Sermons on A Proper 16:

The Call And Compassion Of Jesus

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 14, 2020

Jesus calls sinners, heals the sick and raises the dead.

THE CALL AND COMPASSION OF JESUS. Matthew 9:9-13; Matthew 9:18-26. 1. The Call of Matthew (Matthew 9:9-13) Wherever we live, under whatever regime, tax collectors are unpopular. It was no different in first century Israel, where Matthew’s trade involved collaboration with the Romans, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13, Matthew 9:18-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Live As Exiles

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 25, 2019

Seek the peace of the place in which you find yourselves, for in its peace you shall have peace.

HOW TO LIVE AS EXILES. Jeremiah 29:1-7. For forty years Jeremiah had been warning Judah and Jerusalem to submit to the LORD by submitting to Babylon. The prophet had been accused of treason, threatened with death, and put in the stocks. Now the inevitable had begun to happen. In ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Take Heart. It Is I

Contributed by Nathan Webb on Aug 16, 2023

A sermon for the Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 14.) A look at the gravity of Jesus' appearance on the water in the midst of the storm.

“Take heart, it is I.” Jesus has just fed more than five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. The disciples are picking up twelve baskets of leftovers. Each one of them packs a basket with their travelling gear. It’s getting late and Jesus has told them, “It’s time to head ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

The Epitaph Of The Ungodly And The Testimony Of The Righteous.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 26, 2022

Our confidence rests in the covenant mercy of God, revealed to us in Christ Jesus.

THE EPITAPH OF THE UNGODLY AND THE TESTIMONY OF THE RIGHTEOUS. Psalm 52:1-9. The superscription of this Psalm associates it with the tittle-tattle tale-telling of a certain Edomite named Doeg, who was Saul’s chief shepherd (1 Samuel 21:7). This man - not wholly untruthfully, but certainly ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 52:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Pledge For A Sure Future.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 10, 2022

A promise of a full redemption and restoration.

A PLEDGE FOR A SURE FUTURE. Jeremiah 32:1-3a, Jeremiah 32:6-15. The wonderful words of hope which are found in Jeremiah 30-33 were spoken whilst Jeremiah was shut up in the court of the prison in the king of Judah's house (Jeremiah 32:2). Jeremiah was accused of committing treason, no less, ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-3, Jeremiah 32:6-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Increasing Faith And A Growing Love.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 10, 2022

Congratulations and compliments to men are here wrapped up in the praise of God.

AN INCREASING FAITH AND A GROWING LOVE. 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12. INTRODUCTION (2 Thessalonians 1-2). 1. Pauline Authorship (2 Thessalonians 1:1). 2. In/ from/ according to “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Craving The Bread Of Life

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 11, 2018

‘Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures unto eternal life’ (John 6:27).

CRAVING THE BREAD OF LIFE. Psalm 78:23-29. This Psalm, the second longest in the Book, demonstrates the cycle of (i) God’s provision for His people/ (ii) their ingratitude and rebellion/ (iii) God’s punishment of them/ (iv) followed by new offers of grace. The passage before us focuses ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:23-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Painful Account.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 11, 2021

The substitutionary character of the sacrifice of Jesus.

A PAINFUL ACCOUNT. Isaiah 53:4-12. The repulsion evoked by the Cross of Jesus is countered by the recognition of the substitutionary character of His sacrifice (Isaiah 53:4). We may have seen Jesus as One “stricken” by God – but the toll which He was paying was not His own. No, indeed, it was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Trusts In Him Is Blessed.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 11, 2021

Tasting the goodness of the LORD.

WHO TRUSTS IN HIM IS BLESSED. Psalm 34:1-8; Psalm 34:19-22. David was ‘on the run’ from king Saul. Mistakenly thinking that he might find refuge with the Philistines, he only escaped from their clutches by feigning madness (1 Samuel 21:10-15). Then he hid in a cave. Knowing that David was in ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-8, Psalm 34:19-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Introduction To The Little Apocalypse.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 11, 2021

This message is not just for the early disciples, but for us all.

INTRODUCTION TO THE LITTLE APOCALYPSE. Mark 13:1-8. Mark 13, and its equivalents in Matthew 24 and Luke 21:5-36, is sometimes entitled “the little apocalypse.” This passage is poised between Jesus’ teaching in the Temple (Mark 12), and the account of the Passion (Mark 14-15). The main thrust of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Child-Like Humility

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 11, 2018

If you want to be first, learn to be last!

A CHILD-LIKE HUMILITY. Mark 9:30-37. 1. CONTEXT (Mark 8:29-34). On the back of Peter’s famous confession of faith (Mark 8:29), Jesus began to teach His disciples about His upcoming death and resurrection (Mark 8:31). About this the disciples were, to say the least, slow on the uptake: ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Righteous Rejoice.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 19, 2023

When believers rejoice, we rejoice in the LORD. Praise is an appropriate response for what God has done for us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

THE RIGHTEOUS REJOICE. Psalm 33:1. “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous; for praise is comely for the upright” (Psalm 33:1). We see first of all the exhortation: “Rejoice in the LORD” (cf. Philippians 4:4). Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22). When we abide in Jesus the true vine, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Camel That Passed Through The Eye Of A Needle. Abridged.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 3, 2023

Jesus seeks and saves the lost.

A CAMEL THAT PASSED THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE. Abridged. Luke 19:1-10. We were reading recently about a certain ruler who, perhaps recognizing that money is not everything, asked Jesus what he must ‘do’ to inherit eternal life. The young man had an extremely high view of his own heart, but ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Exhortations To Excellence" Series

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Feb 15, 2007

Sermon 16 in a study in 1 & 2 Peter

“Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-14

Denomination: Orthodox

Are You A Weed

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Jul 15, 2002

A sermon for the 9th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 11

9 Sunday after Pentecost Proper 11 Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 "Are You A Weed?"   Are you a weed?? That’s a strange question isn’t it. Are you a weed?? But that is just the question our gospel lesson is asking each of us. Are we weeds?? Our gospel text concerns the difference between weeds and wheat ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Denomination: Lutheran