Sermons on C Proper 6:

Thirtieth Sunday In Ordinary Time - Year C. In Defense Of The Pharisee And Tax Collector

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 25, 2025

Jesus indicates that the Pharisee's virtue was destroyed by pride, but he certainly was objectively living a good moral life.

Let’s see what the Pharisee did right, and the tax collector— The Pharisee prayed- 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.' Jesus indicates ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Catholic

A Strait Betwixt The Twain.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 24, 2023

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

A STRAIT BETWIXT THE TWAIN. Philippians 1:21-30. The Apostle Paul had just referred to his ‘earnest expectation and hope’ that Christ should now be ‘magnified’ in Paul’s body ‘whether by life or by death’ (cf. Philippians 1:20). Suddenly, it seems, Paul found himself in a state of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:21-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sanctity Of The Sabbath.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 8, 2023

Nobody should be required to work more than six days a week.

THE SANCTITY OF THE SABBATH. Deuteronomy 5:12-15. The Sabbath is to be “kept” and “sanctified” (i.e. set apart for God) - as the LORD our God has commanded (DEUTERONOMY 5:12). It is to be ‘remembered’ (cf. Exodus 20:8) - which implies that it was already known about prior to the giving of the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Choosing Life For Others

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 29, 2017

Faced with the desirability of reaching our destination in Christ, are we willing to tarry a while to help others along the way?

CHOOSING LIFE FOR OTHERS. Philippians 1:21-26. The Apostle Paul had just referred to his ‘earnest expectation and hope’ that Christ should now be ‘magnified’ in Paul’s body ‘whether by life or by death’ (Philippians 1:20). Suddenly, it seems, Paul found himself in a state of perplexity. “For to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:21-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trusting God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 11, 2021

Our refuge is in the LORD.

TRUSTING GOD. Psalm 91:9-16. Christians under persecution have testified to the literal truth of Psalm 91:9-10 – but this does not alter the fact that Christians still do suffer. There are times when God does not deliver us FROM things, but rather delivers us IN things (Romans 8:37). The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:9-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Unexpected Encounter With God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 2, 2023

A ladder of God's devising, connecting heaven and earth. Prefigures the Cross.

AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER WITH GOD. Genesis 28:10-19a. GENESIS 28:10. Jacob had defrauded his brother Esau of both his birthright and his blessing. So now Jacob was on the run from his brother Esau, headed back in the direction of the city which their grandfather Abraham had left behind so many ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Passion For God's Ancient People. Abridged.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 18, 2023

Eight prerogatives of Israel: “The adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came" (Romans 9:4-5).

A PASSION FOR GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE. Romans 9:1-5. From the dizzy heights of Romans 8, 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

We Have Heard The Joyful Sound.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 28, 2023

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. Psalm 89:15.

WE HAVE HEARD THE JOYFUL SOUND. Psalm 89:1-4, Psalm 89:15-18. The Psalmist Ethan twice applauds the LORD’s mercy and faithfulness (PSALM 89:1-2). This reassurance is rooted in the LORD’s covenant promise to David (PSALM 89:3). The “seed” whose throne is “for ever” (PSALM 89:4) ultimately ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 89:1-4, Psalm 89:15-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Praising The Beauty Of Holiness.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 31, 2025

Before we can talk about the “city of our God” we must recognise and acknowledge the God of the city. The Bible does not begin with Jerusalem, but with God. The New Testament does not begin with the church, but with Jesus.

PRAISING THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. Psalm 48:1-7. This psalm begins with a simple statement of fact: “Great is the LORD” and, because of the greatness of the LORD, He is “greatly to be praised” (PSALM 48:1a). Where is the LORD to be praised? In the place that God has chosen (cf. 2 Chronicles ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 48:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ministry Of Reconciliation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 28, 2013

The need for reconciliation arises because of our estrangement from God on account of our sin. The mediator of reconciliation is God. The cost of reconciliation is the death of Christ. The result of reconciliation is a new relationship with God.

THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. This passage directly confronts us with the subject of reconciliation. It requires spiritual thinking: no longer regarding people from a worldly point of view - “according to the flesh” - and certainly not regarding Christ from a worldly ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

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

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 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

Imprecations In Context.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 19, 2025

To attack God's people is to attack the LORD Himself!

IMPRECATIONS IN CONTEXT. Psalm 83:1-2, Psalm 83:13-18. Today’s Psalm begins, “Keep not silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still O God” (PSALM 83:1). As if He ever would, when to attack God’s people is to attack the LORD Himself! ‘Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence,’ ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 83:1-2, Psalm 83:13-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Trials To Wisdom - James 1:4-6 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Oct 20, 2020

Exactly how does suffering produce perseverance?

James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must ...read more

Scripture: James 1:4-6