Sermons on Plan B:

God Is My Helper.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 4, 2021

Prayer starts with God, not us.

GOD IS MY HELPER. Psalm 54:1-7. The superscription to this Psalm associates it with a particular act of betrayal. David was on the run from King Saul (1 Samuel 23:15); and his neighbours, members of his own tribe, reported his whereabouts to his pursuers (1 Samuel 23:19). However, in the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 54:1-7

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

A Great Throng Of Returning Exiles.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 11, 2021

I will lead them.

A GREAT THRONG OF RETURNING EXILES. Jeremiah 31:7-9. This song calls us to gladness for Jacob (Jeremiah 31:7). Jacob is referred to as the chief - or foremost - of the nations (Jeremiah 31:7). This did not square with the present experience of either Ephraim or Judah - scattered and in exile - ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Is The Commandment.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 15, 2021

Hear O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one. Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:4-5.

THIS IS THE COMMANDMENT. Deuteronomy 6:1-9. “This is the commandment” (Deuteronomy 6:1) is emphatic. The whole law is boiled down to the one commandment to “love the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 6:5). The outworking of this commandment is seen in our ‘loving our neighbours as ourselves’ ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Peace Is Restored Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Dec 17, 2017

Shalom is God’s peace made alive in the life of the believer. It guides, comforts, quiets, restores and sustains, regardless of life circumstances. Shalom is found nowhere apart from God.

It is possible not to see it, to miss it, to turn just as it brushes past you. And you begin to grasp what it was you missed, like Moses in the cleft of the rock, watching God's [back] fade in the distance. So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for ...read more

Denomination: Other

A Call To Give Thanks

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 28, 2018

We must share the good news: His mercy DOES endure forever!

A CALL TO GIVE THANKS. Psalm 107:1-3; Psalm 107:17-22. This Psalm is a celebration of the wonderful works of God. The situations referred to in each of its word pictures could no doubt be attached to some specific event in the history of God’s people. However, they are common experiences, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:17-22, Psalm 107:1-3, Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:14-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Am The Good Shepherd.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 29, 2022

It is perfectly clear that Jesus lay down His life voluntarily.

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. John 10:11-21. In John 10 Jesus effectively castigated the Pharisees for their failures as the spiritual shepherds of Israel. The image was familiar in a pastoral society, and echoed the Old Testament (e.g. Jeremiah 23:1-4). JOHN 10:11. In the fourth “I am” saying of ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus' Triumphant Entrance Into Jerusalem.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 12, 2022

Expectation and palm branches.

JESUS’ TRIUMPHANT ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM. John 12:12-19. First, in this short passage, we see the sense of expectation of the people of God (John 12:12). We read that “much people” who were come to the feast, “heard” that Jesus was coming to the City. And hearing, they acted on it. Second, ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-19

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

Behold Your King.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 11, 2022

The humiliation of Jesus, the frustration of Pilate, and the treason of the Jewish priesthood.

BEHOLD YOUR KING. John 19:1-16. The nineteenth chapter of John’s Gospel opens in the midst of the ridiculous drama of Pilate’s darting back and forth between the hypocritical Jewish leadership on the doorstep, who refused to come into the judgment hall of the palace ‘lest they be defiled and ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Embrace Of Righteousness And Peace.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 8, 2023

“Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10).

THE EMBRACE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE. Psalm 85:1-2, Psalm 85:8-13. In Psalm 85 we have first a prayer (Psalm 85:1-7), then what has been termed “an answer of peace” (Psalm 85:8-13). The Prayer begins, not with personal desires, but by recalling to mind God’s past favours (Psalm 85:1-2). We ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:1-2, Psalm 85:8-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Love Of Jonathan And The Resentment Of Saul.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 5, 2024

Jonathan confirmed the kingship of David by clothing him in the regalia of the Crown Prince; whereas Saul confirmed the kingship of David by putting him in the forefront of the battle.

THE LOVE OF JONATHAN AND THE RESENTMENT OF SAUL. 1 Samuel 17:57-58, 1 Samuel 18:1-5, 1 Samuel 18:10-16. It was evidently quite difficult for Saul to recognise in the giant slayer the same young man who had been serving at court as his own personal music therapist (1 SAMUEL 17:57-58; cf. 1 Samuel ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:57-58, 1 Samuel 18:1-5, 1 Samuel 18:10-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Third Anointing Of David: King Over All Israel.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 21, 2024

The LORD of hosts was with him. 2 Samuel 5:10.

THE THIRD ANOINTING OF DAVID: KING OVER ALL ISRAEL. 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 2 Samuel 5:9-10. After the LORD had rejected Saul from being king (cf. 1 Samuel 15:23), the LORD sent Samuel to anoint David (cf. 1 Samuel 16:1). The LORD had sought Him ‘a man after His own heart’ (cf. 1 Samuel 13:14), and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 2 Samuel 5:9-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ark Brought Up To Jerusalem.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 13, 2024

All our actions should be regulated by the word of God.

THE ARK BROUGHT UP TO JERUSALEM. 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 2 Samuel 6:12-19. No sooner had David been anointed king over all Israel, than the Philistines came up against him. David’s instinct back then was to ‘enquire of the LORD’ as to what he should do (cf. 2 Samuel 5:17-19). And David ‘did as the LORD ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 2 Samuel 6:12-19

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