Sermons on Sponges:

A Time To Dance

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 17, 2015

Is it okay for Christians to dance? Are rules against dancing just silly man-made rules or are they right? If dancing is okay, what kind of dancing would be right?

the Christian Church has a long history of making up rules that are not in the Bible. Is this right? Is dancing biblical or forbidden? What is the answer? Jesus criticized the Pharisees for making up religious rules that are not in the Bible. One example of this among Christians is the topic of ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:4

Denomination: Baptist

Come Meet Jesus

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 22, 2017

Have we ever wanted Jesus to show Himself? Would we like to meet Jesus? Have we been walking right past Jesus without recognizing Him?

Prelude Have we ever wanted Jesus to show Himself? Would we like to meet Jesus? Have we been walking right past Jesus without recognizing Him? Purpose: Let’s find Jesus in the needy. Plan: Let’s look at the Judgment of the Nations in Matthew 25:31-46, the Parable of the Sheep and Goats. Story: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Baptist

The 2nd Coming Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 29, 2017

What is the real hope of Christmas? Where is the peace on earth? Where is the good will towards men?

Prelude What is the real hope of Christmas? Where is the peace on earth? Where is the good will towards men? Purpose: Let’s look at the hope of Christ’s coming. Plan: Let’s look at Mark 13:24-37 and why it is really good news. Preaching Mark 13:26-27 Christ is Coming Advent is a time of hope. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:24-37

Denomination: Baptist

Clear The Road

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 5, 2017

How do we prepare for the Lord’s Coming? How did John prepare? How does the baptism of the Holy Spirit prepare us for His Coming? What do we need to clear out of our way back to God?

Intro How do we prepare for the Lord’s Coming? How did John prepare? How does the baptism of the Holy Spirit prepare us for His Coming? What do we need to clear out of our way back to God? Purpose: To show how preparation was made for the highway back to God. Plan: We will look at John the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8, Isaiah 40:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Light

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 12, 2017

Who is the light? How are we, like John, not the light? What does light change?

Prelude Who is the light? How are we, like John, not the light? What does light change? Purpose: Let’s learn to testify of the Light. Plan: Let’s look at John 1:6-8, 19-28 and John the Baptist as a witness who gave testimony about the One. John 1:6-7a Witness In John 1:6-7a we read, “There was ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Humble Virgin

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 19, 2017

What can we learn from a teenager? What can we learn from her faith? What can we learn from Mary the mother of Jesus?

Prelude What can we learn from a teenager? What can we learn from her faith? What can we learn from Mary the mother of Jesus? Purpose: Let’s learn about the simplicity of trust in God. Plan: Let’s look at Luke 1:26-38, the so-called Annunciation, the announcement to Mary of her pregnancy with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

A Foreigner Preached Repentance

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 3, 2018

What business does a foreigner have telling any nation to repent? Jonah was such a foreigner, but he ran away because he despised Assyria. Are we running away from God? Are we bigoted against other nations?

Prelude What business does a foreigner have telling any nation to repent? If his name is Jonah, it’s God’s business. But, Jonah ran away because he despised Assyria. Are we running away from God? Are we bigoted against other nations? Purpose: Let’s learn that God cares even for our enemies. Plan: ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Biblical Leaven

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 10, 2018

The Bible uses leaven to symbolize how both good and bad things grow in our lives. Let's put in the good leaven and leave out the bad, because either one can fill our lives.

Prelude The Bible uses leaven to symbolize how both good and bad things grow in our lives. It’s important for us to know the difference, so that we make sure that the good things in our lives grow and not the bad. Purpose: Let’s learn about the meaning of leaven in the Bible. Plan: We’ll look at ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:13-21

Denomination: Baptist

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

The Spirit Of Sacrificial Laws Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 20, 2021

Offerings were given often in Israel. One of those special offerings was the Passover lamb (Numbers 28:16). How does any of the sacrificial system apply to the Christian in the spirit? Paul gave the Romans a basic principle that applies the law in spirit.

Burnt offerings (Numbers 28:2-6) and grain and drink offerings (Numbers 28:2-8) were given often, as well as a whole liturgy of other offerings throughout the years. One of those special offerings was the Passover lamb (Numbers 28:16). How does any of the sacrificial system apply to the Christian ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1

Denomination: Baptist

The Spirit Of Sacrificial Laws Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 20, 2021

Offerings were given often in Israel. One of those special offerings was the Passover lamb (Numbers 28:16). How does any of the sacrificial system apply to the Christian in the spirit? Paul gave the Romans a basic principle that applies the law in spirit.

Burnt offerings (Numbers 28:2-6) and grain and drink offerings (Numbers 28:2-8) were given often, as well as a whole liturgy of other offerings throughout the years. One of those special offerings was the Passover lamb (Numbers 28:16). How does any of the sacrificial system apply to the Christian ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1

Denomination: Baptist

The Spirit Of Truth-Telling Laws Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 20, 2021

In the Old Testament vows were taken very seriously. There was a positive and negative side of this topic. Let's look at these laws and see what the spirit of the law against lying is for Christians.

In the Old Testament vows were taken very seriously. The positive side of this topic in the Old Testament was that a vow was taken more seriously than many modern written contracts. The negative side of this topic in the Old Testament was that at least two people died due to foolish vows and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:33-37

Denomination: Baptist

The Spirit Of Purity Laws Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 20, 2021

Is there any spiritual application of purity laws from the old covenant? Let's examine spiritual purity.

Purity laws included not eating unclean animals (Leviticus 11), not eating or touching dead animals (Leviticus 11:29-31), quarantining mothers after childbirth and menstruating women (Leviticus 12:2; 15:19-24), and men with an abnormal discharge (Leviticus 15:2-15). In the New Testament Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:38-41

Denomination: Baptist

Then Jesus Came

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 20, 2021

Can a blind person see what many cannot? Let’s discover what a blind man saw that the disciples could not. Let’s see what happened to the blind son of Timaeus after Jesus came in Mark 10:46-52.

Prelude Can a blind person see what many cannot? Purpose: Let’s discover what a blind man saw that the disciples could not. Plan: Let’s see what happened to the blind son of Timaeus after Jesus came in Mark 10:46-52. Blind Bart Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Baptist

The Spirit Of Giving-Laws Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 21, 2021

The giving laws in the Old Testament contain principles which are still valid for the Christian. Let's take a look at ancient godly principles which we can learn from today.

Giving was assessed and mandated in ancient Israel. Giving of firstfruits (Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 19:23-25), corners of fields for the poor (Leviticus 19:9), and leftover olives and grapes for the poor (Deuteronomy 24:20-21). All this helps us as Christians understand an important principle of ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:8-10, Mark 12:41-44

Denomination: Baptist