Login / Signup

Bob Ove

Robert S. Ove is a retired Lutheran pastor who serves as interim pastor where and when needed. He has written for various publications, including Guideposts, Reminisce, and Lutheran Partners. A native of Wisconsin, Ove received his BA from Carthage College and did a year of graduate work at the University of Iowa. His first job was teaching on the Mescalero Apache reservation. Ove's first book, Geronimo's Kids, tells of this experience. Following a brief career in film and photography, he left his business to attend Hamma School of Theology at Wittenberg University for his M. Div., becoming a pastor. During his pastoral career, Ove has served churches in nine different states from New York to California and Canada. Upon "retirement," Bob served as a missionary to Nepal. His latest book, In the Shadow of Everest, relates many of his Nepalese adventures. He is a member of Christ the Ray of Hope Lutheran Church where he does some supply preaching, teaching, and writing.
Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sermon Illustrations for Proper 26 | OT 31 (2013) -- Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Luke 19:1-10 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2013
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
A lamb was slaughtered... -- John 1:29-42 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2013
A lamb was slaughtered in remembrance of the escape from Egypt.
Sermon Illustrations for Easter Day (2013) -- Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, John 20:1-18 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen -- Easter Day - C -- 2013
Acts 10:34-43
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 15 | OT 20 (2013) -- Isaiah 5:1-7, Hebrews 11:29--12:2, Luke 12:49-56 -- Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2013
Isaiah 5:1-7
If we are suffering... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2013
If we are suffering in any way, it can help to know that God's only son was sent to suffer for us.
It is so easy... -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2013
It is so easy coming out of seminary to bring to our people a message that our professors made up.
That's a hard passage... -- Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2013
That's a hard passage to take, though it is a very common one and can make some realize that they ar
NULL -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Bob Ove -- Easter Day - C -- 2013
We like that God doesn't show favoritism, but too often we do.
We underestimate the power... -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2013
We underestimate the power of faith.
Sermon Illustrations for Christmas 2 (2014) -- Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2013
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 6 | OT 11 (2013) -- 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a, Galatians 2:15-21, Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2013
1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a
How determined are we... -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2013
How determined are we to see our Lord? Is it worth the pain of being faithful to our church?
NULL -- John 20:1-18 -- Bob Ove -- Easter Day - C -- 2013
It was a woman who first made contact with the risen Lord.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 7 | OT 12 (2013) -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Galatians 3:23-29, Luke 8:26-39 -- Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2013
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Some preachers seem... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2013
Some preachers seem to preach more hell and damnation in order to scare people back to the Lord.
It sounds like modern... -- 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a -- Bob Ove -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2013
It sounds like modern politics!
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 27 | OT 32 (2013) -- Haggai 1:5b--2:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, Luke 20:27-38 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2013
Haggai 1:5b--2:9
Sermon Illustrations for Maundy Thursday (2013) -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2013
Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14
The law is not our schoolmaster... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2013
The law is not our schoolmaster. It leads us to our teacher, who is Christ.
Sermon Illustrations for Baptism of Our Lord (2014) -- Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-17 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2013
Isaiah 42:1-9
Jesus ate with anyone... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2013
Jesus ate with anyone, Democrat or Republican, sinners or righteous (self-righteous?), rich or poor.
How many times... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2013
How many times have we read letters by some "enthusiasts" who tell us that the Lord has already come
NULL -- Exodus 12 1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Bob Ove -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2013
Whenever we see a lamb mentioned in the Old Testament, we think of Jesus, the lamb of God who was in
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 12 | OT 17 (2013) -- Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Luke 11:1-13 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
Hosea 1:2-10
When we think... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Bob Ove -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2013
When we think that we have the only avenue of truth, it may come as a surprise to find out that God
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 20 | OT 25 | Pentecost 15
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pentecost 16
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 17
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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For September 21, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Well, it’s autumn, and by now the seeds we planted in the spring either took root and produced or else the weather, pests, rabbits, or our own laziness conspired to make this year’s garden less than a success. But at one point we had to get started and actually plant seeds for the future.

Jeremiah is looking back from the perspective of our spiritual well-being and laments than our spiritual harvest has all been for naught. He wonders if it is now too late for a recovery. Is there no healing, no balm in Gilead, to apply to our wounds?
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9
In the spring as farmers and gardeners prepare to plant we are looking at a summer of possibilities. Hard work, to be sure, but also potential. What will happen? What will this season be like? At summer’s end there will be no more questions. We’ll know. Maybe it was a great season, and we have canned or frozen many vegetables. Maybe the farmers have brought in a bumper crop and they got a good price besides.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message will be based on a game you will play. See the note below.

NOTE: Ask three or more adults to come up and play the role of Simon for your group. Tell them to all speak at once, asking the children to do different things. The goal is to create a nice bit of confusion for the children to experience.

* * *

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

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Hey!” Annie waved at the woman standing next to the open doorway. “Can you come here?”

The woman made her way past the other nursing home residents and stood next to Annie’s wheelchair.

“What can I do for you?”

“You look familiar.” Annie squinted at her. “Do I know your name?”

“I’m Brenda.” The woman pointed at her name tag. “I work in the kitchen and sometimes help serve the meals when they are ready.”

“That’s right. I think we’ve met before.” Annie tapped her lips with her finger. “You have the nice smile.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” In our worship today let us remember the little things in our lives and ask God to help us to be utterly faithful in them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we pretend that little sins don't matter.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we imagine that you don't notice little sins.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
This poignant prayer of lament and community grief gives expression to what it feels like to suffer as a person of faith. If we believe we are truly part of God's community, then the destruction of that community -- as was the case with Israel in 587 B.C. -- becomes a time for doubt, anger, and confusion. Furthermore, if we believe we are individual members of that community, our personal suffering also creates an opportunity for a crisis of faith: "Why didn't God protect me?" Of course, it does not take a national catastrophe to raise those sorts of questions.
Kirk R. Webster
If feedback is the breakfast of champions, perhaps we would do well to examine some of our prayer habits. If you have ever heard someone use The Just Really Prayer, you know exactly what problem we are talking about.

That prayer goes something like this, "Lord, we just really thank you for this day. We come before you and just really pray for mercy. We offer ourselves to you and just really ask that your will be done in our lives. Amen." I'm thankful this particular Just Really prayer was mercifully short, unlike the next example, The Good Guilt-Based Prayer.
John W. Wurster
Another season has come and gone. Promises that were made have not been fulfilled. Good intentions haven't yielded any tangible results. Dreams have not come true. High hopes have proven to be only wishful thinking. Nothing has really changed; nothing has really improved. The time keeps moving along, but we seem stuck in the same ruts. Old routines remain, prejudices persist, dullness and anxiety continue to be constant companions. Lingering in the air is that nagging sense that things aren't quite right, not as they could be, not as they should be.
R. Robert Cueni
In the scripture lesson for today Jesus tells a perplexing parable about a thoroughly dishonest employee who was praised for his dishonesty. In this story Jesus not only seems comfortable suggesting that it is acceptable to compromise with moral failings, but our Lord appears to commend his disciples to "go and do likewise." For centuries, preachers, commentators, and scholars have struggled to make sense of this outrageous tale.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL