Sermons on B Proper 18:

Who Is Jesus

Contributed by Ronald Harbaugh on Sep 16, 2006

A sermon for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost, Series B, Proper 19

15th Sunday after Pentecost (Pr. 19), September 17, 2006, “Series B” Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, you have revealed your will and grace to the world in many ways. Through Moses, you led your people out ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Lutheran

The A-B-C Steps To Get Your Prayers Answered By God

Contributed by David Gualin on Apr 4, 2001

Presents an easy to remember Biblical guidelines in praying through the exegesis of the Parable of the Persistent Widow in Luke 18:1-8

THE A-B-C STEPS TO GET YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED BY GOD What are the top three things you have been asking God to do for you? Think about that for a moment. What are the contents of your prayers? What are the things you wish God would just answer as soon as possible? Ponder for a minute. Ask ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

An Oratorio Of Steadfast Love

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 11, 2013

A lone singer stirs up his soul to praise, and ends by summoning the whole of Creation to join his joyful song.

AN ORATORIO OF STEADFAST LOVE. Psalm 103:1-13; Psalm 103:22. The book of Psalms begins with the consideration of the truly blessed man (Psalm 1:1), and ends with a crescendo of praise in which all that breathes is exhorted to praise the LORD (Psalm 150:6). En route there are highs and lows, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-13, Psalm 103:22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Intoxicated Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 15, 2015

1) The Prohibition (Ephesians 5:18a), 2) The Product (Ephesians 5:18b), 3) The Principle (Ephesians 5:18c)

A common summer event is the music festival. Located on large public venue's, they are a mixture of music, food and crowds. Naturally festivals differ one from another, but some of the more extreme bear little difference from ancient pagan rites. Drugs, psychedelic lighting, ear–pounding ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18

Denomination: Other

Reflection B.18 / Does God Have A Purpose In Coronavirus? / "Are These Questions Really Necessary?”

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 11, 2020

Someone may ask, 'Why do who even need to think about whether God might be behind coronavirus?' Here's part of the answer, at least.

I’ve often mentioned that I’m asking three difficult questions. In reality, there are two main questions: ‘Is coronavirus a judgement from God?’ and ‘Are we living in end times?’ But are these important questions to ask? Suppose you don’t feel well and go to the doctor. The doctor checks your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:12

Denomination: Baptist

A Song Of Consolation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 9, 2013

A new exodus: the voice of joy.

A SONG OF CONSOLATION. Jeremiah 31:7-14. Jeremiah envisages a time of rebuilding for all Israel (Jeremiah 31:4). Mentioning the mountains of Samaria (Jeremiah 31:5), he speaks of a day when the watchmen of Ephraim will encourage their people to return to Zion (Jeremiah 31:6) - representing not ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

End Times Obedience

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 17, 2013

How to live in the in-between times.

END TIMES OBEDIENCE. Romans 13:11-14. Context: Romans 12:1-15:13 is the practical application of the statement “The just shall live by faith” established so thoroughly in Romans 1-8. Those who have been made righteous through faith are not to live any longer in the ways of the world, but to be ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Call Of Wisdom

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 23, 2018

Make me an offer I can't refuse!

THE CALL OF WISDOM. Proverbs 9:1-6. Even before she invited us, Lady Wisdom “built her house” (Proverbs 9:1). The hewing out of Lady Wisdom’s “seven pillars” speaks of completeness (unlike the ‘folly’ in Edinburgh which was never completed), spaciousness, and endurance. ‘I go to prepare a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Set Time.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 17, 2025

Promises for a generation yet unborn (cf. Psalm 102:18).

THE SET TIME. Psalm 102:15-22. The immediate context of these verses speaks of how the eternal LORD shall yet ‘have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come’ (cf. Psalm 102:13). This anticipates more than the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. It ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 102:15-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Shepherd Oracle

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 11, 2016

Bad shepherds versus the Righteous Branch.

A SHEPHERD ORACLE. Jeremiah 23:1-6. Peter writes to the elders of the church, ‘Shepherd the flock of God, exercising oversight… not as exercising lordship over them, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd has been manifested, you shall receive the unfading crown of glory’ ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dance In The Lord's Blessing

Contributed by Samuel Stone on Nov 15, 2007

First of the two part series on King David based on the lectionary Proper 10B.

If you look at the life of King David, he is pretty much like you and me. He has his strength and weaknesses like every human being. He was an artist, a poet, a musician, that he was often invited by the king to perform in the palace. He was also a warrior, even as a young man, he took down ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Knowing The Unknowable.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 28, 2013

The Cross-shaped love of Christ.

KNOWING THE UNKNOWABLE. Ephesians 3:14-21. The “For this reason” of Ephesians 3:14 echoes Ephesians 3:1, and picks up the thread of thought that was left there. This follows Paul’s contemplation of the reconciliation accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22). Jesus, by His own ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your God Shall Be My God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 13, 2013

The vow of Ruth seals the promise, binding her forever not only with Naomi, but also with the LORD.

YOUR GOD SHALL BE MY GOD. Ruth 1:1-18. Ruth 1:1. “The days when the judges judged” was an age of anarchy (Judges 21:25). Cycles of godlessness were followed by trouble and invasion, the raising of ‘saviours’ and restoration - only for the people of the LORD to fall back again into ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Clash Of Kingdoms

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 20, 2015

The Kingdom of God goes head to head with the kingdoms of this world.

A CLASH OF KINGDOMS. Mark 6:14-29. As a unit, Mark 6:14-29 begins and ends with people “having heard” something. Herod “heard” about Jesus and His disciples (Mark 6:14), and drew his own conclusions from it (Mark 6:16). John’s disciples “heard” about John’s death, and acted accordingly (Mark ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Food For The Journey

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 1, 2014

When we 'feed' on the means of grace we are not only spiritually, but also physically, fortified for the journey.

FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY. 1 Kings 19:4-8. The vengeful Queen Jezebel had the power and the authority to have the prophet Elijah executed, and let him know so (1 Kings 19:1-2). Hearing this, Elijah fled (1 Kings 19:3). There are times when flight is not so much cowardice as wisdom - and it is in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:4-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational