Sermons on A Proper 17:

Jesus Teaches To Go To A Quiet Place, Alone And Rest.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Feb 5, 2014

Jesus teaches us the way of love, how to give grace to our neighbors, whether we like them or not. Jesus teaches us about faith and miracles and healing but Jesus also teaches us about the simple things in life like going to a quiet place, alone and rest.

Word Count: 2050 2 Samuel 7:1-14a Psalm 89:20-37 Ephesians 2:11-22 Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Summary: Jesus teaches us the way of love, how to give grace to our neighbours, whether we like them or not. Jesus teaches us about faith and miracles and healing but Jesus also teaches us about the simple ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-34

Denomination: Episcopal

The Trust Of A Little Child

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 18, 2018

Of such is the kingdom of God.

THE TRUST OF A LITTLE CHILD. Mark 10:13-16. In one of our previous readings, Jesus set a little child in the midst of His disciples (Mark 9:36). Now such children, in the ancient world, had no rights: yet Jesus was happy to scoop such a one up into His holy arms and teach. We noticed then ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:13-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Feeding Five Thousand And Walking On Water

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 22, 2018

Hunger in the wilderness and wind at sea BOTH can kill: but the Rescuer comes.

A. THE FEEDING OF THE 5,000. John 6:1-15. It was now nearly a year since Jesus had cleansed the Temple in Jerusalem, and Passover was fast approaching (John 6:4). Jesus and His disciples had tried to withdraw from the throng in Galilee, and sought some rest and relaxation in the Golan Heights: ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Moses Drawn Out

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 24, 2018

Drawn by the cords of everlasting love!

MOSES DRAWN OUT. Exodus 2:1-10. We all know, used to know, or should have known, the story of baby Moses drifting in an ark of bulrushes, placed by his mother in amongst the reeds by the banks of the River Nile (Exodus 2:3). In ancient maps, uncharted waters used to be indicated with an ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Happens When Faith Comes From Within

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 15, 2018

The obverse side of the previous conversation: what comes out of the mouth when the heart is full of faith.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN FAITH COMES FROM WITHIN. Mark 7:24-37. In the earlier part of this chapter Jesus had disputed with some Scribes and Pharisees about ritual and tradition; and had taught those who would hear that defilement does not come from without, but from within (Mark 7:1-23). It is ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Allure Of Wisdom

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 21, 2018

Wisdom's plaintive plea. The danger of refusal. A promise to those who will hear.

THE ALLURE OF WISDOM. Proverbs 1:20-33. One day I was out shopping on one of the pedestrianised streets of Norwich, England, when a sudden commotion stopped me in my tracks. The City Crier’s vigorous ringing of his hand-bell, and his cry of ‘Oh Yay! Oh Yay!’ seemed to be right in my ear, and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:20-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Basket Of Ripe Summer Fruit

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 7, 2019

Seek God, do justice - before it is too late.

A BASKET OF RIPE SUMMER FRUIT. Amos 8:1-12. This vision and its interpretation is based in a pun: the Hebrew word for “Summer fruit” sounds almost identical with the word translated “the end” (Amos 8:1-2). Read Amos 4:6-11 for a litany of the temporal judgments which the LORD laid upon ...read more

Scripture: Amos 8:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Best Barn Of All

Contributed by Lisa Skogsrud on Aug 20, 2019

We can avoid the problems in The Parable of the Rich Fool by building a "discipleship granary" to store the riches of God's grace that are ours in Jesus Christ.

Sermon Luke 12:13-21 for Pentecost +8C, August 4, 2019 I don't know where the time has gone, but here we are in August, and the summer is more than half over! The days are still hot enough, but you've noticed the nights getting longer already, haven't you? The short growing season we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Called To Be Conquerors, Conformed To Christ

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 2, 2017

If God be for us, who can be against us?

CALLED TO BE CONQUERORS, CONFORMED TO CHRIST. Romans 8:26-39. We are, it seems, surrounded by “infirmities” (Romans 8:26). These may be caused by lack of strength (which is what the word means), emotional weakness (including ‘burnout’), financial hardships, sickness, or sin. Paul also speaks of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26-39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Choosing Life For Others

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 29, 2017

Faced with the desirability of reaching our destination in Christ, are we willing to tarry a while to help others along the way?

CHOOSING LIFE FOR OTHERS. Philippians 1:21-26. The Apostle Paul had just referred to his ‘earnest expectation and hope’ that Christ should now be ‘magnified’ in Paul’s body ‘whether by life or by death’ (Philippians 1:20). Suddenly, it seems, Paul found himself in a state of perplexity. “For to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:21-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Pleasing Faith.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Sep 8, 2013

Everyone has faith, everyone has mustard seed faith like it or not and we cannot get through one single day without living by faith. Yet there are many different kinds of faith, and we want to home into God pleasing as that is the one that gets results.

This sermon was delivered to both St. John’s and St. Oswald’s, Scottish Episcopal churches in Girvan and Maybole on the 11th August 2013. Prayer: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to you O Lord. Amen. Introduction: Everyone has faith, everyone ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:32-40

Denomination: Episcopal

A Pastoral Heart

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 10, 2020

The gentleness, love and self-sacrifice of a mother.

A PASTORAL HEART. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8. Having favourably described the Thessalonians’ reception of the gospel message (1 Thessalonians 1:5-7), Paul now speaks of that first encounter from the point of view of the messengers. 1 Thessalonians 2:1. “For you yourselves know, brethren, that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Storm A Calm.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 24, 2020

Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses. Psalm 107 verse 28.

THE STORM A CALM. Psalm 107:1-3. Psalm 107:1. This Psalm, from the outset, is a summons to thanksgiving. The LORD is good, and His mercy everlasting. We are perhaps quick enough to pray, to 'make our requests known unto God' (Philippians 4:6) when we are in trouble: but do we remember ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:1-3, Psalm 107:23-32, Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hope Amid Chastening

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 25, 2020

The outworking of the mercies and compassion of the LORD, in the context of chastening.

HOPE AMID CHASTENING Lamentations 3:22-33 “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed” (Lamentations 3:22a). The Hebrew word translated “mercies” is “hesed”, and speaks of God’s steadfast love, His covenant mercy. The fact that “we are not consumed” is based in the ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Feb 26, 2020

Perhaps you have played the childhood game, Ring Around the Rosie.

Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down Matthew 6: 1 - 6 Intro: Do you remember as a child singing “Ring Around The Rosie”? It is unknown what the earliest version of the rhyme was or when it began. The game has a group of children form a ring, dance in a circle around a person, and stoop or fall to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed