Sermons on B Proper 13:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It Is Written

Contributed by Hipolito Lorenzo on Dec 26, 2000

God?s word is the proper tool/weapon to win over temptation.

Matt 4:1-11 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: ?Man does not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11, Hebrews 4:12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do Not Be Afraid

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jul 26, 2012

Sermon for the ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B

Do Not Be Afraid / John 6: 14 - 21 Intro: One day a very small, sickly-looking man with thick glasses rode into a western town on the stagecoach. He was hired to be the new bartender for the town saloon. He was warned by his new boss, “Remember, drop everything and run for your life if ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:14-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Just Passing Through.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 11, 2025

Living in a world that is not our home.

JUST PASSING THROUGH. Psalm 120:1-7. The Psalmist’s testimony is, “In my distress, I cried unto the LORD" (PSALM 120:1a). Prayer is our only recourse in time of trouble (cf. John 16:23-24). It is sure to gain a response from the LORD: “and He heard me” (PSALM 120:1b; cf. Psalm 18:6; Psalm ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 120:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Adoption Of Mephibosheth.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 5, 2025

An illustration of what it means to be adopted into the family of God.

THE ADOPTION OF MEPHIBOSHETH. 2 Samuel 9:6-13. David the son of Jesse, and Jonathan the son of king Saul, were the best of friends. When they parted ways they entered into a covenant in which David vowed to show kindness to Jonathan’s family “for ever” (cf. 1 Samuel 20:14-16). After David became ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:6-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Called To Bless.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 11, 2024

"Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."

CALLED TO BLESS. 1 Peter 3:8-15a. Peter names five virtues whereby we might be a blessing to one another (1 PETER 3:8). (i). Like-mindedness; i.e. living in harmony with one another. Being willing to submit ourselves to one another in godly love (cf. Ephesians 5:21). (ii). Compassion; i.e. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Saul Proclaimed King.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 28, 2025

In wanting a king at all, Israel was rejecting the LORD’s kingship. But the LORD allowed it.

SAUL PROCLAIMED KING. 1 Samuel 10:17-24. Saul and his servant had set out from their home with no greater commission than to find his father’s lost donkeys (cf. 1 Samuel 9:3). As a last resort, the servant suggested that they seek out the prophet Samuel: ‘peradventure he can shew us our way that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 10:17-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Word Produces Godliness

Contributed by Paul Apple on Oct 18, 2000

III. THE PROPER RESPONSE TO GOD'S WORD PRODUCES GODLINESS THAT PROVOKES PERSECUTION A.

III. THE PROPER RESPONSE TO GOD'S WORD PRODUCES GODLINESS THAT PROVOKES PERSECUTION A. The Proper Response to God's Word Will Produce Godliness 1. For Two Reasons: a. Because of the Integration of Faith b. Because of the Power of God's Word -- the message comes from God with energizing power to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible