Sermons on C Proper 22:

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

Christ The Firstfruits.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 20, 2022

Just as in Adam all die, so in Christ all are made alive.

CHRIST THE FIRSTFRUITS. 1 Corinthians 15:19-26. Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no gospel at all (1 Corinthians 15:12-13), and we are of all men most vain and miserable (1 Corinthians 15:14-19). Thankfully, we are reminded with a sigh of relief, Christ is risen from the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Teaching Ministry Of The Holy Spirit.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 25, 2022

The Holy Spirit takes of the things of the Father and the Son, and opens them up to us.

THE TEACHING MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. John 16:12-15. Jesus had many things still to teach His disciples, but before His resurrection they were not ready to receive them (John 16:12). We grow up by stages, moving from milk to prepared foods, to fulsome meat. The Holy Spirit came to impart ...read more

Scripture: John 16:12-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Returns To Bethany.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 12, 2022

Mary, Lazarus, and Jesus in the spotlight.

JESUS RETURNS TO BETHANY. John 12:1-11. As the Passover drew near, Jesus set out once again towards Jerusalem, and stopped awhile in Bethany. This was the place, the writer reminds us, “where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom Jesus raised from the dead” (John 12:1). The ever-busy Martha ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Immanuel: With Us The God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 16, 2023

A sign refused - a sign offered nonetheless.

IMMANUEL: WITH US THE GOD. Isaiah 7:10-14. The northern kingdom of Israel/Ephraim, along with her ally Syria/Aram, intended to force the Davidic kingdom of Judah into their alliance against the Assyrians (Isaiah 7:1), by setting up a puppet king - a ‘Son of No Good’ (Isaiah 7:6) - in Jerusalem. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seek The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 12, 2024

Responding to the call of God.

SEEK THE LORD. Isaiah 55:1-9. The Bible is full of wonderful gracious invitations. ISAIAH 55:1 begins with a call to the thirsty to come to the waters. This is in order to quench, not a physical thirst, but a spiritual thirst. Those who seek to be made righteous through the Lord Jesus Christ ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Triumph Of The Kingdom Of Christ.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 30, 2024

A fearsome dream, with a happy conclusion for the "people" known as "the saints of the most High" (cf. Daniel 7:27).

THE TRIUMPH OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM. Daniel 7:1-3, Daniel 7:15-18. Daniel has already reported the last day of Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon (cf. Daniel 5:30). With the beginning of chapter 7, the book changes from narrative to apocalyptic writing, and there is an overlap here as the dating ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 7:1-3, Daniel 7:15-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Relentless Rhythms Of Time.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 10, 2024

A time for everything.

THE RELENTLESS RHYTHMS OF TIME. Ecclesiastes 3:1-13. ‘Turn, turn, turn’ is the refrain of the old pop song based upon these verses. However, time is not circular, but linear: it is more like a river relentlessly, but always, running downstream. It is our subjective experience of time that gives ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Vain Confidence Of The Disobedient.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 21, 2025

We might hide our sins from men, but God knows our hearts.

THE VAIN CONFIDENCE OF THE DISOBEDIENT. Jeremiah 7:9-15. As Paul unfolded his doctrine of justification by grace through faith in his Epistle to the Romans, he uttered the phrase ‘But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound’ (cf. Romans 5:20), and he realised that he had to square up to ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 7:9-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stepping Over The Line

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jul 11, 2022

A sermon for the Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Lectionary 15

July 10, 2022 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Luke 10:25-37 Stepping over the Line Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Ole worked as a bank teller. One afternoon a couple of robbers entered the bank, brandishing guns. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Lutheran

Preaching To The Choir Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Jul 18, 2016

A study of the book of Job 22: 1 – 14

Job 22: 1 – 14 Preaching To The Choir 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 “Can a man be profitable to God, though he who is wise may be profitable to himself. 3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways ...read more

Scripture: Job 22:1-14

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Divide And Conquer Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Dec 8, 2017

A study of the book of Acts 22: 30 – 23: 35

Acts 22: 30 – 23: 35 Divide and Conquer 30 The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them. 23 Then Paul, looking ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Unveiling Of The Mystery.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 23, 2013

A hitherto hidden reality is now revealed.

THE UNVEILING OF THE MYSTERY. Ephesians 3:1-12. The “For this cause” of Ephesians 3:1 follows Paul’s contemplation of the reconciliation accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22). Jesus, by His own blood, had resolved the estrangement between God and man, and had broken down the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational