Sermons on B Proper 12:

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

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

A Bold Approach.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 29, 2023

Praying as those who are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

A BOLD APPROACH. Psalm 26:1-8. We do not know what specific trouble that David was facing in PSALM 26, but it has all the hallmarks of a man pleading his case before God based on his INTEGRITY. Unfortunately, this is sometimes translated as blamelessness, which all sounds very arrogant and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 26:1-8

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 Trial Of Contradictory Prophesies.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 27, 2023

A showdown in the Temple, between a true and a false prophet.

A TRIAL OF CONTRADICTORY PROPHECIES. Jeremiah 28:5-9. One of the false prophets, Hananiah, prophesied that the exile would only last two years (cf. Jeremiah 28:1-4). This was a lie of the devil (cf. Jeremiah 28:15). Somewhat ironically, Hananiah’s name means, ‘the grace of the LORD.’ ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 28:5-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Recommissioning Of Ezekiel.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 11, 2023

I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.

THE RECOMMISSIONING OF EZEKIEL. Ezekiel 33:7-11. EZEKIEL 33:7. The prophet Ezekiel had first been commissioned by the LORD to be a “a watchman” for “the house of Israel” back in Ezekiel 3:17. This is now a renewal of that commission. Again the warning comes from the LORD. EZEKIEL 33:8. As a ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 33:7-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Golden Calf Incident.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 1, 2023

The mercy of God elicited by the intercessor between God and man.

THE GOLDEN CALF INCIDENT. Psalm 106:1-6, Psalm 106:19-23. PSALM 106:1. It is good to raise our voices in praise to the LORD, our covenant God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. It is good to give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, by which He has washed us from our sins by the blood of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 106:1-6, Psalm 106:19-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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

The Unjust Steward

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 12, 2013

Some thoughts on a challenging text.

THE UNJUST STEWARD. Luke 16:1-9. For centuries interpreters have been more than a little puzzled, perplexed and disturbed by the parable of the unjust steward, at the beginning of Luke 16. The Emperor Julian, otherwise known as Julian the Apostate, even tried to use this parable to show that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Rich Man And Lazarus

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 14, 2013

Death is the great leveler. Not all rich men go to hell, nor do all poor men go to heaven. It was how Lazarus lived his life before God, and how the rich man squandered his opportunities, that determined their differing destinies.

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS. Luke 16:19-31. It was against the Pharisees who were lovers of money that Jesus spoke the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. It is a sad story, which shows two men in quite different lifestyles in this life, and the fate of each of them in the life to come. 1. The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He That Winneth Souls Is Wise No. 12

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 31, 2022

God is a God of variety. This is very easy to prove.

All we have to do is look at His creation to see this is true. However, this is not always true among mankind. Often men try as hard as they can to make things similar.. Illus: Many people visit fast food restaurants from time to time. Have you ever noticed that no matter where you go across ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Gifts Of The Body Of Christ

Contributed by Gbemisola Fafowora on Oct 26, 2020

God through His Son as blessed the body of Christ with gifts to equip the body.

God in His love for us all as the body of Christ has chosen to bless us all with different gifts that will help us the body of Christ to grow in Him and to help each other in the things of the kingdom. The focus of all this gifts is the kingdom of God and not for our selfish needs. The Kingdom of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8, 2 Corinthians 9:15

Denomination: Pentecostal

Holy Discontent Series

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 22, 2021

This is the second of four sermons introducing Band Meetings in a new way for today. Here is a link for more information - “Discipleship Bands: A Practical Field Guide” (download a free copy at https://discipleshipbands.com/ )

Series: “Bringing Back the Bands” “Holy Discontent” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 A sermon for 1/31/21 Pastor John Bright 2 Corinthians 3 “17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, John 3:16, 1 John 3:16, John 8:31-34, John 14:12-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

The Via Dolorosa – The Universality Of Suffering (5/12) Series

Contributed by Eduardo (Eddie) Fernandes on Jun 17, 2020

Suffering is universal. Everyone experiences it. None escape it. It is part and parcel of the human condition. Many Evangelicals love to focus on “health/wealth/blessings” forgetting to teach the other “side of the coin”. As such people are ill-equipped to deal with life’s many harsh blows.

Message by Pr. Eddie Fernandes Introduction Hold On Video (lights off…video begins…video ends…lights on…Eddie & Marta on stage) Hold on! How many of you need to take hold of God’s hand this morning because you are struggling? Life hasn’t been easy. Perhaps you’ve lost your job. Maybe the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:15-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible