Sermons on Sponges:

Two Christian Confessions

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 23, 2019

What two things do Christians confess? Let’s look at what Jesus said when He appeared to His disciples in John 20:19-31.

What two things do Christians confess? Let’s look at what Jesus said when He appeared to His disciples in John 20:19-31. John 20:19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Baptist

Cast Your Nets

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 30, 2019

Is anything holding us back? Let’s discuss putting the mistakes of the past behind us and moving forward. Let’s discuss how Jesus helped his disciples move forward after their failures in John 21:1-19.

Is anything holding us back? Let’s discuss putting the mistakes of the past behind us and moving forward. Let’s discuss how Jesus helped his disciples move forward after their failures in John 21:1-19.[1] John 21:1-5 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 34: Preach A Diagnosis-Remedy Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 12, 2018

Spiritual diagnosis and spiritual remedy

Lesson Goal I hope to encourage the preaching of a spiritual diagnosis and an appropriate remedy. Lesson Intro One of the most dangerous sermons a preacher/pastor/priest can give is, when he goes from preachin' to meddlin' by telling people that Houston, "we" have a problem and how to fix it. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:20-22

Denomination: Baptist

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 36: Preach An Analogy Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 15, 2018

Preaching analogies is very biblical

Lesson Goal I hope to encourage the preaching of sermons using an analogy. Lesson Intro Jesus is our prime model of good preaching. He used analogy continually. Many of his parables are analogies. Yet, his analogies are not limited to his parables. Jesus is the door, the bread, the light, the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 37: Preach Proof Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 16, 2018

What is proof and what are its limits?

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach a sermon that proves something. Lesson Intro Jesus presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs (Acts 1:3). Jews could not refute Paul’s proofs that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 9:22). What is proof? It is a process for establishing truth. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 38: Preach A Rebuttal Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 17, 2018

Preach a sermon that disproves something

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach a sermon that disproves something. Lesson Intro In Matthew 12:1-14, Jesus presents a number of rebuttals to the Pharisees. What is a rebuttal? It is a counterargument to disprove the evidence supplied by another party. It is a process for establishing truth by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

What Is A Good Shepherd

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 18, 2018

What is a Good Shepherd? What is the difference between David as a brave young shepherd and Jesus as the Good Shepherd? Did Jesus die for His sheep voluntarily?

Prelude What is a Good Shepherd? What is the difference between David as a brave young shepherd and Jesus as the Good Shepherd? Did Jesus die for His sheep voluntarily? Purpose: Let’s understand how good a shepherd Jesus is. Plan: Let’s look at what it means to be the Good Shepherd in John ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-18

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 39: Preach A Refrain Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 20, 2018

Preaching a sermon that repeats a motto as a learning tool

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach a sermon that repeats a motto. Lesson Intro Psalm 136 is a song with a repeating refrain, "for his steadfast love endures for ever." We can also preach a sermon with a repeating refrain. We already saw how the jewel or diamond sermon is one point tied together by ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 40: Preach A Series Of Statements Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 21, 2018

Preaching a sermon using several mottos

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach a sermon that builds on several mottos. Lesson Intro In the previous sermon model we tied several points together by the continual repeating of a refrain, a phrase or motto. In this sermon, we do something similar except that the refrain evolves, builds, or ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10, Ephesians 3:14-21, Romans 8:28-39

Denomination: Baptist

The Love Test

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 25, 2018

How can we tell a false from a true messenger of God? How does love separate truth from error? How do we know God loves us? Why is love of the church and its people such an important indicator of our love for God? How willingly and openly confess Christ?

Prelude to Part 1 How can we tell a false from a true messenger of God? How does love separate truth from error? How do we know God loves us? Let’s examine God’s love and the difference it makes, by looking at 1 John 4:1-11. 1 John 4:1 Test the Spirits In 1 John 4:1 we read, “Beloved, do not ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 42: Preach Without Notes Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 26, 2018

How to preach extemporaneously, without notes or a manuscript.

Lesson Goal In this lesson I hope to teach you how to preach extemporaneously, without notes. Lesson Intro Reading through Acts 2 we get the idea that Peter preached off the cuff. Okay, it's time to crank the ratchet up yet another notch. You have seen me allude to this before, but now it's time ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 43: Subversive Preaching Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 27, 2018

How to subvert a popular theological misconception.

Lesson Goal In this lesson I hope to teach you how to subvert a popular notion. Lesson Intro The sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) is subversive, but wise in avoiding hot political issues. Many preachers around the world get themselves into political trouble by trying to subvert the legally ...read more

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