Sermons on C Easter1:

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

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

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

The Best Barn Of All

Contributed by Lisa Skogsrud on Aug 20, 2019

We can avoid the problems in The Parable of the Rich Fool by building a "discipleship granary" to store the riches of God's grace that are ours in Jesus Christ.

Sermon Luke 12:13-21 for Pentecost +8C, August 4, 2019 I don't know where the time has gone, but here we are in August, and the summer is more than half over! The days are still hot enough, but you've noticed the nights getting longer already, haven't you? The short growing season we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Orders Of The Day.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 26, 2022

Instructions to the man of God.

ORDERS OF THE DAY. 1 Timothy 6:6-19. # A WORD TO POOR CHRISTIANS (1 Timothy 6:6-10.) Paul’s response to those who suppose that ‘gain = godliness’ (cf. 1 Timothy 6:5) is the exact opposite: “But godliness + contentment = great gain!” (1 Timothy 6:6-7). This contentment arises not from ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-19

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

The True Treasure.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 13, 2022

Godliness with contentment is great gain.

THE TRUE TREASURE. 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 1 Timothy 6:17-19. 1. A Word To Poor Christians (1 Timothy 6:6-10.) Paul’s response to those who suppose that ‘gain = godliness’ (cf. 1 Timothy 6:5) is the exact opposite: “But godliness + contentment = great gain!” (1 Timothy 6:6-7). This contentment ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Behold The Days Are Coming.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 23, 2022

The restoration of post-exilic Israel, and the new covenant in Christ.

BEHOLD THE DAYS ARE COMING. Jeremiah 31:27-34. “Behold, the Days are Coming.” This is a recurring motif in Jeremiah (cf. Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 30:3; Jeremiah 31:27; Jeremiah 31:31; Jeremiah 33:14-15). There is a certainty about it because it is a declaration of the LORD. The time of ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:27-34

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

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

The Blessing Of Participation.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 4, 2022

Celebrating the Passover in the Promised Land.

THE BLESSING OF PARTICIPATION. Joshua 5:9-12. The LORD spoke metaphorically of having “rolled away the reproach of Egypt” (Joshua 5:9). Egypt stands for the place of captivity. In like manner Jesus, by taking our reproaches upon Himself (cf. Psalm 69:9), sets us free from the captivity of sin ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:9-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Doing A New Thing.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 4, 2022

From past mercies to present help and future salvation.

GOD IS DOING A NEW THING. Isaiah 43:16-21. Isaiah reminds us of how the Sovereign LORD had opened the Red Sea, and made a path through the Jordan (Isaiah 43:16-17). Yet the Prophet is only looking back in order to look forward: “remember not” the former things - don’t yearn for what we might ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:16-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Outpouring Of Worship.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 4, 2022

Mary at the feet of Jesus.

AN OUTPOURING OF WORSHIP. John 12:1-8. It was six days before the Passover, and the family in Bethany made our Lord a supper. The resurrected Lazarus was there, and Martha was serving. In a singular act of devotion, Mary took a whole bottle of very expensive Indian perfume and lavished it upon ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From The Last Supper To The Arrest In Gethsemane.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 14, 2022

Over against and alongside the manipulation of Satan, there was another plan being worked out, this time by God. This was the plan of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is, after all, the fulfillment of the Passover.

FROM THE LAST SUPPER TO THE ARREST IN GETHSEMANE. Luke 22:14-53. “When the hour was come,” we read, “Jesus sat down with the twelve apostles.” Jesus was in complete control as He expressed His desire to share the Passover with His disciples before He suffered. “For,” He said, “I will not any ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:14-53

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From The Declaration Of His Innocence To The Death Of Jesus.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 22, 2022

The kingdom was on offer in the Person of the King, even as He hung there dying upon the Cross. The offer has never been withdrawn, for any who will come to Him.

FROM THE DECLARATION OF HIS INNOCENCE TO THE DEATH OF JESUS. Luke 23:13-49. LUKE 23:13-25. “I have found no fault in this man,” Pilate told Jesus’ accusers. “No, nor yet Herod.” “Nothing worthy of death” (Luke 23:14-15). “I have found no cause of death in Him” (Luke 23:22b). Thus we see that our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:13-49

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational