Sermons on Proper 17:

That All People May Know Thy Name.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 12, 2021

The transcendence and immanence of God.

THAT ALL PEOPLE MAY KNOW THY NAME. 1 Kings 8:1; 1 Kings 8:6; 1 Kings 8:10-11; 1 Kings 8:22-30; 1 Kings 8:41-43. The bringing of the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple in Jerusalem was a monumental moment in the history of God’s people (1 Kings 8:1; 1 Kings 8:6). Yet all the skill and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 8:1, 1 Kings 8:6, 1 Kings 8:10-11, 1 Kings 8:22-30, 1 Kings 8:41-43  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Love The Lord Because.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 29, 2021

Returning to our rest in Him.

I LOVE THE LORD BECAUSE. Psalm 116:1-9. If I was asked why I love the LORD, I might well answer: because He heard and answered my prayer (Psalm 116:1). Yet this may, at first glance, appear self-serving: what would I have to say for myself if my prayers had not been answered in the way that I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 116:1-9

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

A Basket Of Ripe Summer Fruit

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 7, 2019

Seek God, do justice - before it is too late.

A BASKET OF RIPE SUMMER FRUIT. Amos 8:1-12. This vision and its interpretation is based in a pun: the Hebrew word for “Summer fruit” sounds almost identical with the word translated “the end” (Amos 8:1-2). Read Amos 4:6-11 for a litany of the temporal judgments which the LORD laid upon ...read more

Scripture: Amos 8:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Storm A Calm.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 24, 2020

Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses. Psalm 107 verse 28.

THE STORM A CALM. Psalm 107:1-3. Psalm 107:1. This Psalm, from the outset, is a summons to thanksgiving. The LORD is good, and His mercy everlasting. We are perhaps quick enough to pray, to 'make our requests known unto God' (Philippians 4:6) when we are in trouble: but do we remember ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:1-3, Psalm 107:23-32, Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hope Amid Chastening

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 25, 2020

The outworking of the mercies and compassion of the LORD, in the context of chastening.

HOPE AMID CHASTENING Lamentations 3:22-33 “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed” (Lamentations 3:22a). The Hebrew word translated “mercies” is “hesed”, and speaks of God’s steadfast love, His covenant mercy. The fact that “we are not consumed” is based in the ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Strait Betwixt The Twain.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 24, 2023

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

A STRAIT BETWIXT THE TWAIN. Philippians 1:21-30. The Apostle Paul had just referred to his ‘earnest expectation and hope’ that Christ should now be ‘magnified’ in Paul’s body ‘whether by life or by death’ (cf. Philippians 1:20). Suddenly, it seems, Paul found himself in a state of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:21-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Egypt To Canaan.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 28, 2023

The holy God remembered His covenant with Abraham, and kept His holy promise.

FROM EGYPT TO CANAAN. Psalm 105:1-6, Psalm 105:37-45. PSALM 105:1. There is a call to “give thanks to the LORD.” It is always appropriate to remember and acknowledge the LORD’s gracious dealings with us. Then there is an exhortation to “call upon His name.” We offer our praise and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 105:1-6, Psalm 105:37-45

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Broken Bread.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 13, 2021

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. John 6 verse 53.

THE BROKEN BREAD. John 6:51-58. Everlasting life is not a thing that is earned: it is a free gift of God. All that is required is that we put our trust wholly and entirely in Jesus (John 6:28-29). Jesus says quite categorically that whoever believes in Him has everlasting life (John 6:47), and ...read more

Scripture: John 6:51-58

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Failure To Understand.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 13, 2021

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10 verse 39.

A FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND John 6:56-69 Like Nicodemus who struggled with the concept of being born again (John 3:4; John 3:9), the Jews in the Capernaum synagogue (John 6:59) struggled to understand what Jesus was talking about (John 6:41; John 6:52). Jesus’ response (John 6:53-57) is only a ...read more

Scripture: John 6:56-69

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Best Barn Of All

Contributed by Lisa Skogsrud on Aug 20, 2019

We can avoid the problems in The Parable of the Rich Fool by building a "discipleship granary" to store the riches of God's grace that are ours in Jesus Christ.

Sermon Luke 12:13-21 for Pentecost +8C, August 4, 2019 I don't know where the time has gone, but here we are in August, and the summer is more than half over! The days are still hot enough, but you've noticed the nights getting longer already, haven't you? The short growing season we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

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

The Time Of The End.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 20, 2021

Deliverance in a time of trouble. Resurrection and everlasting life. Wisdom and Witness.

THE TIME OF THE END. Daniel 12:1-3. DANIEL 12:1. “And at that time.” This reaches beyond the prophesied histories of the previous chapter to ‘the time of the end’ (cf. Daniel 11:35). “Michael” = 'Who is like God?' Various commentators throughout Christian history have ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 12:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Justification By Grace Through Faith.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 18, 2025

"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).

JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH. Romans 3:22-26. Paul contrasts the righteousness of God with the unrighteousness and self-righteousness of man (cf. Romans 3:21). ROMANS 3:22. Righteousness is not something which we can accomplish, but rather comes as a free gift from God through faith in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational