Sermons on Proper Attitude:

Who Do You Look Down Upon, Who Are The Dogs In Your Life?

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Jan 20, 2014

This is a very disturbing story where a woman, at her wits end, was actually ignored by Jesus, who favoured the Jews. Why? God ticks Jesus off here. Did Jesus sin here? It certainly needs investigation.

Genesis 45:1-15 Psalm 133 Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15: 10-28 Summary: This is a very disturbing story where a woman, at her wits end, was actually ignored by Jesus, who favoured the Jews. Why? God ticks Jesus off here. Did Jesus sin here? It certainly needs ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 15:10-28

Denomination: Episcopal

The Sovereignty Of God And Human Responsibility

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 18, 2014

There is no pleasing some people. If they make up their minds not to put their trust in Jesus, any excuse will suffice to prevent commitment.

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY. Matthew 11:16-30. A) The children were out playing on the streets. ‘Let’s play weddings,’ suggested the girls: but the boys would not. ‘Let’s play funerals,’ countered the boys: but the girls would not. A preacher came, austere in his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:16-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Trial Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 1, 2014

The speaking God makes His own case.

THE TRIAL OF GOD. Isaiah 44:6-8. The LORD is deeply grieved by His people’s tendency towards idol worship. Again and again He asserts His superiority over the nations, whose ‘gods’ are nothing but dumb idols (1 Corinthians 12:2). Not only does the LORD put the false gods on trial, but He is ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 44:6-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Building Of The House

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 13, 2013

The LORD watches over His people.

THE BUILDING OF THE HOUSE. Psalm 127. This is a “song of degrees,” sung upon the ascent to Jerusalem for worship. It is “for” - or about - Solomon. David had wanted to build a house for the LORD, but the LORD had replied that it was He who would build a “house” - that is, a family and a future ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Child-Like Humility

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 11, 2018

If you want to be first, learn to be last!

A CHILD-LIKE HUMILITY. Mark 9:30-37. 1. CONTEXT (Mark 8:29-34). On the back of Peter’s famous confession of faith (Mark 8:29), Jesus began to teach His disciples about His upcoming death and resurrection (Mark 8:31). About this the disciples were, to say the least, slow on the uptake: ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Israel Went Out Of Egypt.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 15, 2023

A defiant celebration of God's sovereign power.

WHEN ISRAEL WENT OUT OF EGYPT. Psalm 114:1-8. The exuberance of this Psalm is immediately evident. It is a recollection of Israel’s redemption story, beginning from when the descendants of Jacob made their exodus from Egypt. It is the prelude to the founding of what Stephen, the first Christian ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 114:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Righteous Rejoice.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 19, 2023

When believers rejoice, we rejoice in the LORD. Praise is an appropriate response for what God has done for us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

THE RIGHTEOUS REJOICE. Psalm 33:1. “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous; for praise is comely for the upright” (Psalm 33:1). We see first of all the exhortation: “Rejoice in the LORD” (cf. Philippians 4:4). Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22). When we abide in Jesus the true vine, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Camel That Passed Through The Eye Of A Needle. Abridged.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 3, 2023

Jesus seeks and saves the lost.

A CAMEL THAT PASSED THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE. Abridged. Luke 19:1-10. We were reading recently about a certain ruler who, perhaps recognizing that money is not everything, asked Jesus what he must ‘do’ to inherit eternal life. The young man had an extremely high view of his own heart, but ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Take Heart. It Is I

Contributed by Nathan Webb on Aug 16, 2023

A sermon for the Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 14.) A look at the gravity of Jesus' appearance on the water in the midst of the storm.

“Take heart, it is I.” Jesus has just fed more than five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. The disciples are picking up twelve baskets of leftovers. Each one of them packs a basket with their travelling gear. It’s getting late and Jesus has told them, “It’s time to head ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

A Twofold Stewardship

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 28, 2015

The lessons behind a less well-known miraculous feeding.

A TWOFOLD STEWARDSHIP. 2 Kings 4:42-44. A certain man brought to Elisha a portion of the first-fruits of his land (2 Kings 4:42). It is not clear whether this was an offering over and above that required by the law (Leviticus 23:9-14), but either way this was a token of good stewardship on the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:42-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Turning Point In The Ministry Of Jesus

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 2, 2016

When we set out with Jesus, we can hardly begin to understand what paths He might lead us down to get to our destination. It is not always what we think, but we must implicitly trust Him.

A TURNING POINT IN THE MINISTRY OF JESUS. Luke 9:51-62. “When the days were being fulfilled for the receiving up of Jesus, He set his face like a flint to go to Jerusalem” (LUKE 9:51). There is a sense of divine destiny about this statement, yet what does it mean? At first we are reminded of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-62

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fire! Baptism! Discerning This Time

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 1, 2016

Division: a declaration of how things will be, rather than an imperative of how they should be.

FIRE! BAPTISM! DISCERNING THIS TIME. Luke 12:49-56. There is a measure of dissonance as this passage comes crashing through Jesus’ symphony of peace. “Fire!” begins the Greek of Luke 12:49. “Fire I came to cast into the earth, and what will I if it be already kindled?” Fire speaks to us of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Word Of God, And A Heart For God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 6, 2021

This is an abbreviated version of my earlier sermon on the whole Psalm, which was entitled 'A Heart for God'.

THE WORD OF GOD, AND A HEART FOR GOD. Psalm 19:7-14. Creation, general revelation, does not stand alone in its testimony to God. The LORD God has entered into a covenant relationship with mankind, and spoken to us Himself. This ‘special revelation’ is explored in the second main section of this ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:7-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Call And Compassion Of Jesus

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 14, 2020

Jesus calls sinners, heals the sick and raises the dead.

THE CALL AND COMPASSION OF JESUS. Matthew 9:9-13; Matthew 9:18-26. 1. The Call of Matthew (Matthew 9:9-13) Wherever we live, under whatever regime, tax collectors are unpopular. It was no different in first century Israel, where Matthew’s trade involved collaboration with the Romans, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13, Matthew 9:18-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Warning Against Complacency

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 8, 2019

Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria.

A WARNING AGAINST COMPLACENCY. Amos 6:1-7. Amos was a farmer from Tekoa, to the south of Jerusalem (Amos 1:1). The LORD called Amos to ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel’ (Amos 7:15). The prophet’s ministry was thereafter directed mainly to the ten tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel, ...read more

Scripture: Amos 6:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational