Sermons on B C P Advent 4:

A Name More Excellent. Abridged.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 7, 2024

The superiority of Jesus.

A NAME MORE EXCELLENT. Hebrews 1:1-12. The high Christology of Hebrews 1 bears comparison with that of John 1:1-14. We are first reminded of the many and various ways that God spoke through the prophets in times past (Hebrews 1:1). Then we are informed that the final word of God has now come to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Valley Of B. A. C. A.

Contributed by Mark Ferrante on Jan 20, 2007

How do you respond to those times in your life when you are in a desert valley.

THE VALLEY OF B. A. C. A. Ps 84 How lovely is Your tabernacle,O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD;My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home,And the swallow a nest for herself,Where ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:1-7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sin And Deliverance.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 20, 2024

There was none to help except the Lord.

SIN AND DELIVERANCE. Psalm 107:13-22. This reading begins and ends with a “crying out” to the LORD, His deliverance, and a call to praise. In the first of the two examples here, the petitioners were portrayed as people who were held fast with iron chains in the darkest deepest dungeon, ‘in the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:13-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Babe, Lying In A Manger.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 13, 2024

What a Sign! What a Song!

THE BABE, LYING IN A MANGER. Luke 2:1-14. 1. A ROYAL NATIVITY (Luke 2:1-7). When Jacob blessed his sons, he prophesied that the sceptre would not pass from Judah “UNTIL He comes whose right it is” (Genesis 49:10). Even the hireling prophet Balaam recognised that a king was still to arise ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Coming Of The Holy Spirit And The Return Of Jesus.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 16, 2024

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27.

THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE RETURN OF JESUS. John 14:15-31. *Notice how closely our love and our obedience are bound together (John 14:15; cf. John 14:21; 1 John 2:3-5). 1. He has given us the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and He will send another ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Dawn Of Zion's Glory.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 19, 2024

"And the Gentiles shall come to thy light" (Isaiah 60:3).

THE DAWN OF ZION’S GLORY. Isaiah 60:1-9. The motif of darkness is at last vanquished by the coming of the light (ISAIAH 60:1). Just as in Creation, God spoke, and there was light (cf. Genesis 1:2-3). The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overwhelm it (cf. John 1:5). Like ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cross And Regeneration.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 22, 2024

The Holy Spirit applies the message of the Cross to our lives.

THE CROSS AND REGENERATION. John 3:1-15. JOHN 3:1. Nicodemus was a member of the strictest sect of the Jews: the Pharisees. No doubt he sought to keep all the man-made rules of his religion, as well as the law of God which was given to Moses. Nicodemus was a religious man; an upright man; a ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A,b,c’s Of Prayer

Contributed by Jay Yousling on Sep 3, 2020

You may have prayed different models of prayer. There is the Lord's prayer. There is the A.C.T.S. of prayer. The Apostle Paul gives us another simple model, The ABCs of Prayer.

A,B,C’s of Prayer Phil. 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." A - Avoid losing it. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6, Philippians 4:7, Philippians 4:6-7

A Standard Raised.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 13, 2024

Redemption for the Israel of God.

A STANDARD RAISED. Isaiah 62:10-12. This prophecy is fulfilled at more than one level. There is a level of fulfilment for those Jews who lived in the days of Cyrus king of Persia (Ezra 1:1-4). At the raising of God’s standard (ISAIAH 62:10), they were able to leave behind the gates of Babylon ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 62:10-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Four Thousand Fed.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 12, 2024

Our compassionate Lord.

FOUR THOUSAND FED. Mark 8:1-10a. We have had occasion before to comment on Jesus’ compassion (cf. Mark 6:34). Now we see it in relation to another hungry crowd of worshippers, who had been willingly following Jesus for three days (Mark 8:1-3). How like us the disciples were, who could ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Place Prepared.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 29, 2024

Joseph comforts his brothers.

A PLACE PREPARED. Genesis 45:3-10. Joseph went from his father’s favour, to the pit, and into slavery. In Potiphar’s house, he went from his master’s favour to false accusation to prison. In prison, Joseph went from the warder’s favour, to the forgetfulness of his surviving former cell-mate: ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:3-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Moses' Prayer And The People's Complaining.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 14, 2025

'These things are written for our admonition' (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:11).

MOSES’ PRAYER AND THE PEOPLE’S COMPLAINING. Numbers 10:35-36, Numbers 11:1-3. Moses’ prayer (NUMBERS 10:35-36) encourages us to begin and end every day, and every journey, with prayer. When he says, “Rise up” (NUMBERS 10:35), it is not as if the LORD has been sleeping: for ‘Behold, He that ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 10:35-36, Numbers 11:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

That These Bones Might Live.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 28, 2024

How long-dead sun-bleached bones revive, and become an exceeding great army.

THAT THESE BONES MIGHT LIVE. Ezekiel 37:1-10. The valley into which Ezekiel was transported “in the Spirit of the LORD” was “full” of bones (EZEKIEL 37:1). They were very many, exposed in the open valley, and very dry (EZEKIEL 37:2). The question is: can a vast miscellaneous collection of ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Naaman The Syrian.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 12, 2024

“I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel” (2 KINGS 5:15).

NAAMAN THE SYRIAN. 2 Kings 5:9-16. It must have been quite a commotion: Naaman and his entourage, horses and chariot and all, turning up at the door of the house of Elisha (2 KINGS 5:9). Naaman was a mighty man, but he was afflicted by some form of leprosy (cf. 2 Kings 5:1). The prophet sent a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:9-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Question Of Priorities.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 24, 2024

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).

A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES. Matthew 6:24-34. MATTHEW 6:24. We must choose between “God” and “Mammon.” It is all a question of priorities. If we are a slave to the things of this world, then we cannot be an effective servant of the kingdom of God. MATTHEW 6:25. “Take no thought” is an unfortunate ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational