Sermons on Proper 21:

A Blessing For All Nations

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 23, 2016

The ultimate harvest will be when "all the ends of the earth" revere God.

A BLESSING FOR ALL NATIONS. Psalm 67. The opening of this Psalm echoes the beginning of the high-priestly benediction pronounced by Aaron and his sons (Psalm 67:1; cf. Numbers 6:24-25). The Psalm also has its foundations in the blessing of all the families of the earth through Abraham and His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 67:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good Beginnings, Midway Failures, Final Triumphs

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 21, 2013

Looking beyond our failures, and stepping into the blessings.

GOOD BEGINNINGS, MIDWAY FAILURES, FINAL TRIUMPHS. Hebrews 11:8-16. Sometimes when we look at our Christian walk and life all we can see are our failures. Healthy self-examination all too easily declines into unhealthy introspection. It is good to be reassured that God views us not as we see ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Hall Of Faith

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 27, 2013

Running the race with the heroes of the faith, with our eyes fixed on Jesus.

THE HALL OF FAITH. Hebrews 11:29-12:2. 1. In the earlier verses of Hebrews 11, the ‘Hall of Faith’ (as I have called it) spoke of faithful individuals, ranging from Abel through Abraham to Moses. Now we have a shift to the plural, emphasising the collective faith of all involved. “By faith THEY ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:29-40, Hebrews 12:1-2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Call To Practical Holiness

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 30, 2016

A holy walk is best seen in our attitudes to others.

A CALL TO PRACTICAL HOLINESS. Leviticus 19:1-2; Leviticus 19:9-18. In the midst of Jesus’ best-known ethical sermon, the Lord taught the foundational motive for right Christian living: ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect’ (Matthew 5:48). In many respects ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 19:1-2, Leviticus 19:9-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Praying Poet Appeals For The Righteousness Of The Lord

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 8, 2016

Jesus is all our righteousness, and all our righteousness is in Him (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:30).

A PRAYING POET’S APPEAL FOR THE LORD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS. Psalm 119:33-40. In the midst of this wonderful symphony about the Torah, the law of the LORD, there are also some petitions and prayers. This particular section uses several causative verbs, asking the LORD for things which He has promised ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:33-40

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Stands In Awe Is Blessed

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 4, 2014

When we put our trust in the righteous LORD we shall not lose our reward.

WHO STANDS IN AWE IS BLESSED. Psalm 112:1-10. Like its immediate predecessor, PSALM 112 is an acrostic poem, using the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet in order as the opening letter of each line. PSALM 112:1 can best be represented in English by: “Alleluia. Blessed is the man…” The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 112:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Lost Sheep And A Lost Coin.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 4, 2022

Man in sin is lost, whether he is aware of it or not. Jesus came to seek that which was lost. The testimony of Christians is, I once was lost, but now am found.

A LOST SHEEP AND A LOST COIN. Luke 15:1-10. In the first parable of today’s reading we see the caring shepherd. He left his ninety-nine other sheep in order to seek the one that was lost, until he had found it. This is an image which is familiar from both the Old Testament and the New Testament: ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Grace Of The Lord In The Midst Of Famine.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 11, 2021

A miraculous and timely provision.

THE GRACE OF THE LORD IN THE MIDST OF FAMINE. 1 Kings 17:8-16. “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months” (James 5:17). This may seem an audacious thing to pray ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Call Of Wisdom

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 23, 2018

Make me an offer I can't refuse!

THE CALL OF WISDOM. Proverbs 9:1-6. Even before she invited us, Lady Wisdom “built her house” (Proverbs 9:1). The hewing out of Lady Wisdom’s “seven pillars” speaks of completeness (unlike the ‘folly’ in Edinburgh which was never completed), spaciousness, and endurance. ‘I go to prepare a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:1-6

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

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

Jesus, The Man Of Sorrows

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 20, 2016

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus (Acts 8:35).

JESUS, THE MAN OF SORROWS. Isaiah 52:13-53:12 – Fourth Servant Song. 1. The introduction to this prophecy of the Passion of Jesus begins not with His humiliation, but with His exaltation (Isaiah 52:13). The letter to the Hebrews speaks of Jesus, ‘who for the joy that was set before Him endured ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12, Isaiah 52:13-15

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

Revival Is In The Word Itself!

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jul 16, 2005

Revival is so important. The word revival contains 21 items that will bring us to revival in our local churches, cities and nations.

REVIVAL IS IN THE WORD ITSELF! 2 Chr 7:14 KJV If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chr 7:15 Now mine eyes shall be ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14-16

Becoming Disciples

Contributed by Dan Cale on Oct 24, 2004

21st century Christians are better at believing than they are at behaving. This message studies what it means to become a Disciple of Jesus Christ.

Becoming Disciples Mark 3:13-19 "He went up to the mountain and summoned those who He Himself wanted, and they came to Him.¨ Thus began the greatest adventure these men had ever known. These men were called to be Disciples. Can you imagine what that was like? To be one of these twelve men who ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:13-19

Denomination: *other