Sermons on Sponges:

God Invites Us

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 10, 2017

What is our response to God’s wedding invitation? What kind of clothing does God require?

Prelude, Purpose & Plan What is our response to God’s wedding invitation? What kind of clothing does God require? What are we doing with the opportunity God has placed before us? Let’s see that our invitation to salvation has a twofold responsibility. Let’s look at the Parable of the Wedding ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14, Revelation 19:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

Citizenship

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 16, 2017

Ought Christians be good citizens? What’s the difference between love of country and idolatry of country? Is paying taxes participation in evil acts by governments?

Prelude, Purpose & Plan Ought Christians be good citizens? What’s the difference between love of country and idolatry of country? Is paying taxes participation in evil acts by governments? Let’s understand that Christians are to be good citizens and paying taxes ought not be a moral ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Denomination: Baptist

Complete Love

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 29, 2017

Do we love God completely? How do we love God with our whole heart, soul and mind? What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself?

Prelude, Purpose, Plan Do we love God completely? How do we love God with our whole heart, soul and mind? What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? We are tempted to emphasize only one dimension of loving God. Let us learn of the more complete love taught by Jesus. Let’s examine the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-46

Denomination: Baptist

True Leadership

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 31, 2017

When is religious authority right and wrong? How should we behave in an imperfect church? Should we quit church and return to the devil or stay and be a force for good?

Prelude When is religious authority right and wrong? How should we behave in an imperfect church? Should we quit church and return to the devil or stay and be a force for good? Let’s look at Jesus’ blunt assessment of human religious leadership in Matthew 23:1-12 and see if we can learn a better ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Watchfulness

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 7, 2017

What must we do to prepare for Christ’s Coming? Should we closely follow world events, research prophecy and draw up wildly speculative timelines? Is there something spiritual that we should be looking at in ourselves?

Prelude What must we do to prepare for Christ’s Coming? Should we closely follow world events, research prophecy and draw up wildly speculative timelines? Is there something spiritual that we should be looking at in ourselves? Our purpose is to learn how to prepare for His Coming. Our plan is to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Well Done!

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 14, 2017

What does God expect us to do with what Heaven has given us? Do we take risks using our gifts or hide them for safekeeping? Why hasn’t God given to us all equally?

Prelude What does God expect us to do with what Heaven has given us? Do we take risks using our gifts or hide them for safekeeping? Why hasn’t God given to us all equally? Purpose: Let’s see what God expects us to do with our gifts. Plan: Let’s look at the Parable of the Talents in Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Baptist

Various Healings (Mark 5)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 23, 2024

What can we learn from various healings about faith? Let's look at Mark 5.

Did Jesus heal an insane man of demon possession who had not asked for it? Was a woman healed because of her faith? Did Jesus heal a man’s daughter despite other people’s lack of faith? Do we have faith? Let’s discuss this in Mark 5. On the other side of the lake, who came out to meet Jesus? So ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 17)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 24, 2024

How does the Abrahamic covenant relate to the Christian? Let's discuss Genesis 17.

Is the promise to Abraham fully realized in Abraham’s descendant, Jesus and the Good News for all nations? Is true circumcision of the heart and not just the flesh? How did Abram’s name get changed? What does Abraham mean? When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Three Heavenly Visitors (Genesis 18)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 24, 2024

If we cannot see God and live, how was Abraham able to see and speak to the Lord? Let's look at Genesis 18.

Did Jesus play a greater role in the Old Testament than we may have realized? How is it that we cannot see God and live (Exodus 33:20), yet Abraham saw and spoke with the Lord in Genesis 18? Is this an allusion to God the Father and God the Son in the Old Testament, before the Lord was made ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Two Angels In Sodom (Genesis 19)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 26, 2024

Was the thinking of Lot and his family severely affected by life in Sodom? Are we truly in the world but not of the world? Let's examine Genesis 19.

Were some in Lot’s family completely immersed in the life of Sodom and not wanting to leave? Were Lot, his wife, and his daughters also affected by the perverse environment of that city? What can happen to our thinking, living and working in this world? Are we truly in the world but not of the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lying To Abimelech (Genesis 20)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 26, 2024

Is God merciful to our human weaknesses? What about the weaknesses of great leaders of our faith? Let's look at Genesis 20.

Is a half-truth still a lie if the intent is to deceive? Do even God’s leading servants occasionally sin out of weakness? Is God merciful to our weaknesses? Let’s examine Genesis 20. Did Abraham lie again about his wife as he had previously done in Egypt? Abraham moved south to the Negev and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Making Peace (Genesis 21)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 27, 2024

Does making peace sometimes mean separation? Is making peace a good thing? Let's look at Genesis 21.

Is laughter sometimes an expression of joy? Is making peace a good thing? Is separation sometimes the best course of action for peace? Is a formal covenant of peace a good thing? Let’s look at Genesis 21. Did Sarah bear a son named Laughter in her old age? Did she laugh again, with joy? The Lord ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Abraham's Biggest Test (Genesis 22)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 28, 2024

What is the biggest test of your life? Let's look at Abraham's biggest test in Genesis 22.

Does God sometimes test our faith severely? Does a test also increase our trust in God? Did Abraham’s test foreshadow the cross of Christ? Let’s look at Genesis 22. How did God test Abraham’s faith? Was it perhaps Abraham’s biggest test of his life? What has been our biggest test? Some time ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Honored Except At Home (Mark 6)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 30, 2024

Was even Jesus honored except at home? Let's look at Mark 6.

Did Jesus do many miracles in places where He was dishonored? What was the purpose of the first short-term mission trip? Why was John the baptist killed? How did Jesus provide for the 5000? Did Jesus take time alone to pray? Were the disciples' hearts still hardened? Let’s look at Mark 6. Why ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Sarah Dies (Genesis 23)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 30, 2024

Such honor for a departed wife! Such honor and respect between parties in the Middle East! Let's look at Genesis 23.

Abraham and Sarah had their ups and downs. She encouraged him to have a baby by their housekeeper. They suffered greatly because of it. Abraham deceived two kings and was tested probably more than many of us could handle in offering his son. Yet in the end, their marriage survived. They had an ...read more

Denomination: Baptist