Sermons on B Proper 9:

The Grace Of Giving

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 6, 2018

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

THE GRACE OF GIVING. 2 Corinthians 8:7-15. 1. The example of the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). (v1) By the grace of God, the Macedonian churches (Philippi and Thessalonica) had been particularly forward in giving. (v2) Their gift was given out of poverty: like that of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, 2 Corinthians 8:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sovereignty Of God And Human Responsibility

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 18, 2014

There is no pleasing some people. If they make up their minds not to put their trust in Jesus, any excuse will suffice to prevent commitment.

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY. Matthew 11:16-30. A) The children were out playing on the streets. ‘Let’s play weddings,’ suggested the girls: but the boys would not. ‘Let’s play funerals,’ countered the boys: but the girls would not. A preacher came, austere in his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:16-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Passing The Light

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 6, 2018

Finding grace in adverse circumstances to pass the torch of the gospel on to others.

PASSING THE LIGHT. 2 Corinthians 4:5-12. Paul had been concerned by some self-made ‘ministers’ who were nothing better than peddlers ‘making gain by corrupting the word of God’ (2 Corinthians 2:17). Paul and his fellow-ministers, by contrast, were neither dishonest nor manipulative. They ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Sabbath For The Hungry, Healing For The Withered

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 8, 2015

Is it lawful to good on the sabbath days?

A SABBATH FOR THE HUNGRY, HEALING FOR THE WITHERED. Mark 2:23-3:6. Jesus said, ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled’ (Matthew 5:6). The hunger and thirst which He spoke of in that Beatitude is evidently spiritual, but it is amply illustrated in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:23-28, Mark 3:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Waiting In Hope

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 16, 2017

An ascent out of the depths.

WAITING IN HOPE. Psalm 130. This Psalm is a song of ascent: “Out of the depths” (Psalm 130:1). The Latin language captures the intensity of the situation: “De profundis” (from which we have the English word ‘profundity’, meaning ‘a great depth or intensity of state, quality or emotion’). We’ve ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 130:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seventy Sent Forth

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 5, 2016

We are warned not to delight so much in our gifts and victories as to rejoice in the fact that our names are written in heaven.

SEVENTY SENT FORTH. Luke 10:1-11; Luke 10:16-20. The first thing we might notice about the appointment of the seventy in this passage is that they were appointed by Jesus (Luke 10:1). It is hazardous for anybody to enter into ministry without the commissioning of Jesus (Romans 10:15). However, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-11, Luke 10:16-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Praise To God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 24, 2025

A call to worship the LORD.

PRAISE TO GOD. Psalm 96:1-9. 1. Creation. The Psalmist exhorts the earth to sing a new song to the LORD (PSALM 96:1). What is that new song? It is an acknowledgement that ‘the LORD reigns’ (cf. Psalm 96:10). That acknowledgement is based retrospectively in the realities of the creation ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 96:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Great Thy Goodness!

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 21, 2026

From thanksgiving to exhortation.

HOW GREAT THY GOODNESS! Psalm 31:19-24. PSALM 31:19. “The LORD” has plentiful “goodness” “laid up” for those who “fear” Him. It is an inheritance which we can draw upon even in this life! When we “trust” Him, He brings deliverance in full view of a mocking world. PSALM 31:20. The LORD “hides” ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 31:19-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Had It Not Been The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 7, 2021

Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story.

HAD IT NOT BEEN THE LORD. Psalm 124:1-8. Earlier in the book of Psalms, David had recognised the LORD as ‘my light and my salvation’, and asked, ‘whom shall I fear?’ Again, he acknowledged the LORD as ‘the strength of my life’, and asked, ‘of whom shall I be afraid?’. This was backed up with ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 124:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Anointed Ruler, Divine King

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 15, 2017

The Old Testament expectation was inclining towards the coming of the warrior king. Instead, He appeared as the man on the donkey.

ANOINTED RULER, DIVINE KING. Zechariah 9:9-12. In a series of visions, Zechariah reached beyond the needs of his own time to the coming of Jesus. In Zechariah 9:1, the eyes of men, and all Israel, were looking towards the return of the LORD to His city and Temple. The departure was foretold by ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 9:9-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Moses' Prayer And The People's Complaining.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 14, 2025

'These things are written for our admonition' (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:11).

MOSES’ PRAYER AND THE PEOPLE’S COMPLAINING. Numbers 10:35-36, Numbers 11:1-3. 1. Moses’ prayer (NUMBERS 10:35-36) encourages us to begin and end every day, every journey, every project and every ministry with prayer. Our attitude should be one of prayerfulness throughout. When he says, “Rise ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 10:35-36, Numbers 11:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hallowed Be Your Name - Matthew 6:9b Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 1, 2024

Why does Jesus teach us to ask God to hallow his own name?

Matthew 6:5-15 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9

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

The God Who Knows Me

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 13, 2013

The fear and the respect of the ever-present, all-knowing God.

THE GOD WHO KNOWS ME. Psalm 139. What convinced me of the reality of the God of the Bible - “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:3) - was not intellectual argument, but personal encounter. This occurred in two phases: first in a sense of guilt and dread at the presence of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Proper Reaction To Christmas

Contributed by Dan Borchert on Aug 30, 2002

Presents, Parties, This shcool event, that event over there, pretty songs. Christmas is not because of those things, lets take a look at what Christmas really is

Luke 2:8-20 The proper reaction to Christmas! Introduction Opening: I now you have all been busy with doing Christmas. Buying this buying that, this party that party, decorating the house, cooking. But why are we doing all this What is the purpose? ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance