Sermons on B Proper 20:

Knowing God - 2 Peter 1:3b Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Dec 15, 2024

We know knowledge of God is important, but what does it mean, exactly, to know an invisible being in a way that goes beyond knowing about him?

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those equal to us in the faith they have received in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 his divine power has given us ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3

The Early Bird Gets The Worm

Contributed by David Roth on Mar 10, 2015

Proper 20 (A). We toil and struggle against sin, to live righteously, But it does not give us life. Christ gives to us freely and aboundantly, all we need for this life and the next.

J. J. May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen. “The early bird gets the worm” In our text today, Jesus tells His disciples another parable about the Kingdom of Heaven. You will recall that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Drawn Into The Family Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 26, 2013

What it means to be heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.

DRAWN INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD. Romans 8:12-17. 1. The mortification of sin (Romans 8:12-14). Paul has just commented that “if Christ is in you the body is dead on account of sin” (Romans 8:10). And that “the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from the dead will also quicken (revivify, make ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:12-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Dungeon Of Disobedience And The Mystery Of Mercy

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 8, 2017

God's gifts and calling are irrevocable.

THE DUNGEON OF DISOBEDIENCE AND THE MYSTERY OF MERCY. Romans 11:1-32. The extended passage of Romans 9-11 may not with any justification be written off as nothing more than a parenthesis: as if it was a break in the flow of Paul’s argument. On the contrary, to omit or down-grade these chapters ...read more

Scripture: Romans 11:1-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Passion For The Ancient People Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 5, 2017

Setting the scene for the whole discussion of Romans 9-11, Paul finds himself astonished at his own people's failure to embrace Christ.

A PASSION FOR GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE. Romans 9:1-5. From the dizzy heights of Romans 8:28-39, the Apostle Paul seems to suddenly hit an unprecedented low in Romans 9:1-5. The crescendo of the previous glorious chapter meets the jarring note of Paul’s passion for his own people - God’s ancient ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The All-Encompassing Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 18, 2020

I the LORD do all these things

THE ALL-ENCOMPASSING SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. Isaiah 45:1-7. This chapter opens with the astonishing reference to Cyrus, King of Persia, as the LORD’s “anointed” - literally, “messiah” (Isaiah 45:1). It is designed to shock us with the fact that the LORD not only uses Gentiles to fulfil His ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A City Of Habitation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 31, 2020

From a trackless wilderness to a City to dwell in.

A CITY OF HABITATION Psalm 107:1-7; Psalm 107:33-37. This Psalm is a call to thanksgiving to the LORD, “for He is good: for His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). The writer longs that those whom the LORD has redeemed, whom He has redeemed from the hand of enemy - out of the east, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:1-7, Psalm 107:33-37

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

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 Marvellous Wonders Of The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 29, 2023

Walls of water in the sea, and streams and rivers of water in the wilderness. A cloud by day, and a light of fire by night.

THE MARVELLOUS WONDERS OF THE LORD. Psalm 78:1-4, Psalm 78:12-16. Psalm 78 is entitled a “Maschil” of Asaph, thereby signifying an INSTRUCTION. It is one of the longest Psalms in the Book, not only outlining a history of Israel, but encouraging us to LEARN from this history (cf. Psalm 78:8). ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:1-4, Psalm 78:12-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Transitory Life And A Better Prospect.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 7, 2023

Mortal man seeks divine assurance.

A TRANSITORY LIFE AND A BETTER PROSPECT. Psalm 90:1-6, Psalm 90:13-17. 1. A Transitory Life. Psalm 90:1. It is remarkable that the children of Israel survived 400 years in Egypt, and for some of that time under unspeakable oppression. Yet despite their hard labour and sorrow, the LORD had been ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-6, Psalm 90:13-17

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

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

The Reproaches Of Jesus.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 17, 2023

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

THE REPROACHES OF JESUS. Psalm 69:7-18. PSALM 69:7. This is a cry akin to ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (cf. Psalm 22:1). Of course, we are aware that it was for OUR benefit, OUR salvation that Jesus died. But even before that, it was for the glory of God: that He might be seen to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 69:7-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Prayer For The Continuation Of God's Grace.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 12, 2023

Teach me thy way O LORD.

A PRAYER FOR THE CONTINUATION OF GOD’S GRACE. Psalm 86:11-17. There is a chorus which connects Psalm 86:10 to the beginning of Psalm 86:11. “For thou art great, and doest wondrous things; thou art God alone. Teach me thy way O LORD.” PSALM 86:11. The prayer “Teach me thy way” is followed ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 86:11-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational