Sermons on Sponges:

The Second Coming

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 29, 2018

How do we react to signs of the end of the age? How would Jesus encourage us to proceed. Let’s examine Jesus’ prophecy in Luke 21:25-36.

How do we react to signs of the end of the age? How would Jesus encourage us to proceed. Let’s examine Jesus’ prophecy in Luke 21:25-36. Lift Luke 21:25 “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves” ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:25-36

Denomination: Baptist

Preparation

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 4, 2018

What does building a highway have to do with preparation for celebrating Christ’s first coming? What does it have to do with preparing for Christ’s Second Coming? Let’s understand the preparation Christ expects. Let’s discuss preparing the way for Christ in Luke 3:1-6.

What does building a highway have to do with preparation for celebrating Christ’s first coming? What does it have to do with preparing for Christ’s Second Coming? Let’s understand the preparation Christ expects. Let’s discuss preparing the way for Christ in Luke 3:1-6. Caesar Luke 3:1 “Now in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Change For The Better

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 15, 2018

Amidst commercial hype, do we forget the meaning of Christmas? What are some of the most important things that a human being can do at Christmas, things we don’t want to neglect? Let’s look at Luke 3:7-18 and see what profound changes John expected with preparation for Christ’s coming.

Amidst commercial hype, do we forget the meaning of Christmas? What are some of the most important things that a human being can do at Christmas, things we don’t want to neglect? Let’s look at Luke 3:7-18 and see what profound changes John expected with preparation for Christ’s coming. Luke 3:7 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Ode Of Mary

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 20, 2018

What do mercy, helping the poor and feeding the hungry have to do with celebrating the birth of Jesus? Let’s discuss the Ode of Mary, the Latin Magificat, the Greek Megalynalion in Luke 1:39-55.

What do mercy, helping the poor and feeding the hungry have to do with celebrating the birth of Jesus? Let’s discuss the Ode of Mary, the Latin Magificat, the Greek Megalynalion in Luke 1:39-55. Luke includes three canticles or songs, written like Psalms, Mary’s Song, Zechariah’s Song, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:39-55

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Loves An Imperfect Church

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 6, 2019

How can Jesus love such a sinful Church? Why does He still love a Church that has often failed Him? Will He abandon us forever, or has He given everything to save us from ourselves? Let’s look at a heartwarming story of adultery, divorce and remarriage in Hosea 1-3.

How can Jesus love such a sinful Church? Why does He still love a Church that has often failed Him? Will He abandon us forever, or has He given everything to save us from ourselves? Let’s look at a heartwarming story of adultery, divorce and remarriage in Hosea 1-3. Hosea 1:2-3 When the Lord first ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

O Jerusalem!

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 12, 2019

How does true love operate? Does it leave people with their demons, unhealed and hurting themselves? Does true love sacrifice even for people who initially reject it? Let’s find out by looking at Luke 13:31-35.

How does true love operate? Does it leave people with their demons, unhealed and hurting themselves? Does true love sacrifice even for people who initially reject it? Let’s find out by looking at Luke 13:31-35. Luke 13:31 Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, “Go away, leave ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:31-35

Denomination: Baptist

Bearing Fruit

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 20, 2019

Where is God when bad things happen? Are people who die in calamities and atrocities just getting what they deserve? Let’s discuss time and chance, and God giving us one last chance to repent. Let’s look at what Jesus said in Luke 13:1-9.

Where is God when bad things happen? Are people who die in calamities and atrocities just getting what they deserve? Let’s discuss time and chance, and God giving us one last chance to repent. Let’s look at what Jesus said in Luke 13:1-9. Unless You Repent Luke 13:1-3 Now on the same occasion ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

A Bankrupt Son Returns Home

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 25, 2019

What would we think about someone who had spent all his inheritance on wild orgies, went bankrupt, dressed in rags, smelled of pig dung and wanted to come home? That’s our story today. It’s about a father and two sons and is found in Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32.

What would we think about someone who had spent all his inheritance on wild orgies, went bankrupt, dressed in rags, smelled of pig dung and wanted to come home? That’s our story today. It’s about a father and two sons and is found in Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32. The Wild Child Luke 15:11b-13 “A man had ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Giving Extravagantly

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 2, 2019

How extravagantly do we give? Do we give God our best or our leftovers? Let’s look at Mary’s anointing of Jesus in John 12:1-8.

One of the greatest secrets of the universe is in Jesus’ words, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35) It’s a simple gauge as to how blessed we are. Are we generous? How extravagantly do we give? Do we give God our best or our leftovers? Let’s look at Mary’s anointing of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Passion (According To Luke)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 10, 2019

How can humanity ever escape the stupidity with which we have ruled this planet? Why doesn’t God just toss us all away and start over? A merciful God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit made a plan to save us from ourselves. Let’s look at that plan’s darkest hours in Luke 22:14-23:56.

How can humanity ever escape the stupidity with which we have ruled this planet? Why doesn’t God just toss us all away and start over? A merciful God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit made a plan to save us from ourselves. Let’s look at that plan’s darkest hours in Luke 22:14-23:56. Luke 22:14-18 “I ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Take Off The Grave Clothes

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 27, 2014

From the day we are born we begin to die. It’s as if our bodies are already dressed in grave clothes. As marvelous as science is, it has not yet mastered life’s greatest enemy, death. Yet there is one who has.

Intro What kind of life would we lead if we were guaranteed not to die? How would we live if we knew already that we were immortal like a kind of Superman or Superwoman? Goal I want us to realize that immortality is not just the stuff of Hollywood fiction but a reality in Christ. Plan We will ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Denomination: Baptist

The Beauty Of Baptism

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 18, 2014

The Bible makes few mandates for baptism, but what it does demand makes it beautiful.

Intro In Matthew 3 we are introduced to the Baptism of Christ. This ceremony which has become the norm for almost all Christian churches is also the subject of some division and much misunderstanding. Goal To help us appreciate baptism and its significance. Plan We will look at what is and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Come And You Will See

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 19, 2014

Come to a church where Jesus is preached and you will begin to see the answer to the most important issues of life.

Intro What are we here for? What is the purpose of the church? Goal To show how important Jesus is to the church. Plan We will look at why we are here, John the Baptist’s example and the lamb of God. Why are we here Have we ever asked ourselves, why are we here? So, here we sit in a ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29-42

Denomination: Baptist

The Real Secret, The Beatitudes

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 5, 2014

The Beatitudes reveal that we can be more than happy. We can be blessed!

Intro It is sometimes a puzzle to understand God's mind. His thinking is so far above ours. The secret is: there is no secret. People pay gurus millions to learn what is often half-baked wisdom and ignore the wonderful truth found in the beatitudes which is free to all (Matthew 5:1-12). These ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Exorcising Our Demons

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 8, 2014

Even the most righteous people and institutions can be possessed by wrong attitudes. Let’s examine how only the authority of Jesus can heal what’s wrong with us.

Intro Even the most righteous people and institutions can be possessed by wrong attitudes. Let’s examine how only the authority of Jesus can heal what’s wrong with us. Goal Perhaps we can learn how evil comes in many disguises, even religious ones. Sermon Plan Are we healers or ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28

Denomination: Baptist