Sermons on Sponges:

The Light

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 12, 2017

Who is the light? How are we, like John, not the light? What does light change?

Prelude Who is the light? How are we, like John, not the light? What does light change? Purpose: Let’s learn to testify of the Light. Plan: Let’s look at John 1:6-8, 19-28 and John the Baptist as a witness who gave testimony about the One. John 1:6-7a Witness In John 1:6-7a we read, “There was ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Humble Virgin

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 19, 2017

What can we learn from a teenager? What can we learn from her faith? What can we learn from Mary the mother of Jesus?

Prelude What can we learn from a teenager? What can we learn from her faith? What can we learn from Mary the mother of Jesus? Purpose: Let’s learn about the simplicity of trust in God. Plan: Let’s look at Luke 1:26-38, the so-called Annunciation, the announcement to Mary of her pregnancy with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Is Christmas Pagan?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 21, 2017

Is Christmas pagan? Is it okay for Christians to observe? Is Christmas even in the Bible?

Prelude Is Christmas pagan? Is it okay for Christians to observe? Is Christmas even in the Bible? Purpose: Let’s examine the worth of Christmas and why it’s a perfectly fine Christian celebration. Plan: Let’s ask some questions that are controversial in some churches and look at the story of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-40

Denomination: Baptist

Senior Saints

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 27, 2017

What can we learn from senior saints in our midst? How many have lived just and devout lives? How many of them have been faithful despite life’s suffering?

Prelude What can we learn from senior saints in our midst? How many have lived just and devout lives? How many seniors have been faithful despite life’s suffering? Purpose: Let’s learn from the examples of elderly saints. Plan: Let’s look at the examples of Simeon and Anna in Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-40

Denomination: Baptist

Purpose Of The Creation Story

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 3, 2018

Is Genesis theistic evolution, day-age theory, a gap, literal 6 days, a polemic, an allegory, majestic prose, intelligent design or something else? If Christians can’t agree on the timing of creation, can we agree on the purposes of the creation story?

Prelude Berasheet bara' Elohim et hashamayim ve'et ha'aretz In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. What are the secrets behind the creation stories in Genesis? Is Genesis literal, allegory, or majestic prose? What are the forgotten purposes of the creation stories? Purpose: ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Relevance Of Noah's Flood

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 9, 2018

Is Noah’s flood allegory, myth or history? Is God genocidal? Is the flood story relevant?

Prelude Is Noah’s flood allegory, myth or history? Is God genocidal? Is the flood story relevant? Purpose: Let’s explore some questions about Noah and the flood. Plan: Let’s look at Genesis 6-9 and the relevance of the story. Who were the Sons of God? Genesis 6:2 says, “the sons of God saw the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Abraham, Father Of The Faithful

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 17, 2018

Why was Abram’s name changed to Abraham? Why is he called father Abraham? How did Abraham become father of the faithful?

Prelude Why was Abram’s name changed to Abraham? Why is he called father Abraham? How did Abraham become father of the faithful? Purpose: Let’s look at the life of Abraham and discover why he is called a father to those who believe. Plan: We’ll look at Genesis 12-25 and the life of a patriarch ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Nick At Night

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 16, 2014

Nicodemus who defended Jesus at his trial, helped bury him and was later kicked out of the Sanhedrin for being a Christian did not start out filled with faith. Like most of us, he had questions. The answers that Jesus gave him are wonderful.

Intro What does it mean to be born again? How are we born of water and the Spirit? Goal Let us understand the Spirit life. Plan We will examine Nicodemus, regeneration, and why we are not to condemn others. Nicodemus Nicodemus is also called Saint Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee and a senator ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Who Do We Follow?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 30, 2014

We may call ourselves Christians, but is Jesus our Shepherd? Are we really following him or merely using his name to excuse following a man, a tradition or our own stubbornness?

Intro: We often hear the 23rd Psalm read or recited at funerals, but did you know that it does not apply to everyone, only to the sheep of the Great Shepherd. Goal: To really understand the most popular of all the Psalms. Plan: We will go through Psalm 23 looking at some important details. I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 37: Preach Proof Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 16, 2018

What is proof and what are its limits?

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach a sermon that proves something. Lesson Intro Jesus presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs (Acts 1:3). Jews could not refute Paul’s proofs that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 9:22). What is proof? It is a process for establishing truth. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 38: Preach A Rebuttal Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 17, 2018

Preach a sermon that disproves something

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach a sermon that disproves something. Lesson Intro In Matthew 12:1-14, Jesus presents a number of rebuttals to the Pharisees. What is a rebuttal? It is a counterargument to disprove the evidence supplied by another party. It is a process for establishing truth by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

What Is A Good Shepherd

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 18, 2018

What is a Good Shepherd? What is the difference between David as a brave young shepherd and Jesus as the Good Shepherd? Did Jesus die for His sheep voluntarily?

Prelude What is a Good Shepherd? What is the difference between David as a brave young shepherd and Jesus as the Good Shepherd? Did Jesus die for His sheep voluntarily? Purpose: Let’s understand how good a shepherd Jesus is. Plan: Let’s look at what it means to be the Good Shepherd in John ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-18

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 39: Preach A Refrain Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 20, 2018

Preaching a sermon that repeats a motto as a learning tool

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach a sermon that repeats a motto. Lesson Intro Psalm 136 is a song with a repeating refrain, "for his steadfast love endures for ever." We can also preach a sermon with a repeating refrain. We already saw how the jewel or diamond sermon is one point tied together by ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 40: Preach A Series Of Statements Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 21, 2018

Preaching a sermon using several mottos

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach a sermon that builds on several mottos. Lesson Intro In the previous sermon model we tied several points together by the continual repeating of a refrain, a phrase or motto. In this sermon, we do something similar except that the refrain evolves, builds, or ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10, Ephesians 3:14-21, Romans 8:28-39

Denomination: Baptist

The Love Test

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 25, 2018

How can we tell a false from a true messenger of God? How does love separate truth from error? How do we know God loves us? Why is love of the church and its people such an important indicator of our love for God? How willingly and openly confess Christ?

Prelude to Part 1 How can we tell a false from a true messenger of God? How does love separate truth from error? How do we know God loves us? Let’s examine God’s love and the difference it makes, by looking at 1 John 4:1-11. 1 John 4:1 Test the Spirits In 1 John 4:1 we read, “Beloved, do not ...read more

Denomination: Baptist