Sermons on proper 16:

Sampling Some Parables.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 3, 2023

Have ye understood all these things? Matthew 13:51.

SAMPLING SOME PARABLES. Matthew 13:31-33, Matthew 13:44-52. I. The Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32). This Sermon had its roots in a children’s address given long ago and far away. At that time I was interested (for all the best practical reasons) in gardening. I brought some seeds as a visual ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33, Matthew 13:44-52

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

Mindsets.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 5, 2023

God did what the law could not. The present state of the believer is one of hope.

MINDSETS. Romans 8:1-11. I. A SET FREE MINDSET. Romans 8:1-5. “Then-now-no” begins the Greek of this wonderful chapter of God’s Book. This firm negation placed right at the beginning of the sentence serves to emphasise the absolute impossibility of there ever being any “condemnation” - to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Being "Wise And Learned” Vs. "Humility.”

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Jun 29, 2002

July 7, 2002 -- SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -- Proper 9 Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Color: Green Title: “Being “Wise and Learned” vs. “Humility.”

July 7, 2002 -- SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -- Proper 9 Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Color: Green Title: “Being “Wise and Learned” vs. “Humility.” Jesus teaches that he is the way to the Father and that the way to him is the humble way. Chapters eleven to thirteen, are largely concerned with those ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:16-30

Denomination: Lutheran

Who Is God Seeking? (John 4:16-24) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 15, 2022

The answer: People who worship, in the Spirit (not "spirit") and in the truth.

Let's start this morning by rereading last week's passage, starting from John 4:1: (4:1) Then, when Jesus knew that the Pharisees heard that Jesus, many more disciples he is making and baptizing than John-- although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples-- (3) he left ...read more

Scripture: John 4:16-24, Ephesians 5:17-21

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

A Passion For The Ancient People Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 5, 2017

Setting the scene for the whole discussion of Romans 9-11, Paul finds himself astonished at his own people's failure to embrace Christ.

A PASSION FOR GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE. Romans 9:1-5. From the dizzy heights of Romans 8, the Apostle Paul seems to suddenly hit an unprecedented low in Romans 9:1-5. The crescendo of the previous glorious chapter meets the jarring note of Paul’s passion for his own people - God’s ancient people, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Justice And Righteousness Better Than Rituals

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 19, 2020

The danger of worship without mercy.

JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS BETTER THAN RITUALS. Amos 5:18-24. Historically, Israel had split into two kingdoms shortly after the death of king David’s son, king Solomon. The ten tribes of the north rejected both the dynasty of David, and the worship of the Jerusalem temple, and set up their ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:18-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A City Of Habitation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 31, 2020

From a trackless wilderness to a City to dwell in.

A CITY OF HABITATION Psalm 107:1-7; Psalm 107:33-37. This Psalm is a call to thanksgiving to the LORD, “for He is good: for His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). The writer longs that those whom the LORD has redeemed, whom He has redeemed from the hand of enemy - out of the east, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:1-7, Psalm 107:33-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Brothers Together

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 25, 2020

Shades of opinion in the Christian church. We shall all appear before Christ.

BROTHERS TOGETHER. Romans 14:1-12. This passage has much to say about receiving one another in the Lord. Paul defines “the weak in the faith” (Romans 14:1) as those who have scruples about what they eat (Romans 14:2). Do not “despise” them, warns Paul; but he also warns the weak not to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-12

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

An Unspoken Providence

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 10, 2020

The history of Joseph from Canaan to Egypt.

AN UNSPOKEN PROVIDENCE. Genesis 37:1-4, Genesis 37:12-28. What are we to make of Joseph? A tell-tale teenager (Genesis 37:2)? A favourite son (Genesis 37:3)? A dreamer (Genesis 37:19)? Or perhaps a boaster (cf. Genesis 37:5-10)? Or even a prophet (cf. Genesis 37:11)? What is the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-4, Genesis 37:12-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Journey Back To Faith.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 16, 2022

The futility of contemplating a life without God.

A JOURNEY BACK TO FAITH. Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 1:12-14, Ecclesiastes 2:18-23. The harder we try to understand the book of Ecclesiastes, the greater the temptation to chime in with the author’s refrain: “all is vanity!” Yet, somewhere along the way, we might realise that it is going ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 1:12-14, Ecclesiastes 2:18-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Strange Land.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 18, 2022

Strangers and pilgrims in this world.

A STRANGE LAND. Psalm 137. The exile is over (at least for those who chose to return), and Babylon as a world power has fizzled out: her nobles sailed downstream to safety, and the Persian conqueror Cyrus allowed the many misplaced peoples dwelling in Babylon to return to their own lands. ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Come Let Us Return Unto The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 26, 2023

Pressing on to know the LORD.

COME LET US RETURN TO THE LORD. Hosea 5:15, Hosea 6:1-6. HOSEA 5:15. This verse contains the words of the LORD. He is withdrawing from His wayward people until such time as they will acknowledge their sin, and seek His face. HOSEA 6:1a. The appeal of Hosea is, “Come, and let us return to the ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 5:15, Hosea 6:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational