Sermons on Sponges:

A Reject Saved

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 29, 2022

Is there any hope for someone who has been rejected by the community? Let’s look at the change that allowed a man with a bad reputation to receive eternal salvation in Luke 19:1-10.

Is there any hope for someone who has been rejected by the community? Let’s look at the change that allowed a man with a bad reputation to receive eternal salvation in Luke 19:1-10. Taxes Before we examine the chief tax collector, we need to speak about taxes. In principle they are not wrong. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Humanity In The Bible

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 1, 2022

Who are we? What are we? Why do we exist? What does the Bible say?

Who are we? What are we? Why do we exist? The Greek word for mankind is ?????p?? (anthropos) and studying what the Bible teaches about humanity is called biblical anthropology. “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Be Terrified

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 6, 2022

Jesus said the gates of hell will not destroy His Church. He was not talking about a building. People are the Church. Let’s look at deception and endurance in Luke 21:5-19.

Jesus said the gates of hell will not destroy His Church (Matthew 16:18). He was not talking about a building. People are the Church. Let’s look at deception and endurance in Luke 21:5-19. Not One Stone Luke 21:5-6 Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:5-19

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Sin?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 8, 2022

What is sin? How did sin originate? Did we inherit sin? What happens when Christians sin?

What is sin? How did sin originate? Did we inherit sin? What happens when Christians sin? Does God have a solution to sin? Our English word sin is a translation of many different words. The original meanings have much to teach us. Missing the Mark A common Greek word for sin ?µa?t?a (hamartia) ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12

Denomination: Baptist

The Solution To Sin

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 9, 2022

What’s the origin and solution to sin?

What’s the origin and solution to sin? Sin actually began in the angelic realm. Who deceived Eve? “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3 KJV) How was sin ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12-21

Denomination: Baptist

Giving & Forgiving

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 19, 2022

Two great laws would solve many of humanity’s problems. In His hour of greatest trial, Jesus exemplified giving and forgiving. Let’s look at these two great legacies in Luke 23:33-43.

Two great laws would solve many of humanity’s problems. In His hour of greatest trial, Jesus exemplified giving and forgiving. Let’s look at these two great legacies in Luke 23:33-43. Forgiveness Luke 23:33-34 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:33-43

Denomination: Baptist

Be Ready

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 21, 2022

Is our job to predict when Jesus will return or to be ready? Let’s discuss this in Matthew 24:36-44.

Is our job to predict when Jesus will return or to be ready? Let’s discuss this in Matthew 24:36-44. End of an Era But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. (Matthew 24:36) If Jesus is God the Son and coequal with the Father, how does He not know ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Baptist

How God Reveals Himself

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 29, 2022

Does God reveal Himself in the Bible? How do we understand the Bible? How was the Bible composed? Let's look at the Bible as special revelation.

Does God reveal Himself in the Bible? How do we understand the Bible? How was the Bible composed? Studying God’s revelation of Himself in the Bible is called bibliology. How God Reveals Himself God reveals Himself to humans in various ways, generally in His creation and specially in other ways. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21

Denomination: Baptist

Preparing The Way For Christ

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 1, 2022

Is believing without repenting valid? Why did both Jesus and John the Baptist preach repent? Let’s learn why in Matthew 3:1-12.

Is believing without repenting valid? Why did both Jesus and John the Baptist preach repent? Let’s learn why in Matthew 3:1-12. Preaching & Teaching (vs 1) In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea (Matthew 3:1) In the Bible the word "preach" means ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Bible Canon

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 7, 2022

How did we get the Bible? How do we understand it?

The Christian Bible forms the measure of our faith. While tradition, reason and experience can contribute in valuable ways to our faith, they are not always the teachings of Jesus, the prophets and apostles. Let’s look at the canon of the Bible. Compiling the Bible over thousands of years is ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17

Denomination: Baptist

Offended By Jesus

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 7, 2022

Are we offended by the real Jesus?

Was John the Baptist offended by Jesus? If He walked the earth today would we be offended by Him? Let’s examine the real Jesus and being offended at Jesus in Matthew 11:2-11. Are You the One? And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Salvation

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 17, 2022

People often ask, have you been saved? Do we even know what that means?

What is salvation? How does it work? In Greek the word for Savior or Deliverer is s?t?? (soter) and so we call the study of salvation soteriology. The word save means to liberate, deliver or rescue. We must look at the context to understand what kind of salvation is being referred to. Temporal ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

God With Us

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 17, 2022

The world’s most important birth was about to take place. Why was it almost unknown? What was Joseph's dilemma? What were the baby’s names? Was Mary a perpetual virgin? Let’s look at Matthew 1:18-25.

The world’s most important birth was about to take place. Why was it almost unknown? What was Joseph's dilemma? What were the baby’s names? Was Mary a perpetual virgin? Let’s look at Matthew 1:18-25. Joseph’s Dilemma Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 18, 2022

Christmas is a season mixed with good and evil. Let’s learn about the good from Luke 2.

Christmas is a season mixed with good and evil. Let’s learn about the good from Luke 2. A Decree “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Miracles Of Jesus

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 9, 2022

Christians are a miracle-believing people. All existence is due to a series of divine miracles, and some are extraordinary miracles. What lessons can we learn from the miracles that Jesus performed?

Christians are a miracle-believing people. All existence is due to a series of divine miracles, and some are extraordinary miracles. What lessons can we learn from the miracles that Jesus performed? A Leper What did Jesus say when healing a leper? “Jesus said to him, ‘Don’t say anything to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist