Sermons on Proper 5:

Moses Drawn Out

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 24, 2018

Drawn by the cords of everlasting love!

MOSES DRAWN OUT. Exodus 2:1-10. We all know, used to know, or should have known, the story of baby Moses drifting in an ark of bulrushes, placed by his mother in amongst the reeds by the banks of the River Nile (Exodus 2:3). In ancient maps, uncharted waters used to be indicated with an ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Called To Be Conquerors, Conformed To Christ

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 2, 2017

If God be for us, who can be against us?

CALLED TO BE CONQUERORS, CONFORMED TO CHRIST. Romans 8:26-39. We are, it seems, surrounded by “infirmities” (Romans 8:26). These may be caused by lack of strength (which is what the word means), emotional weakness (including ‘burnout’), financial hardships, sickness, or sin. Paul also speaks of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26-39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Choosing Life For Others

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 29, 2017

Faced with the desirability of reaching our destination in Christ, are we willing to tarry a while to help others along the way?

CHOOSING LIFE FOR OTHERS. Philippians 1:21-26. The Apostle Paul had just referred to his ‘earnest expectation and hope’ that Christ should now be ‘magnified’ in Paul’s body ‘whether by life or by death’ (Philippians 1:20). Suddenly, it seems, Paul found himself in a state of perplexity. “For to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:21-26

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

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 Cave Of Doubt And The Call Of Duty.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 20, 2023

None of us are as alone as we might imagine. We can draw strength from the fact that the LORD has not deserted us. We are never alone.

THE CAVE OF DOUBT AND THE CALL OF DUTY. 1 Kings 19:9-18. While Obadiah was hiding others in a cave (cf. 1 Kings 18:3-4), Elijah hid himself in a cave. I. THE CAVE OF DOUBT (1 Kings 19:9-14). Why are YOU here? Indignant self-righteousness. Wind, earthquake, and fire - and a thin, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

That All People May Know Thy Name.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 12, 2021

The transcendence and immanence of God.

THAT ALL PEOPLE MAY KNOW THY NAME. 1 Kings 8:1; 1 Kings 8:6; 1 Kings 8:10-11; 1 Kings 8:22-30; 1 Kings 8:41-43. The bringing of the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple in Jerusalem was a monumental moment in the history of God’s people (1 Kings 8:1; 1 Kings 8:6). Yet all the skill and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 8:1, 1 Kings 8:6, 1 Kings 8:10-11, 1 Kings 8:22-30, 1 Kings 8:41-43  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Call Of Elisha.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 28, 2022

No looking back.

THE CALL OF ELISHA. (1 Kings 19:15-16; 1 Kings 19:19-21). The LORD’s practical response to His despondent servant Elijah was to call him back to duty, and to give him the responsibility for the anointing of: 1. A foreign tyrant (1 Kings 19:15; 2 Kings 8:11-13); 2. A new dynasty (1 Kings ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:15-16, 1 Kings 19:20-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Promises To The Sincere.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 1, 2022

A changed heart and a new life.

PROMISES TO THE SINCERE. Isaiah 58:9-14. We who have heard His call and answered, “Here am I LORD, send me” (Isaiah 6:8) will now call on Him, and He will answer “Here am I” (Isaiah 58:9). When our ‘religion’ consists in more than outward rituals, and our deeds follow our souls in pity ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:9-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Holy Boldness And Gracious Submission.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 11, 2022

Shaping our prayers in accordance with what we know about the character of God.

HOLY BOLDNESS AND GRACIOUS SUBMISSION. Genesis 18:20-32. This is the earliest prayer to be written down in the Bible. The prayer conversation was not initiated by Abraham, but by the LORD, who allowed Abraham to overhear His musings about the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20-21). The ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:20-32

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

Pray Not For This People!

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 9, 2022

The context of Jeremiah 14:11.

PRAY NOT FOR THIS PEOPLE! Jeremiah 14:7-10, Jeremiah 14:19-22. A series of droughts affected Judah during the reign of King Jehoiakim. The watercourses were empty, the ground was chapped, and there was no grass for the livestock. Nobles and their children, ploughmen, and both domestic and ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 14:7-10, Jeremiah 14:19-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Destiny Of Believers.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 26, 2022

The bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

THE DESTINY OF BELIEVERS. John 6:41-51. 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... For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent me” (John 6:35-38). The reaction to this ...read more

Scripture: John 6:41-51

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational