Sermons on Proper 20:

A Metaphor Of A Vine

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 13, 2019

You turn us, O LORD, You shine on us. Without You there is no salvation.

A METAPHOR OF A VINE. Psalm 80:1-2; Psalm 80:8-19. There are two metaphors in this Psalm: that of God as Shepherd (Psalm 80:1-7), and that of Israel as a vine (Psalm 80:8-16). It is upon the second of these that I wish to concentrate our attention. But first we must remind ourselves of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 80:1-2, Psalm 80:8-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Perpetual Promise For The People Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 21, 2016

A Five Point Sermon.

A PERPETUAL PROMISE FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD. John 6:36-37. Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst’ (John 6:35). The reaction to this statement was one of antagonism. Jesus’ listeners ‘then murmured at Him, because ...read more

Scripture: John 6:36-47, John 6:36-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Refocusing Our Commitment To Jesus

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 8, 2016

The Guest is more important than the hospitality.

REFOCUSING OUR COMMITMENT TO JESUS. Luke 10:38-42. Luke has arranged his material thematically (Luke 1:3), and it is interesting here to notice that this little but highly significant domestic incident immediately follows the parable of ‘the neighbourly kindness of the hated Samaritan’ (as I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Loosed! Stand Up And Praise God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 4, 2016

For eighteen long years this woman had struggled with her infirmity. What better day to heal her than the Sabbath?

LOOSED! STAND UP AND PRAISE GOD. Luke 13:10-17. In this remarkable little incident we find Jesus teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10). Perhaps one of the first things we notice is just how obedient the Lord was to the laws and customs of His time. Should not we also be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Celebration Of God-Given Opportunity

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 24, 2015

Hannah was seeing beyond the circumstance of the birth of Samuel to something of its significance.

A CELEBRATION OF GOD-GIVEN OPPORTUNITY. 1 Samuel 2:1-10. The Song of Hannah is a song of reversals. It was a celebration of a God-given opportunity through the birth of a child. Yet it is not only a personal response to one particular situation: it is a response which all of God’s people are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Anointing A Man After The Heart Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 26, 2016

The Lord's criteria for service.

ANOINTING A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART. 1 Samuel 15:34-35; 1 Samuel 16:1-13. Israel had demanded a king, just so that they could be like the other nations. Samuel had protested, but the LORD allowed it. After all, they were not rejecting Samuel: they were rejecting the LORD (1 Samuel 8:4-7). ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:34-35, 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Grace Of Giving

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 6, 2018

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

THE GRACE OF GIVING. 2 Corinthians 8:7-15. 1. The example of the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). (v1) By the grace of God, the Macedonian churches (Philippi and Thessalonica) had been particularly forward in giving. (v2) Their gift was given out of poverty: like that of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, 2 Corinthians 8:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Upon The Cross.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 29, 2021

Hope in the midst of suffering.

JESUS UPON THE CROSS. Psalm 22:1-15. The details of the sufferings in Psalm 22:1-21 match more exactly the anguish of Jesus upon the Cross than anything that we can find in any of the written records of David’s life - and because of this the church has always read this Psalm of David as a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Ode To The Word Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 18, 2020

This section has been called an inverted dirge, beginning with celebration, but ending in tears. This shows just how totally the Psalmist is engaged with his subject. In truth, it is a celebration of the Word of God, and of the God of the Word.

AN ODE TO THE WORD OF GOD. Psalm 119:129-136. Psalm 119:129. Reason to keep God’s “testimonies”? Because they are wonderful. Indeed, the Word of God is a ‘wonderful’ thing, full as it is of an extraordinary supernatural wonder! The Psalmist engages not just his “soul” but his whole man to the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:129-136

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Table Spread.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 20, 2022

The fourth significant sign in the Gospel of John.

A TABLE SPREAD. John 6:1-14. “After these things” (John 6:1), Jesus and His disciples crossed the sea of Galilee. “And a great multitude followed Him because they saw His miracles which He did to them which were diseased" (John 6:2). Jesus and His disciples then withdrew from the ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

O For A Day In Thy Courts.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 17, 2021

The prayer-answering God gives grace and glory in Jesus' Name.

O FOR A DAY IN THY COURTS. Psalm 84:8-12. The Psalmist’s second “Selah” separates between two prayer petitions. The first is that the “LORD God of hosts… the God of Jacob” would “hear” his prayer, and “give ear” (Psalm 84:8). The Psalmist is in no doubt that our God is a prayer hearing, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:8-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keep Your Salt Levels High Series

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Sep 28, 2024

Why Wikipedia beats printed encylcopedias. How doing the hardest thing (what's that?) can help lift our spirits when we are low. And how that fits not just with Jesus's saying about saltiness but with the rest of today's bible readings. A sermon from September 2015

Have a taste of this [hand out teaspoon of salt to someone in the front row] “If salt loses it’s saltiness with what will you season it?” I have two things that I would like to draw out of today’s texts about ways in which we can lose our saltiness - one personal and one public. One personal - ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-50, James 5:13-20, Numbers 11:4-29, 1 Kings 11:1-18, Romans 12:15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

An Education In Ethics Series

Contributed by Donald Mcculley on Mar 19, 2019

When it comes to church ethics God sets the standards. He calls us to proper behavior, right living and Godly conduct.

AN EDUCATION IN ETHICS I CORINTHIANS 5-7 INTRODUCTION: The word “ethical” is foreign to some church people and some preachers! Ethics = conforming to the standards of conduct of a given profession or group. When it comes to church ethics God sets the standards. He calls us to proper behavior, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Watching For The Word

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 15, 2019

Wait patiently, it will come to pass.

WATCHING FOR THE WORD. Habakkuk 1:1-2:4. This is the oracle or “burden” which Habakkuk the prophet did “see” (Habakkuk 1:1). So, right from the top, we understand that the prophet’s patient waiting of Habakkuk 2:1 paid off. When Habakkuk speaks of his message as a burden, it is to ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-17, Habakkuk 2:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keep Trusting In The Lord! Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Apr 4, 2020

We should always trust in the Lord: 1. Because He cares when we are confused (vs. 16-19). 2. Because He fully knows the future (vs. 16, 19-20). 3. Because He will take you through your troubles (vs. 20). 4. Because He can totally transform your life (vs. 20-22).

Keep Trusting in the Lord! The Gospel of John John 16:16-22 Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church – January 24, 2018 (Revised April 4, 2020) BACKGROUND: *Please open your Bibles to John 16. For many weeks now, we have been studying the night before Jesus died on the cross for our sins. ...read more

Scripture: John 16:16-22

Denomination: Baptist