Sermons on Proper 17:

An Indoor-Outdoor Spiritual Barbeque

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 14, 2015

A damning indictment against stubborn unbelief, and a shocking redefining of 'family'...

AN INDOOR-OUTDOOR SPIRITUAL BARBEQUE. Mark 3:20-35. Belief crowds in towards Jesus, oblivious of walls (oblivious of the roof on one occasion), in the hope of a healing touch (Mark 3:20). Unbelief stands outside, questioning Jesus’ sanity. Some well-meaning acquaintances of Jesus wanted to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Another Sad Song Of The Vineyard

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 24, 2014

Are we about to reject the Rock of our salvation?

ANOTHER SAD SONG OF THE VINEYARD. Matthew 21:33-46. The vineyard is a well-known motif for Israel (cf. Isaiah 5:7). We saw it in the parable of the labourers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16), and in the example of the two sons whose father asked them to go and work in his vineyard (Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A State Of Being Which Gives Rise To Activity

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 18, 2016

A Christian perspective on Torah.

A STATE OF BEING WHICH GIVES RISE TO ACTIVITY. Psalm 119:1-8. We begin our study of the selected passage with the observation that the word for “blessed” is not a verb, but a noun. It is a state of being, not an activity. We are “blessed” not because “we walk in the law of the LORD”; but rather ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Anointed Ruler, Divine King

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 15, 2017

The Old Testament expectation was inclining towards the coming of the warrior king. Instead, He appeared as the man on the donkey.

ANOINTED RULER, DIVINE KING. Zechariah 9:9-12. In a series of visions, Zechariah reached beyond the needs of his own time to the coming of Jesus. In Zechariah 9:1, the eyes of men, and all Israel, were looking towards the return of the LORD to His city and Temple. The departure was foretold by ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 9:9-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Hard Calling

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 12, 2018

It is hard preaching to hard heads and hard hearts.

A HARD CALLING. Ezekiel 2:1-5. In times gone by, and in certain places and professions still, it was taken for granted that children would follow in the trade of their fathers. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, would have known from an early age that they were going to be fishermen. ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 2:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pursuing The Mark

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 20, 2013

Paul the persecutor was turned into Paul the pursuer. The Christian life is not static, but vigorously active.

PURSUING THE MARK. Philippians 3:4-14. The starter’s line for this passage is the Apostle Paul’s polemic against false teachers, whose confidence lies in the flesh (Philippians 3:2-4). “The flesh” here represents self-help religion, which stands contrary to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Garden

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 28, 2014

Man in the image of God, man in the Garden.

THE GARDEN. Genesis 2:4-25. In Genesis 1 we saw Creation from the cosmological viewpoint of God. The expression “These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth” in Genesis 2:4 links the seeming remoteness of God in the earlier account with the intimacy of the Garden, viewing Creation ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:4-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Confess And Believe

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 21, 2013

Made righteous through the righteousness of Jesus, which we receive by faith in Him. Whoever believes in Jesus shall not be ashamed. Whoever calls upon His name will be saved. Sincere faith leads to public confession of Christ.

CONFESS AND BELIEVE. Romans 10:9. According to a Roman historian, the Emperor Claudius ordered all the Jews to leave Rome after public disorders caused by the preaching of the claims of Jesus Christ in the synagogues. This fact is echoed in the Scriptures, where we find the Jewish Christian ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bridling The Tongue

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 31, 2013

The same tongue which responds to God’s manifest glories by blessing His holy name also denigrates the poor - the widow, the orphan, and the resident alien - who, like us, are made in His image.

BRIDLING THE TONGUE. James 3:1-12. “If anyone thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain” (James 1:26). James 3:1. James begins his elucidation of this text with a warning against seeking pre-eminence amongst the brethren. This ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Above, Yet Made A Form Below

Contributed by Sterling Franklin on Jan 2, 2002

Even though Jesus was made Higher than angels, He came to earth as a human, a form below, so that He would be a proper High Priest and atonement for our sins. Praise the Lord!

"Above, Yet Made a Form Below" By Sterling Franklin Hebrews 1:1-5 - 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-5, Hebrews 2:14-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Wants Us To Be Overcomers For Jesus Christ Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 2, 2021

God wants us... 1. To refuse to get revenge (vs. 17a; 19). 2. To reveal His righteousness (vs. 17b). 3. To pursue peaceful living (vs. 18). 4. To depend on His divine help (vs. 19). 5. To demonstrate the kindness of our King (vs. 20-21).

God Wants Us to Be Overcomers for Jesus Christ The Book of Romans Romans 12:17-21 Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - November 13, 2016 (Revised September 2, 2021) BACKGROUND: *In Romans 1-11, Paul went into great detail about our terrible sinfulness and our desperate need for the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:17-21

Denomination: Baptist

Transformation

Contributed by Allan Kircher on Feb 15, 2009

Such is the goal of being transformed; indeed, it is the goal of being a Christian! Yet why do many never experience the transformation God offers? Why do they remain "caterpillars"? Perhaps they lack the proper motivation.

Pastor Allan Kircher Associate Pastor Shell Point Baptist Church “Be Transformed” INTRODUCTION 1. In Ro 12:1-2, Paul makes the following plea regarding transforming our lives: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Choose Life

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 13, 2013

"Choose life": an exhortation that belongs not only to the outset of the Christian life, but to all our choices in this life.

CHOOSE LIFE. Deuteronomy 30:15-20. On more than one occasion I am sure, “Choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19) has been used, not inappropriately, as the text for an evangelistic sermon. The context, however, suggests that these words were not originally addressed to people who did not know the LORD ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

"How We Make God Become Visible.”

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Jun 23, 2002

June 30, 2002 -- SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -- Proper 8 Matthew 10:40-42 Color: Green Title: “How we make God become visible.”

June 30, 2002 -- SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -- Proper 8 Matthew 10:40-42 Color: Green Title: “How we make God become visible.” 37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and whoever does not take up ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:40-42

Denomination: Lutheran