Sermons on B C P Ascension Day:

The Battle Within.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 24, 2024

"But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (Galatians 5:18).

THE BATTLE WITHIN. Galatians 5:16-24. We must “walk in the (Holy) Spirit”: to which imperative is added a promise, “and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh” (GALATIANS 5:16). We need to be aware of the spiritual nature of the battle in which we are engaged (GALATIANS 5:17). If we are ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Glory Only In The Cross.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 24, 2024

“God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14).

GLORY ONLY IN THE CROSS. Galatians 6:11-18. As Paul draws towards the conclusion of his letter to the Galatians, he takes the pen into his own hand (GALATIANS 6:11) and emphasizes once more the issue between the Judaisers and himself. The motives of his opponents are suspect: to make a good ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:11-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Prayer For Gentile Believers.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 24, 2024

Paul was driven to his knees before the Father (EPHESIANS 3:14).

A PRAYER FOR GENTILE BELIEVERS. Ephesians 3:13-21. In Ephesians 3:1-12, Paul related how he had been called to preach the gospel among the Gentiles. Since this was his calling in life, he exhorted the Ephesians that they “faint not” at the ongoing “tribulations” which he was suffering “for” ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:13-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Story Within A Story.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 26, 2024

Jesus has power over both disease and death.

A STORY WITHIN A STORY. Matthew 9:18-26. In this particular section Matthew presents us with a ‘story within a story’ – and, as you might expect with such a literary device, there are both similarities and dissimilarities. First, we see the contrast in status of Jesus’ two petitioners. One ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:18-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Branch Of Righteousness.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 28, 2024

The one who brings salvation, and a safe dwelling place for His people, is ‘the LORD our righteousness’ (JEREMIAH 23:6).

THE BRANCH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jeremiah 23:5-8. “Behold… the word of the LORD,” (JEREMIAH 23:5). The prophet uses the image of a righteous Branch growing out of a felled tree – which so wonderfully typifies God’s dealings with His people. Just when the tree of David seems to be left without hope, ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:5-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Five Thousand Fed.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 28, 2024

The fourth significant sign in the Gospel of John.

FIVE THOUSAND FED. John 6:5-14. Jesus looked up “and saw a great company” of people coming to Him. The Good Shepherd tended His own flock with the words to local boy Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (JOHN 6:5). Sometimes Jesus makes us face up to the magnitude of our ...read more

Scripture: John 6:5-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus And John The Baptist.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 6, 2024

"Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me" (Matthew 11:6).

JESUS AND JOHN THE BAPTIST. Matthew 11:2-10. MATTHEW 11:2-3. We do not know for sure why John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to speak with Jesus. Perhaps prison had knocked the wind out of his sails, and he wanted some reassurance that it had not all been in vain. Or perhaps it was for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Christian And Sin. Abridged.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 15, 2024

"Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1).

THE CHRISTIAN AND SIN. Abridged. 1 John 3:1-8. “Behold,” says John. Pause for thought and reflection. For it is indeed a wonderful demonstration of God's love that “we” should be called the sons of God (1 JOHN 3:1). This was not what we deserved, but as we know from other Scriptures, it ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wakeful Walking In Love And Light.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 17, 2024

Walk in Love. Awake from the dead! Walk in Light.

WAKEFUL WALKING IN LIGHT AND LOVE. Ephesians 5:1-14. I). Walking in Love and Light. Ephesians 5:1-9. When we are ‘imitators’ of God as ‘beloved children,’ we will ‘walk in love’ (agape) toward one another (cf. EPHESIANS 5:1-2). Our model of love is the Lord Jesus Christ, who ‘loved us and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus The Good Shepherd.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 20, 2024

"I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep" (John 10:11).

JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD. John 10:11-16. In John 10 Jesus effectively castigated the Pharisees for their failures as the spiritual shepherds of Israel. The image was familiar in a pastoral society, and echoed the Old Testament (e.g. Jeremiah 23:1-4). JOHN 10:11. In the fourth “I am” saying of ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Holistic Healing Through The Cross.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 30, 2023

Jesus predicts His death and resurrection. A blind man receives his sight, and his salvation.

HOLISTIC HEALING THROUGH THE CROSS. Luke 18:31-43. 1. Jesus predicts His death and resurrection (Luke 18:31-34). Jesus was a patient teacher. The Lord reminded His disciples that His journey to Jerusalem would precipitate events which would lead to His death and resurrection. This was why ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:31-43

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Weeping, Cleansing, And Teaching.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 2, 2023

Jesus wept over Jerusalem, cleansed the Temple, and taught the people who were attentive to Him.

WEEPING, CLEANSING, AND TEACHING. Luke 19:41-47a. 1. Jesus weeps over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44). As He approached Jerusalem, ‘the man Christ Jesus’ (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5) wept over the city and the people whom He loved (Luke 19:41). His complaint about the people (Luke 19:42) became a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:41-47

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To See Or Not To See.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 13, 2025

'Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world' (1 John:4:4).

TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE. 2 Kings 6:14-23. The king of Syria suspected that he might have a spy in his camp, because the king of Israel somehow kept evading his ambushes. But no, informed one his servants, it was not one of us, but Elisha the prophet who kept telling the king of Israel ‘the words ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:14-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Set Time.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 17, 2025

Promises for a generation yet unborn (cf. Psalm 102:18).

THE SET TIME. Psalm 102:15-22. The immediate context of these verses speaks of how the eternal LORD shall yet ‘have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come’ (cf. Psalm 102:13). This anticipates more than the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. It ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 102:15-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ascension-The Forgotten Festival

Contributed by John Pingel on May 20, 2020

Ascension Day ought to be remembered--for a number of reasons

The Forgotten Festival Acts 1, Luke 24 We pause to observe what many refer to as the FORGOTTEN FESTIVAL of the Christian Calendar. There are FIVE MAIN FESTIVAL DAYS observed by Christians around the world. By “Festival Days” I mean chief holidays on the liturgical calendar. What are the ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran