Sermons on A Proper 28:

Stand Fast And Hold On.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 11, 2022

Let no man deceive you.

STAND FAST AND HOLD ON. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17. The church of the Thessalonians had heard a rumour concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our being gathered together to Him (2 Thessalonians 2:1). There were those who taught that “the day of Christ” was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

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

A Mind For Service

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 19, 2020

Gifts given for the benefit of the Church.

A MIND FOR SERVICE. Romans 12:3-8. Romans 12:3. “For” connects with the immediately preceding two verses, in which it has been made clear that, as an act of gratitude for God's mercy (outlined in the whole of the preceding 11 chapters), we should submit our bodies to Him as a ‘living ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Things Planned Long Ago.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 31, 2020

The ultimate triumph of the gospel.

THINGS PLANNED LONG AGO. Isaiah 25:1-9. This passage begins in song (Isaiah 25:1), and ends in song (Isaiah 25:9), with a feast in between (Isaiah 25:6-8). The first song is a solo, “You are my God” (Isaiah 25:1) and begins with praise to the LORD for “the wonderful things” that He has ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 25:1-9

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 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

The Inclusiveness Of The Church Age

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 20, 2020

ALL who are in Christ Jesus are accepted by God. We have no right to refuse any whom God has received.

THE INCLUSIVENESS OF THE CHURCH AGE. Isaiah 56:1, Isaiah 56:6-8. The idea here seems to be that the community of God’s people should “preserve justice and do righteousness” (Isaiah 56:1). The reason is not far to seek: “for My salvation is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed”. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 56:1, Isaiah 56:6-8

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

A Failure To Understand.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 13, 2021

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10 verse 39.

A FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND John 6:56-69 Like Nicodemus who struggled with the concept of being born again (John 3:4; John 3:9), the Jews in the Capernaum synagogue (John 6:59) struggled to understand what Jesus was talking about (John 6:41; John 6:52). Jesus’ response (John 6:53-57) is only a ...read more

Scripture: John 6:56-69

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trusting God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 11, 2021

Our refuge is in the LORD.

TRUSTING GOD. Psalm 91:9-16. Christians under persecution have testified to the literal truth of Psalm 91:9-10 – but this does not alter the fact that Christians still do suffer. There are times when God does not deliver us FROM things, but rather delivers us IN things (Romans 8:37). The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:9-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Is The Commandment.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 15, 2021

Hear O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one. Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:4-5.

THIS IS THE COMMANDMENT. Deuteronomy 6:1-9. “This is the commandment” (Deuteronomy 6:1) is emphatic. The whole law is boiled down to the one commandment to “love the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 6:5). The outworking of this commandment is seen in our ‘loving our neighbours as ourselves’ ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Love The Lord Because.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 29, 2021

Returning to our rest in Him.

I LOVE THE LORD BECAUSE. Psalm 116:1-9. If I was asked why I love the LORD, I might well answer: because He heard and answered my prayer (Psalm 116:1). Yet this may, at first glance, appear self-serving: what would I have to say for myself if my prayers had not been answered in the way that I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 116:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is My Helper.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 4, 2021

Prayer starts with God, not us.

GOD IS MY HELPER. Psalm 54:1-7. The superscription to this Psalm associates it with a particular act of betrayal. David was on the run from King Saul (1 Samuel 23:15); and his neighbours, members of his own tribe, reported his whereabouts to his pursuers (1 Samuel 23:19). However, in the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 54:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Towards A New Creation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 22, 2018

Longing for home.

TOWARDS A NEW CREATION. 2 Corinthians 5:6-17. Having spoken of the impermanence of the ‘tent’ of this body, and the ‘eternity’ of our dwelling in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1), the Apostle Paul began to mix his metaphors, yearning to be ‘clothed upon’ with ‘our habitation which is from ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:6-17

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