Sermons on Sponges:

What Is Salvation?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 5, 2020

What is salvation? How does it work? Are there components of salvation?

What is salvation? How does it work? Are there components of salvation? In Greek the word for Savior or Deliverer is s?t?? (soter) and so we call the study of salvation soteriology. What is salvation? Temporal Salvation When enthusiastic Christians ask others if they have been saved, many don’t ...read more

Scripture: John 4:42, 1 John 4:14

Denomination: Baptist

Confessing Jesus

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 6, 2020

Do we stand for what is right or do we let the world bully us into silence about our faith? Are we courageous disciples?

Do we stand for what is right or do we let the world bully us into silence about our faith? Are we courageous disciples? Let’s examine confessing Jesus in the midst of opposition in Matthew 10:24-39. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-39

Denomination: Baptist

What Is The Church?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 7, 2020

What is the church? Why the church? How is the church governed? What are the most important rituals of the church? What does the church do?

What is the church? Why the church? How is the church governed? What are the most important rituals of the church? What does the church do? What is the church? The Greek Term The early church borrowed a Greek term, meaning a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into a public place. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:2, Acts 9:31, Ephesians 4:11

Denomination: Baptist

Christian Hospitality

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 9, 2020

How important is it to be a welcoming church? How are we received? How do we receive faithful Bible teachers, each other, and new or weak disciples? Let’s look at the importance of hospitality in Matthew 10:40-42.

How important is it to be a welcoming church? How are we received? How do we receive faithful Bible teachers, each other, and new or weak disciples? Let’s look at the importance of hospitality in Matthew 10:40-42. Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman… ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:40-42

Denomination: Baptist

What Is The Mission?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 12, 2020

What is the church’s commission? What is the church’s mission? The study of the church’s mission is called missiology.

What is the church’s commission? What is the church’s mission? The study of the church’s mission is called missiology. The Witness and Light What is a witness? Where were the disciples to witness? but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Acts 13:47, Luke 10:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Christian's Rest

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 13, 2020

Where can we find true rest for our souls? Do we find true rest on a Sabbath day, in a promised land, or in Jesus and in eternity? Let’s look at what Jesus had to say about rest in Matthew 11:16-30.

Where can we find true rest for our souls? Do we find true rest on a Sabbath day, in a promised land, or in Jesus and in eternity? Let’s look at what Jesus had to say about rest in Matthew 11:16-30. “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:16-30

Denomination: Baptist

What Is The End?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 15, 2020

What is death? What is the ultimate cause of death? What is the Second Coming? What is the resurrection? What is the judgment? What will the state of the righteous be for eternity?

What is death? What is the ultimate cause of death? What is the Second Coming? What is the resurrection? What is the judgment? What will the state of the righteous be for eternity? The Greek word for last or final is eschatos and that gives rise to what we call the study of last things, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Word As Seed

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 19, 2020

Are we deep or shallow? Are we quitters or do we last the distance? Are we choking in worldly cares? Do we receive the word of God? Is it fruitful in us? Let’s understand the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-23.

Are we deep or shallow? Are we quitters or do we last the distance? Are we choking in worldly cares? Do we receive the word of God? Is it fruitful in us? Let’s understand the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-23. The Parable Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Wheat And Weeds

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 21, 2020

Why is there evil in the world? The world is a mixture of good and evil. Let’s discuss the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds in Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.

Why is there evil in the world? The world is a mixture of good and evil. Let’s discuss the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds in Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43. Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Denomination: Baptist

Eternal Treasures

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 24, 2020

Is our focus on earthly kingdoms or the kingdom of God? How much do we treasure the things of God? Let’s examine heaven’s treasure in Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52.

Is our focus on earthly kingdoms or the kingdom of God? How much do we treasure the things of God? Let’s examine heaven’s treasure in Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52. The Kingdom of Heaven is … (Matthew 13:31 NKJV) The kingdom of heaven is like a small seed. It will grow large. Like leaven it affects ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-52

Denomination: Baptist

God Provides

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 25, 2020

What can a church do with meager resources? Let’s learn about the abundant resources of heaven, by examining the miracle of feeding the 5,000 in Matthew 14:13-21.

What can a church do with meager resources? Let’s learn about the abundant resources of heaven, by examining the miracle of feeding the 5,000 in Matthew 14:13-21. When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Denomination: Baptist

Walk On Water

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 29, 2020

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.

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. Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

Not Offended

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 3, 2020

Jesus speaks boldly. Some are offended. Some are not. Let’s discover what happened when a woman chose not to be offended at Jesus’ words, in Matthew 15:10-28.

Jesus speaks boldly. Some are offended. Some are not. Let’s discover what happened when a woman chose not to be offended at Jesus’ words, in Matthew 15:10-28. Offended When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-28

Denomination: Baptist

On What Rock?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 6, 2020

Is Protestantism legitimate? What are the keys to the kingdom? If true Christians agree on essential matters, why the rivalry? Let’s look at Rome’s exclusive claim in Matthew 16:13-20.

Is Protestantism legitimate? What are the keys to the kingdom? If true Christians agree on essential matters, why the rivalry? Let’s look at Rome’s exclusive claim in Matthew 16:13-20. When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Baptist

Our Cross

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 17, 2020

Why do evil people seem to prosper, while good people suffer? Is there any justice? Let’s realize that payday is coming, for good and evil. Let’s discuss carrying our cross in Matthew 16:21-28.

Why do evil people seem to prosper, while good people suffer? Is there any justice? Let’s realize that payday is coming, for good and evil. Let’s discuss carrying our cross in Matthew 16:21-28. From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Denomination: Baptist