Sermons on Ulysses Grant:

God's Children & Christ's Bride

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 14, 2023

What guides our actions? Are we God's children and Christ's bride? Let's find out in Ephesians 5.

What guides our actions? Are we God’s children and Christ’s bride? Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 CEV) What behaviors ought not to be found? But sexual ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Church's Armor

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 15, 2023

How can we face the great spiritual battles around us? Let's look in Ephesians 6.

How can we face the great spiritual battles all around us? Let’s start with the family and obedience to a child’s parents? What if they want us to do something outside of obedience to the Lord? As for children, obey your parents in the Lord, because it is right. (Ephesians 6:1 CEB) Do the ancient ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Repentance

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 20, 2023

Repent sounds weird in today's language. What's it all about?

Jesus’ first messages were summarized by two words, repent and believe in the Gospel (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15). What does repent mean? Turn Back Often translated as repent is the Hebrew word “shoob,” which means to turn back or return. What did Solomon, that wise backslider, say about national ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15

Denomination: Baptist

Kings

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 22, 2023

As we look at the kings of Israel and Judah, we see the faults of human leadership. Even in the church, do we look to faulty human beings or to God?

What good is having the word of God without faithfulness to God? Most of Israel and Judah’s kings were evil. Even the good kings had huge weaknesses. What happens to nations when their leaders go astray? First and second Kings contain the history of a few good national leaders among many bad. Key ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Free Will

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 1, 2023

Are we like clay in the hands of the master potter? Does that mean that we have no choice in the matter? Let's find the truth about the master potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18.

Potter Are we like clay in the hands of the master potter? Does that mean we don’t have free will or can the clay be stubborn and unworkable? And whenever the clay would not take the shape he wanted, he would change his mind and form it into some other shape. (Jeremiah 18:4 CEV) What did the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Living Faith - Good Works

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 5, 2023

Have the ancient churches got it right? Do too many Protestant churches teach a cheap grace? Is there a balance between easy believism and works salvation?

Is faith a dead, intellectual belief without works or alive with good works of obedience to Christ? Martin Luther added the word alone to scripture as follows: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith [ALONE] apart from the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28 NKJV) This then became a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:24

Denomination: Baptist

A Living Faith - Judged By Works

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 6, 2023

If we're justified by faith not works, why are we judged by works? Are good works evidence of a living faith?

If we are justified by faith not by works, why are we judged by our works? Are works proof of a living faith? … The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:12-13

Denomination: Baptist

A Living Faith - James On Works

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 8, 2023

How does James present faith and works?

When reading James, we must understand that works of the law (Romans 9:32; Galatians 2:16; 3:2, 5, 10) are not the same thing as good works of obedience to Christ (Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:18; Titus 2:7, 14; 3:8, 14). How does James present faith and good works? Is Christianity ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Christian Confidence

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 16, 2023

Can we have confidence and joy in the midst of severe trials? Paul addresses that in Philippians 1.

Intro Paul and Timothy, probably as stenographer, wrote to help the saints in Philippi to find confidence and joy in the midst of persecution. It was an established church, mature enough to have the oversight of a team of elders. In those days the terms bishop or overseer, pastor or shepherd, and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Joy Despite Persecution

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 16, 2023

What is good to remember in persecution?

What is good to remember in persecution? Just one thing: Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith that comes from the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Legalism Or Faith

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 22, 2023

Do we rely on things of the flesh like circumcision, rest days, tongues, wealth and health? Do we rely on Christ?

Did Paul use strong terms for those who promoted a variety of legalism? So then, my brothers and sisters, be glad in the Lord. It’s no trouble for me to repeat the same things to you because they will help keep you on track. Watch out for the “dogs.” Watch out for people who do evil things. Watch ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Church Unity & Peace

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 24, 2023

Even the best of churches has challenges to protect unity and peace. Let's find out how in Philippians 4.

Does Paul love the church of God in Philippi? Dear friends, I love you and long to see you. Please keep on being faithful to the Lord. You are my pride and joy [joy and crown]. (Philippians 4:1 CEV) Can even a wonderful church have some squabbles? What was Paul’s plea to two women? I urge Euodia ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Table Of Nations (Genesis 10)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 14, 2024

Is discounting the world history in the ancient document, we call the Bible, dishonest? Let's discuss the history of nations from Genesis 10.

The history of the world takes into account many ancient documents. Is discounting the history recorded in the world’s most popular document, the Bible, rather dishonest? Who were Japheth’s descendants? It is possible that the name Japheth was corrupted by the Romans to Jupiter. Many ancient ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Parables & Secrets (Mark 4)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 16, 2024

What secrets lay behind Jesus' use of parables? Let's discuss this in Mark 4.

What are the four places where the seed of the word is broadcast? Why did Jesus speak in parables to outsiders? Is light to be hidden under a basket? How is God’s kingdom like harvesting? How is God’s kingdom like a mustard plant? How would we have reacted as Jesus calmed a lake storm? Let’s ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Tower Of Babel (Genesis 11)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 16, 2024

Does Pentecost begin to reverse the curse of Babel? Let's discuss this in Genesis 11.

God separated our ancestors into language groups at Babel to encourage them to migrate and populate the whole world. On Pentecost, God began a process of reversing the language division at Babel, bringing the nations back together again in one church (Acts 2), through the miracle of hearing the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist