Sermons on B Proper 5:

Universal Prayer

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 29, 2013

We are called to universal prayer because God desires that "all men" be saved. This is the purpose behind the doctrine of election. There is only one God, one Mediator, one sacrifice. The church's mission is to make a universal declaration of this truth.

UNIVERSAL PRAYER. 1 Timothy 2:1-7. CONTEXT. The faithful saying that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners is worthy of all acceptation - or ‘worthy to be accepted by ALL’ - (1 Timothy 1:15). “Therefore” - as a priority - Paul exhorts Timothy that “supplications, prayers, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Taste And See That The Lord Is Good (Complete)

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 11, 2017

A call to worship; living the life; deliverance.

1. O MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME. Psalm 34:1-8. 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 this place, his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great High Priest

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 10, 2018

The superiority of Jesus' priesthood gives us boldness to approach the throne of grace.

GREAT HIGH PRIEST. Hebrews 4:14-16. The priesthood of Jesus is superior to that of Aaron. As a man like ourselves, Jesus is a merciful and faithful high priest: yet, unlike Aaron, He is capable of facing and overcoming temptation on our behalf (Hebrews 2:17-18; Hebrews 4:15). For though He is a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love And Obedience.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 1, 2023

Loving your neighbour in these end times.

LOVE AND OBEDIENCE. Romans 13:8-14. I). LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR. Romans 13:8-10. The imperative, “To no one nothing owe you (all), but to love one another” (Romans 13:8a) follows on from the discussion of being subject to ‘the powers that be’ who - whether we voted for them or not - are ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Knowing The Unknowable.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 28, 2013

The Cross-shaped love of Christ.

KNOWING THE UNKNOWABLE. Ephesians 3:14-21. The “For this reason” of Ephesians 3:14 echoes Ephesians 3:1, and picks up the thread of thought that was left there. This follows Paul’s contemplation of the reconciliation accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22). Jesus, by His own ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Body Of Christ, And The Christian Law Of Love

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 10, 2015

Members of one another, and loving the brethren as Christ loved us.

THE BODY OF CHRIST AND THE CHRISTIAN LAW OF LOVE. 1. Members one of another (Ephesians 4:25-32). All of our relationships within the body of Christ must be governed by the Christian law of love (Ephesians 4:2). One of the practical reasons given for “putting away the lie” (as the Greek of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-2, Ephesians 4:25-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Numbering Our Days.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 8, 2023

Reverencing God, and making a right application of the truth about the brevity of our lives.

NUMBERING OUR DAYS. Psalm 90:1-12. 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 generation”. This ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Revelation #5 Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 28, 2016

The right object, the right attitude and the right way to worship in reference to the Lord's Day, the Lord's Spirit and the Lord's Voice (Material adapted from Alger Fitch's book, Revelation, Chapter 5 The Perspective of Universal Worship, pgs. 95-110

HoHum: Phillips, Craig, and Dean song “The Concert of the Aage”- The star become as lasers; And all the worlds align; Horizon to horizon; A rainbow begins to rise; Sudden sound like thunder; Come from everywhere; As the angel Michael; Kicks the countdown on the snare; Across the sea of ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Lord Walking On Water

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 30, 2013

We at times seem like a boat tossing about on the waves of uncertainty and doubt...

THE LORD WALKING ON WATER. John 6:16-21. The sea can be such a frightening, unpredictable element that even hardened sailors find themselves overwhelmed at times. If we enter the darkness without our Lord Jesus, this magnifies our terror. Yet when He draws near this also, inexplicably, gives ...read more

Scripture: John 6:16-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Clash Of Kingdoms

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 20, 2015

The Kingdom of God goes head to head with the kingdoms of this world.

A CLASH OF KINGDOMS. Mark 6:14-29. As a unit, Mark 6:14-29 begins and ends with people “having heard” something. Herod “heard” about Jesus and His disciples (Mark 6:14), and drew his own conclusions from it (Mark 6:16). John’s disciples “heard” about John’s death, and acted accordingly (Mark ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Plans Of Man And Purposes Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 10, 2015

A man’s plans may be one thing (Proverbs 16:9), but it is God’s purposes that prevail (Proverbs 19:21).

MAN’S PLANS AND GOD’S PURPOSES. Ruth 3:1-5; Ruth 4:13-17. The days of the judges (Ruth 1:1) were turbulent times. ‘There was no king in the land, and everybody did what was right in his own sight’ (Judges 21:25). Anarchy ruled, and God disciplined His people through cycles of invasion, ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-5, Ruth 4:13-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Food For The Journey

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 1, 2014

When we 'feed' on the means of grace we are not only spiritually, but also physically, fortified for the journey.

FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY. 1 Kings 19:4-8. The vengeful Queen Jezebel had the power and the authority to have the prophet Elijah executed, and let him know so (1 Kings 19:1-2). Hearing this, Elijah fled (1 Kings 19:3). There are times when flight is not so much cowardice as wisdom - and it is in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:4-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Crumb From The Table.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 3, 2023

Faith demonstrated in the margins of life.

A CRUMB FROM THE TABLE. Matthew 15:21-28. In the earlier part of the chapter, Jesus had disputed with some Scribes and Pharisees about ritual and tradition; and had taught those who would hear that defilement does not come from without, but from within. It is also true to say that FAITH flows ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:21-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Lifted Up On The Cross

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 17, 2013

The globalisation of the Gospel.

JESUS LIFTED UP ON THE CROSS. John 12:20-36. When Jesus made His last entry into Jerusalem prior to His crucifixion He was met, we are told, by an excited crowd waving palm branches and shouting “Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord” (John 12:13). John makes the sober comment that ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-36

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Behold, I Am Doing A New Thing

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 20, 2013

Remember not the former things...

BEHOLD, I AM DOING A NEW THING! Isaiah 43:18-25. The first point of application for the prophecies of Isaiah 1-35 is the contemporary Assyrian threat, which is finally resolved in the narrative of Isaiah 36-37. After King Hezekiah’s sickness in Isaiah 38 - and the miraculous turning back of the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational