Sermons on A Proper 6:

Let Us Sing Unto The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 8, 2023

This is serious worship, with its focus upon who the LORD is (the Rock), and who He is to us (the rock of our salvation).

LET US SING UNTO THE LORD. Psalm 95:1-7a. In days gone by not everybody who gathered in our churches could read, so it was useful to learn things by rote. So when the praise-leader sang “O Come let us sing unto the LORD” (Psalm 95:1), the congregation knew to join in the singing of Psalm 95. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 95:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

About Formalism In Worship.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 31, 2023

It is not good when our worship is nothing more than a formality, rather than an engagement with the One whom we are supposedly worshipping.

ABOUT FORMALISM IN WORSHIP. Psalm 50:7-15. Taken as a whole, the content of this Psalm appears as a court case, with El Elohim Yahweh, “the Mighty God the LORD” (cf. Psalm 50:1) presiding as Judge (cf. Psalm 50:6) - and God’s covenant people in the dock (cf. Psalm 50:5). Here the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:7-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

The Marvellous Wonders Of The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 29, 2023

Walls of water in the sea, and streams and rivers of water in the wilderness. A cloud by day, and a light of fire by night.

THE MARVELLOUS WONDERS OF THE LORD. Psalm 78:1-4, Psalm 78:12-16. Psalm 78 is entitled a “Maschil” of Asaph, thereby signifying an INSTRUCTION. It is one of the longest Psalms in the Book, not only outlining a history of Israel, but encouraging us to LEARN from this history (cf. Psalm 78:8). ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:1-4, Psalm 78:12-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Unspoken Providence

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 10, 2020

The history of Joseph from Canaan to Egypt.

AN UNSPOKEN PROVIDENCE. Genesis 37:1-4, Genesis 37:12-28. What are we to make of Joseph? A tell-tale teenager (Genesis 37:2)? A favourite son (Genesis 37:3)? A dreamer (Genesis 37:19)? Or perhaps a boaster (cf. Genesis 37:5-10)? Or even a prophet (cf. Genesis 37:11)? What is the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-4, Genesis 37:12-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Call Of Moses. Part Two.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 22, 2025

The LORD's gracious compassion. Moses commissioned by the LORD.

THE CALL OF MOSES. Part Two. Exodus 3:7-15. EXODUS 3:7. The second thing that the LORD said was, I have surely “seen” the affliction of my people which are in Egypt; I have “heard” their cry; for I “know” their sorrows. This echoes the end of the previous chapter: Israel ‘sighed’ by reason of ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:7-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sour Grapes

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 29, 2020

From blame to shame. A call to repentance.

SOUR GRAPES. Ezekiel 18:1-4; Ezekiel 18:25-32. It seems to be very much a part of fallen human nature that we want to blame someone else for the things that go wrong in our lives. This all began in the garden of Eden, after the first couple ate of the forbidden fruit. Adam blamed both his ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 18:1-4, Ezekiel 18:25-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Wife For Isaac.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 4, 2023

When we walk in God's way, He orders our steps.

A WIFE FOR ISAAC. Genesis 24:34-38, Genesis 24:42-49, Genesis 24:58-67. The 24th chapter of the Book of Genesis is a beautifully written and well-crafted telling and retelling of the history of the mission of Abraham’s servant to find a wife for Isaac. The whole passage moves along at a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 24:34-38, Genesis 24:42-49, Genesis 24:58-67

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Complaint And Restoration.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 29, 2023

God’s purposes are in no way thwarted by persecution, but rather, somewhat ironically, helped forward by the sufferers’ steadfastness.

COMPLAINT AND RESTORATION. Jeremiah 15:15-21. This is one of the laments of Jeremiah. There is a complaint here (Jeremiah 15:15-18), and also a reply from the LORD (Jeremiah 15:19-21). JEREMIAH 15:15. The prophet is bold in his approach: “O LORD, thou knowest.” The LORD does know all our ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 15:15-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christian Reactions

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 25, 2020

How to overcome evil with good.

CHRISTIAN REACTIONS. Romans 12:14-21. Romans 12:14. The positive imperative is to “bless” those who persecute us. This is similar to the teaching of Jesus (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-28). The supreme example is that of Jesus Himself (1 Peter 2:21-23). This partly involved Jesus praying for His ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Flows From Within.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 6, 2023

Our outer life has its source in what is going on inside us.

WHAT FLOWS FROM WITHIN. Matthew 15:10-28. I). The War Against Sin. Matthew 15:10-20. MATTHEW 15:10-11. Jesus turned away from the Pharisees and summoned the crowd to Himself. “Hear and understand,” He taught. Despite what the Pharisees might teach, “it is NOT that which goes into the mouth ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Call To Worship

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 23, 2015

Who is this LORD, that we should worship Him? Why should we trust and praise this God?

A CALL TO WORSHIP. Psalm 146. The last five Psalms (146-150) all begin and end with an exhortation to praise the LORD, addressed collectively to the congregation of God’s people. Yet it is not enough for the praise leader just to call others to worship: it is also the exercise of his own soul ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 146:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fellowshipping With The Father And The Son - Part 6

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Jul 20, 2020

When people say they have no sin they are claiming sinless perfection and moral relativism. We are living in a culture that says it has no sin.

Review The Gnostics were the false teachers who believed matter to be evil, the spirit good, and salvation to come by secret knowledge (gnosis) granted to those who were part of their clique. John is teaching all of this to combat a heresy circulated by the Gnostics called ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Abiding In His Love.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 18, 2021

When we abide in Jesus the true vine, not only do we dwell in His love, but we also partake of His joy.

ABIDING IN HIS LOVE. John 15:9-17. When a Christian is going through trials it may not be some temporal judgment for some particular sin, but rather that the Lord is testing them for their own improvement (Romans 5:3-5). Will we keep His commandments in the face of trials, and go on abiding in ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Last Passover

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 9, 2020

A planned betrayal. Institution of Communion. Singing Praise. On to Gethsemane.

THE LAST PASSOVER. Matthew 26:14-30. Even before the chief priests and the scribes had wrongly determined that the death of Jesus should not take place ‘during the feast’ (Matthew 26:5), Jesus had already predicted exactly when His death would take place (Matthew 26:2). They were wrong, He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:14-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational