Sermons on A Proper 22:

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

17th Sunday After Pentecost. October 5th, 2025. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 25, 2022

Year C, Proper 22.

Lamentations 1:1-6, Lamentations 3:19-26, Psalm 137, Habakkuk 1:1-4, Habakkuk 2:1-4, Psalm 37:1-9, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10 A). ALAS FOR THE CITY. Lamentations 1:1-6. LAMENTATIONS 1:1. The opening word could be rendered, “Alas!” The translation “How” introduces an exclamation, but also ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 1:1-6, Lamentations 3:19-26, Habakkuk 1:1-4, Habakkuk 2:1-4, Psalm 37:1-9, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

19th Sunday After Pentecost. October 8th, 2023. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 30, 2023

Year A, Proper 22.

Exodus 20:1-4, Exodus 20:7-9, Exodus 20:12-20, Psalm 19:1-14, Isaiah 5:1-7, Psalm 80:7-15, Philippians 3:4-14, Matthew 21:33-46 A). WRONG FEAR AND RIGHT FEAR OF GOD. Exodus 20:1-4, Exodus 20:7-9, Exodus 20:12-20. The first thing that we notice about the Ten Commandments is that they are the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-4, Exodus 20:7-9, Exodus 20:12-20, Psalm 19:1-14, Isaiah 5:1-7, Psalm 80:7-15, Philippians 3:4-14, Matthew 21:33-46  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

20th Sunday After Pentecost. October 6th, 2024. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 26, 2021

Year B, Proper 22.

Job 1:1, Job 2:1-10, Psalm 26, Genesis 2:18-24, Psalm 8, Hebrews 1:1-4, Hebrews 2:5-12, Mark 10:13-16. A). THE TRIALS OF JOB. Job 1:1; Job 2:1-10. Job was an upright man. There was none so righteous in the entire East. No doubt, like Lot, he vexed his righteous soul with the wickedness of ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:1, Job 2:1-10, Genesis 2:18-24, Hebrews 1:1-4, Hebrews 2:5-12, Mark 10:2-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Born To Die.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 19, 2021

He is not ashamed to call us brethren.

JESUS BORN TO DIE. Hebrews 2:5-12. The writer to the Hebrew Christians has been demonstrating, from Scripture, Jesus’ superiority to the angels. Of the angels he says, ‘Are they not all ministering spirits being sent forth for service on behalf of those being about to inherit salvation?’ ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:5-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not Good To Be Alone.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 24, 2021

Acknowledging woman as the complement of man.

NOT GOOD TO BE ALONE. Genesis 2:18-24. Man is not just another animal. Both physically, and morally, ‘Man was made upright’ (Ecclesiastes 7:29). After all, man was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). God ‘breathed into his nostrils the breath of life’ (Genesis 2:7). (‘Breath’, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Naughty Question.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 1, 2024

'For the hardness of your heart he wrote this precept' (Mark 10:5).

A NAUGHTY QUESTION. Mark 10:2-12. The Pharisees’ question about divorce was worse than mischievous in that it, like many of their questions addressed to Jesus, was asked with the intention of “tempting” Jesus into saying something that would cause offence (MARK 10:2). I assert this on two ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:2-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paul, Timothy, And The Good Deposit.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 16, 2022

Keeping the beautiful Gospel entrusted to us.

PAUL, TIMOTHY, AND THE GOOD DEPOSIT. 2 Timothy 1:1-14. Paul introduces himself at the beginning of this letter as “an apostle of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 1:1a). This apostle was not one of the original twelve, but was a witness to the resurrection - an essential mark for an apostle (cf. Acts ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Israel As Vine

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 3, 2020

A plea for grace: Turn us again, O God of hosts.

ISRAEL AS VINE. Psalm 80:7-15. The Psalmist bemoans the plight of the divided tribes of Israel, and boldly expresses his perplexity at God’s dealings with them. Belief in the God of Israel is not blind faith, but an informed trust. One expression of our confidence that the LORD is in control ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 80:7-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Alas For The City.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 7, 2022

Is it nothing to you?

ALAS FOR THE CITY. Lamentations 1:1-6. LAMENTATIONS 1:1. The opening word could be rendered, “Alas!” The translation “How” introduces an exclamation, but also has an element of questioning in it. We might say, “How come?” The verb “she sits” introduces “the city” as feminine, so perhaps we ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 1:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wrong Fear And Right Fear Of God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 30, 2023

FEAR NOT for God is come to prove you that His FEAR may be before your faces, THAT YE SIN NOT. Exodus 20 verse 20.

WRONG FEAR AND RIGHT FEAR OF GOD. Exodus 20:1-4, Exodus 20:7-9, Exodus 20:12-20. The first thing that we notice about the Ten Commandments is that they are the words of God (EXODUS 20:1). Secondly we notice that the LORD is the God who has redeemed us (EXODUS 20:2). It is not the keeping of ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-4, Exodus 20:7-9, Exodus 20:12-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Speaks Of Marriage, And Blesses The Young Children.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 16, 2024

From One Flesh (Mark 2:8) to a Child-like Faith (Mark 2:15).

JESUS SPEAKS OF MARRIAGE, AND BLESSES THE YOUNG CHILDREN. Mark 2:2-16. (I). A NAUGHTY QUESTION. Mark 10:2-12. The Pharisees’ question about divorce was worse than mischievous in that it, like many of their questions addressed to Jesus, was asked with the intention of “tempting” Jesus into ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:2-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Answer To The Accuser

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 18, 2017

Pleading the blood of Jesus.

AN ANSWER TO THE ACCUSER. Psalm 26. One of the names for the devil is, ‘the accuser of the brethren’ (Revelation 12:10). That is his job: ‘your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour’ (1 Peter 5:8). Take the case of Joshua the high priest: ‘standing ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 26:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Song Of The Vineyard

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 7, 2017

A best man's love song at a wedding turns out to be a dirge.

THE SONG OF THE VINEYARD. Isaiah 5:1-7. The first thing that we may notice about this passage, is Isaiah’s relationship with the LORD (Isaiah 5:1). The prophet is speaking for the remnant of Israel, and calls the LORD his Beloved. This echoes the language of Song of Solomon 2:16, where the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational