He handle them? Sabbath Accusations Did the Pharisees criticize Jesus for breaking their Sabbath rules? At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain. But when ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Giving

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 2, 2022

One of the greatest secrets of the universe is in Jesus’ words, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35) Do we give extravagantly to God 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) Do we give extravagantly to God or our leftovers? Let’s look at Mary’s anointing of Jesus in John 12:1-8. “Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Easter & Mary Magdalene

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 12, 2022

It was early the Sunday morning of Jesus’ resurrection (John 20:1-18). That time of year, mornings could be a little chilly, so Mary probably wrapped herself up against the cool early air as she headed towards the garden tomb.

It was early the Sunday morning of Jesus’ resurrection (John 20:1-18). That time of year, Jerusalem could be just over 20°C (about 70°F on the old scale) during the day. Early that morning it may have been about 10°C (50°F), so Mary probably wrapped herself up against the cool ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Flood Morality And Geology

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 19, 2022

Was Noah's flood moral? Is God immoral? Is Noah's flood just myth?

How could a good God destroy most of humanity in a worldwide flood? How can modern Christians even believe that such a flood existed? What does the Bible actually say? Flood Morality Can atheists have any basis for a statement questioning the morality of God’s judgment? If there is no God and we ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:5-12, 2 Peter 2:5, Matthew 25:31-32, 2 Peter 3:3-7, Genesis 9:12-17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist