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Terry Cain

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Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

Can We 'let Heaven And Nature Sing'? -- Luke 2:22-40, Galatians 4:4-7, Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- George L. Murphy, Carter Shelley, Terry Cain -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2002
(Originally published for January 1, 2006)

Illustration

StoryShare

New Beginnings For A New Year -- Matthew 25:31-46, Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Psalm 8 -- David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Wayne Brouwer, John E. Sumwalt -- New Year's Day - A -- 2006
Contents What's Up This Week

The Immediate Word

Can We 'let Heaven And Nature Sing'? -- Luke 2:22-40, Galatians 4:4-7, Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- George L. Murphy, Carter Shelley, Terry Cain -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2002
(Originally published for January 1, 2006)

Preaching

SermonStudio

If It Isn't In The Bible, It Should Be -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: We need a method of drawing answers from scripture to address a wide variety o
From Inside A Really Big Empty -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Because many of us do not recognize our need for God, we find substitutes (som
Watch Those Promises! -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Christians need to be careful concerning making promises, and then know how to
There Are No Holy Wars -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: There is no justification for war.
The Multi-Billion-Dollar Rodent Den -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Too many people are missing the intelligent and appropriate response to alcoho
What's The Point Of Living? -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Why are we here and what should be our goals or purpose for life?
Reasons Not To Go To Church -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: If we are to be evangelists and help others find a meaningful life within our
Is The Bible Racist? -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Can we find any racism in our Bible?
Pink Bunny Batteries -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: How do we keep the flame burning and the enthusiasm lively?
Wicked, But Worth It -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: We need to recognize the delicate balance between the realization we are sinne
Religion In A Disposable Culture -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Has the over-indulgent nature of our rich and abundant culture carried over in
The Four Most Beautiful Things God Ever Created -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: A Christian should be a person with a highly developed sense of aesthetics.
My God Doesn't Make Tornadoes -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: We need to stop blaming God for natural calamities.
Pilgrim Or Tourist? -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: How serious (or loose) is our connection to Jesus Christ, the church, and Chri
Did Jesus Really Yell At A Tree? -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: As Christians are we the worker bees or the drones?
Too Heavenly Minded To Be Any Earthly Good -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Is it possible to be too religious?
Did The Wise Men Sleep In The Stable? -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: The Christian should be sensitive to, and concerned about, the abuse of privil
In The Name Of God! -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Christians have done (and still do) some terrible things and claimed they were
Blemishes And Biblical Authentication -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: "Defects" or "flaws" in the Bible do not necessarily diminish its value or tru
Plays Well With Others: B+ -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: If nothing else, the Christian should be congenial, amicable, and much better
Pearly Gates Entrance Exam -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: What does it take to get into heaven?
When Kids Go Bad -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: What is the cause of so many of the problems our youth have today and what can
An Unidentified Naked Male Running From The Scene -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Our regular examination of our relationship with Jesus and the church is proba
A Dangerous Way To Read Your Bible -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Unavoidably and necessarily we must "pick and choose" which passages in our Bi
Let Me Tell You What You Believe -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: So many Christians are ignorant concerning the beliefs and doctrines of their

Sermon

The Immediate Word

Can We 'let Heaven And Nature Sing'? -- Luke 2:22-40, Galatians 4:4-7, Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- George L. Murphy, Carter Shelley, Terry Cain -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2002
(Originally published for January 1, 2006)

Stories

StoryShare

Follow The Star -- Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22, Psalm 29 -- David E. Leininger, David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Rick McCracken-Bennett, Frank R. Fisher -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2022
Note: This installment was originally published in 2007.Contents
Where Is The Church? -- Luke 21:25-36, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Jeremiah 33:14-16, Psalm 25:1-10 -- Terry Cain, David O. Bales -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2021
Note: This was originally published in 2006.Contents
Achieving Greatness -- Mark 10:35-45, Job 38:1-7 (34-41), Hebrews 5:1-10, Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c -- Peter Andrew Smith, Terry Cain, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Achieving Greatness" by Peter Andrew Smith
New Beginnings For A New Year -- Matthew 25:31-46, Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Psalm 8 -- David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Wayne Brouwer, John E. Sumwalt -- New Year's Day - A -- 2006
Contents What's Up This Week
Do You Have To Be Smart To Be A Christian? -- Mark 9:30-37, James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a, Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Terry Cain, David O. Bales -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Man Of Discipline -- Mark 14:1--15:47, Philippians 2:5-11, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16 -- C. David Mckirachan, Charles Cammarata, David O. Bales, Terry Cain -- Passion Sunday - B
Based on Revised Common Lectionary texts:Passion/Palm Sunday
The Whole Truth -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48, Psalm 4 -- David O. Bales, Terry Cain -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Contents What's Up This Week A Story to Live By: "We Are Family"
Wait There -- Luke 24:44-53, Ephesians 1:15-23, Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 47 -- David O. Bales, Constance Berg, Terry Cain, Charles Cammarata -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Ascension Sunday Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 47 or Psalm 93 Ephesians 1:15-23
Mid-Cemetery -- Mark 5:21-43, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, Psalm 130 -- David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Betty Lynn Schwab -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Contents What's Up This Week
At Least I'm Not That Bad -- John 6:1-21, Ephesians 3:14-21, 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Psalm 14 -- Terry Cain, David O. Bales, Peter C. Garrison -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Contents What's Up This Week A Story to Live By: "Making a Difference"
Waiting For God -- Mark 13:1-8, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, 1 Samuel 1:4-20, 1 Samuel 2:1-10 -- Terry Cain, James E. Sargent -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
ContentsWhat's Up This Week Good Stories: "Waiting For God" by Terry Cain
Solomon's Prayer -- John 6:56-69, Ephesians 6:10-20, 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Psalm 84 -- David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Jo Perry-Sumwalt, Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
Contents What's Up This Week
Becoming A Child -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Mark 10:2-16, Psalm 26 -- Frank R. Fisher, Terry Cain -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Unanswerable -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41), Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 10:35-45, Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c -- David O. Bales, Terry Cain -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B
ContentsWhat's Up This Week A Good Story: "Unanswerable" by David O. Bales
Innocent Until Proven Guilty -- Mark 12:28-34, Hebrews 9:11-14, Ruth 1:1-18, Psalm 146 -- C. David Mckirachan, David O. Bales, Terry Cain -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Follow The Star -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 -- David E. Leininger, David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Rick McCracken-Bennett, Frank R. Fisher -- Epiphany of the Lord - A
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Follow The Star" by David Leininger

Worship

The Immediate Word

Can We 'let Heaven And Nature Sing'? -- Luke 2:22-40, Galatians 4:4-7, Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- George L. Murphy, Carter Shelley, Terry Cain -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2002
(Originally published for January 1, 2006)
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Advent 3
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 4
36 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
3 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christmas!
27 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
3 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

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Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For December 22, 2024:
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For December 22, 2024:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
Not many things are quite as common — and, for that matter, quite as predictable — as the sunrise and the sunset. Yet that does not make them less spectacular, does it? We still find ourselves struck by their beauty. So much so, in fact, that at times we try to take pictures in order to capture what we are seeing and experiencing. Or, if others are nearby, we call some family member over to the window in order to share the beauty of the view with someone we love.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Micah 5:2-5a
Phillips Brooks wrote the hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” in 1868. The song began as a poem he’d written for the Sunday School of his church, The Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia. Brooks found the inspiration for this hymn after the Civil War, during a year abroad (1865-66) in Europe and the Holy Land. While traveling, he wrote to the children of his parish about visiting Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
Then I said, ‘See, I have come to do your will, O God’ (in the scroll of the book it is written of me).

If you’re the kind of person that doesn’t miss a super hero movie, you know that every one of them has an origin story. Bruce Wayne, for instance, witnessed the senseless murder of his parents when he was a child, which is why as an adult he was not only intent on fighting crime but also to instill in criminals the traumatic terror he experienced as a child, and that is why he donned the character of the Batman.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A small bag of potato chips. This message includes role-playing. Depending on your group of children, you can either select your players yourself or ask for volunteers when you need them. You will want one girl to be Mary, another to be Elizabeth, and two more children to be the people in town.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! But instead of just hearing the story,

SermonStudio

Susan R. Andrews
We Protestants don’t know what to do with Mary. Because the doctrines of the Catholic church have turned Mary into a sweet passive icon of virginal purity, we Protestants have been content to leave her out of our gallery of biblical saints — except of course, for her obligatory appearance in our Christmas pageants.
James Evans
The recurring phrase, "let your face shine" (vv. 3, 7, 19), offers an interesting opportunity to reflect on the meaning of God's presence in our world. This reflection takes on a particular significance during the Advent season.

Mary S. Lautensleger
The name Johann Sebastian Bach has been familiar in church music circles for many years. Bach inscribed all his compositions with the phrase, "To God Alone The Glory." Professor Peter Schickele of the fictitious University of Southern North Dakota discovered an obscure relative, P.D.Q. Bach, known as the most bent twig on the Bach family tree. The name Bach had always been associated with fine music until P.D.Q. appeared on the scene. This fabled genius, P.D.Q.
Mark Wm. Radecke
Year after year, we are drawn to this night. This night with its carols and candlelight, inhaling an atmosphere of poinsettia and pine, and exhaling the promise of peace. What is it about this night that so captivates our souls, I wonder? There are, I suppose, as many answers as there are people in this room.

Some are here because they are believers, faithful followers of the Christ. You are here to celebrate the nativity of your Lord. In the name of the Christ you worship and adore, I bid you a joyful welcome.

Harold C. Warlick, Jr.
The university chaplain was late for a meeting. He roared down the interstate through a sparsely populated area of his state. He was traveling ten miles per hour over the speed limit. As the blue light from the highway patrol car flashed in his rearview mirror, the churning in his stomach was exceeded only by his anger at his foolishness. Putting on his best professional face and a humble demeanor, he gave the officer the requested information and jotted in his date book the time and location of his court appointment.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Christmas is nearly here! In our worship today let us reflect the joy and happiness of Mary in the way in which we too greet the birth of our Saviour.

Invitation to Confession:

Lord Jesus, we are longing for your birth.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, we wait to greet you with clean hearts.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, we welcome you -- make us right with you.

Lord, have mercy

Reading:

Luke 1:39-45

Special Occasion

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