Sermons on C Proper 6:

A Note Of Praise

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 21, 2019

An apt overture to the crescendo of Praise with which the Psalter ends!

A NOTE OF PRAISE. Psalm 145:1-5; Psalm 145:17-21. A lone voice opens the Psalm: “I” will extol thee; “I” will bless (Psalm 145:1); “I” will bless; “I” will praise (Psalm 145:2). ‘Generations’ shall praise and declare (Psalm 145:4); “I” will speak and declare (Psalm 145:5-6). The word ‘men’ ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 145:1-5, Psalm 145:17-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Little Cantata

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 7, 2013

Victory in Jesus!

THE LITTLE CANTATA. Psalm 98:1-9. The Psalmist is calling us to sing of the mighty acts of the LORD whereby He has gotten Himself the victory (Psalm 98:1), secured our salvation, and demonstrated His righteousness (Psalm 98:2). This reaches back to the Exodus, when Moses and Miriam celebrated ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 98:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Strange Land.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 18, 2022

Strangers and pilgrims in this world.

A STRANGE LAND. Psalm 137. The exile is over (at least for those who chose to return), and Babylon as a world power has fizzled out: her nobles sailed downstream to safety, and the Persian conqueror Cyrus allowed the many misplaced peoples dwelling in Babylon to return to their own lands. ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Proper Care And Feeding Of Parents Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Aug 15, 2007

This is the third message in our series "Desperate Households." We’re taking a close look at Ephesians 5:21-6:4. Today the Scripture we’re going to study essentially shows us how to treat our parents.

This is the third message in our series “Desperate Households.” We’re taking a close look at Ephesians 5:21-6:4. The past two weeks we’ve focused on the relationship between husbands and wives. I’m calling today’s message “The Proper Care and Feeding of Parents.” The Scripture we’re going to study ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-3

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Journey Back To Faith.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 16, 2022

The futility of contemplating a life without God.

A JOURNEY BACK TO FAITH. Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 1:12-14, Ecclesiastes 2:18-23. The harder we try to understand the book of Ecclesiastes, the greater the temptation to chime in with the author’s refrain: “all is vanity!” Yet, somewhere along the way, we might realise that it is going ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 1:12-14, Ecclesiastes 2:18-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stillness And The Power Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 13, 2013

Swimming against the religious tide is a lonely business. Doubts may follow, but the LORD recalls us to duty.

STILLNESS AND THE POWER OF GOD. 1 Kings 19:1-19. A. THE WILDERNESS OF DISSENT (1 Kings 19:1-8). It is hard when we stand out in the crowd, but Christians are different. The Bible names us a ‘peculiar people’ - called out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9). Privileges carry ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Towards A New Creation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 22, 2018

Longing for home.

TOWARDS A NEW CREATION. 2 Corinthians 5:6-17. Having spoken of the impermanence of the ‘tent’ of this body, and the ‘eternity’ of our dwelling in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1), the Apostle Paul began to mix his metaphors, yearning to be ‘clothed upon’ with ‘our habitation which is from ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:6-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Israel Exalted.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 17, 2024

Re-establishing the Davidic dynasty through Jesus.

ISRAEL EXALTED. Ezekiel 17:22-24. The word of the LORD came ‘expressly’ to the priest Ezekiel in ‘the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity’ (cf. Ezekiel 1:2-3). Our present chapter is a ‘riddle,’ or an allegory: ‘a parable unto the house of Israel’ (EZEKIEL 17:2). It speaks of two eagles: ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 17:22-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Prayer For The King.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 23, 2024

The LORD accept thy burnt sacrifice. Psalm 20.3.

A PRAYER FOR THE KING. Psalm 20:1-9. Jesus took with Him Peter, James and John and instructed them to ‘watch’ with Him (cf. Matthew 26:38), and to ‘watch and pray’ (cf. Matthew 26:41). I wonder what prayers they might have made on His behalf if their sleepy heads could have stayed awake long ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 20:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From The Last Supper To The Arrest In Gethsemane.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 14, 2022

Over against and alongside the manipulation of Satan, there was another plan being worked out, this time by God. This was the plan of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is, after all, the fulfillment of the Passover.

FROM THE LAST SUPPER TO THE ARREST IN GETHSEMANE. Luke 22:14-53. “When the hour was come,” we read, “Jesus sat down with the twelve apostles.” Jesus was in complete control as He expressed His desire to share the Passover with His disciples before He suffered. “For,” He said, “I will not any ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:14-53

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From The Declaration Of His Innocence To The Death Of Jesus.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 22, 2022

The kingdom was on offer in the Person of the King, even as He hung there dying upon the Cross. The offer has never been withdrawn, for any who will come to Him.

FROM THE DECLARATION OF HIS INNOCENCE TO THE DEATH OF JESUS. Luke 23:13-49. LUKE 23:13-25. “I have found no fault in this man,” Pilate told Jesus’ accusers. “No, nor yet Herod.” “Nothing worthy of death” (Luke 23:14-15). “I have found no cause of death in Him” (Luke 23:22b). Thus we see that our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:13-49

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Passion According To Luke.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 23, 2022

Christ our Passover Lamb.

THE PASSION ACCORDING TO LUKE. Luke 22:14-71; Luke 23:1-56. The feast of Passover drew nigh, and already there was a plot afoot to destroy Jesus. Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, and the religious leaders promised him money if he would betray Jesus to them. Judas thereafter sought ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:14-71, Luke 23:1-56

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Is The King Of The Jews.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 23, 2022

Jesus at the Cross, as Prophet, praying Priest, and saving King.

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Luke 23:1-49. LUKE 23:1-12. The Jewish authorities had no power to put Jesus to death. The sceptre had at last departed from Judah (Genesis 49:10) and, far from raising a mob to seize it back as they accused Him (Luke 23:5), Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:1-49

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Metaphor For Prayer.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 26, 2022

Such outpouring of ourselves, painful perseverance, tenacity in prayer - will cause us also to prevail. Thus, like Jacob, we will procure the blessing

A METAPHOR FOR PRAYER. Genesis 32:22-31. “The ford Jabbok” (Genesis 32:22) is significant, first, in that it was the border of the land of promise (cf. Numbers 21:24). Second, it was here that Jacob had a lifechanging encounter with God, and had his name changed from Jacob to Israel (Genesis ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Crowning Of The Year.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 1, 2022

A Psalm Song for harvest-time.

THE CROWNING OF THE YEAR. Psalm 65:1-13. 1. God in the Place of Sacrifice (Psalm 65:1-4). PSALM 65:1. “Praise waits for thee, O God.” Praise is not entertainment, but the grateful response of a thankful people to our gracious God. In some church gatherings you can just feel it: an awesome, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 65:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational