Sermons on B Proper 21:

Known By God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 3, 2022

I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

KNOWN BY GOD. Psalm 139:1-6, Psalm 139:13-18. What convinced me of the reality of the God of the Bible - 'the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ' (Ephesians 1:3) - was not intellectual argument, but personal encounter. This occurred in two phases: first in a sense of guilt ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-6, Psalm 139:13-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Call Of Samuel And The Fall Of Eli.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 10, 2023

A young boy called into the service of God. An old priestly family rejected.

THE CALL OF SAMUEL AND THE FALL OF ELI. 1 Samuel 3:1-20. I). HE IS CALLING YOU BY NAME. 1 Samuel 3:1-10. The days of the Saviour-Judges were drawing to a close and, as in our own days, “the word of the LORD was rare” (1 Samuel 3:1). There was a dearth in the land, but not a famine of bread, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Allure Of Wisdom

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 21, 2018

Wisdom's plaintive plea. The danger of refusal. A promise to those who will hear.

THE ALLURE OF WISDOM. Proverbs 1:20-33. One day I was out shopping on one of the pedestrianised streets of Norwich, England, when a sudden commotion stopped me in my tracks. The City Crier’s vigorous ringing of his hand-bell, and his cry of ‘Oh Yay! Oh Yay!’ seemed to be right in my ear, and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:20-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sharp Words Spoken By Love

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 25, 2018

All things are possible with God, but those who set their hearts on riches will be sadly disappointed.

SHARP WORDS SPOKEN BY LOVE. Mark 10:17-31. The first three Gospels all report Jesus’ encounter with the character who has become known by the composite name of ‘the rich young ruler’. They all mention that he was ‘rich’ (as in Mark 10:22), but only Matthew mentions that he was ‘young’ ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living The Gospel.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 24, 2021

The practical outworking of our relationship with the Father of lights

LIVING THE GOSPEL. James 1:17-27. James has already indicated that our God is a generous Giver (James 1:5). Here he cites God as the inexhaustible source of “every good act of giving, and every perfect gift” (James 1:17a). There is not so much as a shadow cast as a result of any ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Third Anointing Of David: King Over All Israel.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 21, 2024

The LORD of hosts was with him. 2 Samuel 5:10.

THE THIRD ANOINTING OF DAVID: KING OVER ALL ISRAEL. 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 2 Samuel 5:9-10. After the LORD had rejected Saul from being king (cf. 1 Samuel 15:23), the LORD sent Samuel to anoint David (cf. 1 Samuel 16:1). The LORD had sought Him ‘a man after His own heart’ (cf. 1 Samuel 13:14), and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 2 Samuel 5:9-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Feeding Five Thousand And Walking On Water

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 22, 2018

Hunger in the wilderness and wind at sea BOTH can kill: but the Rescuer comes.

A. THE FEEDING OF THE 5,000. John 6:1-15. It was now nearly a year since Jesus had cleansed the Temple in Jerusalem, and Passover was fast approaching (John 6:4). Jesus and His disciples had tried to withdraw from the throng in Galilee, and sought some rest and relaxation in the Golan Heights: ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Alienation To Reconciliation.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 15, 2023

"For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:18).

FROM ALIENATION TO RECONCILIATION. Ephesians 2:11-22. EPHESIANS 2:11. Paul addresses the Ephesian church as being “in times past Gentiles in the flesh.” and he points to the historic antagonism between Jews and non-Jews. On the one hand, Gentiles were scorned as “the Uncircumcision;” on the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Eternal God And The Brevity Of Life

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 7, 2013

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

THE ETERNAL GOD AND THE BREVITY OF LIFE. Psalm 90. 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 their dwelling place “from generation to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Great Throng Of Returning Exiles.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 11, 2021

I will lead them.

A GREAT THRONG OF RETURNING EXILES. Jeremiah 31:7-9. This song calls us to gladness for Jacob (Jeremiah 31:7). Jacob is referred to as the chief - or foremost - of the nations (Jeremiah 31:7). This did not square with the present experience of either Ephraim or Judah - scattered and in exile - ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Plumb-Line Test.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 3, 2018

Aligning ourselves with God, as opposed to going against His Word.

THE PLUMB-LINE TEST. Amos 7:7-17. When I was at High School, we were building a garage. We were taught how to mix mortar, lay bricks, and to check everything was lined up straight with a plumb-line. The work had been begun by those of the Year above mine: but in mid-January 1968 ‘Hurricane ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:7-17, Amos 7:7-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Israel Exalted.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 17, 2024

Re-establishing the Davidic dynasty through Jesus.

ISRAEL EXALTED. Ezekiel 17:22-24. The word of the LORD came ‘expressly’ to the priest Ezekiel in ‘the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity’ (cf. Ezekiel 1:2-3). Our present chapter is a ‘riddle,’ or an allegory: ‘a parable unto the house of Israel’ (EZEKIEL 17:2). It speaks of two eagles: ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 17:22-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John 21

Contributed by Joe Mack Cherry on Jun 15, 2022

John 21 is a chapter that offers so much but it takes more than just reading it to grasp what it contains.

John 21 I. Expository Look at John 21 A. Introduction 1. Many believe that this chapter was added after the fact. The final couple of verses read like Chapter 20 but this is man’s speculation. No real reason to question its authenticity. 2. Jesus makes 10 appearances after His resurrection. ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Time Of The End.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 20, 2021

Deliverance in a time of trouble. Resurrection and everlasting life. Wisdom and Witness.

THE TIME OF THE END. Daniel 12:1-3. DANIEL 12:1. “And at that time.” This reaches beyond the prophesied histories of the previous chapter to ‘the time of the end’ (cf. Daniel 11:35). “Michael” = 'Who is like God?' Various commentators throughout Christian history have ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 12:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ark Brought Up To Jerusalem.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 13, 2024

All our actions should be regulated by the word of God.

THE ARK BROUGHT UP TO JERUSALEM. 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 2 Samuel 6:12-19. No sooner had David been anointed king over all Israel, than the Philistines came up against him. David’s instinct back then was to ‘enquire of the LORD’ as to what he should do (cf. 2 Samuel 5:17-19). And David ‘did as the LORD ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 2 Samuel 6:12-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational