Sermons on Sponges:

Chosen

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 2, 2023

Is there a group of people called the chosen ones, the elect?

Is there a group of people called the chosen ones, the elect? If God doesn’t make the time shorter, no one will be left alive. But because of God’s chosen ones [the elect], he will make the time shorter. (Matthew 24:22 CEV) How are people chosen for life? Does God’s sovereignty turn us into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:22

Denomination: Baptist

Born From Above

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 7, 2023

What does it mean to be born again? How are we born of water and the Spirit? Let’s understand the newness of a life in the Holy Spirit from John 3:1-17.

What does it mean to be born again? How are we born of water and the Spirit? Let’s understand the newness of a life in the Holy Spirit from John 3:1-17. Nicodemus There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. (John 3:1 NKJV) Nicodemus was a senator in the Jewish ruling ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Turning To God

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 13, 2023

What is conversion?

Conversion is turning to God. It is the action accompanying repentance, the outward result of a changed heart, a changed direction, in biblical Greek (epistrophé) a turning about. It is the fruit that John the Baptist demanded (Matthew 3:7-8). Do repentance and conversion go together? Repent ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

In Christ

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 15, 2023

What does it mean to be in Christ? Let’s allow the Bible to tell us. Several churches claim that eternal life is only available within their walls. Who does Jesus say will have eternal life?

What does it mean to be in Christ? Let’s allow the Bible to tell us. Several churches claim that eternal life is only available within their walls. Who does Jesus say will have eternal life? For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Keys To Permanent Happiness

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 23, 2023

What are the secrets of happiness? Are they really secrets or just ignored? Let’s understand secrets of true, permanent happiness, found in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12.

What are the secrets of happiness? Are they really secrets or just ignored? Let’s understand secrets of true, permanent happiness, found in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Poor in Spirit And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Adopted By God

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 1, 2023

Can we be adopted by God? How? What does that even mean?

In ancient times there was often no difference between an adopted child and a natural born one. An adopted child received all the rights and privileges of a biological child. That is the meaning in the Bible. We have a special relationship as an adopted child of God. When the Bible uses the term ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

Sanctified By God

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 13, 2023

Are all Christians saints? Are we to be holy?

Sanctify means to set apart as holy, or to dedicate for special use. Did God sanctify a people? And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. (Exodus 19:14 KJV) Does truth sanctify people? Would that make studying the Bible ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17

Denomination: Baptist

Good Works

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 21, 2023

Can Christians ignore good works? Are good works a fruit of faith?

Should a Christian do good works? What about lazy Christians who only believe, but are not interested in good works? What did Jesus teach? In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 ...read more

Scripture: James 2:18-26

Denomination: Baptist

Battling Temptation With Scripture Alone

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 22, 2023

Life is filled with trials and temptations. Sometimes we fail. Jesus was also faced with great tests, but He succeeded. Let’s learn how Jesus battled temptations and won, using scripture. Let’s look at the testing of Christ in Matthew 4:1-11.

Life is filled with trials and temptations. Sometimes we fail. Jesus was also faced with great tests, but He succeeded. Let’s learn how Jesus battled temptations and won, using scripture. Let’s look at the testing of Christ in Matthew 4:1-11. Led by the Spirit When Jesus fasted was it a complete ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Perseverance

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 24, 2023

Does Jesus imply anything about “once saved always saved” or is assurance conditional?

The Holy Spirit was not asleep on the job for 1500 years before Protestant theology came along. Traditional theology contributes great biblical wisdom about our eternal security. God’s Part Does Jesus imply anything about “once saved always saved” or is assurance conditional upon listening to and ...read more

Scripture: John 10:27-28

Denomination: Baptist

Glory

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 28, 2023

To the ancient writers the word glory meant praise, splendor, brightness, majesty, honor and dignity. It refers first of all to God. Glorification also refers to our elevation to an exalted state in eternity.

To the ancient writers the word glory meant praise, splendor, brightness, majesty, honor and dignity. It refers first of all to God. Glorification also refers to our elevation to an exalted state in eternity. What did an ancient lyric writer compose about this? You guide me with your counsel, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:24

Denomination: Baptist

The Ten Commandments

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 12, 2023

How does the law point us to Christ? Are Christians to follow the letter or spirit of the law?

Let’s briefly look at the relevance of Deuteronomy and the Ten Commandments. There are many different ways of counting the Ten Commandments. In their excellent commentary A Survey of the Old Testament, Hill and Walton offer the standard Protestant numbering of the Ten Commandments as an outline of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Is Deuteronomy For Christians?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 19, 2023

I'm shocked to learn that some Christians do not read the Old Testament. Let’s review some highlights in Deuteronomy and see how it's still relevant for Christians.

Let’s review some highlights in Deuteronomy still relevant to Christians. Images We’ll begin with statues and pictures in churches. Are such images wrong? What about the images of cherubs and pomegranates in the tabernacle? You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Believe In Jesus & Never Die

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 22, 2023

What can we learn from a resurrection of one of Jesus closest friends?

Let’s learn a couple of ways to examine a Bible passage: 1) solving dilemmas, and 2) finding the Good News. Let’s examine the resurrection of Lazarus in John 11:1-45. What was the setting? Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Denomination: Baptist

Samuel

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 28, 2023

Samuel the prophet was the last of the judges. 1 and 2 Samuel were originally one book or scroll and describe God’s dealings with Samuel, Saul, David, Bathsheba and Absalom.

Before ancient Israel had kings, they were led in times of crisis by military leaders known as judges. Samuel the prophet was the last of the judges. 1 and 2 Samuel were originally one book or scroll and describe God’s dealings with Samuel, Saul, David, Bathsheba and Absalom. Was Hannah an example ...read more

Denomination: Baptist