Sermons on J C Penney:

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

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

Alas For The City.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 7, 2022

Is it nothing to you?

ALAS FOR THE CITY. Lamentations 1:1-6. LAMENTATIONS 1:1. The opening word could be rendered, “Alas!” The translation “How” introduces an exclamation, but also has an element of questioning in it. We might say, “How come?” The verb “she sits” introduces “the city” as feminine, so perhaps we ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 1:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The True Treasure.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 13, 2022

Godliness with contentment is great gain.

THE TRUE TREASURE. 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 1 Timothy 6:17-19. 1. A Word To Poor Christians (1 Timothy 6:6-10.) Paul’s response to those who suppose that ‘gain = godliness’ (cf. 1 Timothy 6:5) is the exact opposite: “But godliness + contentment = great gain!” (1 Timothy 6:6-7). This contentment ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Behold The Days Are Coming.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 23, 2022

The restoration of post-exilic Israel, and the new covenant in Christ.

BEHOLD THE DAYS ARE COMING. Jeremiah 31:27-34. “Behold, the Days are Coming.” This is a recurring motif in Jeremiah (cf. Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 30:3; Jeremiah 31:27; Jeremiah 31:31; Jeremiah 33:14-15). There is a certainty about it because it is a declaration of the LORD. The time of ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:27-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pray Not For This People!

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 9, 2022

The context of Jeremiah 14:11.

PRAY NOT FOR THIS PEOPLE! Jeremiah 14:7-10, Jeremiah 14:19-22. A series of droughts affected Judah during the reign of King Jehoiakim. The watercourses were empty, the ground was chapped, and there was no grass for the livestock. Nobles and their children, ploughmen, and both domestic and ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 14:7-10, Jeremiah 14:19-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Righteousness Of God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 23, 2022

The key word in this stanza of the Psalm is righteous/ righteousness. The word appears five times in the section.

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. Psalm 119:137-144. PSALM 119:137. “Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.” “Righteous art thou, O LORD,” is a declaration of the righteousness of God. And because He is righteous, all His “judgments” are “upright,” or “just.” Thus ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:137-144

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Know That My Redeemer Liveth.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 28, 2022

Job looks forward to meeting Jesus at the resurrection of the dead.

I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH. Job 19:23-27. JOB 19:23-24. “Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were printed (literally, ‘inscribed’) in a book! That they were graven (literally, ‘engraved’) with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!” Something written on a scrap of paper is ...read more

Scripture: Job 19:23-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sun Of Righteousness Shall Arise.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 4, 2022

A prophecy of the incarnation of Jesus.

THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL ARISE. Malachi 4:1-2. There was a remnant in the days of Malachi who reverenced the LORD and remained loyal to Him (Malachi 3:16-18). Those who revere the LORD are remembered by the LORD and are made up as His jewels. And when He returns, He shall discern ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 4:1-2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Our Refuge.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 11, 2022

Our total confidence in the LORD.

GOD IS OUR REFUGE. Psalm 46. PSALM 46:1. A “refuge” is a place of safety for those who are in distress, a shelter from danger, a place of support for those in difficulty. “God” is all these to us. He is our “strength” when we are weak, more secure than a castle or a fortress, “a very present ...read more

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

The Glorification Of The Son.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 4, 2023

That ye love one another as I have loved you. John 13.34.

THE GLORIFICATION OF THE SON. John 13:31-38. JOHN 13:31-32. The inevitable process which would culminate in the self-sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf was reaching its climax. Jesus spoke of the reciprocal “glorification” of both “God” and “the Son of man.” In this we have the 'glory' of ...read more

Scripture: John 13:31-38

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

The Prayer Of Jesus - Part Three.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 7, 2023

I Pray Also for Those Who Will Believe. Revised.

THE PRAYER OF JESUS – PART 3. John 17:20-26 JOHN 17:20. In order that His disciples might be sanctified, Jesus gave them the Word (cf. John 17:14). This Word was to be the means of bringing others to the faith. So, Jesus prayed for those who would hear the gospel from them - including their ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational