Sermons on C Advent 3:

Stand Fast And Hold On.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 11, 2022

Let no man deceive you.

STAND FAST AND HOLD ON. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17. The church of the Thessalonians had heard a rumour concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our being gathered together to Him (2 Thessalonians 2:1). There were those who taught that “the day of Christ” was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Basket Of Ripe Summer Fruit

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 7, 2019

Seek God, do justice - before it is too late.

A BASKET OF RIPE SUMMER FRUIT. Amos 8:1-12. This vision and its interpretation is based in a pun: the Hebrew word for “Summer fruit” sounds almost identical with the word translated “the end” (Amos 8:1-2). Read Amos 4:6-11 for a litany of the temporal judgments which the LORD laid upon ...read more

Scripture: Amos 8:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Words And Meditation.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 29, 2025

A prayer for guidance.

WORDS AND MEDITATION. Psalm 5:1-8. PSALM 5:1. David longs for a hearing from the LORD: “Give ear to my words, O LORD” (cf. Psalm 54:2; Psalm 55:1). Then he adds, “consider my meditation.” We see the same combination of words and meditation in the well-known quotation from Psalm 19:14. If we ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 5:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Don't Have To Hide: Epiphany 6, Year C

Contributed by Fr. Rian Adams on Mar 5, 2019

The Rev. Rian Adams. This sermon encourages people to open their hearts to God instead of hiding from God.

Title: “You Don’t Have To Hide” Luke 6:17-26 – Epiphany 6 The Rev. Rian Adams Last week I looked up the lectionary reading for today and realized that it was the beatitudes. My first thought was, "Here we go again. I have to preach another sermon on ethics. I usually begin with something ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:17-26

Denomination: Episcopal

Twenty-Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C: Lazarus And The Rich Man

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Sep 26, 2025

Dives ended up in a Dive Bar in Hell's Kitchen for all eternity, and I don’t mean a below sidewalk-level seedy bar in Manhattan, NY.

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is the only parable that contains a proper name, "Lazarus;" the rich man has no name, but he is traditionally known as "Dives," the Latin word meaning "rich." Dives ended up in a Dive Bar in Hell's Kitchen for all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Catholic

Thirtieth Sunday In Ordinary Time - Year C. In Defense Of The Pharisee And Tax Collector

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 25, 2025

Jesus indicates that the Pharisee's virtue was destroyed by pride, but he certainly was objectively living a good moral life.

Let’s see what the Pharisee did right, and the tax collector— The Pharisee prayed- 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.' Jesus indicates ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Catholic

Against Hypocrisy

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 12, 2019

A court case - with the people of God in the dock.

AGAINST HYPOCRISY. Psalm 50:1-8; Psalm 50:16-23. “A Psalm of Asaph,” reads the superscription. Asaph was a chief musician contemporary with King David (1 Chronicles 16:4-7). Asaph is also referred to as a ‘seer’ (2 Chronicles 29:30). Taken as a whole, the content of this Psalm appears ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:1-8, Psalm 50:16-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Heavenly Symphony.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 1, 2023

Washed white with the Blood of the Lamb.

A HEAVENLY SYMPHONY. Revelation 7:9-17. As in Revelation 5:11-14, the Lamb is the focus of the praises of the redeemed here in Revelation 7:9-10. We are presented with an innumerable number of worshippers, drawn from “every nation, tribes, peoples, and tongues” (Revelation 7:9). This numberless ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cutting A Covenant With The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 4, 2022

Faith in the certainty of His promises, despite all appearances to the contrary.

CUTTING A COVENANT WITH THE LORD. Genesis 15:1-12, Genesis 15:17-18. After the battle of the kings, Abram no doubt would have had a rush of emotion. First of all, perhaps, elation: look what God has enabled me to do with a small household army (Genesis 14:14-16). Secondly, a sudden ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-12, Genesis 15:17-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Our Refuge.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 11, 2022

Our total confidence in the LORD.

GOD IS OUR REFUGE. Psalm 46. PSALM 46:1. A “refuge” is a place of safety for those who are in distress, a shelter from danger, a place of support for those in difficulty. “God” is all these to us. He is our “strength” when we are weak, more secure than a castle or a fortress, “a very present ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Alas For The City.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 7, 2022

Is it nothing to you?

ALAS FOR THE CITY. Lamentations 1:1-6. LAMENTATIONS 1:1. The opening word could be rendered, “Alas!” The translation “How” introduces an exclamation, but also has an element of questioning in it. We might say, “How come?” The verb “she sits” introduces “the city” as feminine, so perhaps we ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 1:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Six Things The Church Needs

Contributed by Dr.w.samuel Legon on Dec 8, 2019

Take this name with you all the time. (Christ)

Six things the church needs Matthew 16:16 | And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 23:10 | Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. Matthew 26:63 | But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:16

Denomination: Baptist

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

The Confidence Of The Foolish Exposed.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 5, 2022

Man in his pomp, and without understanding, will be like the beasts that perish. Psalm 49 verses 12 and 20.

THE CONFIDENCE OF THE FOOLISH EXPOSED. Psalm 49:1-12. This is a wisdom Psalm, addressed to “all people”: “both low and high, rich and poor, together” (Psalm 49:1-4). It is an encouragement to the poor not to fear (Psalm 49:5; cf. Psalm 37:7). It is an exposure of the folly (cf. Psalm 49:13) ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 49:1-12

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