Sermons on Sponges:

Believe In Jesus & Never Die

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 22, 2023

What can we learn from a resurrection of one of Jesus closest friends?

Let’s learn a couple of ways to examine a Bible passage: 1) solving dilemmas, and 2) finding the Good News. Let’s examine the resurrection of Lazarus in John 11:1-45. What was the setting? Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Denomination: Baptist

Samuel

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 28, 2023

Samuel the prophet was the last of the judges. 1 and 2 Samuel were originally one book or scroll and describe God’s dealings with Samuel, Saul, David, Bathsheba and Absalom.

Before ancient Israel had kings, they were led in times of crisis by military leaders known as judges. Samuel the prophet was the last of the judges. 1 and 2 Samuel were originally one book or scroll and describe God’s dealings with Samuel, Saul, David, Bathsheba and Absalom. Was Hannah an example ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Atheism, Emotional Not Logical

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 2, 2023

What are the motives behind atheism? Is the evidence for God's existence ubiquitous or elusive?

Romans is a book written by Paul to help Jewish and Gentile Christians realize that we are all equal before God. Paul introduced himself as a slave of Jesus Christ. Was He a slave of Christ because he was ransomed from slavery to the devil, because Jesus paid the ransom price? Is slavery to Christ ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jew & Gentile, Equal Before God

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 4, 2023

How can we recognize sin yet not be judgmental of others? Is it because we should also recognize that we are all guilty of sin?

How can we recognize sin yet not be judgmental of others? Is it because we should also recognize that we are all guilty of sin? You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Fruitful Faith

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 14, 2023

Is faith without works dead? Are works of the law different to good works or works of obedience to Christ? Did Luther get it right or was he confused by a false equivalency between works of the law and works of obedience to Christ?

Do Jews have any advantage that others do not have? Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First, that they were entrusted with the actual words [oracles] of God. (Romans 3:1-2 NASB) What if some of the Jews were unfaithful? True, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Abraham's Obedient Faith

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 17, 2023

Is there a difference between works of the law and works of faith? Many Christians confuse the two as one, but they are not. Let's let the Bible answer the question.

A false equivalence is bad logic. It occurs when we believe that the same word in different contexts means the same thing. This happens in Christian discussions of the word works. We solve the confusion by asking what kind of “works” is being discussed. Is it works of the law or works of obedient ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Justified By Faith

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 18, 2023

How can we be made right in God's sight? Can we believe Jesus and disobey Him?

Does Paul teach that all nations are equally sinful and the only way for any of us to be justified is by faith? Do we then have peace with God through whom? Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1 ESV) Is it a disobedient ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

New Holy Life

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 18, 2023

Does the new life in Christ mean we can be careless about sin or careful to live sin free? Is holiness important or is that just self-righteousness?

May we Christians just believe and not obey Jesus Christ? Can we be attached to the vine and not bear fruit? So what are we going to say? Should we continue sinning so grace will multiply? Absolutely not! All of us died to sin. How can we still live in it? (Romans 6:2 CEB) May we return to living ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Salvation

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 1, 2022

In the Bible, temporal salvation is often a rescue from such circumstances as enemy attack, slavery, calamity and sickness. Eternal salvation is deliverance from death (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 5:7; James 5:20) and hell (Matthew 10:28; Jude 1:23).

In the Bible, temporal salvation is often a rescue from such circumstances as enemy attack, slavery, calamity and sickness. Eternal salvation is deliverance from death (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 5:7; James 5:20) and hell (Matthew 10:28; Jude 1:23). Eternal Salvation Eternal salvation is often referred ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23, Hebrews 5:7, James 5:20, Matthew 10:28, Jude 1:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Repentance

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 6, 2022

Two main components of New Testament preaching are repentance and faith. Let’s examine how they go together.

Two main components of New Testament preaching are repentance and faith. Let’s examine how they go together. Repent & Believe What do repentance and belief have to do with salvation? Feeling sorry for ourselves but refusing to change does nothing. But, grief with repentance leads to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:10, Mark 1:14-15, Acts 3:19, 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

What Faith?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 13, 2022

As we repent from sin and turn to God, what must also be included?

As we repent from sin and turn to God, what must also be included? “I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:21 NLT) Repentance is also from unbelief to faith. Are good works evidence ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:21, Acts 26:20, Hebrews 11:1, Jude 1:3

Denomination: Baptist

Works Or Not?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 14, 2022

Doing good works is a very controversial topic among Christians, because they are either overemphasized or underemphasized. It’s hard to find the balance, but the scriptures are the best help.

Doing good works is a very controversial topic among Christians, because they are either overemphasized or underemphasized. It’s hard to find the balance, but the scriptures are the best help, if we’ll listen to them instead of blindly accepting the prejudices of men. There are several factors to ...read more

Scripture: John 6:29, James 2:14-26, Matthew 16:27

Denomination: Baptist

The Age Of Baptism

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 19, 2022

We don’t need to be divided over the topic of baptism. Biblically, there is room for our preferences without disunity, if we ask simple questions. What does the Bible really require? What does the Bible leave up to us?

We don’t need to be divided over the topic of baptism. Biblically, there is room for our preferences without disunity, if we ask simple questions. What does the Bible really require? What does the Bible leave up to us? Let’s look more deeply into baptism than narrow ideas may allow. Age of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:21-23, 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, Colossians 2:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Mode Of Baptism

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 20, 2022

What does the Bible mandate about the mode of baptism?

Eisegesis is a bad way to read the Bible. It means to read into the text things that are actually not there at all. One common example is reading that Jesus came up out of the water after being immersed. The text simply does not say that at all. “So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:16, 1 Corinthians 10:2, Luke 12:50, Revelation 7:14

Denomination: Baptist

Confirmation

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 22, 2022

Is confirmation biblical? Does it have anything to do with the biblical doctrine of laying on of hands?

Infant baptism is neither mandated nor forbidden in the New Testament but has forerunners in the Old Testament. In adult baptism, water and laying on of hands occur as one ceremony. Infant baptism often separates the use of water and laying on of hands by many years. The author of Hebrews teaches ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:1-2, Matthew 10:32, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 8:14-17

Denomination: Baptist