Sermons on Proper:

Brothers Together

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 25, 2020

Shades of opinion in the Christian church. We shall all appear before Christ.

BROTHERS TOGETHER. Romans 14:1-12. This passage has much to say about receiving one another in the Lord. Paul defines “the weak in the faith” (Romans 14:1) as those who have scruples about what they eat (Romans 14:2). Do not “despise” them, warns Paul; but he also warns the weak not to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sour Grapes

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 29, 2020

From blame to shame. A call to repentance.

SOUR GRAPES. Ezekiel 18:1-4; Ezekiel 18:25-32. It seems to be very much a part of fallen human nature that we want to blame someone else for the things that go wrong in our lives. This all began in the garden of Eden, after the first couple ate of the forbidden fruit. Adam blamed both his ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 18:1-4, Ezekiel 18:25-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Passion For The Ancient People Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 5, 2017

Setting the scene for the whole discussion of Romans 9-11, Paul finds himself astonished at his own people's failure to embrace Christ.

A PASSION FOR GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE. Romans 9:1-5. From the dizzy heights of Romans 8:28-39, 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 Dungeon Of Disobedience And The Mystery Of Mercy

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 8, 2017

God's gifts and calling are irrevocable.

THE DUNGEON OF DISOBEDIENCE AND THE MYSTERY OF MERCY. Romans 11:1-32. The extended passage of Romans 9-11 may not with any justification be written off as nothing more than a parenthesis: as if it was a break in the flow of Paul’s argument. On the contrary, to omit or down-grade these chapters ...read more

Scripture: Romans 11:1-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Note Of Praise

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 21, 2019

An apt overture to the crescendo of Praise with which the Psalter ends!

A NOTE OF PRAISE. Psalm 145:1-5; Psalm 145:17-21. A lone voice opens the Psalm: “I” will extol thee; “I” will bless (Psalm 145:1); “I” will bless; “I” will praise (Psalm 145:2). ‘Generations’ shall praise and declare (Psalm 145:4); “I” will speak and declare (Psalm 145:5-6). The word ‘men’ ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 145:1-5, Psalm 145:17-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christian Reactions

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 25, 2020

How to overcome evil with good.

CHRISTIAN REACTIONS. Romans 12:14-21. Romans 12:14. The positive imperative is to “bless” those who persecute us. This is similar to the teaching of Jesus (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-28). The supreme example is that of Jesus Himself (1 Peter 2:21-23). This partly involved Jesus praying for His ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Journey Back To Faith.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 16, 2022

The futility of contemplating a life without God.

A JOURNEY BACK TO FAITH. Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 1:12-14, Ecclesiastes 2:18-23. The harder we try to understand the book of Ecclesiastes, the greater the temptation to chime in with the author’s refrain: “all is vanity!” Yet, somewhere along the way, we might realise that it is going ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 1:12-14, Ecclesiastes 2:18-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Strange Land.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 18, 2022

Strangers and pilgrims in this world.

A STRANGE LAND. Psalm 137. The exile is over (at least for those who chose to return), and Babylon as a world power has fizzled out: her nobles sailed downstream to safety, and the Persian conqueror Cyrus allowed the many misplaced peoples dwelling in Babylon to return to their own lands. ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The All-Encompassing Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 18, 2020

I the LORD do all these things

THE ALL-ENCOMPASSING SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. Isaiah 45:1-7. This chapter opens with the astonishing reference to Cyrus, King of Persia, as the LORD’s “anointed” - literally, “messiah” (Isaiah 45:1). It is designed to shock us with the fact that the LORD not only uses Gentiles to fulfil His ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Justice And Righteousness Better Than Rituals

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 19, 2020

The danger of worship without mercy.

JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS BETTER THAN RITUALS. Amos 5:18-24. Historically, Israel had split into two kingdoms shortly after the death of king David’s son, king Solomon. The ten tribes of the north rejected both the dynasty of David, and the worship of the Jerusalem temple, and set up their ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:18-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Call To Silence

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 22, 2020

The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

A CALL TO SILENCE. Zephaniah 1:7; Zephaniah 1:12-18. Speaking during the reign of king Josiah of Judah, Zephaniah spends a lot of energy outlining a universal judgment against the whole earth (Zephaniah 1:1-3), INCLUDING Judah and Jerusalem (Zephaniah 1:4-6). “Hold thy peace,” he cries, “for ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 1:7, Zephaniah 1:12-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A City Of Habitation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 31, 2020

From a trackless wilderness to a City to dwell in.

A CITY OF HABITATION Psalm 107:1-7; Psalm 107:33-37. This Psalm is a call to thanksgiving to the LORD, “for He is good: for His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). The writer longs that those whom the LORD has redeemed, whom He has redeemed from the hand of enemy - out of the east, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:1-7, Psalm 107:33-37

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

A Prayer For The Continuation Of God's Grace.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 12, 2023

Teach me thy way O LORD.

A PRAYER FOR THE CONTINUATION OF GOD’S GRACE. Psalm 86:11-17. There is a chorus which connects Psalm 86:10 to the beginning of Psalm 86:11. “For thou art great, and doest wondrous things; thou art God alone. Teach me thy way O LORD.” PSALM 86:11. The prayer “Teach me thy way” is followed ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 86:11-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jacob And Esau.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 23, 2023

The purposes of God and the scheming of Jacob.

JACOB AND ESAU. Genesis 25:19-34. 1. The two nations in Rebekah’s womb. GENESIS 25:19-20. As the genealogy passes from Abraham to Isaac we are told that Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah. GENESIS 25:21. Once again there is a record of prolonged barrenness within the family. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:19-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational