Sermons on C Proper 17:

The Problem Of Indwelling Sin.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 1, 2023

Sin uses the law against us; but our victory lies not in ourselves but in the risen Lord Jesus.

THE PROBLEM OF INDWELLING SIN. Romans 7:15-25a. In the first half of Romans 7:14, Paul speaks in the second person plural: ‘For WE know that the law is spiritual.’ Then, from the second half of the verse, Paul changes to the first person singular, ‘I’ – ‘but I am carnal, sold under (or a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Prayer Of David.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 11, 2023

The LORD is a very present help in time of need.

A PRAYER OF DAVID. Psalm 86:1-10, Psalm 86:16-17. PSALM 86:1. Whatever troubles the Psalmist was facing, he recognises two things: the greatness of the LORD (YHWH), and his own smallness. Such is his humility when he asks the LORD to “Bow down (His) ear” to such a one as is “poor and needy.” The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 86:1-10, Psalm 86:16-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Flows From Within.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 6, 2023

Our outer life has its source in what is going on inside us.

WHAT FLOWS FROM WITHIN. Matthew 15:10-28. I). The War Against Sin. Matthew 15:10-20. MATTHEW 15:10-11. Jesus turned away from the Pharisees and summoned the crowd to Himself. “Hear and understand,” He taught. Despite what the Pharisees might teach, “it is NOT that which goes into the mouth ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Response Of A Sheep To The Good Shepherd

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 8, 2015

Reassurances in the valley, celebrations on the plateau, and hope for the future.

A SHEEP’S RESPONSE TO THE GOOD SHEPHERD. Psalm 23:4-6. ‘All we like sheep have gone astray’ (Isaiah 53:6). Yet when we know Jesus as our Good Shepherd (John 10:14), we have full bragging rights (Psalm 23:1-3). One of the distinguishing marks of the Good Shepherd is His compassion towards an ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Happy Homecoming

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 29, 2016

A place for the redeemed to walk free.

A HAPPY HOMECOMING. Isaiah 35:1-10. Isaiah foresees a time ahead of time, when Israel would again be released from captivity, and would undertake another journey through the wilderness. Unlike when they left Egypt, on this occasion they would not be left wandering for forty years, but would make ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Recommissioning Of Ezekiel.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 11, 2023

I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.

THE RECOMMISSIONING OF EZEKIEL. Ezekiel 33:7-11. EZEKIEL 33:7. The prophet Ezekiel had first been commissioned by the LORD to be a “a watchman” for “the house of Israel” back in Ezekiel 3:17. This is now a renewal of that commission. Again the warning comes from the LORD. EZEKIEL 33:8. As a ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 33:7-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is God With Us, Or Not? (Exodus 17:1-16) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Mar 4, 2022

How you answer that question, determines how you will go through life. Here, God is teaching them how good life can be, if God is with you.

This morning, we will read two separate, but connected stories from Exodus 17. And as we read, eventually, we are going to find ourselves focusing on one main question: "Is God with us, or not?" In the first story, we will see what life looks like, when you don't know for sure if ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-16, Luke 22:20

A Vow To Praise

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 19, 2020

David's Psalm of praise.

A VOW TO PRAISE. Psalm 145:1-8. The Psalmist David, speaking on our behalf, makes a vow to bless the name of the LORD “forever and ever” (Psalm 145:1); “Every day” to bless Him; to praise His name “for ever and ever” (Psalm 145:2). This is the only Psalm in the book with the words “of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 145:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Solomon Chooses Wisdom.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 3, 2023

Ask what I shall give thee. 1 Kings 3:5.

SOLOMON CHOOSES WISDOM. 1 Kings 3:5-12. Solomon started well: ‘he loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father’ (cf. 1 Kings 3:3a). Yet there is a warning signal, which would become a motif throughout the books of Kings: ‘only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places’ ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:5-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Davidic Shepherd.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 25, 2023

A prince from the house of David.

THE DAVIDIC SHEPHERD. Ezekiel 34:11-16, Ezekiel 34:20-24. 1. The Good Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:11-16). First, we see the Good Shepherd as the one who seeks out the lost sheep, Ezekiel 34:11. ‘If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,’ teaches Jesus, ‘does he not go to the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:11-16, Ezekiel 34:20-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bread Of Heaven.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 24, 2023

That ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.

BREAD OF HEAVEN. Exodus 16:2-15. In this passage, we join the children of Israel just six weeks into their wilderness journey. The ten plagues, the first Passover, the deliverance out of Egypt, and the parting of the Red Sea all lay behind them. Yet now, here in the wilderness new fears and ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:2-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jacob And Esau.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 23, 2023

The purposes of God and the scheming of Jacob.

JACOB AND ESAU. Genesis 25:19-34. 1. The two nations in Rebekah’s womb. GENESIS 25:19-20. As the genealogy passes from Abraham to Isaac we are told that Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah. GENESIS 25:21. Once again there is a record of prolonged barrenness within the family. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:19-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Dungeon Of Disobedience And The Mystery Of Mercy

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 8, 2017

God's gifts and calling are irrevocable.

THE DUNGEON OF DISOBEDIENCE AND THE MYSTERY OF MERCY. Romans 11:1-32. The extended passage of Romans 9-11 may not with any justification be written off as nothing more than a parenthesis: as if it was a break in the flow of Paul’s argument. On the contrary, to omit or down-grade these chapters ...read more

Scripture: Romans 11:1-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Petulance Of Jonah.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 25, 2023

God, for His part, cares for the whole of His creation.

THE PETULANCE OF JONAH. Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-11. The LORD is merciful to those who repent (JONAH 3:10; cf. Psalm 130:3-4). When Jonah at last arrived in Nineveh after his circuitous journey, his message was simple: ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown’ (cf. Jonah 3:4). ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Look Unto The Rock.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 12, 2023

That Rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10 verse 4.

LOOK UNTO THE ROCK. Isaiah 51:1-6. The imperative “Hearken to me” (Isaiah 51:1; Isaiah 51:4; cf. Isaiah 51:7) is strongly reminiscent of Jesus’ own expression, ‘He that hath ears to hear, let him hear’ (cf. Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:9). Hearken. Listen intently. The words of God are ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 51:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational