Sermons on A Proper 23:

Refocusing Our Commitment To Jesus

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 8, 2016

The Guest is more important than the hospitality.

REFOCUSING OUR COMMITMENT TO JESUS. Luke 10:38-42. Luke has arranged his material thematically (Luke 1:3), and it is interesting here to notice that this little but highly significant domestic incident immediately follows the parable of ‘the neighbourly kindness of the hated Samaritan’ (as I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Beware Of Covetousness

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 22, 2016

Hoarding wealth versus Rich toward God.

BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS. Luke 12:13-21. Sometimes people used to approach a Rabbi to settle disputes, so the petitioner in this account may not have realized he was doing anything wrong when he approached Jesus with a request concerning the inheritance left by his father (Luke 12:13). We are not ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Loosed! Stand Up And Praise God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 4, 2016

For eighteen long years this woman had struggled with her infirmity. What better day to heal her than the Sabbath?

LOOSED! STAND UP AND PRAISE GOD. Luke 13:10-17. In this remarkable little incident we find Jesus teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10). Perhaps one of the first things we notice is just how obedient the Lord was to the laws and customs of His time. Should not we also be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Grace Of Giving

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 6, 2018

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

THE GRACE OF GIVING. 2 Corinthians 8:7-15. 1. The example of the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). (v1) By the grace of God, the Macedonian churches (Philippi and Thessalonica) had been particularly forward in giving. (v2) Their gift was given out of poverty: like that of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, 2 Corinthians 8:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Ode To The Word Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 18, 2020

This section has been called an inverted dirge, beginning with celebration, but ending in tears. This shows just how totally the Psalmist is engaged with his subject. In truth, it is a celebration of the Word of God, and of the God of the Word.

AN ODE TO THE WORD OF GOD. Psalm 119:129-136. Psalm 119:129. Reason to keep God’s “testimonies”? Because they are wonderful. Indeed, the Word of God is a ‘wonderful’ thing, full as it is of an extraordinary supernatural wonder! The Psalmist engages not just his “soul” but his whole man to the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:129-136

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Table Spread.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 20, 2022

The fourth significant sign in the Gospel of John.

A TABLE SPREAD. John 6:1-14. “After these things” (John 6:1), Jesus and His disciples crossed the sea of Galilee. “And a great multitude followed Him because they saw His miracles which He did to them which were diseased" (John 6:2). Jesus and His disciples then withdrew from the ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

O For A Day In Thy Courts.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 17, 2021

The prayer-answering God gives grace and glory in Jesus' Name.

O FOR A DAY IN THY COURTS. Psalm 84:8-12. The Psalmist’s second “Selah” separates between two prayer petitions. The first is that the “LORD God of hosts… the God of Jacob” would “hear” his prayer, and “give ear” (Psalm 84:8). The Psalmist is in no doubt that our God is a prayer hearing, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:8-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Elijah Raises The Widow's Son.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 16, 2024

"And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived” (1 KINGS 17:22).

ELIJAH RAISES THE WIDOW’S SON. 1 Kings 17:17-24. Lest the widow of Zarephath should imagine that she was singled out in preference even to the Israeli widows on account of her own merits, she was sent a trial of faith, which both made her aware of her own sinfulness, and of the possible source ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:17-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keep Your Salt Levels High Series

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Sep 28, 2024

Why Wikipedia beats printed encylcopedias. How doing the hardest thing (what's that?) can help lift our spirits when we are low. And how that fits not just with Jesus's saying about saltiness but with the rest of today's bible readings. A sermon from September 2015

Have a taste of this [hand out teaspoon of salt to someone in the front row] “If salt loses it’s saltiness with what will you season it?” I have two things that I would like to draw out of today’s texts about ways in which we can lose our saltiness - one personal and one public. One personal - ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-50, James 5:13-20, Numbers 11:4-29, 1 Kings 11:1-18, Romans 12:15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

A Garland Of Righteousness

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 12, 2013

I have finished the course, declares Paul to Timothy. You run your course as I have run mine. This applies not only to Timothy, but to every one of us.

A GARLAND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 2 Timothy 4:6-8; 2 Timothy 4:16-18. Against a background of false teachers, and hypocritical hearers who will not endure sound teaching, Paul exhorted Timothy to urgently preach the word (2 Timothy 4:2). The young minister was to do this both when it seemed ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:16-18, 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Time For Celebration Series

Contributed by J.d. Tutell on Mar 24, 2012

When God does great things we need to celebrate like David did and bring a proper attitude in our worship.

The year is so long ago we won’t mention it. But I was a freshmen in High School, I was playing soccer for my churches club team. We’re playing this team and they’re better than we are. They’re beating us, not bad, but they’re winning. Then it happens, it’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:12-23

Denomination: Baptist

I Am The Good Shepherd Series

Contributed by Alan Mccann on Apr 25, 2005

The Good Shepherd lays down his life only to take it up that the sheep might live - in light of Psalm 23.

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD JOHN 10 VERSES 11-21 What is your image of Shepherds? Do they have a beard? Wear woolly jumpers and have a shepherd’s crook in their hands? Maybe one man and his dog is the only time you have ever seen a shepherd. We all have this stereotypical idea of what a shepherd is ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-21

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Stewards Series

Contributed by Dennis Lawrence on Mar 2, 2001

Everything we have came from God- even our personalities- and we need to exercise proper stewardship within this reality.

Stewards March 3, 2001 We don’t have stewards in most areas of our lives anymore, but in a bygone day, stewards were tremendously important. In fact, the efficient operation of a household depended on the faithfulness and diligence of the steward. The steward was the official who controlled the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-14, Psalm 139:13-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What A Bff We Have In Jesus!

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 24, 2018

Jesus makes us all feel like the disciple whome he loves. We must be careful to handle that privilege in a proper manner.

1. Do you know someone who has a special ability to make you feel like you are their BFF when you are with them? a. Their goal in dealing with people is to be an encourager to them – a Barnabas or" BAT-nabas" (Daughter of Encoragement) b. As a result they have a network of friends who feel close to ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Healthy Appetite Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 27, 2006

The proper response to mourning over the reality of suffering and evil in the world, and the key to meekness, is not conquering desire, but learning to desire the right things.

Are you one of the people who have been following the state of the Bronco cornerbacks’ hamstrings? Both Bailey and Alexander suffered injuries that kept them out of the Jacksonville game and snapped Bailey’s 99 consecutive-game streak, which is the longest in the NFL for a cornerback. However, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed