Sermons on B C P Lent 3:

A Royal Nativity. Revised.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 18, 2022

The most significant census of all history.

A ROYAL NATIVITY. Luke 2:1-7. Caesar Augustus sent out a decree that “all the world” should be “registered” (Luke 2:1). Unbeknown to the mighty Emperor, this was going to be the most significant census of all history. After all, even the most powerful of potentates are subservient, whether ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Behold Your King.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 11, 2022

The humiliation of Jesus, the frustration of Pilate, and the treason of the Jewish priesthood.

BEHOLD YOUR KING. John 19:1-16. The nineteenth chapter of John’s Gospel opens in the midst of the ridiculous drama of Pilate’s darting back and forth between the hypocritical Jewish leadership on the doorstep, who refused to come into the judgment hall of the palace ‘lest they be defiled and ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reconciliation, And Grace To Follow.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 3, 2022

Our reconciliation with God is made possible by the grace of God through the work of Christ. Having been reconciled, we are made the righteousness of God in Him. We are enabled, by the same grace of God, to follow God in the way of righteousness.

RECONCILIATION, AND GRACE TO FOLLOW. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21; 2 Corinthians 6:1-10. As an ambassador for Christ, Paul was pleading with the Corinthians - on behalf of Christ - that they go on being reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). We may feel that this is unnecessary: if we are ‘called ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Immanuel: With Us The God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 16, 2023

A sign refused - a sign offered nonetheless.

IMMANUEL: WITH US THE GOD. Isaiah 7:10-14. The northern kingdom of Israel/Ephraim, along with her ally Syria/Aram, intended to force the Davidic kingdom of Judah into their alliance against the Assyrians (Isaiah 7:1), by setting up a puppet king - a ‘Son of No Good’ (Isaiah 7:6) - in Jerusalem. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Word Goes Forth. Abridged.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 5, 2023

A metaphor from God's dealings in Creation to describe God's dealings with His Word.

THE WORD GOES FORTH. Isaiah 55:10-13. Isaiah 55:10-11 is about God’s words not returning to Him void. At first, we might imagine that God is talking about the weather, with all this talk of rain and snow. And what if there is no rain, nor any melting snows from the mountains of Lebanon? Famine! ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:10-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Arrest Of Jesus.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 4, 2022

The willingness of Jesus to die for us.

THE ARREST OF JESUS. John 18:1-14. After the Passover meal, the institution of the Lord’s Supper, the Upper Room discourse, and Jesus’ great high priestly prayer, Jesus led His disciples over the brook Kidron to the garden of Gethsemane (John 18:1). Judas, possessed by Satan (cf. John 13:2; ...read more

Scripture: John 18:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Hiding Place For The Repentant

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 8, 2016

Before we can enter into the blessings which follow forgiveness, we must first admit our sin, and acknowledge our responsibility before God.

A HIDING PLACE FOR THE REPENTANT. Psalm 32:1-11. The beatitudes of Psalm 32:1-2 remind us of Psalm 1:1-2, which describes the righteous man and proclaims him blessed. Yet, since the fall of Adam, no mere man has been born with original righteousness. The second Psalm leads us to the place where ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Remember The Three P's

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on May 19, 2003

Like a Vine giving power to its branches, Jesus gives us POWER through his Word so that we can PERSEVERE and fulfill our PURPOSE in life. Such power comes only from Jesus not from ourselves.(High School graduation)

Remember the Three P’s Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God through which the Holy Spirit guides our hearts and minds today is what Jesus spoke, recorded in John 15:1- 8 Dear friends who belong to Jesus and especially you, our high school graduates ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

The Blood Of Sprinkling

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 19, 2019

Abel's blood cried out for vengeance, but Jesus' blood goes on speaking gracious words of mercy.

THE BLOOD OF SPRINKLING. Hebrews 12:22-24. The first mention of the sprinkling of blood is found in the institution of the Passover (Exodus 12:7). The writer to the Hebrews explains the significance of this: it is ‘lest he that destroyed the firstborn might touch them’ (cf. Hebrews 11:28). ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:22-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Creation, Part 7b Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Sep 11, 2011

Part 7b concludes the study of Creation with mankind's creation as well as the importance of God's rest on the 7th day. (Ref: Genesis 1:27-2:3)

Creation Series, Part 7b Genesis 1:27 – Gen 2:3 Introduction - This evening, we bring to a conclusion our series on Creation from Genesis 1 - Let me ask … has this series helped you understand God’s miraculous work? -- If your answer is yes, I want to encourage you to be bold ...read more

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

Denials And Truth.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 7, 2022

While Jesus stood bound in the house of the high priest, bold outspoken Peter denied Him three times.

DENIALS AND TRUTH. John 18:15-40. Although the disciples all initially scattered immediately after Jesus’ arrest (cf. Matthew 26:56), Simon Peter and “another disciple” thereafter followed Jesus and gained entrance into the palace of the high priest. The girl at the door challenged Peter, ...read more

Scripture: John 18:15-40

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Place Of No Water

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 23, 2016

We may well find, like Moses, that the answer is already to hand.

A PLACE OF NO WATER. Exodus 17:1-7. Moses must have been pretty near the end of his tether (Exodus 17:4). After all, the LORD had already heard the cries of His people in their bondage (Exodus 3:7), and sent Moses to them: but it had been all Moses could do to convince them to accept ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

B(Irth) - C(Hoice) - D(Eath) (Seventeenth Sunday In Ordinary Time)

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Jul 14, 2020

We have to make choices in our lives to make our life journey more fruitful and meaningful.

Reflection B(irth) - C(hoice) - D(eath) Matthew 13:44-52, 1 Kings 3:5-9, 1 Kings 3:10-12, Romans 8:28-30, John 3:16, Joshua 24:15, Matthew 6:33. Dear sisters and brothers, We all know the English alphabets A to Z. Do you know what comes between B & D? It is C. Yes, we know that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-52, 1 Kings 3:5-9, 1 Kings 3:10-12, Romans 8:28-30, John 3:16, Joshua 24:15, Matthew 6:33  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

The Two Advents

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 27, 2018

The uncompromising preaching of John. Bearing fruit that proves our repentance. Practical moral guidance. Redirecting Messianic expectations.

THE TWO ADVENTS. Luke 3:7-18. In the fullness of the times (cf. Galatians 4:4), John came ‘preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins’ (Luke 3:1-3). Being 30 years old, you might expect him to be starting his priesthood in the Temple in Jerusalem (cf. Numbers 4:3), but God ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational