Sermons on A Proper 13:

Complaint And Restoration.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 29, 2023

God’s purposes are in no way thwarted by persecution, but rather, somewhat ironically, helped forward by the sufferers’ steadfastness.

COMPLAINT AND RESTORATION. Jeremiah 15:15-21. This is one of the laments of Jeremiah. There is a complaint here (Jeremiah 15:15-18), and also a reply from the LORD (Jeremiah 15:19-21). JEREMIAH 15:15. The prophet is bold in his approach: “O LORD, thou knowest.” The LORD does know all our ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 15:15-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sour Grapes

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 29, 2020

From blame to shame. A call to repentance.

SOUR GRAPES. Ezekiel 18:1-4; Ezekiel 18:25-32. It seems to be very much a part of fallen human nature that we want to blame someone else for the things that go wrong in our lives. This all began in the garden of Eden, after the first couple ate of the forbidden fruit. Adam blamed both his ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 18:1-4, Ezekiel 18:25-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Flows From Within.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 6, 2023

Our outer life has its source in what is going on inside us.

WHAT FLOWS FROM WITHIN. Matthew 15:10-28. I). The War Against Sin. Matthew 15:10-20. MATTHEW 15:10-11. Jesus turned away from the Pharisees and summoned the crowd to Himself. “Hear and understand,” He taught. Despite what the Pharisees might teach, “it is NOT that which goes into the mouth ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Mammon Of The Prophets.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 19, 2023

They may as well cover their lips since they had nothing to say from God.

THE MAMMON OF THE PROPHETS. Micah 3:5-12. Jesus said, ‘Ye cannot serve God and Mammon’ (cf. Matthew 6:24). Yet this was what “the prophets” of Prophet Micah’s day were trying to do: they would preach “Peace” to those who fed them, but would “prepare war” against those who “putteth not into ...read more

Scripture: Micah 3:5-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Temptation Of Jesus: An Exposition Of Luke 4:1-13

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Feb 18, 2019

The season of Lent is supposed to remind us of the 40 days of Jesus temptation in the wilderness. How should we observe it?

The Temptation of Jesus: An Exposition of Luke 4:1-13 We now come to the first Sunday of Lent, a 40-day time, excluding Sundays, for reflection and repentance. These 40 days commemorate the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness where He would be tempted three times by Satan. It is a time where ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jesus Is The Better Light (John 8:12-13; Lev. 23:33-44; Exodus 13:17-22) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Feb 6, 2022

Jesus is our pillar of fire.

If you're following along with me in your own Bibles, in the gospel of John, you'll notice that this week we come to the story of the adulterous woman. This story may or may not be an authentic tradition about Jesus-- my guess, which is probably worth nothing, is that it is. It ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12-13, Leviticus 23:33-44, Exodus 13:17-22

Submission To Authorities (1 Peter 2:13-25) Series

Contributed by Greg Brown on Aug 2, 2014

Exposition of 1 Peter 2:13-25

Submission to Authorities Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Call To Worship

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 23, 2015

Who is this LORD, that we should worship Him? Why should we trust and praise this God?

A CALL TO WORSHIP. Psalm 146. The last five Psalms (146-150) all begin and end with an exhortation to praise the LORD, addressed collectively to the congregation of God’s people. Yet it is not enough for the praise leader just to call others to worship: it is also the exercise of his own soul ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 146:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Open-Ended Prayer

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 20, 2018

Waiting faith and expectant trust.

AN OPEN-ENDED PRAYER. Psalm 123:1-4. This is a short, impassioned prayer: a plea for help in the face of adversaries. It begins with adoration, with an abrupt “Unto You…” (PSALM 123:1). This is a song of Ascents and its opening may be paralleled to another: ‘I to the hills will lift ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 123:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Valley Of Tears.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 17, 2021

The LORD's leading in the pilgrimage of this life.

THE VALLEY OF TEARS. Psalm 84:5-7. “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee, in whose heart are the ways” (Psalm 84:5). So reads the Hebrew, without adding any extra words into the translation. The word for “ways” here speaks of a prepared way, as for when a ruling monarch is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:5-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Vision Of Salvation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 7, 2013

Mercy and truth meet together, & righteousness and peace embrace - in the Cross of Jesus Christ.

A VISION OF SALVATION. Psalm 85. First, the Psalmist remembers the favour and forgiveness of the LORD (Psalm 85:1-3). This is a good place to begin in our petitions to God, rather than diving into our shopping list of requests. We base our belief that God will give us a favourable answer in His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Trial Of Contradictory Prophesies.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 27, 2023

A showdown in the Temple, between a true and a false prophet.

A TRIAL OF CONTRADICTORY PROPHECIES. Jeremiah 28:5-9. One of the false prophets, Hananiah, prophesied that the exile would only last two years (cf. Jeremiah 28:1-4). This was a lie of the devil (cf. Jeremiah 28:15). Somewhat ironically, Hananiah’s name means, ‘the grace of the LORD.’ ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 28:5-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Wife For Isaac.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 4, 2023

When we walk in God's way, He orders our steps.

A WIFE FOR ISAAC. Genesis 24:34-38, Genesis 24:42-49, Genesis 24:58-67. The 24th chapter of the Book of Genesis is a beautifully written and well-crafted telling and retelling of the history of the mission of Abraham’s servant to find a wife for Isaac. The whole passage moves along at a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 24:34-38, Genesis 24:42-49, Genesis 24:58-67

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jacob And Esau.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 23, 2023

The purposes of God and the scheming of Jacob.

JACOB AND ESAU. Genesis 25:19-34. 1. The two nations in Rebekah’s womb. GENESIS 25:19-20. As the genealogy passes from Abraham to Isaac we are told that Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah. GENESIS 25:21. Once again there is a record of prolonged barrenness within the family. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:19-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Shalt Thou Be.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 11, 2023

Fear the LORD, and it shall be well with thee.

BLESSED SHALT THOU BE. Psalm 128:1-6. There are two words translated “blessed” in this Psalm. The first is ‘Esher,’ from which we have the name ‘Asher,’ and it means ‘how blessed,’ or ‘happy.’ So we have, “How blessed is every one that fears the LORD” (Psalm 128:1); but then, “happy shalt ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 128:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational