Sermons on B Proper 5:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A. B. C. 2nd Sunday After Christmas. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 15, 2021

JANUARY 5th, 2025.

Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 147:12-20; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 1:1-18. A). A SONG OF CONSOLATION. Jeremiah 31:7-14. Jeremiah envisages a time of rebuilding for all Israel (Jeremiah 31:4). Mentioning the mountains of Samaria (Jeremiah 31:5), he speaks of a day when the watchmen of Ephraim will ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-14, Psalm 147:12-20, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Nature Of True Fasting

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 25, 2013

True fasting will lead the liberated soul to seek relief and liberty for others.

THE NATURE OF TRUE FASTING. Isaiah 58:1-12. Surprisingly, the only place where the law of Moses commands fasting is in the “affliction of soul” associated with the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-31; Leviticus 23:27-32; Numbers 29:7). This is apt, as it immediately associates fasting with ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

His Plans Not Our Plans

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 19, 2013

The Temple of the LORD and the dynasty of David.

HIS PLANS, NOT OUR PLANS. 2 Samuel 7:1-16. (The title of this Sermon is based upon Isaiah 55:8-9.) There are three main thrusts in our reading in 2 Samuel today: 1. There is a subtle difference between a good idea and God’s will (2 Samuel 7:1-4); 2. God’s presence cannot be contained in a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Entering Rest And Finding Grace

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 27, 2019

Our rest based in the finished work of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let us hold fast our profession and come boldly to the throne of grace.

ENTERING REST AND FINDING GRACE. Hebrews 4:1-16. “Let us therefore fear” links this passage with the previous chapter. It has to do with the promise of “entering into His rest”, “lest any of you should seem to come short of it” (Hebrews 4:1). The promise of entering the promised land was ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational