Sermons on Sponges:

Lesson 35: Preach A Hegelian Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 13, 2018

Solve a seeming contradiction, the Hegelian thesis, antithesis and synthesis

Lesson Goal I hope to encourage preaching a sermon solving a contradiction. Lesson Intro Non-Christian skeptics love to point out apparent contradictions in the Bible, the Church, Christian history or even Christian propositions like morality. Sometimes the point is valid, sometimes not. For ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 26:4-5

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 46: Preach In Grand Style Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 3, 2018

How to preach a grand or majestic sermon

Lesson Goal In this lesson I hope to teach the grand style or majestic sermon. Lesson Intro The Romans considered rhetoric to exist on three levels. Low style rhetoric was didactic, teaching. Middle style rhetoric was pleasing, entertaining. But grand style rhetoric was stirring, rousing and ...read more

Scripture: John 17:14-18, Acts 8:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Conquering Power

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 5, 2018

How do we know we love God? How do we know we love God’s children? How do we conquer evils of the world? Let's learn what it means to live an overcoming life. Let's look at 1 John 5:1-6.

Prelude How do we know we love God? How do we know we love God’s children? How do we conquer evils of the world? Let's learn what it means to live an overcoming life. Let's look at 1 John 5:1-6. 1 John 5:1 Loving God’s Children 1 John 5:1 says, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 47: Preach With Humor Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 5, 2018

Preach with joyous, godly humor

Lesson Goal In this lesson I hope to teach how to preach a humorous sermon. Lesson Intro The top pay for professional comedians is probably in the multiple millions. That's far more than we pay the average preacher laboring in the word of God. Why? Why is it that the hollow, immoral message of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 48: Preach Apologetics Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 7, 2018

Basic elements of preaching to defend the Christian faith

Lesson Goal Introduce some basic elements of preaching apologetically. Lesson Intro In Philippians 1:7, 17 Paul defended the Christian faith. Defending the Christian faith has a long history. Those who have a particular gift in this area have served the church well throughout Christian history. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Two Ways

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 8, 2018

Among all the varieties of cultures and ways to live in this world, there are really only two ways to live, God's or the world's.

Intro If we could boil all the world’s religions and political philosophies down to their essentials what would we come up with? Are there real alternatives or just varieties of the same worldly way of life? Our purpose is to see that there are only two ways, God’s and the world’s. Our plan is to ...read more

Scripture: John 17:6-19

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 49: Preach With Balance Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 9, 2018

How can we teach our congregations to balance Christian essentials with non-essentials? How can we overcome bigotry on non-essential doctrines, while still maintaining our preference.

Lesson Goal Introduce some basic elements of balanced preaching. Lesson Intro In Acts 20:27 Paul informs the the church of God in Ephesus that he had preached to them the whole counsel of God. Most preachers that do not have a structured annual preaching plan are guilty of over-preaching their ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 50: Preach The Gospel Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 10, 2018

Preach Jesus, the Good News, evangelistic preaching from every part of the Bible.

Lesson Goal I want to encourage the preaching of Jesus, the gospel, evangelistic preaching from every part of the Bible. Lesson Intro Our planet is bombarded by dozens of important messages. Reversing dangerous global climate change is a message that is very prominent. Saying no to drugs is an ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 51: Preach Impromptu Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 13, 2018

Occasionally a preacher is required to give a sermon with only a few minutes notice and completely without preparation. Here's how to do it.

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach without notice. Lesson Intro 2 Timothy 4:2 tells preachers to always be ready to give a sermon. There comes a time when you will show up at a church service only to be asked to pinch hit for someone else who had been scheduled to speak. Perhaps you are on vacation ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What's The Holy Spirit Doing In You

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 18, 2018

The Holy Spirit as teacher

Prelude How can a mere human being understand the things of God? Goal: Let’s understand the means by which God reaches out and touches us. Plan: Let’s look at John 15:26-16:15 and discover how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. John 15:26 Testify John 15:26 says, “When the Advocate comes, whom ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Doubt

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 7, 2017

Why do we have so little faith and so much doubt?

Intro, Purpose & Plan Who do we look to for help when we seem to be all alone and in total darkness as life tosses us about? Let’s understand that the One who loves us will come to our rescue. Let’s look at the story of a small boat in a stormy sea in Matthew 14:22-33. Matthew 14:22-23 Go before ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

On This Rock

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 23, 2017

Matthew 16:13-20 What does this passage actually say and not say to us?

Prelude, Purpose, Plan Protestants, Orthodox and Catholics largely agree on perhaps 95% of the most important teachings of Christianity. Why do we drift from the message that Jesus taught into partisanship and graceless rivalry? For instance, how do we deal with the claim by Rome of exclusive ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Baptist

True Leadership

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 31, 2017

When is religious authority right and wrong? How should we behave in an imperfect church? Should we quit church and return to the devil or stay and be a force for good?

Prelude When is religious authority right and wrong? How should we behave in an imperfect church? Should we quit church and return to the devil or stay and be a force for good? Let’s look at Jesus’ blunt assessment of human religious leadership in Matthew 23:1-12 and see if we can learn a better ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Watchfulness

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 7, 2017

What must we do to prepare for Christ’s Coming? Should we closely follow world events, research prophecy and draw up wildly speculative timelines? Is there something spiritual that we should be looking at in ourselves?

Prelude What must we do to prepare for Christ’s Coming? Should we closely follow world events, research prophecy and draw up wildly speculative timelines? Is there something spiritual that we should be looking at in ourselves? Our purpose is to learn how to prepare for His Coming. Our plan is to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Well Done!

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 14, 2017

What does God expect us to do with what Heaven has given us? Do we take risks using our gifts or hide them for safekeeping? Why hasn’t God given to us all equally?

Prelude What does God expect us to do with what Heaven has given us? Do we take risks using our gifts or hide them for safekeeping? Why hasn’t God given to us all equally? Purpose: Let’s see what God expects us to do with our gifts. Plan: Let’s look at the Parable of the Talents in Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Baptist