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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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Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

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
It could sound like Elisha... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2013
It could sound like Elisha was being tested.
Sermon Illustrations for New Year's Day (2014) -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2013
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
NULL -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Bob Ove -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2013
There is enough in this passage to fill your whole ministry!
Sermon Illustrations for Thanksgiving Day (2013) -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Philippians 4:4-9, John 6:25-35 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2013
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
It can be shocking sometimes... -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
It can be shocking sometimes what God asks us to do.
Luke includes a number... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2013
Luke includes a number of stories of Jesus' last week that no other gospels contain.
We like the good... -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 -- Bob Ove -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2013
We like the good times, but we are not so sure about the bad times.
Sermon illustrations for Easter 2 (2013) -- Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 20:19-31, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 5:27-32
Are we in the land... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- Bob Ove -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2013
Are we in the land that the Lord has given us?
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany of the Lord (2013) -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen, Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Cynthia E. Cowen -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Isaiah 60:1-6
There are a number of passages... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
There are a number of passages where Jesus is praying and his disciples can see him at prayer.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 9 | OT 14 (2013) -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Scott A. Bryte, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2013
2 Kings 5:1-14
We like the glory... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Bob Ove -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2013
We like the glory part. It's the judgment part that may give us a little concern.
NULL -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
The seven churches are not listed until the next chapter.
We don't care about... -- John 6:25-35 -- Bob Ove -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2013
We don't care about miracles as long as God puts bread on the table.
What is a revelation and how does it come?... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Almost all of us have read the Bible or heard it read, but how many have had a revelation?
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 16 | OT 21 -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Sermon illustrations for Easter 3 (2013) -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19 -- Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)
Sermon Illustrations for Reformation Day (2013) -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 31:31-34
It can be scary... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
It can be scary to think that God knows everything about us even before we were born.
NULL -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20) -- Bob Ove -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
There are some people and some denominations that believe God only comes to us dramatically, as he d
This is a passage... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Bob Ove -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2013
This is a passage that bears repeating. It has been used and will be used again.
Sermon illustrations for Epiphany 4 (OT 4) Cycle C (2013) -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 1:4-10
There was a woman in Nepal... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
There was a woman in Nepal who couldn't walk. She had been crippled for many years.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
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

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For November 9, 2025:
  • Reductio Ad Absurdum by Dean Feldmeyer. The best way to not lose an argument is to not argue at all.
  • Second Thoughts: Stirred, But Not Shaken by Chris Keating. In the face of lawlessness, chaos, and rumors about Jesus’ return, Paul urges the Thessalonians to hold fast. It is a reminder of the powerful witness we find in these often misinterpreted apocalyptic texts.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Haggai 1:15b--2:9
The First Lesson is found in a book which is set early in the reign of the Persian emperor Darius I (around 520 BC), nearly 20 years after the Babylonian exiles had returned home. Work had ceased on the planned rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The book recounts the prophet Haggai’s efforts to exhort the region’s Persian governor Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua to resume the construction project. This text is an ode to the new temple to be built.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Haggai 2:1-15b--2:9 and Psalm 145:2-5, 17-21 or Psalm 98

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A couple of board games or card games.

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StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Hey Pastor Tom!” Mary waved from in front of the university library. “Are you heading to the flag raising?”

“I am,” Pastor Tom said. “Are you attending?”

“Not me — I’m afraid.” She gestured at the Physical Sciences building. “I have a class in a couple of minutes. See you on Sunday!”

“See you then. Have a good class!”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus responded to a trick question by telling people the good news that after death we live on forever in a new kind of life. In our worship today, let us explore the theme of life after death.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I find it hard to believe in life after death. Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I'm afraid of Judgement Day. Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Carlos Wilton
Psalm 145 is known not so much in its entirety, but piecemeal, by those who are familiar with Christian worship texts. Words like "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised" (v. 3); "The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season" (v. 15) and "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth" have often called us to worship. The words, "The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (v. 8) have often called us to confession, or assured us of God's pardon.
Robert R. Kopp
When I asked Dad to go to Israel with Mom and me about fifteen years ago, he said, "Son, I've been in two wars. That's enough dodging bullets for one lifetime."

But after almost two decades of trips to Israel, I've discovered Jerusalem is a lot safer than walking around Yankee Stadium or Central Park. Indeed, I'd be willing to wager a round at Pebble Beach that there are more crimes committed in America every day than in Israel every year.
John E. Berger
Here is a true story about a strange funeral service.

The deceased man had no church home, but that is not the unusual part of the story. The man's widow asked for a certain clergyman to be the funeral preacher. The desired clergyman had performed a family wedding a few years earlier. That is not unusual either. It is what is called "an extended church family relationship." In other words, the man had been neither a church member nor a church goer, but there had been a connecting experience -- in this case a family wedding.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him down the labyrinthine ways
Of my mind; and in the midst of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated
Adown Titantic glooms of chasmed fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase
And unperturbed pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy;
They beat -- and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet --

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