Sermons on Sponges:

Out Of The Heart

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 19, 2018

Are we so blinded by our church buildings and our rituals that we don’t see God? Are we blinded by the world’s sinfulness? Are we noble like the Bereans, studying our Bibles daily to see what God says?

Prelude Are we so blinded by our church buildings and our rituals that we don’t see God? Are we blinded by the world’s sinfulness? Are we noble like the Bereans, studying our Bibles daily to see what God says? What defiles us? Let’s look at Matthew 15:10-20 and see what Jesus has to say about ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-20

Denomination: Baptist

You Will Long To See

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 31, 2018

When times are tough, what do we long to see? Do we long to hear once more the stories of Jesus?

Prelude This week several stories of firefighters and a police chief losing their homes to wildfires have emerged. They had no time to mourn their losses, because they had a job to do in continuing to fight. Something greater than personal loss drove them on, they longed to see others saved. When ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:20-37

Denomination: Baptist

The Son Of Man Is Coming

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 7, 2018

Are we ready to open the door for Jesus upon His return? Let’s look at the parable of the waiting servants in Luke 12:35-48. A Year D Sermon.

Are we ready to open the door for Jesus upon His return? Let’s look at the parable of the waiting servants in Luke 12:35-48. Ready Luke 12:35 “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.” As a household servant would have had the lamps lit for the owner’s return, so do many of us leave an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:35-48

Denomination: Baptist

Woes To Unfaithful Church Leaders

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 14, 2018

Jesus’ stern warning to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:13-39 is also important for church leaders today. A Year D sermon.

It is such a privilege to be a church leader, especially in kind and loving churches. It is a grave responsibility to feed God’s sheep and guide people that we are privileged to call our friends, on their journey to eternity. Overseers of churches are far from perfect, but some mistakes are worse ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-39

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer For Hard Times

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 22, 2018

What kind of prayer is appropriate in hard times? A year D sermon.

What kind of prayer is appropriate in hard times? Let’s review Matthew 21:12-22 and Habakkuk 3 and see how prayer includes trust in God’s answer, especially during hard times. House of Prayer Matthew 21:13 “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-22

Denomination: Baptist

Secure In God's Hand

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 30, 2018

What makes us Christ’s sheep? Are we in danger of being lost for eternity? Are we secure in His hands? Let’s examine John 10:22-30 and see.

What makes us Christ’s sheep? Are we in danger of being lost for eternity? Are we secure in His hands? Let’s examine John 10:22-30 and see. The Setting John 10:22-23 “At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the ...read more

Scripture: John 10:22-30

Denomination: Baptist

Abraham And Succession By Faith

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 5, 2018

Did Jesus support the theory of apostolic succession or faith? Let's see why faith is the key, through Abraham's story.

Why was Abram who became Abraham called the father of the faithful? What can we learn about about apostolic succession by looking back at Abraham? Let’s look at his early life and the tests of Abraham’s faith and how he dealt with them in Genesis 12-22 (Genesis 12:1, 10, 15; 14:14; 15:13; 16:3; ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus, Lamb Of God

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 12, 2018

What does salvation have to do with a lamb? How did Jesus become the Lamb of God?

How is God’s purpose hinted at from earliest human history? What does it have to do with a lamb? Let’s look at how Jesus, the Lamb of God was slain from the beginning and how it culminates in Revelation 22. Genesis 4:4 “Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Easter, The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 17, 2019

Is Resurrection Sunday the most wonderful time of the year? Paul wrote that if Christ has not been raised our preaching is in vain and so is our faith (1 Corinthians 15:14). Let’s discuss the centrality of the resurrection of Jesus and the testimony of eyewitnesses in Luke 24:1-12

Is Christmas the most wonderful time of the year? What about Jesus’ resurrection? Is Resurrection Sunday the most wonderful time of the year? Paul wrote that if Christ has not been raised our preaching is in vain and so is our faith (1 Corinthians 15:14). Let’s discuss the centrality of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

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

Mothers Of The Bible

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 8, 2019

The Bible contains the experiences of many mothers down through human history. Let’s look at a few of them.

The Bible contains the experiences of many mothers down through human history. Let’s look at a few of them. Eve: The first mother was Eve. “the man called his wife’s name Eve [life], because she was the mother of all the living.” (Genesis 3:20) Eve was the first woman without a mother. Imagine her ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Christian Love?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 16, 2019

What is the sign that we are Jesus’ true disciples? Let’s look at what Jesus said distinguishes his disciples and see why this old command is new in Jesus. Let’s see what Jesus said about glory and love in John 13:31-35.

What is the sign that we are Jesus’ true disciples? Let’s look at what Jesus said distinguishes his disciples and see why this old command is new in Jesus. Let’s see what Jesus said about glory and love in John 13:31-35. John 13:31-32 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of ...read more

Scripture: John 13:31-35

Denomination: Baptist

Vision Of Eternity

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 26, 2019

What will life be like in eternity with God? Revelation 21-22 is an end-of-the-book description of a wonderful eternity awaiting the faithful.

What will life be like in eternity with God? Revelation 21-22 is an end-of-the-book description of a wonderful eternity awaiting the faithful. Revelation 21:1-4 reveals “a new heaven and a new earth” that God will dwell among His people, and there will no longer be any death, mourning, crying, or ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Christian Unity

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 3, 2019

What does Christian unity mean? Does it mean that we agree on everything? Does it mean that we allow the sinful standards of the world to infiltrate? Jesus prayed for our unity. Let’s look at part of the long Lord’s prayer in John 17:20-26 and see what unity truly is.

What does Christian unity mean? Does it mean that we agree on everything? Does it mean that we allow the sinful standards of the world to infiltrate? Jesus prayed for our unity. Let’s look at part of the long Lord’s prayer in John 17:20-26 and see what unity truly is. Christian Unity Before we ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-26

Denomination: Baptist