Sermons on proper: showing 256-270 of 19,610

The All-Encompassing Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 18, 2020

I the LORD do all these things

THE ALL-ENCOMPASSING SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. Isaiah 45:1-7. This chapter opens with the astonishing reference to Cyrus, King of Persia, as the LORD’s “anointed” - literally, “messiah” (Isaiah 45:1). It is designed to shock us with the fact that the LORD not only uses Gentiles to fulfil His ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Justice And Righteousness Better Than Rituals

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 19, 2020

The danger of worship without mercy.

JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS BETTER THAN RITUALS. Amos 5:18-24. Historically, Israel had split into two kingdoms shortly after the death of king David’s son, king Solomon. The ten tribes of the north rejected both the dynasty of David, and the worship of the Jerusalem temple, and set up their ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:18-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Call To Silence

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 22, 2020

The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

A CALL TO SILENCE. Zephaniah 1:7; Zephaniah 1:12-18. Speaking during the reign of king Josiah of Judah, Zephaniah spends a lot of energy outlining a universal judgment against the whole earth (Zephaniah 1:1-3), INCLUDING Judah and Jerusalem (Zephaniah 1:4-6). “Hold thy peace,” he cries, “for ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 1:7, Zephaniah 1:12-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Journey Back To Faith.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 16, 2022

The futility of contemplating a life without God.

A JOURNEY BACK TO FAITH. Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 1:12-14, Ecclesiastes 2:18-23. The harder we try to understand the book of Ecclesiastes, the greater the temptation to chime in with the author’s refrain: “all is vanity!” Yet, somewhere along the way, we might realise that it is going ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 1:12-14, Ecclesiastes 2:18-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A City Of Habitation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 31, 2020

From a trackless wilderness to a City to dwell in.

A CITY OF HABITATION Psalm 107:1-7; Psalm 107:33-37. This Psalm is a call to thanksgiving to the LORD, “for He is good: for His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). The writer longs that those whom the LORD has redeemed, whom He has redeemed from the hand of enemy - out of the east, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:1-7, Psalm 107:33-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Strange Land.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 18, 2022

Strangers and pilgrims in this world.

A STRANGE LAND. Psalm 137. The exile is over (at least for those who chose to return), and Babylon as a world power has fizzled out: her nobles sailed downstream to safety, and the Persian conqueror Cyrus allowed the many misplaced peoples dwelling in Babylon to return to their own lands. ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Look Unto The Rock.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 12, 2023

That Rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10 verse 4.

LOOK UNTO THE ROCK. Isaiah 51:1-6. The imperative “Hearken to me” (Isaiah 51:1; Isaiah 51:4; cf. Isaiah 51:7) is strongly reminiscent of Jesus’ own expression, ‘He that hath ears to hear, let him hear’ (cf. Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:9). Hearken. Listen intently. The words of God are ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 51:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Davidic Shepherd.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 25, 2023

A prince from the house of David.

THE DAVIDIC SHEPHERD. Ezekiel 34:11-16, Ezekiel 34:20-24. 1. The Good Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:11-16). First, we see the Good Shepherd as the one who seeks out the lost sheep, Ezekiel 34:11. ‘If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,’ teaches Jesus, ‘does he not go to the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:11-16, Ezekiel 34:20-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Procession Of The Church.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 11, 2023

The marriage feast of the Lamb.

THE PROCESSION OF THE CHURCH. Psalm 45:10-17. Psalm 45:2-9 was addressed to the King. Now Psalm 45:10-16 is addressed to the queen. The queen stands for the Church (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:32; Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:9). The Church is addressed as “daughter” (Psalm 45:10a). ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:10-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Come Let Us Return Unto The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 26, 2023

Pressing on to know the LORD.

COME LET US RETURN TO THE LORD. Hosea 5:15, Hosea 6:1-6. HOSEA 5:15. This verse contains the words of the LORD. He is withdrawing from His wayward people until such time as they will acknowledge their sin, and seek His face. HOSEA 6:1a. The appeal of Hosea is, “Come, and let us return to the ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 5:15, Hosea 6:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

About Formalism In Worship.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 31, 2023

It is not good when our worship is nothing more than a formality, rather than an engagement with the One whom we are supposedly worshipping.

ABOUT FORMALISM IN WORSHIP. Psalm 50:7-15. Taken as a whole, the content of this Psalm appears as a court case, with El Elohim Yahweh, “the Mighty God the LORD” (cf. Psalm 50:1) presiding as Judge (cf. Psalm 50:6) - and God’s covenant people in the dock (cf. Psalm 50:5). Here the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:7-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Son Of Laughter.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 6, 2023

Is anything too hard for the LORD?

THE SON OF LAUGHTER. Genesis 18:1-15, Genesis 21:1-7. 1. The promise (Genesis 18:1-15). This passage is described as an encounter in which “the LORD” (= YHWH, Hebrew) “appeared unto” Abraham when he was having his siesta “in the heat of the day.” When he lifted up his head, suddenly, there ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15, Genesis 21:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Prayer Of David.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 11, 2023

The LORD is a very present help in time of need.

A PRAYER OF DAVID. Psalm 86:1-10, Psalm 86:16-17. PSALM 86:1. Whatever troubles the Psalmist was facing, he recognises two things: the greatness of the LORD (YHWH), and his own smallness. Such is his humility when he asks the LORD to “Bow down (His) ear” to such a one as is “poor and needy.” The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 86:1-10, Psalm 86:16-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Reproaches Of Jesus.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 17, 2023

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

THE REPROACHES OF JESUS. Psalm 69:7-18. PSALM 69:7. This is a cry akin to ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (cf. Psalm 22:1). Of course, we are aware that it was for OUR benefit, OUR salvation that Jesus died. But even before that, it was for the glory of God: that He might be seen to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 69:7-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Trial Of Contradictory Prophesies.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 27, 2023

A showdown in the Temple, between a true and a false prophet.

A TRIAL OF CONTRADICTORY PROPHECIES. Jeremiah 28:5-9. One of the false prophets, Hananiah, prophesied that the exile would only last two years (cf. Jeremiah 28:1-4). This was a lie of the devil (cf. Jeremiah 28:15). Somewhat ironically, Hananiah’s name means, ‘the grace of the LORD.’ ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 28:5-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational