Sermons on A Proper 25:

The Trial Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 1, 2014

The speaking God makes His own case.

THE TRIAL OF GOD. Isaiah 44:6-8. The LORD is deeply grieved by His people’s tendency towards idol worship. Again and again He asserts His superiority over the nations, whose ‘gods’ are nothing but dumb idols (1 Corinthians 12:2). Not only does the LORD put the false gods on trial, but He is ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 44:6-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Twofold Stewardship

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 28, 2015

The lessons behind a less well-known miraculous feeding.

A TWOFOLD STEWARDSHIP. 2 Kings 4:42-44. A certain man brought to Elisha a portion of the first-fruits of his land (2 Kings 4:42). It is not clear whether this was an offering over and above that required by the law (Leviticus 23:9-14), but either way this was a token of good stewardship on the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:42-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christ The King, Our Advent Hope.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 25, 2021

An everlasting kingdom.

CHRIST THE KING, OUR ADVENT HOPE. Daniel 7:9-10; Daniel 7:13-14. Our reading in Daniel needs to be looked at within its own context: that of a dream portraying the chaos of Empire and Empire building, and the cruelty and ultimate futility of it all. In DANIEL 7:9, “thrones have been thrown ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 7:9-10, Daniel 7:13-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love Your Neighbour

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 18, 2020

Agape love as the fulfillment of the law.

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR. Romans 13:8-10. The imperative, “To no one nothing owe you (all), but to love one another” (Romans 13:8a) follows on from the discussion of being subject to ‘the powers that be’ who - whether we voted for them or not - are ‘ordained of God’ (cf. Romans 13:1). This ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-10

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

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

Awakening To Worship.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 2, 2022

Blessing the LORD for all His gracious benefits.

AWAKENING TO WORSHIP. Psalm 103:1-8. Psalm 103:1. Sometimes we are sluggish about praising God, so we have to stir ourselves up, searching within ourselves whether there might be anything hindering us from the right worship of the LORD. Having awoken our “soul” to the task, we must delve ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-8

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

Trust In The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 10, 2022

Faith cures fretting.

TRUST IN THE LORD. Psalm 37:1-9. PSALM 37:1. Somebody is in trouble, fretting because of the unfairness of life: but the pastor’s responsibility is not to burden the poor soul with a ‘snap out of it’ sort of approach, which often only leads to further despair; but rather to present positive ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Leper Healed.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 10, 2022

There is no true God in all the earth apart from the God of Israel.

A LEPER HEALED. 2 Kings 5:1-3, 2 Kings 5:7-15c. Naaman, as commander of the Syrian army, was a “great” man (2 Kings 5:1), expecting “great” things (2 Kings 5:13). The king of Syria held him in high esteem, because “through him the LORD had given deliverance to Syria.” It is good that, so early ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 2 Kings 5:7-15

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

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

When Israel Went Out Of Egypt.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 15, 2023

A defiant celebration of God's sovereign power.

WHEN ISRAEL WENT OUT OF EGYPT. Psalm 114:1-8. The exuberance of this Psalm is immediately evident. It is a recollection of Israel’s redemption story, beginning from when the descendants of Jacob made their exodus from Egypt. It is the prelude to the founding of what Stephen, the first Christian ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 114:1-8

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

Praise To God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 24, 2025

A call to worship the LORD.

PRAISE TO GOD. Psalm 96:1-9. 1. Creation. The Psalmist exhorts the earth to sing a new song to the LORD (PSALM 96:1). What is that new song? It is an acknowledgement that ‘the LORD reigns’ (cf. Psalm 96:10). That acknowledgement is based retrospectively in the realities of the creation ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 96:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational