Sermons on C Proper 18:

Dump Your Drink - Philippians 2:17-18 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 17, 2024

Paul was full of joy at the idea that his life might be a drink offering. What is that?

Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:17-18

Go! And Find Hope In The Brokenness - Psalm 34:18 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Aug 20, 2025

Have you ever had your heart broken? Perhaps it was the loss of a loved one, the betrayal of a friend, the collapse of a dream, or the weight of guilt from past choices. In those moments, life can feel like it’s crumbling beneath us.

Go! And Find Hope in the Brokenness - Psalm 34:18 Psalm 34:18 — “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (NLT) Introduction: A Message for the Wounded Have you ever had your heart broken? Perhaps it was the loss of a loved one, the betrayal of a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:18, Isaiah 57:15, Matthew 11:28, Psalm 147:3, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, John 1:14, Philippians 2:7-8, Romans 10:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Micaiah's Prophecy (2 Chronicles 18)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 15, 2025

Who are the faithful to God?

Are false religious leaders sometimes a majority? Is double checking popular opinion against God’s word wise? Let’s begin in 2 Chronicles 18. Was Jehoshaphat deceived by Baal worshiping king Ahab of Israel’s suggestion? Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Spiritual Armoury

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 25, 2015

Making our stand on the word, and prayerfully advancing in evangelism.

A SPIRITUAL ARMOURY. Ephesians 6:10-20. “Go on being made strong,” begins the final exhortation of this Epistle. Having been made strong in the past by relying on the Lord, so make your stand now “in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). Do not yield one inch: do not ‘give place to the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Open-Ended Prayer

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 20, 2018

Waiting faith and expectant trust.

AN OPEN-ENDED PRAYER. Psalm 123:1-4. This is a short, impassioned prayer: a plea for help in the face of adversaries. It begins with adoration, with an abrupt “Unto You…” (PSALM 123:1). This is a song of Ascents and its opening may be paralleled to another: ‘I to the hills will lift ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 123:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Fine Balance: Fulfilling Our Obligations To Both God And The State

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 29, 2014

Render to Caesar Caesar’s image, which is on the coin; and to God God’s image, which is on man.

FULFILLING OBLIGATIONS TO GOD AND STATE. Matthew 22:15-22. 1. Wickedness finds strange bedfellows. The Pharisees denied the Emperor any right to demand tribute money - and whilst they no doubt used the common money for common purposes, they questioned the validity of the coinage (which ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessing The One Who Blesses Us With Blessings.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 23, 2013

Chosen to be holy.

BLESSING THE ONE WHO BLESSES US WITH BLESSINGS. Ephesians 1:3-14. In their original language, these verses constitute the longest sentence in the whole Bible. They form one long celebration of the Blessed One, who blesses us with blessings (Ephesians 1:3). The blessings begin with Him, bring ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Neighbourly Kindness Of The Hated Samaritan

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 6, 2016

Jesus sees us in our plight, naked and left for dead by the ravishes of sin in our lives. He picks us up, binds us, anoints us, and takes us to a place of safety.

THE NEIGHBOURLY KINDNESS OF THE HATED SAMARITAN. Luke 10:25-37. This well-known parable is best understood within the framework of the question-and-answer narrative between “a certain lawyer” (an expert in the Scripture), and Jesus (Luke 10:25). The motives of the would-be student may well be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Life That I Live

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 31, 2019

Justification. By law, or by Jesus Christ?

THE LIFE THAT I LIVE. Galatians 2:15-21. After giving his biographical testimony (Galatians 1:13-24; Galatians 2:1-10), including an account of his brief contention with Peter (Galatians 2:11-14), Paul appears now to particularly address the Jewish Christians in Galatia: especially the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:15-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Giddy Heights Of Agape Love.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 9, 2022

Some thoughts on 1 Corinthians 13.

THE GIDDY HEIGHTS OF AGAPE LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. At the end of the previous chapter Paul encouraged the Corinthians (church) to be, literally, ‘zealous’ for the best gifts (‘charismata’). ‘And yet,’ he said, ‘I show unto you a more excellent way’ (1 Corinthians 12:31). What is that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 26, 2015

Addressed to both children and adults.

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. Psalm 23:1-3. When King David was a boy, he used to look after his father’s sheep - so he knew what he was talking about when he spoke of the LORD as his shepherd. As we all know, a “shepherd” looks after sheep. David led the sheep, but the LORD led David. Yet one day ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-3

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

Brothers Together

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 25, 2020

Shades of opinion in the Christian church. We shall all appear before Christ.

BROTHERS TOGETHER. Romans 14:1-12. This passage has much to say about receiving one another in the Lord. Paul defines “the weak in the faith” (Romans 14:1) as those who have scruples about what they eat (Romans 14:2). Do not “despise” them, warns Paul; but he also warns the weak not to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-12

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 8:28-39, 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 ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Marvellous Wonders Of The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 29, 2023

Walls of water in the sea, and streams and rivers of water in the wilderness. A cloud by day, and a light of fire by night.

THE MARVELLOUS WONDERS OF THE LORD. Psalm 78:1-4, Psalm 78:12-16. Psalm 78 is entitled a “Maschil” of Asaph, thereby signifying an INSTRUCTION. It is one of the longest Psalms in the Book, not only outlining a history of Israel, but encouraging us to LEARN from this history (cf. Psalm 78:8). ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:1-4, Psalm 78:12-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational