Sermons on Proper 20:

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

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

The Truest Freedom

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 23, 2019

We are set free - to the truest kind of liberty.

THE TRUEST FREEDOM. Galatians 5:1; Galatians 5:13-25. Paul established the contrast between bondage and freedom by the use of an allegory concerning Hagar and Sarah, and their respective sons (Galatians 4:22). When we are born into this world, we are born into bondage to the corruption of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

End Times Obedience

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 17, 2013

How to live in the in-between times.

END TIMES OBEDIENCE. Romans 13:11-14. Context: Romans 12:1-15:13 is the practical application of the statement “The just shall live by faith” established so thoroughly in Romans 1-8. Those who have been made righteous through faith are not to live any longer in the ways of the world, but to be ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Putting Jesus First

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 16, 2013

Prioritising commitments, bearing the Cross, and counting the cost of discipleship.

PUTTING JESUS FIRST. Luke 14:25-33. I. Prioritising commitments. Jesus, it has to be admitted, is a great orator. Seeing the crowds following Him, He turned (Luke 14:25), and spoke words that were designed to shock, and even offend His hearers. In a masterstroke of hyperbole, He took their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hope Amid Hopelessness

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 17, 2019

God is good, and all things work together for good.

HOPE AMID HOPELESSNESS. Lamentations 3:19-26. It is all too easy to forget that these words of hope and encouragement have been drawn out of the midst of the Book of Lamentations. Jeremiah penned these among the ashes of Jerusalem, a city once known as ‘the joy of the whole earth’ (Psalm ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:19-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Holy Communion: Remembering, Thanking, Humbling

Contributed by Tommy Ellis on Jun 2, 2002

Sermon details the proper way Christians should approach Communion--by remembering what Jesus did, thanking Him, and by humbling ourselves through confession of sins.

HOLY COMMUNION: REMEMBERING, THANKING, HUMBLING What happens when you give a street drunk a bottle of expensive wine? He drinks it as if it were the cheap stuff he is used to. Likewise, if we hurry, or we partake of Holy Communion ignorantly, we will miss the treasure of it. The taking of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:27-32, Isaiah 53:5, 1 Corinthians 11:20-27

Denomination: Pentecostal

Why Me, Lord?

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Feb 4, 2005

A look at the trials in our lives, why we have them, how we should use them, and keeping a proper perspective as we go through them.

How many of us have found ourselves with burdens that affect our lives? In reality, we all have our hardships, don’t we? Have you ever wondered why God lets His children suffer such unpleasantries? Let me give you a little hint. It has to do with our huge egos that think we are the ones in ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-3

Denomination: *other

Let The Boaster Boast!

Contributed by Christopher Hill on Apr 2, 2004

Boasting is usually something frowned on but we are given instructions in the proper motivation and subject of our boasting in Jermiah. We are to boast that we know and understand Yahweh God.

Let the boaster boast! Jeremiah 9:23-24 Boasting is essentially praising oneself. The Hebrew llh means to praise and in this section it is the reflexive hitpa’el – in other words, praising oneself. I. The pattern of the Hebrew text is “Let not X boast about his Y” A. The X and Y might be ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 9:23-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Thankful Heart

Contributed by Troy Borst on Nov 25, 2003

We can follow the example of the one leper who returned to thank Jesus to help us this Thanksgiving to offer proper thanks to God and to be a person with a thankful heart.

THANKSGIVING 2003: A THANKFUL HEART LUKE 17:11-19 INTRODUCTION Governor Bradford made the following proclamation in 1623, 3 years after the Pilgrims settled at Plymouth; To all ye Pilgrims, Inasmuch as the great father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, squashes ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Power Of Thanksgiving

Contributed by Dwight Davis on Jun 12, 2009

This sermon stresses the benefits of thanksgiving in our day to day lives and unveils what the bible has to say about seeing our troubles from the proper perspective.

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving… It has always been so strange to me how Thanksgiving has changed since its original conception—even from when I was a kid. For instance, how ironic is it that the very day after Thanksgiving just happens to be the biggest shopping day of the year! Think about ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-8

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Great Is Your Faith!

Contributed by Christopher Martin on Aug 17, 2008

14th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 15 Series A. Preached at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Audubon, IA on 8/17/2008

“Great is your faith!” How would you feel if I as your Pastor were to tell someone that about you? I’m guessing that you’d think you must be doing something right. And to be honest, I’ve been around you folks long enough now to be able to say that about quite a few of you. Our congregation is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:21-28

Denomination: Lutheran

Interpreting The Story Of Cain And Abel

Contributed by Richard Down on Jan 2, 2011

The story of Cain and Abel's sacrifices is well known but often misinterpreted or misused to prove certain pet theories. This presentation considers how a proper understanding may be gained.

The Sacrifices of Cain and Abel. Most Bible readers will be aware of the story of Cain and Abel, a story infamous as the first murder in the Biblical narrative. It’s a story that catches the imagination because just one generation after the first sin in the garden of Eden we already have ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-10

Denomination: Christian Church

What Is Worship

Contributed by David Long on Aug 1, 2019

As we sing, pray, and give, it must be done according to God’s instructions. So, what does that look like? What is the proper way to worship God?

According to the dictionary, Worship is: NOUN: The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. VERB: Show reverence and adoration for (particularly a deity); honor with religious rites. There is a lot of confusion in the religious world today concerning worship. There are more ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-24

Love Is Blind

Contributed by David Roth on Jan 13, 2015

Proper 29 (A). Last Sunday of the Church Year. Christ judges the sheep as good and righteous because the sheep live in the Lamb, and His love covers their sin.

J. J. May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen. “Love is blind” Today we are observing the Last Sunday of the Church year, also called Christ the King Sunday. And so, the readings are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Lutheran