Sermons on B Proper 24:

Hope Is Restored Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Dec 17, 2017

Hope is oriented toward what God is doing; wishing is oriented toward what we are doing. Choose hope—hope is living in anticipation of what God is going to do next.

Webster defines a patriot as one “who loves and loyally or zealously supports one's own country”. By that definition, Asaph (author of Ps. 80), was both patriot and man of God, burdened for his country. Among all nations of the world, Israel was/is God's crown jewel. For hundreds of years she ...read more

Denomination: Other

The Self-Sacrifice Of The Shepherd.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 18, 2021

He is the Good Shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep, and dies for His flock.

THE SELF- SACRIFICE OF THE SHEPHERD. John 10:11-18. In the fourth “I am” saying of John’s Gospel, Jesus appears as the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11). Thus He is made known to His sheep (John 10:14). In John 10 Jesus effectively castigated the Pharisees for their ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Inside The Prayer Of Jesus.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 22, 2021

Entrusted to the Son by the Father.

INSIDE THE PRAYER OF JESUS. John 17:6-19. Jesus was aware of the power invested in Him to bring “all flesh” (John 17:2) under the sound of the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-19), and to give eternal life to such as the Father gave Him (John 17:2). This is a great mystery, wrapped up as it is in what we ...read more

Scripture: John 17:6-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reconciliation, And Grace To Follow.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 3, 2022

Our reconciliation with God is made possible by the grace of God through the work of Christ. Having been reconciled, we are made the righteousness of God in Him. We are enabled, by the same grace of God, to follow God in the way of righteousness.

RECONCILIATION, AND GRACE TO FOLLOW. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21; 2 Corinthians 6:1-10. As an ambassador for Christ, Paul was pleading with the Corinthians - on behalf of Christ - that they go on being reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). We may feel that this is unnecessary: if we are ‘called ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Immanuel: With Us The God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 16, 2023

A sign refused - a sign offered nonetheless.

IMMANUEL: WITH US THE GOD. Isaiah 7:10-14. The northern kingdom of Israel/Ephraim, along with her ally Syria/Aram, intended to force the Davidic kingdom of Judah into their alliance against the Assyrians (Isaiah 7:1), by setting up a puppet king - a ‘Son of No Good’ (Isaiah 7:6) - in Jerusalem. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Royal Nativity. Revised.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 18, 2022

The most significant census of all history.

A ROYAL NATIVITY. Luke 2:1-7. Caesar Augustus sent out a decree that “all the world” should be “registered” (Luke 2:1). Unbeknown to the mighty Emperor, this was going to be the most significant census of all history. After all, even the most powerful of potentates are subservient, whether ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Praising The Beauty Of Holiness.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 31, 2025

Before we can talk about the “city of our God” we must recognise and acknowledge the God of the city. The Bible does not begin with Jerusalem, but with God. The New Testament does not begin with the church, but with Jesus.

PRAISING THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. Psalm 48:1-7. This psalm begins with a simple statement of fact: “Great is the LORD” and, because of the greatness of the LORD, He is “greatly to be praised” (PSALM 48:1a). Where is the LORD to be praised? In the place that God has chosen (cf. 2 Chronicles ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 48:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Serpent And The Cross.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 13, 2023

Without the Cross there is no salvation for any one of us, bitten as we are by the sting of death which is sin.

THE SERPENT AND THE CROSS. John 3:14-21. JOHN 3:14. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” This refers back to an incident during the wilderness wanderings of the children of Israel (cf. Numbers 21:4-9), and forward to the crucifixion. ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Witnesses To The Death Of Jesus.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 15, 2023

Jesus was surely dead, and certified so by the authorities.

THE WITNESSES TO THE DEATH OF JESUS. Mark 15:39-47. After Jesus ‘cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost’ and ‘the veil in the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom’ (cf. Mark 15:37-38), the first person to realise the full meaning of what has just happened was not one ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:39-47

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Preparation.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 17, 2023

A sacrificial insight framed by plots against Jesus.

THE PREPARATION. Mark 14:1-11. 1. The Plot to Kill Jesus (Mark 14:1-2). The first thing that we notice as we enter into this passage is that it was the LORD who was setting the timetable for Jesus’ death. It was "the feast of the PASSOVER, and of Unleavened Bread” (MARK 14:1a). In other ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Denial By Peter.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 23, 2023

Watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation. Mark 14 verse 38.

THE DENIAL BY PETER. Mark 14:27-72. In the Bible, the weakness of God’s servants is held aloft as an example for all to see. The account of Peter’s denial of Jesus is a humbling reminder that even the best of men is vulnerable to the wiles of the devil, if he allows himself to be caught off ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:27-72

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Am The Good Shepherd.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 29, 2022

It is perfectly clear that Jesus lay down His life voluntarily.

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. John 10:11-21. In John 10 Jesus effectively castigated the Pharisees for their failures as the spiritual shepherds of Israel. The image was familiar in a pastoral society, and echoed the Old Testament (e.g. Jeremiah 23:1-4). JOHN 10:11. In the fourth “I am” saying of ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Embrace Of Righteousness And Peace.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 8, 2023

“Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10).

THE EMBRACE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE. Psalm 85:1-2, Psalm 85:8-13. In Psalm 85 we have first a prayer (Psalm 85:1-7), then what has been termed “an answer of peace” (Psalm 85:8-13). The Prayer begins, not with personal desires, but by recalling to mind God’s past favours (Psalm 85:1-2). We ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:1-2, Psalm 85:8-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Struggling With Sin Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 9, 2009

The 1) Relational Struggle (Galatians 5:20b-21a) and 2) Personal Struggle (Galatians 5:21b) with sin.

A political career marked by unfulfilled promise came to an end Friday as Ontario Conservative Leader John Tory announced his resignation following a devastating by-election defeat Thursday. Although he was able to succeed as CEO of Rogers Cable Inc., managing partner at his family’s law firm, and ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:20-21

Denomination: Other

The Gaze Of God

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Jul 16, 2002

A Sermon for the 5th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 7

5th Sunday after Pentecost Matthew 10: 24-39 Proper 7 The Gaze of God Today in America, we are also facing another challenge to our relationship to God, the individuality of faith, private faith, which is seen as more important than the body of Christ; the church individual, and the church as a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-39

Denomination: Lutheran