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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
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
The Multi-Billion-Dollar Rodent Den -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Too many people are missing the intelligent and appropriate response to alcoho
Watch Those Promises! -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Christians need to be careful concerning making promises, and then know how to
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?
There Are No Holy Wars -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: There is no justification for war.
Religion In A Disposable Culture -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Has the over-indulgent nature of our rich and abundant culture carried over in
Wicked, But Worth It -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: We need to recognize the delicate balance between the realization we are sinne
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?
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?
Pilgrim Or Tourist? -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: How serious (or loose) is our connection to Jesus Christ, the church, and Chri
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.
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?
Blemishes And Biblical Authentication -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: "Defects" or "flaws" in the Bible do not necessarily diminish its value or tru
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
Let Me Tell You What You Believe -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: So many Christians are ignorant concerning the beliefs and doctrines of their
Can Compassion Be Turned On Like A Faucet? -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: How do we get motivated to actually love others?
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
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

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...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For September 14, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A sheep stuffy or toy.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s get started!

Did you know that Jesus traveled around and hunted for people who were doing something illegal and breaking the laws? (Let them respond.) He really did.And when he found someone who was doing something illegal, do you know what he did with them? (Let them respond.)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Our text tells us that we are skilled in doing evil (v.22). An anonymous late medieval treatise titled German Theology tells us why:

It is the nature and property of the creature to seek itself and its own things, and this and that, here and there, and in all that it does and leaves undone as desire is to its own advantage and benefit. (Varieties of Mystic Experience, p.162)

Martin Luther King, Jr. offers an alternative to this vision:
David Coffin
All three of today’s texts can be viewed as good news that God never gives up on God’s people. This is despite their resistance to repent or simple straying from the community of faith. We can observe family and loved ones at various points of their faith journey through the lens of each of these texts. Jeremiah 4 informs the people their neglect of honoring their covenant with God is about to result in disastrous consequences. Paul recalls in 1 Timothy 1 how he thought he was falling God’s will until he had his literal come to Jesus moment!

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (vv. 6-7)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told stories to illustrate to the people God's gladness whenever anyone turned to him and chose life. There is still rejoicing in heaven whenever any one of us turns to God.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I think I'm too insignificant for you to bother with me.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with other people, but only with myself.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Proper 12/Pentecost 10/Ordinary Time 17, Cycle B, for an alternative approach.)

The psalm writer has an interesting perspective on the origin of injustice in our world. He begins this psalm with the assertion that those who do not believe in God are "fools." He goes on to accuse them of corruption and of being incapable of doing good. Later on he writes, "Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the Lord?" (v. 4).

Elizabeth Achtemeier
"Now it is I who speak in judgment upon them" (v. 12). Ours is a society that does not accept that as the Word of God. Many people do not believe that God judges anyone. Rather, the Lord is a forgiving God, a kindly deity who overlooks all wrong. As in the Gospel lesson for the morning, the Lord searches for the one lost sheep and returns it gently to the fold, or he hunts for the one lost coin until he finds it. God accepts the lost as they are, we think, overlooking Jesus' teaching about repentance and transformation of life.
Scott Suskovic
We usually don't spend too much time thinking about our own sinfulness. On occasion, of course, our feelings of guilt overwhelm us. We can't stop thinking about our sinfulness. If we are in that situation, we may need to talk that out with someone. Apart from times like that, we don't think much about our own sinfulness. We have ways of getting around that.

R. Robert Cueni
Back before the ways of the Taliban became common knowledge, there was a fascinating little article about how they jailed barbers when they didn't do culturally correct haircuts.1 The newspaper reported that young men in Kabul, Afghanistan, have started wearing their hair the way the actor Leonardo DiCaprio wears his. Long, not only on the sides, but so long in the front that hair can drop over the eyes. They call the style, "the Titanic," named for the blockbuster movie starring DiCaprio about the 1912 sinking of the cruise ship by that name.

Special Occasion

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