Sermons on Proper 22:

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

An Everlasting Throne

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 14, 2020

Nevertheless: The faithfulness of God.

AN EVERLASTING THRONE Psalm 89:27-37. There is a tension in this Psalm, between the LORD’s promise of an everlasting dynasty for the line of David (Psalm 89:3-4; Psalm 89:28), and the complaint of the Psalmist (Psalm 89:38). However, the LORD’s “Nevertheless” (Psalm 89:33) trumps the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 89:27-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Feb 26, 2020

Perhaps you have played the childhood game, Ring Around the Rosie.

Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down Matthew 6: 1 - 6 Intro: Do you remember as a child singing “Ring Around The Rosie”? It is unknown what the earliest version of the rhyme was or when it began. The game has a group of children form a ring, dance in a circle around a person, and stoop or fall to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Prayer For The King.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 23, 2024

The LORD accept thy burnt sacrifice. Psalm 20.3.

A PRAYER FOR THE KING. Psalm 20:1-9. Jesus took with Him Peter, James and John and instructed them to ‘watch’ with Him (cf. Matthew 26:38), and to ‘watch and pray’ (cf. Matthew 26:41). I wonder what prayers they might have made on His behalf if their sleepy heads could have stayed awake long ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 20:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When God Is On Our Side.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 25, 2024

'This I know; for God is for me' (cf. Psalm 56:9).

WHEN GOD IS ON OUR SIDE. 1 Samuel 17:32-49. Things had reached an impasse in the territorial struggles between the invading Philistines and Israel. The valley of Elah (cf. 1 Samuel 17:2) was in the south of Israel, and the two armies were set in battle array facing one another, but neither side ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:32-49

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Love Of Jonathan And The Resentment Of Saul.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 5, 2024

Jonathan confirmed the kingship of David by clothing him in the regalia of the Crown Prince; whereas Saul confirmed the kingship of David by putting him in the forefront of the battle.

THE LOVE OF JONATHAN AND THE RESENTMENT OF SAUL. 1 Samuel 17:57-58, 1 Samuel 18:1-5, 1 Samuel 18:10-16. It was evidently quite difficult for Saul to recognise in the giant slayer the same young man who had been serving at court as his own personal music therapist (1 SAMUEL 17:57-58; cf. 1 Samuel ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:57-58, 1 Samuel 18:1-5, 1 Samuel 18:10-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sanctity Of The Sabbath.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 8, 2023

Nobody should be required to work more than six days a week.

THE SANCTITY OF THE SABBATH. Deuteronomy 5:12-15. The Sabbath is to be “kept” and “sanctified” (i.e. set apart for God) - as the LORD our God has commanded (DEUTERONOMY 5:12). It is to be ‘remembered’ (cf. Exodus 20:8) - which implies that it was already known about prior to the giving of the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Law Of Love And The Body Of Christ.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 15, 2023

Christian life and love.

THE LAW OF LOVE AND THE BODY OF CHRIST. Ephesians 4:25-32, Ephesians 5:1-2. All of our relationships within the body of Christ must be governed by the Christian law of love (cf. Ephesians 4:2). We are to “walk in love” (EPHESIANS 5:2). One of the practical reasons given for “putting away the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32, Ephesians 5:1-2

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

A Model Of Spiritual Warfare.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 23, 2023

Speaking as a prophetess, Deborah gave Barak a directive from the LORD.

A MODEL OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE. Judges 4:1-7. JUDGES 4:1-2. At the very outset of this short passage we discover that war MIGHT come against the LORD’s people as a direct result of their sin. This simple fact is echoed throughout the book of Judges: “And the children of Israel again did evil in ...read more

Scripture: Judges 4:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Have Heard The Joyful Sound.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 28, 2023

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. Psalm 89:15.

WE HAVE HEARD THE JOYFUL SOUND. Psalm 89:1-4, Psalm 89:15-18. The Psalmist Ethan twice applauds the LORD’s mercy and faithfulness (PSALM 89:1-2). This reassurance is rooted in the LORD’s covenant promise to David (PSALM 89:3). The “seed” whose throne is “for ever” (PSALM 89:4) ultimately ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 89:1-4, Psalm 89:15-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Unexpected Encounter With God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 2, 2023

A ladder of God's devising, connecting heaven and earth. Prefigures the Cross.

AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER WITH GOD. Genesis 28:10-19a. GENESIS 28:10. Jacob had defrauded his brother Esau of both his birthright and his blessing. So now Jacob was on the run from his brother Esau, headed back in the direction of the city which their grandfather Abraham had left behind so many ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-19

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 Righteousness Of God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 23, 2022

The key word in this stanza of the Psalm is righteous/ righteousness. The word appears five times in the section.

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. Psalm 119:137-144. PSALM 119:137. “Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.” “Righteous art thou, O LORD,” is a declaration of the righteousness of God. And because He is righteous, all His “judgments” are “upright,” or “just.” Thus ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:137-144

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational