Sermons on Sponges:

Persecuted & Joyful (2 Thessalonians 1)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 1, 2024

Can a church be both persecuted and joyful? Can they be faithful? Let's find out in 2 Thessalonians 1.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy encouraged the church in Thessaloniki during persecution. They encourage the saints not to be shaken by those who say that the day of the Lord has begun but to stand firm. They encouraged the brethren to work to earn a living and not live an idle life. Let’s ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

False Predictions (2 Thessalonians 2)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 2, 2024

Can Christians be fooled by false predictions? Let's examine this thought in 2 Thessalonians 2.

Can Christians easily be alarmed by false predictions that the day of the Lord has already come? Was a rebellion, falling away or an apostasy predicted? How can we be sure that we are not fooled? Is standing on the bedrock teachings of Jesus important? Does the truth set us apart? Let's find ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Disorderly Christians (2 Thessalonians 3)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 3, 2024

What can we do about disorderly, lazy and idle Christians? Lets look at that in 2 Thessalonians 3.

Do we pray for our ministers? Is God faithful? Is Christ steadfast? What should we do about disorderly Christians? Let's discuss this in 2 Thessalonians 3. Do we pray for faithful ministers of the Gospel, for both their message and their safety? Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

False Teachings (1 Timothy 1)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 5, 2024

Are false teachings about the law still prevalent? Let's find out in 1 Timothy 1.

Paul wrote this first letter to Timothy about the church in Ephesus and false teachings there about the law. Are doctrines about the law, NOT taught by Jesus or the apostles still prevalent? Is love the most important doctrine? Is the law still a focus of many false teachers? Let’s find out in 1 ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Died For Whom? (1 Timothy 2)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 5, 2024

For whom did Jesus die, all or just a special few? Are gender roles a curse or blessing? Let's find out in 1 Timothy 2.

Who should we pray for? Did Jesus die just for an elect few, or everyone? Are gender roles oppressive or a blessing? Let’s find out in 1 Timothy 2. Should we pray for just a few or all people, even national leaders? Why? I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Right Church Leadership (1 Timothy 3)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 6, 2024

Do we have the right to reinterpret Paul's inspired qualifications for elders and deacons, adapting them to a sinful society? Let's find out in 1 Timothy 3.

Do we have any authority to ignore Paul’s inspired qualifications for elders and deacons? Do we have any authority for man-made requirements? Do we have any authority to ordain women as elders? Do we trust that God inspired Paul with instructions for all time, or do we bend them to suit the whims ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Wrong Teachings (1 Timothy 4)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 7, 2024

Where to wrong teachings forbidding marriage and certain foods come from? Let's find out in 1 Timothy 4.

Do wrong teachings from demons and hypocritical liars exist in our churches? By what authority would any church promote a vow of celibacy? Are food laws still relevant for Christians? How should churches treat young preachers? Let’s find out in 1 Timothy 4. Will there be various teachings that ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How Behave In Church (1 Timothy 5)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 8, 2024

How do we treat each other in the church? Let's find out in 1 Timothy 5.

How should we treat each other in the church? How should we treat widows? How should widows behave? Should elders who preach well receive a double honorarium? What about accusations against elders? How should we correct elders? Let’s find out in 1 Timothy 5. How should we treat men and women in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What Faith?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 13, 2022

As we repent from sin and turn to God, what must also be included?

As we repent from sin and turn to God, what must also be included? “I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:21 NLT) Repentance is also from unbelief to faith. Are good works evidence ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:21, Acts 26:20, Hebrews 11:1, Jude 1:3

Denomination: Baptist

Works Or Not?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 14, 2022

Doing good works is a very controversial topic among Christians, because they are either overemphasized or underemphasized. It’s hard to find the balance, but the scriptures are the best help.

Doing good works is a very controversial topic among Christians, because they are either overemphasized or underemphasized. It’s hard to find the balance, but the scriptures are the best help, if we’ll listen to them instead of blindly accepting the prejudices of men. There are several factors to ...read more

Scripture: John 6:29, James 2:14-26, Matthew 16:27

Denomination: Baptist

The Age Of Baptism

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 19, 2022

We don’t need to be divided over the topic of baptism. Biblically, there is room for our preferences without disunity, if we ask simple questions. What does the Bible really require? What does the Bible leave up to us?

We don’t need to be divided over the topic of baptism. Biblically, there is room for our preferences without disunity, if we ask simple questions. What does the Bible really require? What does the Bible leave up to us? Let’s look more deeply into baptism than narrow ideas may allow. Age of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:21-23, 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, Colossians 2:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Mode Of Baptism

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 20, 2022

What does the Bible mandate about the mode of baptism?

Eisegesis is a bad way to read the Bible. It means to read into the text things that are actually not there at all. One common example is reading that Jesus came up out of the water after being immersed. The text simply does not say that at all. “So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:16, 1 Corinthians 10:2, Luke 12:50, Revelation 7:14

Denomination: Baptist

Confirmation

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 22, 2022

Is confirmation biblical? Does it have anything to do with the biblical doctrine of laying on of hands?

Infant baptism is neither mandated nor forbidden in the New Testament but has forerunners in the Old Testament. In adult baptism, water and laying on of hands occur as one ceremony. Infant baptism often separates the use of water and laying on of hands by many years. The author of Hebrews teaches ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:1-2, Matthew 10:32, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 8:14-17

Denomination: Baptist

Contemporary Heaven

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 27, 2022

What does heaven look like now?

What does heaven look like now? Paradise A first glimpse of heaven was the garden. The word Paradise means a garden or park reminiscent of the garden of Eden. What did Jesus tell the thief on the cross? “Jesus replied, ‘I assure you that today you will be with me in paradise.’ ” (Luke 23:43 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:43, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, Revelation 22:1-2, Acts 7:55-56

Denomination: Baptist

Heaven's Eternity

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 27, 2022

Let’s briefly explore some prophecies of heaven. Though heaven may be timeless, the Bible speaks of heaven’s eternity in human terms.

Let’s briefly explore some prophecies of heaven. Though heaven may be timeless, the Bible speaks of heaven’s eternity in human terms. At Hand The first thing we may notice is that heaven is at hand. What does that mean? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2 CEV) “From ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:17, Luke 10:20, John 5:28-29, Luke 20:37-38, Revelation 21:9-10, Revelation 21:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist