Sermons on Proper 27:

About Formalism In Worship.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 31, 2023

It is not good when our worship is nothing more than a formality, rather than an engagement with the One whom we are supposedly worshipping.

ABOUT FORMALISM IN WORSHIP. Psalm 50:7-15. Taken as a whole, the content of this Psalm appears as a court case, with El Elohim Yahweh, “the Mighty God the LORD” (cf. Psalm 50:1) presiding as Judge (cf. Psalm 50:6) - and God’s covenant people in the dock (cf. Psalm 50:5). Here the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:7-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

2nd Sunday After Pentecost. June 7th, 2026. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 1, 2023

Year A, Proper 5.

Genesis 12:1-9, Psalm 33:1-12, Hosea 5:15, Hosea 6:1-6, Psalm 50:7-15, Romans 4:13-25, Matthew 9:9-13, Matthew 9:18-26. A). THE CALL OF ABRAHAM. Genesis 12:1-9. Our history begins in Ur of the Chaldees, in what is now Southern Iraq, a predominantly pagan city of about 250,000 people, with a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9, Psalm 33:1-12, Hosea 5:15, Hosea 6:1-6, Psalm 50:7-15, Romans 4:13-25, Matthew 9:9-13, Matthew 9:18-26  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Son Of Laughter.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 6, 2023

Is anything too hard for the LORD?

THE SON OF LAUGHTER. Genesis 18:1-15, Genesis 21:1-7. 1. The promise (Genesis 18:1-15). This passage is described as an encounter in which “the LORD” (= YHWH, Hebrew) “appeared unto” Abraham when he was having his siesta “in the heat of the day.” When he lifted up his head, suddenly, there ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15, Genesis 21:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Prayer Of David.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 11, 2023

The LORD is a very present help in time of need.

A PRAYER OF DAVID. Psalm 86:1-10, Psalm 86:16-17. PSALM 86:1. Whatever troubles the Psalmist was facing, he recognises two things: the greatness of the LORD (YHWH), and his own smallness. Such is his humility when he asks the LORD to “Bow down (His) ear” to such a one as is “poor and needy.” The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 86:1-10, Psalm 86:16-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Trial Of Contradictory Prophesies.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 27, 2023

A showdown in the Temple, between a true and a false prophet.

A TRIAL OF CONTRADICTORY PROPHECIES. Jeremiah 28:5-9. One of the false prophets, Hananiah, prophesied that the exile would only last two years (cf. Jeremiah 28:1-4). This was a lie of the devil (cf. Jeremiah 28:15). Somewhat ironically, Hananiah’s name means, ‘the grace of the LORD.’ ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 28:5-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Problem Of Indwelling Sin.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 1, 2023

Sin uses the law against us; but our victory lies not in ourselves but in the risen Lord Jesus.

THE PROBLEM OF INDWELLING SIN. Romans 7:15-25a. In the first half of Romans 7:14, Paul speaks in the second person plural: ‘For WE know that the law is spiritual.’ Then, from the second half of the verse, Paul changes to the first person singular, ‘I’ – ‘but I am carnal, sold under (or a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mindsets.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 5, 2023

God did what the law could not. The present state of the believer is one of hope.

MINDSETS. Romans 8:1-11. I. A SET FREE MINDSET. Romans 8:1-5. “Then-now-no” begins the Greek of this wonderful chapter of God’s Book. This firm negation placed right at the beginning of the sentence serves to emphasise the absolute impossibility of there ever being any “condemnation” - to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wait On The Lord

Contributed by Victor Yap on Mar 2, 2025

Psalm 27

WAIT ON THE LORD (PSALM 27) After a long sermon on forgiveness, the preacher asked how many were willing to forgive their enemies. About half held up their hands. Not satisfied he harangued for another twenty minutes and repeated his question. This time he received a response of about 80 ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Righteous And The Wicked. Abridged.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 6, 2024

Two lifestyles, two destinies.

THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED. Psalm 1:1-6. The Book of Psalms begins with a benediction. Psalm 1 then proceeds to declare who are the righteous and who the wicked, along with their separate destinations. PSALM 1:1. The blessing is literally, “Oh the happiness!” We are put in mind, of course, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Righteous And The Wicked

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 23, 2013

Two distinct lifestyles. Two eternal destinies.

THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED. Psalm 1:1-6. The Book of Psalms begins with a benediction. Psalm 1 then proceeds to declare who are the righteous and who the wicked, along with their separate destinations. PSALM 1:1. The blessing is literally, “Oh the happiness!” We are put in mind, of course, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Open-Ended Prayer

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 20, 2018

Waiting faith and expectant trust.

AN OPEN-ENDED PRAYER. Psalm 123:1-4. This is a short, impassioned prayer: a plea for help in the face of adversaries. It begins with adoration, with an abrupt “Unto You…” (PSALM 123:1). This is a song of Ascents and its opening may be paralleled to another: ‘I to the hills will lift ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 123:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Waiting In Hope

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 16, 2017

An ascent out of the depths.

WAITING IN HOPE. Psalm 130. This Psalm is a song of ascent: “Out of the depths” (Psalm 130:1). The Latin language captures the intensity of the situation: “De profundis” (from which we have the English word ‘profundity’, meaning ‘a great depth or intensity of state, quality or emotion’). We’ve ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 130:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Vision Of Salvation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 7, 2013

Mercy and truth meet together, & righteousness and peace embrace - in the Cross of Jesus Christ.

A VISION OF SALVATION. Psalm 85. First, the Psalmist remembers the favour and forgiveness of the LORD (Psalm 85:1-3). This is a good place to begin in our petitions to God, rather than diving into our shopping list of requests. We base our belief that God will give us a favourable answer in His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lord Will Perfect Me

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 12, 2019

This is a Psalm of thanksgiving, and of hope.

THE LORD WILL PERFECT ME. Psalm138:1-8. In Psalm 138:1, David praises the LORD. 1st, his praise is wholehearted (cf. Psalm 9:1; Psalm 86:12-13; Psalm 103:1-2; Psalm 111:1). 2nd, it is ‘in the face of’ (to use a contemporary term) all other would-be or otherwise imaginary ‘gods’ (cf. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 138:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Springtime Of My Love

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 13, 2018

'This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church' (Ephesians 5:32).

THE SPRINGTIME OF MY LOVE. Song of Songs 2:8-13. The date and time of your next meeting is set: outside the Department store on such a street at such a time on Friday, or whenever. There you are, waiting, perhaps forgetting that these buildings often have more than one door. You wonder if ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 2:8-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational