Sermons on B Proper 24:

Thirty-First Sunday In Ordinary Time, B: Shema

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 16, 2024

Prostrating oneself in prayer helps me to mean all the words of this creed, with all its intensity and wide scope.

This is the most Jewish and Catholic prayer possible, in our Gospel today, from Mark 12:29, which Jews call the Shema, which means “hear” in Hebrew-- we have the first line of the Shema in our Gospel today: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Catholic

The Power And The Glory - 1 Peter 4:11b Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Feb 2, 2025

In this message, you'll discover the best thing that you could ever do and the most beneficial thing that can ever happen in your life.

1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him do it as one speaking the words of God. If anyone serves, as with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. Introduction 1 Peter 4 is all about how ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:11

Third Sunday After Easter (B C P). Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 25, 2025

Sermons upon the Bible readings of the Book of Common Prayer.

Psalm 57:1-10, Genesis 45:3-10, 1 Peter 2:11-17, John 16:16-22. A). FROM PRAYER TO PRAISE. Psalm 57:1-11. This is a beautifully crafted Psalm which, according to the title, was written by David ‘when he fled from Saul in the cave.’ The Psalm has two sections: first a prayer (PSALM 57:1-6); ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 57:1-10, Genesis 45:3-10, 1 Peter 2:11-17, John 16:16-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prophesying In The Camp

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 6, 2014

The Sovereign Holy Spirit does not always operate where, when, how, with what, or with whom we may expect. Such things are not open to debate.

PROPHESYING IN THE CAMP. Numbers 11:4-6, Numbers 11:10-16, Numbers 11:24-29. Chips (French Fries) for tea every day seemed a good idea for a Ship’s Company of 180 Cadets in their teens. But chips every day??? We rebelled - and our chips were replaced by some fluffy artificial instant mashed ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:4-6, Numbers 11:10-16, Numbers 11:24-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Unjust Steward

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 12, 2013

Some thoughts on a challenging text.

THE UNJUST STEWARD. Luke 16:1-9. For centuries interpreters have been more than a little puzzled, perplexed and disturbed by the parable of the unjust steward, at the beginning of Luke 16. The Emperor Julian, otherwise known as Julian the Apostate, even tried to use this parable to show that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Rich Man And Lazarus

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 14, 2013

Death is the great leveler. Not all rich men go to hell, nor do all poor men go to heaven. It was how Lazarus lived his life before God, and how the rich man squandered his opportunities, that determined their differing destinies.

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS. Luke 16:19-31. It was against the Pharisees who were lovers of money that Jesus spoke the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. It is a sad story, which shows two men in quite different lifestyles in this life, and the fate of each of them in the life to come. 1. The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Marriage Feast For A Royal Son

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 25, 2014

The balance between royal invitation, and choice.

A MARRIAGE FEAST FOR A ROYAL SON. Matthew 22:1-14. Following the failure of the chief priests and Pharisees to lay malicious hands on Jesus (Matthew 21:45-46), Jesus “answered and spoke to them again by parables” (Matthew 22:1). He spoke of the kingdom of heaven being “like unto a king, who made ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Passion For The Ancient People Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 5, 2017

Setting the scene for the whole discussion of Romans 9-11, Paul finds himself astonished at his own people's failure to embrace Christ.

A PASSION FOR GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE. Romans 9:1-5. From the dizzy heights of Romans 8, the Apostle Paul seems to suddenly hit an unprecedented low in Romans 9:1-5. The crescendo of the previous glorious chapter meets the jarring note of Paul’s passion for his own people - God’s ancient people, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:1-5

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

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 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

A Prayer For The Continuation Of God's Grace.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 12, 2023

Teach me thy way O LORD.

A PRAYER FOR THE CONTINUATION OF GOD’S GRACE. Psalm 86:11-17. There is a chorus which connects Psalm 86:10 to the beginning of Psalm 86:11. “For thou art great, and doest wondrous things; thou art God alone. Teach me thy way O LORD.” PSALM 86:11. The prayer “Teach me thy way” is followed ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 86:11-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Light Of God's Word.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 26, 2023

God has written His word upon our hearts, and inclines our wills to keeping it.

THE LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD. Psalm 119:105-112. PSALM 119:105. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” The word of God, the Bible, is totally reliable (cf. Hebrews 4:12). The Psalmist unreservedly relies upon it. Furthermore, Jesus is the Word (cf. John 1:1), and He is the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:105-112

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sampling Some Parables.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 3, 2023

Have ye understood all these things? Matthew 13:51.

SAMPLING SOME PARABLES. Matthew 13:31-33, Matthew 13:44-52. I. The Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32). This Sermon had its roots in a children’s address given long ago and far away. At that time I was interested (for all the best practical reasons) in gardening. I brought some seeds as a visual ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33, Matthew 13:44-52

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational