Sermons on Theology Proper:

Pursuing The Mark

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 20, 2013

Paul the persecutor was turned into Paul the pursuer. The Christian life is not static, but vigorously active.

PURSUING THE MARK. Philippians 3:4-14. The starter’s line for this passage is the Apostle Paul’s polemic against false teachers, whose confidence lies in the flesh (Philippians 3:2-4). “The flesh” here represents self-help religion, which stands contrary to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Celebration Of Spiritual Maturity

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 27, 2013

Increasing faith, growing love, patient endurance, fulfilling God's good pleasure...

A CELEBRATION OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY. 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12. INTRODUCTION 1. Pauline Authorship (2 Thessalonians 1:1). 2. In/ from/ according to “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:12). 3. Greeting: “Grace and peace” (2 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

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

Anointed Ruler, Divine King

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 15, 2017

The Old Testament expectation was inclining towards the coming of the warrior king. Instead, He appeared as the man on the donkey.

ANOINTED RULER, DIVINE KING. Zechariah 9:9-12. In a series of visions, Zechariah reached beyond the needs of his own time to the coming of Jesus. In Zechariah 9:1, the eyes of men, and all Israel, were looking towards the return of the LORD to His city and Temple. The departure was foretold by ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 9:9-12

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

Grace Amid Judgment

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 8, 2019

Grace cannot be silenced, even in the face of judgment.

GRACE AMID JUDGMENT. Hosea 1:2-10. This is ‘the word of the LORD that came to Hosea, son of Beeri’ (Hosea 1:1). The name Hosea, like Hoshea, Joshua, Jeshua and Jesus is derived from the verb ‘to save’. Hosea, like his contemporary Amos, prophesied to the northern kingdom of Israel during the ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 1:2-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hope Amid Hopelessness

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 17, 2019

God is good, and all things work together for good.

HOPE AMID HOPELESSNESS. Lamentations 3:19-26. It is all too easy to forget that these words of hope and encouragement have been drawn out of the midst of the Book of Lamentations. Jeremiah penned these among the ashes of Jerusalem, a city once known as ‘the joy of the whole earth’ (Psalm ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:19-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Truest Freedom

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 23, 2019

We are set free - to the truest kind of liberty.

THE TRUEST FREEDOM. Galatians 5:1; Galatians 5:13-25. Paul established the contrast between bondage and freedom by the use of an allegory concerning Hagar and Sarah, and their respective sons (Galatians 4:22). When we are born into this world, we are born into bondage to the corruption of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Garden

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 28, 2014

Man in the image of God, man in the Garden.

THE GARDEN. Genesis 2:4-25. In Genesis 1 we saw Creation from the cosmological viewpoint of God. The expression “These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth” in Genesis 2:4 links the seeming remoteness of God in the earlier account with the intimacy of the Garden, viewing Creation ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:4-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 3, 2013

The contrast between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion: its inferences and implications in our life.

A KINGDOM THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN. Hebrews 12:18-29. I. A BOOK OF CONTRASTS. The letter to the Hebrews is full of contrasts - too many to innumerate in a short space. Here the author shows the difference between the covenant at Sinai (Hebrews 12:18-21), and the covenant of Christianity (Hebrews ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:18-29

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

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

Expectations For Godly Living-1

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Mar 21, 2023

1 of 6. Titus was exhorted by the apostle Paul, to expose God’s people to the expectations for godly living. All God’s people are answerable to His expectations for godly living. But, What are some expectations for godly living by God’s people?

EXPECTATIONS For GODLY LIVING-I—Titus 2:1-15 Attention: Use Your Elbows: A Grandmother was giving directions to her grown grandson who was coming with his wife, to visit her for the first time in her new place: She told him, “You come to the front door of the apartment complex. I live in ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:1-15, Titus 2:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Is Your Marriage On Life Support

Contributed by A.t. Stewart on Jul 23, 2004

The purpose of the message tonight is to show you 4 truths God gives about your marriage and how a proper response to these truths can keep your marriage out of the ICU.

TRAUMA IN THE ER: IS YOUR MARRIAGE ON LIFE SUPPORT? Selected Scriptures I. I SOMETIMES LOOK AT THE T.V. SHOW TRAUMA IN THE ER On one episode a man came into the ER in a coma with a life threatening situation 1. After running some tests they found out his was in diabetic shock-which can be a ...read more

Why Bother?

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Aug 3, 2001

Year C NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENECOST (PROPER 13) AUGUST 5, 2001 Ecclesiastes 1:2; 12-14; 2:18-23 Title: “Why bother?”

Year C NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENECOST (PROPER 13) AUGUST 5, 2001 Ecclesiastes 1:2; 12-14; 2:18-23 Title: “Why bother?” Written probably about three centuries before Christ, the Book of Ecclesiastes marks an advance over the doctrine of divine retribution. Simplistically put, that doctrine stated that ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran