Sermons on Proper 8:

A Passion For God's Ancient People. Abridged.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 18, 2023

Eight prerogatives of Israel: “The adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came" (Romans 9:4-5).

A PASSION FOR GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE. Romans 9:1-5. From the dizzy heights of Romans 8, the Apostle Paul seems to suddenly hit an unprecedented low in Romans 9:1-5. The crescendo of the previous glorious chapter meets the jarring note of Paul’s passion for his own people - God’s ancient ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Words Which Your Eyes Have Seen.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 20, 2021

A whole life commitment.

THE WORDS WHICH YOUR EYES HAVE SEEN. Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Deuteronomy 4:6-9. The Greek title of this book, ‘Deuteronomy’ is translated as ‘the second giving of the law’. Israel has had a great history with their God, being ‘brought forth out of the furnace of Egypt to be unto HIM a ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, Deuteronomy 4:6-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Behold The Days Are Coming.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 23, 2022

The restoration of post-exilic Israel, and the new covenant in Christ.

BEHOLD THE DAYS ARE COMING. Jeremiah 31:27-34. “Behold, the Days are Coming.” This is a recurring motif in Jeremiah (cf. Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 30:3; Jeremiah 31:27; Jeremiah 31:31; Jeremiah 33:14-15). There is a certainty about it because it is a declaration of the LORD. The time of ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:27-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Study Of The Book Of Revelation, 8: A Word For John, A View Of The Temple Series

Contributed by Bob Faulkner on Jun 19, 2015

John receives a special message from God, in words that remind us of Old Testament characters. Then we see a close-up of a Temple ...

A word for John, Chapter 10 Break. Chapter 10 serves , among other things, as an introduction to the last trumpet, just as 8:1-5 builds up to the last seal. A Mighty Angel (10:1). There is a little more background in chapter 10, mostly John’s own personal matters. First another angel is ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Against Hypocrisy

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 12, 2019

A court case - with the people of God in the dock.

AGAINST HYPOCRISY. Psalm 50:1-8; Psalm 50:16-23. “A Psalm of Asaph,” reads the superscription. Asaph was a chief musician contemporary with King David (1 Chronicles 16:4-7). Asaph is also referred to as a ‘seer’ (2 Chronicles 29:30). Taken as a whole, the content of this Psalm appears ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:1-8, Psalm 50:16-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Pastoral Heart

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 10, 2020

The gentleness, love and self-sacrifice of a mother.

A PASTORAL HEART. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8. Having favourably described the Thessalonians’ reception of the gospel message (1 Thessalonians 1:5-7), Paul now speaks of that first encounter from the point of view of the messengers. 1 Thessalonians 2:1. “For you yourselves know, brethren, that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

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

God Is My Helper.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 4, 2021

Prayer starts with God, not us.

GOD IS MY HELPER. Psalm 54:1-7. The superscription to this Psalm associates it with a particular act of betrayal. David was on the run from King Saul (1 Samuel 23:15); and his neighbours, members of his own tribe, reported his whereabouts to his pursuers (1 Samuel 23:19). However, in the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 54:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Towards A New Creation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 22, 2018

Longing for home.

TOWARDS A NEW CREATION. 2 Corinthians 5:6-17. Having spoken of the impermanence of the ‘tent’ of this body, and the ‘eternity’ of our dwelling in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1), the Apostle Paul began to mix his metaphors, yearning to be ‘clothed upon’ with ‘our habitation which is from ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:6-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wakeful Watching

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 20, 2020

The day of the Lord and the children of Light.

WAKEFUL WATCHING. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. The Apostle has already spoken concerning the status of the Christian dead at the return of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Now he turns his attention to the question of preparedness for the day of the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 5:1. It would be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

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

A Mighty God? Well, Duh!

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Sep 6, 2007

God reveals Himself in a mighty way through His creation. He gives us a proper perspective of ourselves and a proper perspective of the universe.

Charlie Brown and Lucy and Linus are lying on the ground, looking up into the sky. Lucy says, "If you use your imagination, you can see lots of things in the cloud formations. What do you think you see, Linus?" Linus responds, "Well, those clouds up there look like the map of the British Honduras ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Living The Gospel.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 24, 2021

The practical outworking of our relationship with the Father of lights

LIVING THE GOSPEL. James 1:17-27. James has already indicated that our God is a generous Giver (James 1:5). Here he cites God as the inexhaustible source of “every good act of giving, and every perfect gift” (James 1:17a). There is not so much as a shadow cast as a result of any ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wrong Fear And Right Fear Of God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 30, 2023

FEAR NOT for God is come to prove you that His FEAR may be before your faces, THAT YE SIN NOT. Exodus 20 verse 20.

WRONG FEAR AND RIGHT FEAR OF GOD. Exodus 20:1-4, Exodus 20:7-9, Exodus 20:12-20. The first thing that we notice about the Ten Commandments is that they are the words of God (EXODUS 20:1). Secondly we notice that the LORD is the God who has redeemed us (EXODUS 20:2). It is not the keeping of ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-4, Exodus 20:7-9, Exodus 20:12-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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