Sermons on B Proper 22:

Peace Is Restored Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Dec 17, 2017

Shalom is God’s peace made alive in the life of the believer. It guides, comforts, quiets, restores and sustains, regardless of life circumstances. Shalom is found nowhere apart from God.

It is possible not to see it, to miss it, to turn just as it brushes past you. And you begin to grasp what it was you missed, like Moses in the cleft of the rock, watching God's [back] fade in the distance. So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for ...read more

Denomination: Other

Hope Is Restored Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Dec 17, 2017

Hope is oriented toward what God is doing; wishing is oriented toward what we are doing. Choose hope—hope is living in anticipation of what God is going to do next.

Webster defines a patriot as one “who loves and loyally or zealously supports one's own country”. By that definition, Asaph (author of Ps. 80), was both patriot and man of God, burdened for his country. Among all nations of the world, Israel was/is God's crown jewel. For hundreds of years she ...read more

Denomination: Other

The Self-Sacrifice Of The Shepherd.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 18, 2021

He is the Good Shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep, and dies for His flock.

THE SELF- SACRIFICE OF THE SHEPHERD. John 10:11-18. In the fourth “I am” saying of John’s Gospel, Jesus appears as the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11). Thus He is made known to His sheep (John 10:14). In John 10 Jesus effectively castigated the Pharisees for their ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Inside The Prayer Of Jesus.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 22, 2021

Entrusted to the Son by the Father.

INSIDE THE PRAYER OF JESUS. John 17:6-19. Jesus was aware of the power invested in Him to bring “all flesh” (John 17:2) under the sound of the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-19), and to give eternal life to such as the Father gave Him (John 17:2). This is a great mystery, wrapped up as it is in what we ...read more

Scripture: John 17:6-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Immanuel: With Us The God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 16, 2023

A sign refused - a sign offered nonetheless.

IMMANUEL: WITH US THE GOD. Isaiah 7:10-14. The northern kingdom of Israel/Ephraim, along with her ally Syria/Aram, intended to force the Davidic kingdom of Judah into their alliance against the Assyrians (Isaiah 7:1), by setting up a puppet king - a ‘Son of No Good’ (Isaiah 7:6) - in Jerusalem. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Relentless Rhythms Of Time.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 10, 2024

A time for everything.

THE RELENTLESS RHYTHMS OF TIME. Ecclesiastes 3:1-13. ‘Turn, turn, turn’ is the refrain of the old pop song based upon these verses. However, time is not circular, but linear: it is more like a river relentlessly, but always, running downstream. It is our subjective experience of time that gives ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Embrace Of Righteousness And Peace.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 8, 2023

“Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10).

THE EMBRACE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE. Psalm 85:1-2, Psalm 85:8-13. In Psalm 85 we have first a prayer (Psalm 85:1-7), then what has been termed “an answer of peace” (Psalm 85:8-13). The Prayer begins, not with personal desires, but by recalling to mind God’s past favours (Psalm 85:1-2). We ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:1-2, Psalm 85:8-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Am The Good Shepherd.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 29, 2022

It is perfectly clear that Jesus lay down His life voluntarily.

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. John 10:11-21. In John 10 Jesus effectively castigated the Pharisees for their failures as the spiritual shepherds of Israel. The image was familiar in a pastoral society, and echoed the Old Testament (e.g. Jeremiah 23:1-4). JOHN 10:11. In the fourth “I am” saying of ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus' Triumphant Entrance Into Jerusalem.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 12, 2022

Expectation and palm branches.

JESUS’ TRIUMPHANT ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM. John 12:12-19. First, in this short passage, we see the sense of expectation of the people of God (John 12:12). We read that “much people” who were come to the feast, “heard” that Jesus was coming to the City. And hearing, they acted on it. Second, ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Royal Nativity. Revised.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 18, 2022

The most significant census of all history.

A ROYAL NATIVITY. Luke 2:1-7. Caesar Augustus sent out a decree that “all the world” should be “registered” (Luke 2:1). Unbeknown to the mighty Emperor, this was going to be the most significant census of all history. After all, even the most powerful of potentates are subservient, whether ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reconciliation, And Grace To Follow.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 3, 2022

Our reconciliation with God is made possible by the grace of God through the work of Christ. Having been reconciled, we are made the righteousness of God in Him. We are enabled, by the same grace of God, to follow God in the way of righteousness.

RECONCILIATION, AND GRACE TO FOLLOW. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21; 2 Corinthians 6:1-10. As an ambassador for Christ, Paul was pleading with the Corinthians - on behalf of Christ - that they go on being reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). We may feel that this is unnecessary: if we are ‘called ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Anxiety.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 15, 2023

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33.

ANXIETY. Matthew 6:25-34. MATTHEW 6:25. “Take no thought” is an unfortunate translation. When Jesus says (literally) “be not careful,” He obviously is not sanctioning thoughtlessness, nor even carelessness. He rather means, “Do not be anxious.” Jesus introduces a trinity of cares: what ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 6:25-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Serpent And The Cross.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 13, 2023

Without the Cross there is no salvation for any one of us, bitten as we are by the sting of death which is sin.

THE SERPENT AND THE CROSS. John 3:14-21. JOHN 3:14. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” This refers back to an incident during the wilderness wanderings of the children of Israel (cf. Numbers 21:4-9), and forward to the crucifixion. ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Witnesses To The Death Of Jesus.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 15, 2023

Jesus was surely dead, and certified so by the authorities.

THE WITNESSES TO THE DEATH OF JESUS. Mark 15:39-47. After Jesus ‘cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost’ and ‘the veil in the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom’ (cf. Mark 15:37-38), the first person to realise the full meaning of what has just happened was not one ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:39-47

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Denial By Peter.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 23, 2023

Watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation. Mark 14 verse 38.

THE DENIAL BY PETER. Mark 14:27-72. In the Bible, the weakness of God’s servants is held aloft as an example for all to see. The account of Peter’s denial of Jesus is a humbling reminder that even the best of men is vulnerable to the wiles of the devil, if he allows himself to be caught off ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:27-72

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational