Sermons on C Proper 4:

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

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

The Final Revelation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 14, 2013

When we see Jesus, we see the very reflection of God Himself.

THE FINAL REVELATION. Hebrews 1:1-4. The poetry of this short passage is beautiful, and the theology is exquisite. The high Christology of these words and phrases resonates with the majesty and dignity of our Saviour. We are left in no doubt that “the Son” is the very voice of God to mankind. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A City Of Habitation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 31, 2020

From a trackless wilderness to a City to dwell in.

A CITY OF HABITATION Psalm 107:1-7; Psalm 107:33-37. This Psalm is a call to thanksgiving to the LORD, “for He is good: for His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). The writer longs that those whom the LORD has redeemed, whom He has redeemed from the hand of enemy - out of the east, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:1-7, Psalm 107:33-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Matthew Part 4 Nasb

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on Dec 25, 2025

Notes by biblegateway.com

Matthew 13: Are we just dust in the wind? 1. INTRODUCTION / BACKGROUND Matthew was the son of Alphaeus, and was a tax collector in Capernaum for the Roman government. Just as the IRS is not our favorite agency to deal with, so others probably despised Matthew. He gave a large reception for ...read more

Denomination: Vineyard

An Unspoken Providence

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 10, 2020

The history of Joseph from Canaan to Egypt.

AN UNSPOKEN PROVIDENCE. Genesis 37:1-4, Genesis 37:12-28. What are we to make of Joseph? A tell-tale teenager (Genesis 37:2)? A favourite son (Genesis 37:3)? A dreamer (Genesis 37:19)? Or perhaps a boaster (cf. Genesis 37:5-10)? Or even a prophet (cf. Genesis 37:11)? What is the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-4, Genesis 37:12-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Show Me Thy Ways, O Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 29, 2023

Way points to Torah, but Torah points to Christ.

SHOW ME THY WAYS, O LORD. Psalm 25:1-9. This is a prayer for all seasons. A prayer of trust amid enemies (Psalm 25:2-3). A prayer for guidance in the perplexities of life (Psalm 25:4-5). It is a prayer in celebration of God’s mercy and loving-kindness (Psalm 25:6). A prayer made in the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 25:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Shalt Thou Be.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 11, 2023

Fear the LORD, and it shall be well with thee.

BLESSED SHALT THOU BE. Psalm 128:1-6. There are two words translated “blessed” in this Psalm. The first is ‘Esher,’ from which we have the name ‘Asher,’ and it means ‘how blessed,’ or ‘happy.’ So we have, “How blessed is every one that fears the LORD” (Psalm 128:1); but then, “happy shalt ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 128:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mustard Seed Faith

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 30, 2016

Faith is a great force, a power to be reckoned with.

MUSTARD SEED FAITH. Luke 17:5-10. “Lord, increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). In Luke’s Gospel, this request arises out of one of the hard sayings of Jesus. For flesh and blood to ‘keep on forgiving seven times a day’ (Luke 17:4) seemed quite impossible to the disciples! Jesus’ answer is not to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:5-10

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

The All-Encompassing Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 18, 2020

I the LORD do all these things

THE ALL-ENCOMPASSING SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. Isaiah 45:1-7. This chapter opens with the astonishing reference to Cyrus, King of Persia, as the LORD’s “anointed” - literally, “messiah” (Isaiah 45:1). It is designed to shock us with the fact that the LORD not only uses Gentiles to fulfil His ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Call Of Moses. Part Two.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 22, 2025

The LORD's gracious compassion. Moses commissioned by the LORD.

THE CALL OF MOSES. Part Two. Exodus 3:7-15. EXODUS 3:7. The second thing that the LORD said was, I have surely “seen” the affliction of my people which are in Egypt; I have “heard” their cry; for I “know” their sorrows. This echoes the end of the previous chapter: Israel ‘sighed’ by reason of ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:7-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mindsets.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 5, 2023

God did what the law could not. The present state of the believer is one of hope.

MINDSETS. Romans 8:1-11. I. A SET FREE MINDSET. Romans 8:1-5. “Then-now-no” begins the Greek of this wonderful chapter of God’s Book. This firm negation placed right at the beginning of the sentence serves to emphasise the absolute impossibility of there ever being any “condemnation” - to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Trial Of Contradictory Prophesies.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 27, 2023

A showdown in the Temple, between a true and a false prophet.

A TRIAL OF CONTRADICTORY PROPHECIES. Jeremiah 28:5-9. One of the false prophets, Hananiah, prophesied that the exile would only last two years (cf. Jeremiah 28:1-4). This was a lie of the devil (cf. Jeremiah 28:15). Somewhat ironically, Hananiah’s name means, ‘the grace of the LORD.’ ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 28:5-9

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