Sermons on Sponges:

In Christ

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 15, 2023

What does it mean to be in Christ? Let’s allow the Bible to tell us. Several churches claim that eternal life is only available within their walls. Who does Jesus say will have eternal life?

What does it mean to be in Christ? Let’s allow the Bible to tell us. Several churches claim that eternal life is only available within their walls. Who does Jesus say will have eternal life? For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Keys To Permanent Happiness

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 23, 2023

What are the secrets of happiness? Are they really secrets or just ignored? Let’s understand secrets of true, permanent happiness, found in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12.

What are the secrets of happiness? Are they really secrets or just ignored? Let’s understand secrets of true, permanent happiness, found in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Poor in Spirit And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Adopted By God

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 1, 2023

Can we be adopted by God? How? What does that even mean?

In ancient times there was often no difference between an adopted child and a natural born one. An adopted child received all the rights and privileges of a biological child. That is the meaning in the Bible. We have a special relationship as an adopted child of God. When the Bible uses the term ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

Sanctified By God

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 13, 2023

Are all Christians saints? Are we to be holy?

Sanctify means to set apart as holy, or to dedicate for special use. Did God sanctify a people? And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. (Exodus 19:14 KJV) Does truth sanctify people? Would that make studying the Bible ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17

Denomination: Baptist

Good Works

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 21, 2023

Can Christians ignore good works? Are good works a fruit of faith?

Should a Christian do good works? What about lazy Christians who only believe, but are not interested in good works? What did Jesus teach? In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 ...read more

Scripture: James 2:18-26

Denomination: Baptist

Battling Temptation With Scripture Alone

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 22, 2023

Life is filled with trials and temptations. Sometimes we fail. Jesus was also faced with great tests, but He succeeded. Let’s learn how Jesus battled temptations and won, using scripture. Let’s look at the testing of Christ in Matthew 4:1-11.

Life is filled with trials and temptations. Sometimes we fail. Jesus was also faced with great tests, but He succeeded. Let’s learn how Jesus battled temptations and won, using scripture. Let’s look at the testing of Christ in Matthew 4:1-11. Led by the Spirit When Jesus fasted was it a complete ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Perseverance

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 24, 2023

Does Jesus imply anything about “once saved always saved” or is assurance conditional?

The Holy Spirit was not asleep on the job for 1500 years before Protestant theology came along. Traditional theology contributes great biblical wisdom about our eternal security. God’s Part Does Jesus imply anything about “once saved always saved” or is assurance conditional upon listening to and ...read more

Scripture: John 10:27-28

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus' Power

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 21, 2023

What kind of power did Jesus have that demonstrated who He is?

After the sermon on the mount, did many follow Jesus? Luke picks up from here as the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20–49). As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds. (Matthew 8:1 CEV) Healings Did He begin to heal many? What did a man with a skin disease do? A man with a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

New Wine

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 28, 2023

As Jesus healed people He spoke of new wine and patching clothing. Did He mean there is a something new in the the new covenant? Let's look at Matthew 9.

Amidst various healings Jesus taught about old and new ideas. Healing Did Jesus heal a paralyzed man? Was Jesus falsely accused? And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Persecuted Missions

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 5, 2024

What dangers and blessings await those who dare to share God's Good News in a hostile world? Let's find out in Matthew 10.

What dangers and blessings await those who dare to share the Good News in a hostile world? What authority did Jesus give the twelve disciples? He called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to throw them out and to heal every disease and every sickness. (Matthew 10:1 ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Offense Or Rest

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 13, 2024

Do we take offense or rest in Jesus? Let's find out in Matthew 11.

Can we find rest in Jesus in the midst of a troubled world? Did John the Baptist need rest from doubt? After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left and began teaching and preaching in the towns. John was in prison when he heard what Christ was doing. So John sent some of his ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Money Morality

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 14, 2024

The basic rule of money morality is well known, but often misquoted and misunderstood. Let's examine a godly approach to money.

The basic rule for money morality is well-known, but most people seem to either misquote this principle or stop after the first clause. Let’s read the whole principle. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

Denomination: Baptist

Usury & Extortion

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 16, 2024

Why do western banks engage in usury and extortion? Why do Christians go along with it without trying to change this practice?

One of the earliest principles of money lending is a law against usury. If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest. (Exodus 22:25 NKJV) This is the exact opposite of how western banks operate today. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 22:5

Denomination: Baptist

Disguised Fraud

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 18, 2024

Fraud in politics and business is common. How should we as Christians behave in such a dishonest world?

How are political and business leaders frequently described in the Bible? Political Frauds Evil national leaders are pictured in the Bible as predatory wild animals, political frauds. For instance, Daniel had a vision of four successive empires, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greco-Macedonia and Rome, and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Accused

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 20, 2024

Are Christians often falsely accused? How did Jesus handle being falsely accused? Let's find out in Matthew 12.

Jesus faced many false accusations. How did He handle them? Sabbath Accusations Did the Pharisees criticize Jesus for breaking their Sabbath rules? At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain. But when ...read more

Denomination: Baptist