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

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

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

Naaman The Syrian.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 12, 2024

“I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel” (2 KINGS 5:15).

NAAMAN THE SYRIAN. 2 Kings 5:9-16. It must have been quite a commotion: Naaman and his entourage, horses and chariot and all, turning up at the door of the house of Elisha (2 KINGS 5:9). Naaman was a mighty man, but he was afflicted by some form of leprosy (cf. 2 Kings 5:1). The prophet sent a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:9-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reassurances For The Needy.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 26, 2024

"For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever" (PSALM 9:18).

REASSURANCES FOR THE NEEDY. Psalm 9:13-20. A personal petition seems to appear in the text with a startling suddenness: “Have mercy upon me, O LORD: consider my trouble” (PSALM 9:13a). Yet even in the midst of this anguish, the Psalmist remembers past deliverances, and addresses his petition to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 9:13-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Progression Of The Kingdom Series

Contributed by Ian Humphrey on Nov 8, 2001

exposition on Matt ch 13

THE PROGRESSION OF THE KINGDOM Matthew 13 v. 1 - 43 1. The place v. 1 by the sea-side i.e. perhaps because of rejection 2. The plan v. 3 parables - to teach truth and make it interesting, to apply truth and make it practical, to conceal truth (from rebels and scoffers) and make it hard to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-43

Denomination: Holiness

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

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

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 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

Affirming Faith Versus Turning A Phrase Series

Contributed by Don Campbell on Oct 23, 2025

This is the 13th sermon in the series.

AFFIRMING FAITH VERSUS TURNING A PHRASE PSALM 119:106-112 INTRODUCTION A. Some of my earliest memories outside our home were of worship services being conducted in a one-room schoolhouse—services I did not understand but perceived as very important. The earnestness of the Bible discussions, the ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ