Sermons on B Proper 13:

Awaiting The Manifestation.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 30, 2024

From suffering to glory.

AWAITING THE MANIFESTATION. Romans 8:18-23. Paul weighs “the sufferings of the present time” over against “the glory which shall be revealed in us” (ROMANS 8:18; cf. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Our inheritance is not only what God has to offer, but God Himself (cf. 1 John 3:2). It is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cain And Abel.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 10, 2024

"Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9).

CAIN AND ABEL. Genesis 4:2-15. The acceptance of Abel’s offering as opposed to Cain’s is often explained in terms of THE NATURE OF THE SACRIFICE. We are reminded that ‘almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood, there is no remission’ (cf. Hebrews 9:22). ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:2-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Journey Ahead Requires Some Foot Dust

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jul 8, 2024

A sermon for the season of Pentecost, Year B, Lectionary 14

July 7, 2024 Rev. Mary Erickson 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13 The Journey Ahead Requires Some Foot Dust Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. The bishop was interviewing a senior seminarian, assigned to his district. He asked ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Who Do You Look Down Upon, Who Are The Dogs In Your Life?

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Jan 20, 2014

This is a very disturbing story where a woman, at her wits end, was actually ignored by Jesus, who favoured the Jews. Why? God ticks Jesus off here. Did Jesus sin here? It certainly needs investigation.

Genesis 45:1-15 Psalm 133 Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15: 10-28 Summary: This is a very disturbing story where a woman, at her wits end, was actually ignored by Jesus, who favoured the Jews. Why? God ticks Jesus off here. Did Jesus sin here? It certainly needs ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 15:10-28

Denomination: Episcopal

Seventy Sent Forth

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 5, 2016

We are warned not to delight so much in our gifts and victories as to rejoice in the fact that our names are written in heaven.

SEVENTY SENT FORTH. Luke 10:1-11; Luke 10:16-20. The first thing we might notice about the appointment of the seventy in this passage is that they were appointed by Jesus (Luke 10:1). It is hazardous for anybody to enter into ministry without the commissioning of Jesus (Romans 10:15). However, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-11, Luke 10:16-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fire! Baptism! Discerning This Time

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 1, 2016

Division: a declaration of how things will be, rather than an imperative of how they should be.

FIRE! BAPTISM! DISCERNING THIS TIME. Luke 12:49-56. There is a measure of dissonance as this passage comes crashing through Jesus’ symphony of peace. “Fire!” begins the Greek of Luke 12:49. “Fire I came to cast into the earth, and what will I if it be already kindled?” Fire speaks to us of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Take Heart. It Is I

Contributed by Nathan Webb on Aug 16, 2023

A sermon for the Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 14.) A look at the gravity of Jesus' appearance on the water in the midst of the storm.

“Take heart, it is I.” Jesus has just fed more than five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. The disciples are picking up twelve baskets of leftovers. Each one of them packs a basket with their travelling gear. It’s getting late and Jesus has told them, “It’s time to head ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

The Righteous Rejoice.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 19, 2023

When believers rejoice, we rejoice in the LORD. Praise is an appropriate response for what God has done for us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

THE RIGHTEOUS REJOICE. Psalm 33:1. “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous; for praise is comely for the upright” (Psalm 33:1). We see first of all the exhortation: “Rejoice in the LORD” (cf. Philippians 4:4). Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22). When we abide in Jesus the true vine, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Camel That Passed Through The Eye Of A Needle. Abridged.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 3, 2023

Jesus seeks and saves the lost.

A CAMEL THAT PASSED THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE. Abridged. Luke 19:1-10. We were reading recently about a certain ruler who, perhaps recognizing that money is not everything, asked Jesus what he must ‘do’ to inherit eternal life. The young man had an extremely high view of his own heart, but ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Praise To God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 24, 2025

A call to worship the LORD.

PRAISE TO GOD. Psalm 96:1-9. 1. Creation. The Psalmist exhorts the earth to sing a new song to the LORD (PSALM 96:1). What is that new song? It is an acknowledgement that ‘the LORD reigns’ (cf. Psalm 96:10). That acknowledgement is based retrospectively in the realities of the creation ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 96:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pictures From The Sermon On The Plain.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 14, 2025

Building our lives upon Jesus.

PICTURES FROM THE SERMON ON THE PLAIN. Luke 6:39-49. 1. The Two Blind Men (Luke 6:39-42). “Can the blind lead the blind?” asked Jesus. “Shall they not both fall into the ditch?” (LUKE 6:39). There is a certain arrogance about some would-be teachers of others. They boast that they can see, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:39-49

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Finding Suitable Armor: David Versus Goliath

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Jun 15, 2024

The story of David and Goliath is well-known. Little David serves as Israel's champion and defeats Goliath with the help of the Lord. But there is even a bigger Goliath that we face who taunts us every day. So we need a better champion. This is Jesus Christ. For Proper 7 After Pentecost, year B

Finding Suitable Armor: David Versus Goliath 1 Samuel 17:32–39 NKJV Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:32-49, 1 Samuel 17:4-9, 1 Samuel 17:1

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Captivity And Restoration Of Manasseh.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 4, 2025

This is an example of the amazing grace of God towards one who was a very ‘chief’ of sinners (cf. 1 Timothy 1:15).

THE CAPTIVITY AND RESTORATION OF MANASSEH. 2 Chronicles 33:9-13. Bad king Manasseh was a son of good king Hezekiah, but his own style of leadership is here described as “leading Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, to do evil more than the heathen” (2 CHRONICLES 33:9). ‘Moreover,’ ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 33:9-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lord Is My Salvation.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 16, 2024

The name Jesus means 'The LORD is salvation.' It is He who has saved me!

THE LORD MY SALVATION. Psalm 118:14-21. This Psalm is the last of the processional Psalms which were sung by pilgrims on their way up to Jerusalem for the great Jewish feasts. There are echoes of the Passover, and anticipations of the death and resurrection of Jesus. PSALM 118:14 takes us back ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Refuge Is The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 26, 2024

Abiding in the Presence of God.

OUR REFUGE IS THE LORD. Psalm 91:1-12. The opening verse of this Psalm seems to state the obvious: “those who take their shelter under the Most High are sheltered by the shadow of the Almighty” (PSALM 91:1). Yet there is a reason for this turn of speech: even those who are deemed ‘the people of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational