Sermons on Sponges:

Conflict

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 17, 2016

Is conflict always avoidable? Is conflict always a sign of failure? Can good come from conflict?

Intro Is conflict always avoidable? Is conflict always a sign of failure? Can good come from conflict? Goal I want us to learn that conflict is a part of the full Gospel message. Sermon Plan We will discuss Luke 12:49-56, a world on fire, family conflict and interpreting the times. Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56

Denomination: Baptist

You Are Set Free

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 22, 2016

Are we truly free in Christ or are we still in a state of bondage?

You are Set Free Intro Are we truly free in Christ or are we still in a state of bondage? Goal Let’s learn that religious bondage is every bit as bad as slavery. Sermon Plan Let’s discuss Luke 13:10-17 healing, the Sabbath and freedom. Luke 13:10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

Rethinking Community

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 29, 2016

Do Christians have a Christ-given responsibility towards the marginalized?

Intro Our world has many marginalized people. The socially excluded lack access to housing, employment, healthcare, civic participation, and legal protection. Second class citizenship leads to poverty, crime, suicide, and drug addiction. The solution begins with something that Jesus taught, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Talking Tough

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 1, 2016

Let’s examine Luke 14:25-33 and the cost of being a disciple.

Intro If church size is more important than faithfulness to Jesus, then here are 5 ways to build a mega church. 1) Promise that obedience to Jesus will improve your worldly stature. 2) Promise that people will not have to carry their own cross, because Jesus did. 3) Tell them not to use their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Baptist

Persistent And Demanding Prayer

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 11, 2016

Do we persist with God? Do we give up and not bother to pray because we do not believe that he will hear?

Intro Do we persist with God? Do we give up and not bother to pray because we do not believe that he will hear? Goal Let’s learn that God sometimes will only hear persistent, demanding prayers. Sermon Plan We will discuss prayers for ourselves, aggressive prayer and God’s justice ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Delusion Of Self-Righteousness

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 23, 2016

Do we justify ourselves by comparing ourselves with others or do we compare ourselves with God alone?

Intro Do we justify ourselves by comparing ourselves with others or do we compare ourselves with God alone? Goal Let’s learn that compared to God we are all pitiful and that God alone can make us justified. Sermon Plan Let’s discuss self-righteousness and self-justification in Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

Blessings And Sorrows

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 6, 2016

Let’s discuss four blessings and four sorrows from Luke 6:20-31

Intro We should take several different baths each week. The obvious one is a bath for the outer body. A not so obvious bath is one for the inner body, by drinking an appropriate amount of clean water, rather than polluting our bodies with too much junk. Another not so obvious bath is for the mind, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:20-31

Denomination: Baptist

You Are The Church

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 13, 2016

The gates of hell will not destroy this church. Jesus said that in Matthew 16:18. When he said that, he was not talking about a building. He was talking about the people, because people are the church.

Intro I’m going to utter a prophecy. The gates of hell will not destroy this church. Jesus said that in Matthew 16:18. When he said that, he was not talking about a building. He was talking about the people, because people are the church. Goal Let’s learn that real estate is not the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Seeking The Lost

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 11, 2016

How valuable are we to God? How valuable are those not yet in the church? I want us to learn that everyone is valuable to God. Let’s discuss a lost sheep and a lost coin from Luke 15:1-10.

Intro How valuable are we to God? How valuable are those not yet in the church? Goal I want us to learn that everyone is valuable to God. Sermon Plan Let’s discuss a lost sheep and a lost coin from Luke 15:1-10. Luke 15:1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Heavenly Purposes For Filthy Lucre

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 18, 2016

What did Jesus teach about money?

Sermon Intro Why is money referred to as filthy lucre? Because we all sin, all money is tainted by sin of some kind. Is filthy lucre usable for heavenly purposes? Goal Let’s learn that filthy lucre can be used for heavenly purposes. Sermon Plan We will discuss a shrewd manager and his ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Great Reversal

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 26, 2016

Do we even care? Or are we so busy accumulating wealth and looking for healing for ourselves, that we don't even see the destitute poor?

Intro Are compassion and money incompatible? Goal Let’s learn how important God considers our care of the less fortunate. Sermon Plan Let’s discuss Luke 16:19-31, an unnamed rich man and a famous beggar, Lazarus. We will learn about the dangers of the hard-hearted, selfish use of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Like A Mustard Seed

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 2, 2016

How much faith does it take to do great things for God?

Intro Jesus had described true discipleship. The Son of Man had nowhere to lay his head. Those who put family first need to put the kingdom first. Wavering or looking back makes one not fit. The cost of following him is everything. We must carry our cross and give up possessions. How could anyone ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:5-10

Denomination: Baptist

Are We Greatly Mistaken

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 25, 2018

What if we are greatly mistaken in our understanding of Christianity? If our ideas do not square with the Bible, will we change? As the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth, will we follow?

Preamble After preaching the lectionary through in these churches, I find myself drawn more and more to a year of preaching the texts the lectionary leaves out. My suspicions were aroused when I learned that Jude was eliminated, a letter which condemns many practices engaged in by the modern ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Foreigner Preached Repentance

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 3, 2018

What business does a foreigner have telling any nation to repent? Jonah was such a foreigner, but he ran away because he despised Assyria. Are we running away from God? Are we bigoted against other nations?

Prelude What business does a foreigner have telling any nation to repent? If his name is Jonah, it’s God’s business. But, Jonah ran away because he despised Assyria. Are we running away from God? Are we bigoted against other nations? Purpose: Let’s learn that God cares even for our enemies. Plan: ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Biblical Leaven

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 10, 2018

The Bible uses leaven to symbolize how both good and bad things grow in our lives. Let's put in the good leaven and leave out the bad, because either one can fill our lives.

Prelude The Bible uses leaven to symbolize how both good and bad things grow in our lives. It’s important for us to know the difference, so that we make sure that the good things in our lives grow and not the bad. Purpose: Let’s learn about the meaning of leaven in the Bible. Plan: We’ll look at ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:13-21

Denomination: Baptist