Sermons on B C P The Epiphany:

The Temptation Of Jesus

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 20, 2013

Using the Word of God to defeat the devil.

THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS. Matthew 4:1-11. The wilderness (Matthew 4:1). When God created man, He placed him in a garden (Genesis 2:15). The world when it was created resembled something more like a garden than it does today. God created all things ‘very good‘ (Genesis 1:31), but man’s collective ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Shoot From The Root

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 29, 2016

The peaceable Kingdom.

A SHOOT FROM THE ROOT. Isaiah 11:1-10. The reference to “the stem of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1) sends us back to the origins of Messiah’s dynasty. Not just to David: but to his father, Jesse. David was the youngest son of Jesse, and probably the last person anybody expected to be anointed king (1 ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Dream Of Joseph.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 7, 2013

Joseph was not afraid to take the lead in his family, and opened his heart and his home to the Son of God.

JOSEPH’S DREAM. Matthew 1:18-25. Joseph was a dreamer. This was true of the Old Testament Joseph, the son of Jacob, derogatively referred to as “this dreamer” (cf. Genesis 37:19). It was also true of the New Testament Joseph, recognised here as “the son of David” (Matthew 1:20). Joseph ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Marriage Feast For A Royal Son

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 25, 2014

The balance between royal invitation, and choice.

A MARRIAGE FEAST FOR A ROYAL SON. Matthew 22:1-14. Following the failure of the chief priests and Pharisees to lay malicious hands on Jesus (Matthew 21:45-46), Jesus “answered and spoke to them again by parables” (Matthew 22:1). He spoke of the kingdom of heaven being “like unto a king, who made ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Fine Balance: Fulfilling Our Obligations To Both God And The State

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 29, 2014

Render to Caesar Caesar’s image, which is on the coin; and to God God’s image, which is on man.

FULFILLING OBLIGATIONS TO GOD AND STATE. Matthew 22:15-22. 1. Wickedness finds strange bedfellows. The Pharisees denied the Emperor any right to demand tribute money - and whilst they no doubt used the common money for common purposes, they questioned the validity of the coinage (which ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

R.s.v.p.

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Jun 3, 2008

A message preached at the wedding of Ross McClay and Lynette Snodgrass on Saturday 31 May 2008.

1. THE INVITATION "a certain king...sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding". a) A royal invitation - "a certain king". The King of kings invites us to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19). b) A repeated invitation - "Again". Only one invitation is sent out ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

God Sent Me Here

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 17, 2019

When Joseph finally met his brothers again, he was able to say that, what THEY had meant for evil, God had meant for good.

GOD SENT ME HERE. Genesis 45:1-15. The Old Testament Joseph is very much a Type of Christ. Favoured by his father (cf. Genesis 37:3), Joseph was sold by his brethren for twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28). Favoured by His Father (Luke 3:22), Jesus ‘came unto His own, and His own ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Baptism Of The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 9, 2021

The baptism by John, the baptism of Jesus, Spirit baptism, and water baptism.

BAPTISM OF THE LORD. Luke 3:15-17; Luke 3:21-22. The ministry of John the Baptist was causing quite a stir. It was four hundred years since there had been a prophet in Israel, and expectations were high. The question on many people’s hearts was, Could this be the long-awaited Messiah (Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:15-17, Luke 3:21-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pause Before You Act (Part 3b) Series

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 29, 2011

Sermon 3B in series. Please see previous parts of the study. Often, we regret an action immediately, but too late to undo it. P - Pray before you act. A - Check your attitude before you act. U - Understand fully before you act. Three new Bible illustratio

PAUSE Before You Act Sermon 3B NOTE: This is part B of sermon three in the series, PAUSE Before You Act. While this sermon may be used independently, you may want to see the other sermons to give background and introduction. Handouts and keys for these studies are already prepared. Contact me if ...read more

Scripture: Esther 3:8-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Cross Of Jesus.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 19, 2022

The eyewitness account of the Apostle John.

THE CROSS OF JESUS. John 19:17-37. JOHN 19:17. “Went forth.” The ultimate sin-offering, outside the gate (cf. Hebrews 13:12-13). JOHN 19:18. “Where they crucified Him.” Typology of the brass serpent (cf. John 3:14). A hanged man is cursed by God (cf. Deuteronomy 21:23), and Jesus became a ...read more

Scripture: John 19:17-42

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Angels And Shepherds. Abridged.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 17, 2022

Good tidings of great joy!

ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS. Abridged. Luke 2:8-20. Whatever reputation they may have had amongst men, it was to humble shepherds watching their flocks by night that the angel of the Lord appeared (Luke 2:8-9). There is nobody so low that the Lord cannot reach down into their situation, and raise ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love Without Hypocrisy.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 2, 2023

Agape love in action.

LOVE WITHOUT HYPOCRISY. Romans 12:9-16b. In Greek, the first clause of Romans 12:9 has no verb, so could literally be rendered “love without hypocrisy” or “love unfeigned”. So far in Romans, ‘agape’ has spoken of the love of God toward us (cf. Romans 5:5; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:35; Romans 8:39). ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christ Our Passover Is Sacrificed For Us.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 8, 2023

A perpetual feast to the LORD.

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER IS SACRIFICED FOR US. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8. The context for this passage is one of church discipline (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:1). The case in point concerns an incestuous affair which, far from addressing, the church seems to have been ‘puffed up’ about (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:2). ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Israel Went Out Of Egypt.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 15, 2023

A defiant celebration of God's sovereign power.

WHEN ISRAEL WENT OUT OF EGYPT. Psalm 114:1-8. The exuberance of this Psalm is immediately evident. It is a recollection of Israel’s redemption story, beginning from when the descendants of Jacob made their exodus from Egypt. It is the prelude to the founding of what Stephen, the first Christian ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 114:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Feast At The House Of Levi

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 10, 2013

Jesus came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to repentance.

THE FEAST AT LEVI’S HOUSE. Mark 2:13-22. 1. The call of Levi (Mark 2:13-14) Wherever we live, under whatever regime, tax collectors are unpopular. It was no different in first century Israel, where Levi’s trade involved collaboration with the Romans, and the constant suspicion of theft. Levi ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:13-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational