Sermons on B Proper 5:

The Correct Treatment Of The Poor.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 27, 2021

Jesus said, You have the poor always with you. Matthew 26:11.

THE CORRECT TREATMENT OF THE POOR. Proverbs 22:1-2, Proverbs 22:8-9, Proverbs 22:22-23. We have here three pairs of poetic couplets about attitudes to the poor. It is not that the Bible is against wealth itself, or even wealthy people. King Solomon, the writer of some of these Proverbs, was ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:1-2, Proverbs 22:8-9, Proverbs 22:22-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Trusts In Him Is Blessed.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 11, 2021

Tasting the goodness of the LORD.

WHO TRUSTS IN HIM IS BLESSED. Psalm 34:1-8; Psalm 34:19-22. David was ‘on the run’ from king Saul. Mistakenly thinking that he might find refuge with the Philistines, he only escaped from their clutches by feigning madness (1 Samuel 21:10-15). Then he hid in a cave. Knowing that David was in ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-8, Psalm 34:19-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Painful Account.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 11, 2021

The substitutionary character of the sacrifice of Jesus.

A PAINFUL ACCOUNT. Isaiah 53:4-12. The repulsion evoked by the Cross of Jesus is countered by the recognition of the substitutionary character of His sacrifice (Isaiah 53:4). We may have seen Jesus as One “stricken” by God – but the toll which He was paying was not His own. No, indeed, it was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Solomon Chooses Wisdom.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 3, 2023

Ask what I shall give thee. 1 Kings 3:5.

SOLOMON CHOOSES WISDOM. 1 Kings 3:5-12. Solomon started well: ‘he loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father’ (cf. 1 Kings 3:3a). Yet there is a warning signal, which would become a motif throughout the books of Kings: ‘only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places’ ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:5-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Craving The Bread Of Life

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 11, 2018

‘Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures unto eternal life’ (John 6:27).

CRAVING THE BREAD OF LIFE. Psalm 78:23-29. This Psalm, the second longest in the Book, demonstrates the cycle of (i) God’s provision for His people/ (ii) their ingratitude and rebellion/ (iii) God’s punishment of them/ (iv) followed by new offers of grace. The passage before us focuses ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:23-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Word Of God, And A Heart For God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 6, 2021

This is an abbreviated version of my earlier sermon on the whole Psalm, which was entitled 'A Heart for God'.

THE WORD OF GOD, AND A HEART FOR GOD. Psalm 19:7-14. Creation, general revelation, does not stand alone in its testimony to God. The LORD God has entered into a covenant relationship with mankind, and spoken to us Himself. This ‘special revelation’ is explored in the second main section of this ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:7-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Israel Went Out Of Egypt.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 15, 2023

A defiant celebration of God's sovereign power.

WHEN ISRAEL WENT OUT OF EGYPT. Psalm 114:1-8. The exuberance of this Psalm is immediately evident. It is a recollection of Israel’s redemption story, beginning from when the descendants of Jacob made their exodus from Egypt. It is the prelude to the founding of what Stephen, the first Christian ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 114:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Child-Like Humility

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 11, 2018

If you want to be first, learn to be last!

A CHILD-LIKE HUMILITY. Mark 9:30-37. 1. CONTEXT (Mark 8:29-34). On the back of Peter’s famous confession of faith (Mark 8:29), Jesus began to teach His disciples about His upcoming death and resurrection (Mark 8:31). About this the disciples were, to say the least, slow on the uptake: ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Family Affair

Contributed by David Roth on Sep 19, 2015

Proper 5 (b) Born again of the spirit, we are born anew by the blood of Christ, and so members of the family of God, and of His house and kingdom forever.

Mark 3:20-35 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. “A family affair” In the Gospel today we see two scenes. First, a little background from the verses before our reading. Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-35

Denomination: Lutheran

You Are Plan A. There Is No Plan B Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 20, 2005

Parallels but not just a rehash of Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life, the LAST 5 chapters. When it comes to reaching people for Christ, God’s plan is YOU. There is no Plan B.

You Are Plan A. There is No Plan B 1. God’s plans are often beautiful in their simplicity. 2. And we are part of that plan. 3. If you or I were to win one person to Christ, and then each of us won one person to Christ every year, and those folks won one a year, the number of believers would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

This Pilgrim Way.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 17, 2021

The LORD's leading in the pilgrimage of this life.

THIS PILGRIM WAY. Psalm 84:1-12. At the end of the celebration of Passover, in Jewish homes scattered throughout the world, the parting toast is, ‘Next year in Jerusalem!’ The sentiment echoes a common consciousness, a restlessness if you will, which is forever drawing God’s people back ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christ The King, Our Advent Hope.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 25, 2021

An everlasting kingdom.

CHRIST THE KING, OUR ADVENT HOPE. Daniel 7:9-10; Daniel 7:13-14. Our reading in Daniel needs to be looked at within its own context: that of a dream portraying the chaos of Empire and Empire building, and the cruelty and ultimate futility of it all. In DANIEL 7:9, “thrones have been thrown ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 7:9-10, Daniel 7:13-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Twofold Stewardship

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 28, 2015

The lessons behind a less well-known miraculous feeding.

A TWOFOLD STEWARDSHIP. 2 Kings 4:42-44. A certain man brought to Elisha a portion of the first-fruits of his land (2 Kings 4:42). It is not clear whether this was an offering over and above that required by the law (Leviticus 23:9-14), but either way this was a token of good stewardship on the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:42-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stress-Powered Prayer - Philippians 4:5b-6a Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 16, 2022

There is good anxiety and bad anxiety. Eliminate the bad kind, and make good use of hte good kind.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:5-6

With Wings Like Eagles

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 26, 2017

There is a time to wait, and a time to move forward.

WITH WINGS LIKE EAGLES. Isaiah 40:21-31. When Isaiah was first commissioned (Isaiah 6:8-9), he saw the LORD ‘high and lifted up’ (Isaiah 6:1). Now at his second commissioning (Isaiah 40:6), he sees the LORD ‘sitting above the circle of the earth’ (Isaiah 40:22). I call this the ‘second ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:21-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational