If you want to stimulate your creative juices and avoid dull, cliche-filled preaching, then you'll love this collection of 150 imaginative "sermon starters." Each idea consists of a clever title that's sure to catch the interest of the person in the pew along with a purpose statement and a brief discussion of the topic (including appropriate scripture references). There are a variety of suggested approaches with striking imagery, providing you with plenty of seeds for developing interesting, thought-provoking messages. And with a convenient subject index included, Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees is certain to be a treasured addition to any pastor's library. But this volume isn't just for preachers -- it's also an excellent source of meditations for men's, women's, or youth groups as well as inspiring devotional reading. Here's a sample of some of the inventive entries: - Daring To Be A Lion's Breakfast! - Is There A Lightning Bolt With Your Name On It? - How Many Will Your Garbage Can Feed? - We Have Met The Monster And It Is Us - Will Your Bones Dance Again? - Cain's And Einstein's Theory Of Relativity Terry Cain is a retired United Methodist pastor who served his entire ministry in eastern Nebraska. He is the author of What Your Minister Is Afraid To Tell You About The Bible. Cain is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University (B.A.), St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City (M.Div.), and San Francisco Theological Seminary (D.Min.).
Stimulate your creativity with 112 imaginative "sermon starters" in this companion volume to Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees... Each idea consists of a clever title that's sure to pique the interest of the people in the pews, along with a purpose statement and a brief discussion of the subject (including outline points and scripture references). Full of striking imagery, Lions And Cows Dining Together provides plenty of seeds for developing riveting, thought-provoking messages on a wide variety of critical topics. This homiletic "do-it-yourself" kit will be a treasured addition to any pastor's library -- combined with the material in its companion volume, there are over five years' worth of pump-priming ideas for weekly sermons that apply Jesus' teachings to contemporary living. But Lions And Cows Dining Together isn't just for preachers -- it's also an excellent source of meditations for men's, women's, or youth groups as well as inspiring devotional reading. Here's a sample of some of the inventive entries: - God Always Wins At Hide And Seek - Worship Is More Than Just Staying Awake - Can Pagan Objects Be Sanitized? - You Can Learn To Like Spinach, Liver, And Theology - Hell: But It's A Dry Heat - Will Reverend Tortoise Ever Catch Doctor Hare? - Pearly Gates Entrance Exam - Pilgrim Or Tourist? Terry Cain is a retired pastor who served United Methodist congregations in eastern Nebraska. In addition to Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees, he is also the author of What Your Minister Is Afraid To Tell You About The Bible and Frankenstein and Miss America: Who's Who and Who's Not. Cain is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University (B.A.), St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City (M.Div.), and San Francisco Theological Seminary (D.Min.).
Remember that colorful childhood toy that spins? Each vane of a pinwheel looks the same and catches the same wind, spinning the wheel around. If one vane is damaged, the pinwheel slows down or stops. Many think of the pinwheel as a childhood diversion, but when you envision it as a metaphor for delivering great customer service, it means much more. In this book, Steve Church and Terry Cain define great customer service and explain how it increases employee engagement, boosts repeat business, and drives greater profitability. Delivering it, however, can be daunting -- especially in a changing business environment where social media influences buyers. There are also pressures to reduce costs while providing employees with purpose and meaning. Those challenges, however, should not stop you from plotting a path toward customer service excellence. Help every employee understand the importance of great customer service and his or her role in delivering it with The Pinwheel.
This book has three major themes: the nature of the universe, what the nature of the universe tells us about God, and in using our understanding of the universe and the nature of God, we conjecture a life after death or immortality.
I like his book I like the book for several reasons. This book stimulates our thinking. The book is readable. In Cains Wife and other Biblical Conundrums, you will find thoughtful and reasonable answers. Dr. Robert C. Dunston, Department Chair and Professor of Missions and Ministry at The University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, Kentucky I have known Terry Roberts for almost 30 years. He has always had a desire for people to be drawn closer to Christ. Thats no exception with his new book. Terry writes the way he talks, with a dash of wit and a dose of wisdom. Read his new book and you might get some questions answered and maybe even learn something new. Mark Moore, Louder Than Words Mission Adventures, Weaverville, North Carolina Cains Wife and other Biblical Conundrums challenges readers to embrace the true meaning of Scripture as it relates to issues such as the story of Noah, Jonah and more importantly, women and their importance in the Scripture. Terry Roberts can encourage readers to seek out the truth regarding these Biblical stories by immersing oneself in the Scripture themselves through reflection and more importantly, ones own faith. This book serves as a great addition for those wishing to have a better understanding of the Holy Scriptures. David H. Foster, M.Ed., M.S., M.A. Cains Wife and other Biblical Conundrums is a group discussion book. What does the scripture say? What does the scripture not say? In an intriguing and often poetic and humorous format, this book tackles the tough questions of the Bible from a real-life conservative/academic perspective. How do we describe time and eternity, the Trinity of God, and the divinity of Jesus Christ? Who wrote the Bible? Who is King James? When and what was the war in heaven? When did the Creation happen? What kind and how many animals were on Noahs ark? What about dinosaurs? What swallowed Jonah? Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute? What do angels look like? Are angels and aliens the same thing? Did Jesus go to Africa? What does INRI mean? And ultimately, who was Cains wife? Cains Wife engages you as the group reader to dig, discover, and discuss what the scripture actually says. Each chapter includes a workbook section, complete with group discussion questions. Know what and why you believe. Also included is an appendix of American Christian holidays. Do you know what and why you are celebrating? Are you up to the challenge of Cains Wife?
The fear of falling, the awareness of lost innocence, lost illusions, lost hopes and intentions, of civilization in decline—these are the themes which link literature to theology, both concerned with the shape of human destiny. Otten discusses the continuing viability of the myth of the Fall in literature. He relates a wide variety of romantic and modern works to fundamental issues in modern Christianity.
Impressed with the idea that the progress of the Reformation in England rendered it safe for him to leave his concealment, he settled at Antwerp in 1534, and combined the work of an evangelist with that of a translator of the Bible. Mainly through the instrumentality of one Philips, the agent either of Henry or of English ecclesiastics, or possibly of both, he was arrested, imprisoned in the castle of Vilvoorden, tried, either for heresy or treason, or both, and convicted; was first strangled, and then burnt in the prison yard, Oct. 6, 1536. His last words were, "Lord, open the king of England's eyes.
Appropriately Genesis has been termed "the seed plot of the Bible," for in it we have, in germ form, almost all of the great doctrines which are afterwards fully developed in the books of Scripture which follow.Gleanings in Genesis is a thoughtful work on the old testament by evangelist and biblical scholar Arthur W. Pink. Gleanings in Genesis has been a popular published work for scholars and patrons of christianity for centuries. This important book is an excellent tool for use from both the pulpit and in sunday school classes
If you have ever said the Lords Prayer, you have prayed that the Lords name be hallowed; that is, holy. But why pray for that? Because, even though the Lord is holy, His name can be made unholy if it is taken in vain - something prohibited by the Third Commandment. Therefore, it becomes important to understand what it means to take Gods name in vain. And if you think using Gods name as a swear word is the only way to take His name in vain, think again. Hallowed Be Thy Name will expand your understanding of what it truly means to take Gods name and why it is so important to pray that it be hallowed.
A publishing event— #1 New York Times bestselling author Terry Goodkind turns in a new direction and delivers a stunningly original thriller. Turning twenty-seven may be terrifying for some, but for Alex, a struggling artist living in the midwestern United States, it is cataclysmic. Inheriting a huge expanse of land should have made him a rich and happy man; but something about this birthday, his name, and the beautiful woman whose life he just saved, has suddenly made him—and everyone he loves—into a target. A target for extreme and uncompromising violence . . . In Alex, Terry Goodkind brings to life a modern hero in a whole new kind of high-octane thriller.
Genesis: Your Journey Home is a groundbreaking book that goes far beyond the usual levels of biblical interpretations, and the ideas taught by religion that are difficult to understand. It bypasses word definition, root studies, historical explanations, and the ideas taught by religion that are difficult to understand but are important. This book examines the first twenty-five chapters, verse by verse, exploring and revealing the deeper metaphysical (beyond the literal) meaning of the text. Most people know that there are multiple levels of truth contained within the Bible, but until now none have brought forth the ultimate Truth hidden within the mundane, semi-historical writings. Rather than creating new doctrines, this book gently peels back ALL levels of dogmatic views to reveal the true core essence of God, humanity, and the nature of reality. Deep within the ancient biblical text is found the true story (record) of creation, the reason for our very existence, and the history of All That IS. This book is for those that are searching for authenticity, purpose, and a sense that truth lies somewhere beyond religious teachings but who are reluctant to discard the inherent value of scripture. This book brings comfort, personal empowerment, a new understanding of God, and fosters a renewed sense of responsibility for life. It is a book whose time has come at last, as it brings humanity to a deeper understanding of God and a realization of their ultimate purpose.
The genre of Genesis is a Narrative History, and Genealogies. It was written by Moses about 1450-1410 B.C. Key personalities include Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Joseph. This book was written to record God's creation of the world and to demonstrate His love for all that He created. Genesis is the first book of the Law and also the first book of the entire Bible. The name Genesis literally means "In the Beginning." It explains the actual events of one of the most debated subjects of our current day...the origin of life. Genesis describes the Lord God, who is infinite and all-powerful, creating everything that exists, by the power of His spoken Word, out of nothing. He essentially creates material matter out of nonmaterial nothing.
You can live a radically inclusive life without compromising your beliefs or the truth of the gospel. Humanity is more divided now than ever, gridlocked over social issues, race, gender, climate change, immigration, and our responsibility to vulnerable people. How did we get here? And what can we do to build bridges where walls exist? As a pastor committed to building deep relationships with people whose life experiences are different than his own, Terry Crist knows the beauty and challenge of connecting across dividing lines of race, economic status, faith, and much more. And in this book, he shares how you can too. Profoundly weaving the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well with his own stories and examples from culture today, Terry addresses how we've strayed from the unity God intended and how we can trade judgment for grace, disputes for harmony, apathy for empathy, and hate for love and acceptance. By the end of this book, you will be able to: Identify how you personally see the world and why it matters Recognize those on the margins who are right around you Imitate Jesus's love for all humanity in the interactions you have with others Extend dignity to those suffering from mental illness, homelessness, and addiction Maintain thriving relationships when family members are on opposing sides of issues Be an ambassador of reconciliation in your community It doesn't have to be one or the other--you can both love God and love your neighbor.
This book considers a range of twentieth-century novelists who practise a creative mode of reading the Bible, exploring aspects of the Book of Genesis which more conventional biblical criticism sometimes ignores. Each chapter considers some of the interpretive challenges of the relevant story in Genesis, especially those noted by rabbinic midrash, which serves as a model for such creative rewriting of the biblical text. All the novelists considered, from Mark Twain, John Steinbeck and Thomas Mann to Jeanette Winterson, Anita Diamant and Jenny Diski, are shown to have been aware of the midrashic tradition and in some cases to have incorporated significant elements from it into their own writing. The questions these modern and postmodern writers ask of the Bible, however, go beyond those permitted by the rabbis and by other believing interpretive communities. Each chapter therefore attempts to chart intertextually where the writers are coming from, what principles govern their mode of reading and rewriting Genesis, and what conclusions can be drawn about the ways in which it remains possible to relate to the Bible.
More thoughtful essays by Terry Pluto ("the sportswriter who writes about faith"), based on his popular Plain Dealer column "Faith and You." These plain and personal musings cover topics we all face in everday life: insults and what they really mean, prayers that don't seem to get answered, endless sibling rivalry, figuring out how to our fathers, dealing with the loss of a pet, and more. Pluto writes for people who may not always feel confident in their beliefs but know faith is still important to them . . . For people who sometimes get mad at their church or disagree with their pastor yet don't want to lose the spiritual side of their lives . . . For people of different faiths or backgrounds or who aren't even sure they're religious. These essays doesn't claim to have all the answers, but the questions they raise give readers something to think about all week.
Shepherd's Notes- Christian Classics Series is designed to give readers a quick, step by step overview of some of the enduring treasures of the Christian faith. They are designed to be used along side the classic itself- either in individual study or in a study group. The faithful of all generations have found spiritual nourishment in the Scriptures and in the works of Christians of earlier generations. Martin Luther and John Calvin would not have become who they were apart from their reading Augustine. God used the writings of Martin Luther to move John Wesley from a religion of dead works to an experience at Aldersgate in which his "heart was strangely warmed." Shepherd's Notes will give pastors, laypersons, and students access to some of the treasures of Christian faith.
What is Christianity? What does it mean to be a Christian? Why do we see so many bad things taking place in the world, and what is God doing about it? With over nine hundred Scripture references, poems, personal accounts, and examples, this book will help you understand who Jesus Christ is and what he wants to do in your life. It will take you from humanity’s break with God to God’s sacrifice to save humanity. It shares the challenges and struggles all Christians must face as it addresses many of the difficult issues facing the family of God openly and honestly from Scripture. Finally, it shows how God will bring his children through it all as he helps us fulfill the supreme goal for our lives, to serve and love God most and to love our neighbor as ourselves. God made the ultimate sacrifice so that you can become a part of his family and share the future that awaits the children of God in glory. This book will show you how.
Ancestors is a fascinating series of both biblical descriptions and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the lives of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and on down the ancestral line to Noah and his family. Also revealed in each chapter are the lives of a rugged pioneering family making their way through much of the 1800s as part of one of the greatest human migrations in history. Terry interestingly weaves together parallel narratives involving his pioneer ancestors and a retelling of the Genesis story. In doing so, both sets of ancestors are thus presented in a way that puts these peoples lives into a day-by-day perspective. Wayne Clark, Bible Teacher and Minister in the Marketplace Thank you for allowing me to read your historical fiction manuscript, Ancestors. I found it very interesting! Dr. Richard Lee, founding pastor, First Redeemer Church, and general editor, The American Patriots Bible
In classroom and scholarly study, the Gospels, Acts, and the Pauline letters receive far more attention than does the so-called “end” of the New Testament: Hebrews; James; 1 and 2 Peter; 1, 2, and 3 John; Jude; and Revelation. Faithful to the End: An Introduction to Hebrews Through Revelation offers a careful study of these latter biblical letters, closely examining each one's authorship and origin, destination and audience, purpose, and major themes. Appropriate as a reference work or textbook in college and seminary classrooms, this volume uniquely combines head knowledge with a challenge to the heart, for it is purposefully titled after each book’s recurring theme of persevering in the faith. Coauthor Terry L. Wilder writes, “Our hope is that God might use this text to help readers not only learn about these New Testament books, but also to appropriate the message contained in each. May we be faithful to the end!”
DANGEROUS DAYS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE is the first in a new adult series by Terry Deary, the author of the hugely bestselling Horrible Histories, popular among children for their disgusting details, gory information and sharp wit, and among adults for engaging children (and themselves) with history. The Romans have long been held up as one of the first 'civilised' societies, and yet in fact they were capable of immense cruelty. Not only that, but they made the killing of humans into a sport. The spoiled emperors were the perpetrators (and sometimes the victims) of some imaginative murders. DANGEROUS DAYS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE will include some of the violent ways to visit the Elysian Fields (i.e. death) including: animal attack in the Coliseum; being thrown from the Tarpeian Rock - 370 deserters in 214 AD alone (or if the emperor didn't like your poetry); by volcanic eruption from Vesuvius; by kicking (Nero's fatal quarrel with the Empress Poppea); from poison mushrooms (Claudius); by great fires; torturous tarring; flogging to death; boiling lead (the invention of 'kind' Emperor Constantine); or being skinned alive by invading barbarians. DANGEROUS DAYS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE looks at the back-story leading up to the victims' deaths, and in doing so gives the general reader a concise history of a frequently misunderstood era.
When twin tornadoes destroy the town of Victory, Indiana, it appears to be a tragedy. But, perhaps, the end is just the beginning. The people who are living in Victory and their fate are introduced through flashbacks.
Challenging gnositicizing interpretations of the letter, Terry Griffith explores how the polemic against idols was variously used in Jewish and Christian circles to define self-identity and the limits of community. He shows that the rhetoric of 1 John is not polemical, but pastoral, directed at confirming Johannine Christians in their fundamental confession of faith and preventing further defections of Jewish Christians back to Judaism. Griffith argues that the christological focus in 1 John concerns the identification of Jesus as the Messiah, and that the ending of the letter both contributes to the author's overall pastoral strategy and sheds light on the issues of sin and christology that are raised in this letter.
The Book of Revelation: A New Beginning contains the hidden secrets of Saint Johns Revelation, and as you know, it is one of the most debated and most difficult books of all the scriptures to read and understand because of the extreme symbolism tied to it. Man has always assumed the word of Gods prophets and their stories were indisputable just because of their eminence in interpreted them as being true. Man has forgotten the history of himself, Earth, God, the origin of the universe, and how the scriptures have been documented, interpreted, and strictly passed down by our ancestors and religious leaders. As symbolic as Revelation is it has nothing to do with the end days or even about a solitary Anti-Christ as we understand it nor is it about Jesus coming to save you. In truth, Saint Johns Revelation is your own guide showing you that you no longer need to look at yourself as a sinner because you have bared your cross, like Jesus, and now the time has come for you to ascend to a higher state of Mind. The book of Revelation: A New Beginning is a book that will help open the gates of your soul memories so you can become aware of your own divineness, and that you are a God too. My fellow Gods, what is coming to an end is the old ways of perceiving and understanding God. It is not that God is a mystery. It is you that is the mystery, and when fear is resolved within, you are then ready to open up to the hidden secrets behind the Book of Revelation that religions have kept as a secret for thousands of years, either on purpose or because of ignorance.
This book full of Bible puzzles and activities will help young people, and the young of heart, learn more about the Bible in fun ways. Great for summer Vacation Bible School, Sunday School or as a gift to children or grandchildren. Even adults can have fun reviewing and testing their Bible knowledge.
Examines black voters' relationship to the political process and to the first black president in a prematurely post-racial America using interviews with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, empirical data, news accounts, academic literature and case law.
After hearing gunshots by their homes, kindergartners ask for meeting with the Mayor of Muncie, Indiana to seek answers and possible solutions to gun violence surrounding our nation.
The theme in our studies in Hebrews is, the super-abounding excellence of Christianity over Judaism. The sum and substance, the center and circumference, the light and life of Christianity, is Christ. Therefore, the method followed by the Holy Spirit in this Epistle, in developing its dominant theme, is to show the immeasurable superiority of Christ over all that had gone before. One by one the various objects in which the Jews boasted are taken up, and in the presence of the superlative glory of the Son of God they pale into utter insignificance. We are shown First, His superiority over the prophets, Hebrews 1:1-3. Second, His superiority over angels in Hebrews 1:4 to Hebrews 2:18. Third, His superiority over Moses in Hebrews 3:1-19. Fourth, His superiority over Joshua, Hebrews 4:1-13. Fifth, His superiority over Aaron in Hebrews 5:14 to 7:18.
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