Sermons on Proper 14:

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

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 Son Of Laughter.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 6, 2023

Is anything too hard for the LORD?

THE SON OF LAUGHTER. Genesis 18:1-15, Genesis 21:1-7. 1. The promise (Genesis 18:1-15). This passage is described as an encounter in which “the LORD” (= YHWH, Hebrew) “appeared unto” Abraham when he was having his siesta “in the heat of the day.” When he lifted up his head, suddenly, there ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15, Genesis 21:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Wife For Isaac.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 4, 2023

When we walk in God's way, He orders our steps.

A WIFE FOR ISAAC. Genesis 24:34-38, Genesis 24:42-49, Genesis 24:58-67. The 24th chapter of the Book of Genesis is a beautifully written and well-crafted telling and retelling of the history of the mission of Abraham’s servant to find a wife for Isaac. The whole passage moves along at a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 24:34-38, Genesis 24:42-49, Genesis 24:58-67

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Genuine Love

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 7, 2020

Another song of agape love.

GENUINE LOVE. Romans 12:9-13. In Greek, the first clause of Romans 12:9 has no verb, so could literally be rendered “love without hypocrisy” or “love unfeigned”. From this, I have taken ‘Genuine Love’ as a title for this section. The second clause talks about evil and good, forming a kind of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Flows From Within.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 6, 2023

Our outer life has its source in what is going on inside us.

WHAT FLOWS FROM WITHIN. Matthew 15:10-28. I). The War Against Sin. Matthew 15:10-20. MATTHEW 15:10-11. Jesus turned away from the Pharisees and summoned the crowd to Himself. “Hear and understand,” He taught. Despite what the Pharisees might teach, “it is NOT that which goes into the mouth ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Mammon Of The Prophets.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 19, 2023

They may as well cover their lips since they had nothing to say from God.

THE MAMMON OF THE PROPHETS. Micah 3:5-12. Jesus said, ‘Ye cannot serve God and Mammon’ (cf. Matthew 6:24). Yet this was what “the prophets” of Prophet Micah’s day were trying to do: they would preach “Peace” to those who fed them, but would “prepare war” against those who “putteth not into ...read more

Scripture: Micah 3:5-12

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

"Praise”

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Jun 30, 2002

July 7, 2002 -- SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -- Proper 9 Psalm 145:8-15 (Psalm 145:8-14 NRSV) Color: Green Title: “Praise”

July 7, 2002 -- SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -- Proper 9 Psalm 145:8-15 (Psalm 145:8-14 NRSV) Color: Green Title: “Praise” This is an alphabetic, each succeeding verse begins with the subsequent letter of the alphabet, song of praise. Verse thirteen, has the “m” and “n” lines “ in one verse, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 145:1-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Why Bother?

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Aug 3, 2001

Year C NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENECOST (PROPER 13) AUGUST 5, 2001 Ecclesiastes 1:2; 12-14; 2:18-23 Title: “Why bother?”

Year C NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENECOST (PROPER 13) AUGUST 5, 2001 Ecclesiastes 1:2; 12-14; 2:18-23 Title: “Why bother?” Written probably about three centuries before Christ, the Book of Ecclesiastes marks an advance over the doctrine of divine retribution. Simplistically put, that doctrine stated that ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Smelling Salts - Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:14 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 21, 2025

The deepest joy comes from living in reality, not the stupor of trivia. So God gives us smelling salts to wake us up.

How do you enjoy life when things go wrong in this bent, twisted, crooked world? This passage teaches us a half dozen crucial principles on how to maintain our joy even in the face of hardship, disappointment, and even death. Ecclesiastes 6:10 Whatever exists was given its name long ago, and it is ...read more

Feasting With The Pharisees - An Examination Of Luke 14:1-24

Contributed by Clay Gentry on Aug 21, 2013

Jesus ate with all kinds of sinners, including the Pharisees. One such occasion is recorded in Luke 14:1-14. In this lesson we'll examine the disastrous dinner with a focus of learning who will sit around the Lord's table.

The meal table is the main social center of the home. Think of some of your warmest memories and many of them will be associated with meal-time. In our text, the entire passage is centered around and on a meal table. The great question discussed was who will sit around God’s table in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-24

Denomination: *other

An Open-Ended Prayer

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 20, 2018

Waiting faith and expectant trust.

AN OPEN-ENDED PRAYER. Psalm 123:1-4. This is a short, impassioned prayer: a plea for help in the face of adversaries. It begins with adoration, with an abrupt “Unto You…” (PSALM 123:1). This is a song of Ascents and its opening may be paralleled to another: ‘I to the hills will lift ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 123:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sour Grapes

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 29, 2020

From blame to shame. A call to repentance.

SOUR GRAPES. Ezekiel 18:1-4; Ezekiel 18:25-32. It seems to be very much a part of fallen human nature that we want to blame someone else for the things that go wrong in our lives. This all began in the garden of Eden, after the first couple ate of the forbidden fruit. Adam blamed both his ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 18:1-4, Ezekiel 18:25-32

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