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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.
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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The Sadducees and Pharisees were... -- Matthew 22:34-36 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2014
The Sadducees and Pharisees were trying to justify themselves.
I always wonder about... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Bob Ove -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2014
I always wonder about Andrew.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 (2014) -- Genesis 28:10-19a, Romans 8:12-25, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Scott A. Bryte, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2014
Genesis 28:10-19a
Sermon Illustrations for Reformation Sunday (2014) -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-38 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2014
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Sermon Illustrations for Ash Wednesday (2014) -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Scott A. Bryte, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2014
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Abraham's was a life of... -- Genesis 28:10-19a -- Bob Ove -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2014
Abraham's was a life of authority and decision, Isaac's life was one of submission, and now Jacob's
When I was in Nepal... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Bob Ove -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2014
When I was in Nepal as a missionary it was illegal to be a Christian until 1992; I met the first Chr
Parables are much better... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2014
Parables are much better than scholarly dissertations!
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 -- Exodus 16:2-15, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2014
Exodus 16:2-15
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 1 (2014) -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11 -- Bob Ove, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 (2014) -- Genesis 29:15-28, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2014
Genesis 29:15-28
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 (2014) -- Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2014
Exodus 33:12-23
God has given us... -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
God has given us free will! Some have said that was his big mistake!
When I went on a... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2014
When I went on a retreat to a monastery once, I sat looking out a window wondering what I should pra
There are even some Christians... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Bob Ove -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2014
There are even some Christians who give us laws that must be kept.
This was a sequel... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
This was a sequel to the fall of Adam. Adam was tempted and fell.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 (2014) -- Genesis 32:22-31, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2014
Genesis 32:22-31
Jacob had two wives... -- Genesis 32:22-31 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2014
Jacob had two wives, which can be a problem for those who follow scripture literally.
Isn't it hard to "picture"... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Bob Ove -- All Saints Day - A -- 2014
Isn't it hard to "picture" heaven in your mind?
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 2 (2014) -- Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17 -- Scott A. Bryte, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Genesis 12:1-4a
What a message of... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2014
What a message of compassion! If we are sick he will heal us. If we are hungry, he will feed us.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 (2014) -- Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Matthew 23:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2014
Joshua 3:7-17
All Israelites today... -- Romans 4:1-6 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
All Israelites today and in Jesus' day bragged about Abraham.
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 3 (2014) -- Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Exodus 17:1-7
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 (2014) -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Scott A. Bryte, Bob Ove, Derl Keffer -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2014
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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...

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The Immediate Word

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For July 6, 2025:

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Object: This is a role play activity for the children.

Note: You will need an older volunteer to help with this activity. One option would be to find a teenager with some physical ability. If a teen is not available, an adult could be used instead. For simplicity here, I will refer to my older volunteer as “TOM”. You will also need to select three of your younger children to serve as volunteers in the story.

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2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30
Naaman seeks healing. He travels hoping healing will come to him when he visits the king of Israel. Yet, healing does not come in that way. Rather healing comes through Elishah. Healing comes from believing and being cleansed in the River Jordan. Healing comes through Naaman’s faithfulness and through God’s grace. Psalm 30 also reminds us to seek healing; to seek God and God will heal and restore us. Do we believe that? Do we believe that God can bring healing?

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But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ (vv. 10-11)

When I visit your church for the first time, consider the possibility that I might be looking for a church home. I am a good-looking old guy, but I have gray hair and I dress down in the summer, so don’t be put off by my cargo shorts and tank top. Talk to me!

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Damien and Ora grinned at each other in excitement. The time had come - at last! They'd been with the Leader for months and months, waiting for this moment. Not that it had felt much like training. They'd simply lived with the Leader, listening to his stories, hearing about the Kingdom, learning to get along really well with all the other people at Mission Headquarters. Now all seventy of them were ready, the spaceship had docked, and the Mission was about to begin. Ora was glad she'd been paired up with Damien again.

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(See Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B, and Easter 3, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

Anyone who has ever had the experience of losing a friend because of some conflict or dispute, and then has had the friendship restored because of love and forgiveness, has a unique insight into the meaning of this psalm. Although the poem begins and ends with praise, there is in the middle of the poem a brief moment of confession and contrition that puts the praise portions of the psalm in an entirely different light.

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A word of encouragement came from an unlikely source the other day in a television interview with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The former football player, wrestler, and now actor was asked about a low time in his life when he was very discouraged about his career and future.

"How did you make your way back from that?" he was asked.

The Rock replied, "You have to put yourself out there. You have to get out there and fail, and learn from your failures."

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In the summer of 1983, I participated in a ministerial exchange program sponsored by my denomination. My assignment was to a circuit of churches on the Isle of Man, a tiny island located in the Irish Sea. The months preceding the exchange included considerable correspondence with the minister on the island with whom I would exchange pastoral duties for six weeks.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
A wealthy businessman decided to take a walk and eat his lunch at the same time. He strolled by a park. There he purchased a hot dog and a soft drink. As he walked through the park two different "street people" approached him one by one. Each asked, "Can you help me? I am hungry." Each time the businessman looked straight ahead and kept walking. After finishing his lunch, he stopped and bought a chocolate eclair for dessert. As he was about to take the first bite, he was forced to jump out of the way as a young boy raced by on his skateboard. The eclair went flying and landed on the ground.

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