Sermons on Theology Proper:

"Growing In Grace Together”

Contributed by Austin Calder on Apr 21, 2020

Grace is a terribly misunderstood word and defining it sufficiently is very difficult. Some of the most detailed theology textbooks do not offer any concise definition of the term. Someone came up with this acronym: GRACE is God’s---Riches--- At---Christ’s---Expense.

That’s not a bad way to characterize grace. One of the best-known definitions of grace is only three words: God’s unmerited favor. A. W. Tozer expanded on that idea by saying, “Grace is the good pleasure of God that allows him to bestow benefits on the undeserving.” The key word in what have ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-9

Denomination: Baptist

What To Wear To Church Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Sep 2, 2022

If you’re involved in public ministry within the church, dress to honor your head; dress to honor yourself; dress to honor your gender; dress to honor each other; and dress to honor proper custom.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger, in her book The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, talks about the difference between men and women. She says they are different physically, psychologically, motivationally, and temperamentally. Anyone who has had exposure to babies and children can tell you that boys and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, Philippians 2:6-8, Ephesians 5:22-25, Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 2:18, Proverbs 12:4, Ephesians 3:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Gods Will And Sufering - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Dr. Tom Badia on Feb 19, 2024

In part one of this teaching, we talked about how to develop proper attitude towards suffering. And in that teaching we discovered that:. Trouble is not necessarily a sign of being out of God's will:

GOD'S WILL AND SUFFERING-Part 2 “THE POSITIVE BENEFITS OF SUFFERING” series :Knowing The Voice of God KEY VERSES: Ecclesiastes 7:14 In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider--God has made the one as well as the other so that man may not discover anything that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:16

An Indoor-Outdoor Spiritual Barbeque

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 14, 2015

A damning indictment against stubborn unbelief, and a shocking redefining of 'family'...

AN INDOOR-OUTDOOR SPIRITUAL BARBEQUE. Mark 3:20-35. Belief crowds in towards Jesus, oblivious of walls (oblivious of the roof on one occasion), in the hope of a healing touch (Mark 3:20). Unbelief stands outside, questioning Jesus’ sanity. Some well-meaning acquaintances of Jesus wanted to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Riot Of Colour And Beauty

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 19, 2015

The mysterious workings of God's grace in the believer.

A RIOT OF COLOUR AND BEAUTY. Mark 4:26-34. One year I dug a border outside my living room window. I bought some packets of seeds, dug small troughs, and scattered the seeds randomly in the little troughs before covering them over with light soil (cf. Mark 4:26). Job done. For a while, nothing ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:26-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

End Times Obedience

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 17, 2013

How to live in the in-between times.

END TIMES OBEDIENCE. Romans 13:11-14. Context: Romans 12:1-15:13 is the practical application of the statement “The just shall live by faith” established so thoroughly in Romans 1-8. Those who have been made righteous through faith are not to live any longer in the ways of the world, but to be ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Song Of Consolation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 9, 2013

A new exodus: the voice of joy.

A SONG OF CONSOLATION. Jeremiah 31:7-14. Jeremiah envisages a time of rebuilding for all Israel (Jeremiah 31:4). Mentioning the mountains of Samaria (Jeremiah 31:5), he speaks of a day when the watchmen of Ephraim will encourage their people to return to Zion (Jeremiah 31:6) - representing not ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Confess And Believe

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 21, 2013

Made righteous through the righteousness of Jesus, which we receive by faith in Him. Whoever believes in Jesus shall not be ashamed. Whoever calls upon His name will be saved. Sincere faith leads to public confession of Christ.

CONFESS AND BELIEVE. Romans 10:9. According to a Roman historian, the Emperor Claudius ordered all the Jews to leave Rome after public disorders caused by the preaching of the claims of Jesus Christ in the synagogues. This fact is echoed in the Scriptures, where we find the Jewish Christian ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bridling The Tongue

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 31, 2013

The same tongue which responds to God’s manifest glories by blessing His holy name also denigrates the poor - the widow, the orphan, and the resident alien - who, like us, are made in His image.

BRIDLING THE TONGUE. James 3:1-12. “If anyone thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain” (James 1:26). James 3:1. James begins his elucidation of this text with a warning against seeking pre-eminence amongst the brethren. This ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Another Sad Song Of The Vineyard

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 24, 2014

Are we about to reject the Rock of our salvation?

ANOTHER SAD SONG OF THE VINEYARD. Matthew 21:33-46. The vineyard is a well-known motif for Israel (cf. Isaiah 5:7). We saw it in the parable of the labourers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16), and in the example of the two sons whose father asked them to go and work in his vineyard (Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus, The Man Of Sorrows

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 20, 2016

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus (Acts 8:35).

JESUS, THE MAN OF SORROWS. Isaiah 52:13-53:12 – Fourth Servant Song. 1. The introduction to this prophecy of the Passion of Jesus begins not with His humiliation, but with His exaltation (Isaiah 52:13). The letter to the Hebrews speaks of Jesus, ‘who for the joy that was set before Him endured ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12, Isaiah 52:13-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Two Mindsets, Two Roads, Two Destinies

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 5, 2016

The present state of the believer is one of hope.

TWO MINDSETS, TWO ROADS, TWO DESTINIES. Romans 8:6-11. This short passage describes two states of mind: literally, “the mind of the flesh (which is) death”; and “the mind of the Spirit (which is) life and peace” (Romans 8:6). These are two quite distinct mindsets, which lead to two differing ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:6-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A State Of Being Which Gives Rise To Activity

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 18, 2016

A Christian perspective on Torah.

A STATE OF BEING WHICH GIVES RISE TO ACTIVITY. Psalm 119:1-8. We begin our study of the selected passage with the observation that the word for “blessed” is not a verb, but a noun. It is a state of being, not an activity. We are “blessed” not because “we walk in the law of the LORD”; but rather ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Persistent Petitionary Prayer

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 15, 2016

Jesus emphasises the importance, validity and efficacy of persistent petitionary prayer. The basis of our prayer is our relationship with God.

PERSISTENT PETITIONARY PRAYER. Luke 11:1-13. It all began with Jesus at prayer, and with the disciples’ desire to learn from Jesus how to pray (Luke 11:1). Surprisingly, we are encouraged to pray in much the same terms as Jesus Himself. Our address towards God is to be one of familial ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Putting Jesus First

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 16, 2013

Prioritising commitments, bearing the Cross, and counting the cost of discipleship.

PUTTING JESUS FIRST. Luke 14:25-33. I. Prioritising commitments. Jesus, it has to be admitted, is a great orator. Seeing the crowds following Him, He turned (Luke 14:25), and spoke words that were designed to shock, and even offend His hearers. In a masterstroke of hyperbole, He took their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational