Sermons on B Proper 28:

The Sabbath - Mark 2:28 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 29, 2023

This message will help you learn to truly enjoy God’s complete acceptance of you.

Mark 2:28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:28

An Answer To The Tyranny Of Self

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 27, 2015

Be alert to the wiles of the devil. Be ready to deny self, and follow Jesus.

AN ANSWER TO THE TYRANNY OF SELF. Mark 8:27-38. The first half of the Gospel of Mark tells of Jesus’ presentation to the people as an authoritative teacher who also happened to use healing (and exorcism) as a teaching device. In the second half the Lord started to prepare His inner circle of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Grace Of The Lord In The Midst Of Famine.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 11, 2021

A miraculous and timely provision.

THE GRACE OF THE LORD IN THE MIDST OF FAMINE. 1 Kings 17:8-16. “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months” (James 5:17). This may seem an audacious thing to pray ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ascension Of Elijah.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 19, 2013

Passing on the mantle: issues of succession in the church.

THE ASCENSION OF ELIJAH. 2 Kings 2:1-12. I. ASCENSION The taking up of Elijah by the LORD prefigures the ascension of the Lord Jesus, and anticipates our own meeting with Jesus in the air. 1. Elijah’s ascension was attended by horses and chariots. As Elisha and the sons of the prophets ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ruth And The Restorer Of Life

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 13, 2013

Boaz is the restorer of life, granting Naomi restoration and fullness. Thus does Jesus give life and hope to His own.

RUTH AND THE RESTORER OF LIFE. Ruth 4. It is beautiful to see the way that the LORD restored the broken line of the clan of Ephrathah. Naomi, whose name means Lovely, renames herself Mara, Bitterness. However, her new name never caught on: she is always called Naomi, and in the end must lift ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Sequence Of Sayings

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 12, 2018

A reward for those who welcome Jesus' disciples. A warning for those who lead them astray.

A SEQUENCE OF SAYINGS. Mark 9:38-50. 1. John informed Jesus of “one casting out devils in Your name; and we forbad him because he follows not with us” (Mark 9:38). Perhaps John’s jealousy was fired by the failure of the nine members of the team who - whilst Jesus, Peter, James and John ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-50

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Victim To Victor: The Widows Mite

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 6, 2018

A contrast between acquisitive Scribes, and a gift given out of penury.

FROM VICTIM TO VICTOR: THE WIDOW’S MITE. Mark 12:38-44. In our previous reading, Jesus pronounced one Scribe, ‘Not far from the kingdom of God’ (Mark 12:34). Yet Jesus’ opinion of the Scribes in general was not unlike His opinion of the Pharisees (cf. Luke 11:43). ‘The Scribes and the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Signs Of Messiah And The Age Of The Spirit.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 26, 2021

Physical healings and spiritual realities.

SIGNS OF MESSIAH AND THE AGE OF THE SPIRIT. Isaiah 35:4-7. For those who are afflicted, who have waited, who have prayed and longed for deliverance: take heart, God will avenge, God will recompense, God will save you (Isaiah 35:4). The restoration of sight and hearing (Isaiah 35:5) is Messiah’s ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:4-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Is Like Our God?

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 24, 2022

From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.

WHO IS LIKE OUR GOD? Psalm 113:1-9. PSALM 113:1. “Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.” “Praise ye the LORD” is a translation of “Hallelujah.” It is an imperative, addressed to a plurality of people. These people are identified as “the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 113:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Bold Approach.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 16, 2021

Access to God through our great High Priest.

THE BOLD APPROACH. Hebrews 4:12-16. So far in the epistle to the Hebrews, the author has made extensive use of the Scriptures. After his latest warning against falling into unbelief (Hebrews 4:11), he reminds the Hebrew Christians that “the word of God” is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12a). ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seek The Lord, And Ye Shall Live.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 4, 2021

Setting ourselves up for a new infusion of Grace.

SEEK THE LORD, AND YE SHALL LIVE. Amos 5:6-7; Amos 5:10-15. Amos is already lamenting the doom of the northern kingdom of Israel (Amos 5:1), bewailing the fact that she will ‘no more rise’ because ‘there is none to raise her up’ (Amos 5:2); but he immediately hints that there may yet be a ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:6-7, Amos 5:10-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Adam To Christ.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 15, 2021

From Adam, where are you? to victory in Jesus.

FROM ADAM TO CHRIST. Genesis 3:8-15. Adam was the representative head of the human race, and when he partook of the forbidden fruit, he brought disaster and death upon all of his descendants. Spiritual death, separation from God, was immediate. Suddenly man and his wife realised that they were ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Would God I Had Died For Thee!

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 17, 2021

The fatherly tears of David the king, and the compassion of God.

WOULD GOD I HAD DIED FOR THEE! 2 Samuel 18:5-9; 2 Samuel 18:15; 2 Samuel 18:31-33. When I was still on the threshold between boyhood and manhood, I wrote two books of poems. The first I entitled, 'Going our own way.' I did not think of it at the time, but perhaps I was using the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 2 Samuel 18:15, 2 Samuel 18:31-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

1 Advent B

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Dec 3, 2002

Jesus invites us to "Watch, stay awake". As we watch, we are invited to see through the eyes of Jesus. Watching helps us to see the hope in the midst of terror.

1 Advent B Mark 13:24-37 1 December 2002 Rev. Roger Haugen Elie Wiesel is a Jewish writer whose novels prod the depths of the Holocaust, asking difficult questions of humanity and of God. In Night, a child hangs from a S.S. gallows and the question goes up, “Where is God?” Wiesel writes: “And I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:24-37

Denomination: Lutheran

3 Advent B

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Dec 12, 2002

The prophet Isaiah speaks of one who comes to bring good news to the oppressed. God gives us eyes to see hope in the midst of darkness.

3 Advent B Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11 15 December 2002 Rev. Roger Haugen Christmas is a time of images. We so easily create mind pictures of gentle snow and evergreen trees. We imagine presents under decorated Christmas tree, good food whose smell invites us to taste and enjoy. We think of angels and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran