Sermons on Sponges:

Church & Nation

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 5, 2023

Christians ought to be a nation's best citizens, but are we fully in the kingdom or is our loyalty divided?

Are Christians fully part of a kingdom not of this world or do we have divided loyalties? Was Paul imprisoned by Rome and hated by his own nation for his faith? How did he encourage us to live? Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God's Children & Christ's Bride

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 14, 2023

What guides our actions? Are we God's children and Christ's bride? Let's find out in Ephesians 5.

What guides our actions? Are we God’s children and Christ’s bride? Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 CEV) What behaviors ought not to be found? But sexual ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Church's Armor

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 15, 2023

How can we face the great spiritual battles around us? Let's look in Ephesians 6.

How can we face the great spiritual battles all around us? Let’s start with the family and obedience to a child’s parents? What if they want us to do something outside of obedience to the Lord? As for children, obey your parents in the Lord, because it is right. (Ephesians 6:1 CEB) Do the ancient ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Repentance

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 20, 2023

Repent sounds weird in today's language. What's it all about?

Jesus’ first messages were summarized by two words, repent and believe in the Gospel (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15). What does repent mean? Turn Back Often translated as repent is the Hebrew word “shoob,” which means to turn back or return. What did Solomon, that wise backslider, say about national ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15

Denomination: Baptist

Kings

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 22, 2023

As we look at the kings of Israel and Judah, we see the faults of human leadership. Even in the church, do we look to faulty human beings or to God?

What good is having the word of God without faithfulness to God? Most of Israel and Judah’s kings were evil. Even the good kings had huge weaknesses. What happens to nations when their leaders go astray? First and second Kings contain the history of a few good national leaders among many bad. Key ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Free Will

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 1, 2023

Are we like clay in the hands of the master potter? Does that mean that we have no choice in the matter? Let's find the truth about the master potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18.

Potter Are we like clay in the hands of the master potter? Does that mean we don’t have free will or can the clay be stubborn and unworkable? And whenever the clay would not take the shape he wanted, he would change his mind and form it into some other shape. (Jeremiah 18:4 CEV) What did the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Living Faith - Good Works

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 5, 2023

Have the ancient churches got it right? Do too many Protestant churches teach a cheap grace? Is there a balance between easy believism and works salvation?

Is faith a dead, intellectual belief without works or alive with good works of obedience to Christ? Martin Luther added the word alone to scripture as follows: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith [ALONE] apart from the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28 NKJV) This then became a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:24

Denomination: Baptist

A Living Faith - Judged By Works

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 6, 2023

If we're justified by faith not works, why are we judged by works? Are good works evidence of a living faith?

If we are justified by faith not by works, why are we judged by our works? Are works proof of a living faith? … The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:12-13

Denomination: Baptist

Sound Doctrine (Titus 2)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 16, 2024

What is sound doctrine for men and women of any age? Let's find out in Titus 2.

What is sound doctrine for men and women? What should older women teach younger women? What is sound doctrine for young men and slaves? What kind of good works does salvation exhibit in us? Let’s find out in Titus 2. What should a preacher do? What is sound doctrine or teaching? But as for you, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Avoid Foolish Disputes (Titus 3)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 16, 2024

Is what divides the church just a bunch of foolish disputes, or sometimes the difference between heresy and truth? Let's discuss this in Titus 3.

Do Christians submit to human governments? Do we avoid slander and quarrels? Did Jesus save us because of the righteous things we had done, or because of His mercy? Do Christians devote themselves to doing good? Should we avoid foolish discussions? How many chances should we give those causing ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Plea For Onesimus (Philemon)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 17, 2024

How should we act in a politically and socially corrupt world? Should we honor our obligations, to our own hurt? Let's find out in Paul's letter to Philemon.

How do we act as Christians in the midst of political and social corruption? How should Philemon handle the delicate matter of a runaway slave, now converted and a brother in Christ, yet who was still under some kind of legal obligation to serve out his term as a slave? Was Philemon the host of a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God The Son (Hebrews 1)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 18, 2024

Is Jesus also God? Let's find out in Hebrews 1.

Ancient witnesses attributed the letter to the Hebrews to Paul. Modern scholars tend to be skeptics, even discounting testimony. Hebrews addresses the question of who is Jesus? Is Jesus higher than the angels? Do angels worship Him? Is the Son also called God? Did Jesus taste death for everyone? ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus High Priest (Hebrews 2)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 19, 2024

Do we pay close attention to what Jesus taught so that we don't drift? Let's discuss this in Hebrews 2.

Must we pay much closer attention to what we have heard about Jesus, so that we do not drift? How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Did Jesus taste death for everyone? Is Jesus ashamed to call us brothers and sisters? Did Jesus partake of flesh and blood so that through death He ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Land Of Promise (Hebrews 3)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 20, 2024

The Bible describes a day of rest, a land of rest and our eternal rest. They are all related. Let's look at the land of rest in Hebrews 3.

Did a generation that kept a weekly rest day, NOT find rest in the land of promise? Was it because of their lack of faith, evidenced by their disobedience? Let’s find out in Hebrews 3. Upon whom should we fix our thoughts? Was Jesus also an apostle, one sent, in His case sent from ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Our Eternal Rest (Hebrews 4)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 21, 2024

Did the Sabbath rest and a land of rest, picture our true rest in Christ for all eternity? Let's discuss this in Hebrews 4.

Did the Sabbath rest and Israel’s rest from Egyptian slavery in the land of promise picture a better rest and a better promised land in eternity? Do we who have believed enter that rest? Why did a generation rest on the day of rest, but not enter the land of rest? Is there a rest that another ...read more

Denomination: Baptist