Sermons on Sponges:

Glory

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 28, 2023

To the ancient writers the word glory meant praise, splendor, brightness, majesty, honor and dignity. It refers first of all to God. Glorification also refers to our elevation to an exalted state in eternity.

To the ancient writers the word glory meant praise, splendor, brightness, majesty, honor and dignity. It refers first of all to God. Glorification also refers to our elevation to an exalted state in eternity. What did an ancient lyric writer compose about this? You guide me with your counsel, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:24

Denomination: Baptist

The Ten Commandments

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 12, 2023

How does the law point us to Christ? Are Christians to follow the letter or spirit of the law?

Let’s briefly look at the relevance of Deuteronomy and the Ten Commandments. There are many different ways of counting the Ten Commandments. In their excellent commentary A Survey of the Old Testament, Hill and Walton offer the standard Protestant numbering of the Ten Commandments as an outline of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Is Deuteronomy For Christians?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 19, 2023

I'm shocked to learn that some Christians do not read the Old Testament. Let’s review some highlights in Deuteronomy and see how it's still relevant for Christians.

Let’s review some highlights in Deuteronomy still relevant to Christians. Images We’ll begin with statues and pictures in churches. Are such images wrong? What about the images of cherubs and pomegranates in the tabernacle? You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

The Sower

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 6, 2024

Jesus often spoke in parables, stories or allegories that illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. With the natural amplification of His voice reflecting off the water, did Jesus hold a large meeting? Let’s find out in Matthew 13.

Jesus often spoke in parables, stories or allegories that illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. With the natural amplification of His voice reflecting off the water, did Jesus hold a large meeting? Let’s find out in Matthew 13. On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Wheat & Weeds

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 6, 2024

Why is there evil in the world? The world is a mixture of good and evil. Let’s discuss the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds in Matthew 13:24-43.

Why is there evil in the world? The world is a mixture of good and evil. Let’s discuss the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds in Matthew 13:24-43. Lolium temulentum, darnel, tares, cockle, or false wheat exists worldwide. It has deep roots. It’s toxic, and similar to wheat until maturity. Wheat is ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Eternal Treasures

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 6, 2024

Is our focus on earthly kingdoms or the kingdom of God? How much do we treasure the things of God? Let’s examine heaven’s treasure in Matthew 13:44-52.

Eternal Treasures Is our focus on earthly kingdoms or the kingdom of God? How much do we treasure the things of God? Let’s examine heaven’s treasure in Matthew 13:44-52. Like black mustard, the kingdom of heaven will grow large, not stay small like exclusive sects teach. Like leaven it affects ...read more

Denomination: Baptist