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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 greatest gift you can... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2014
The greatest gift you can give God is yourself.
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 5 (2014) -- Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45 -- Scott A. Bryte, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Ezekiel 37:1-14"Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones..."
Sermon Illustrations for Easter 6 (2014) -- Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21 -- Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Acts 17:22-31
Sheepherding has changed... -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 -- Bob Ove -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2014
Sheepherding has changed.
Sermon Illustrations for New Year's Day (2015) -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2014
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 -- Exodus 3:1-15, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2014
Exodus 3:1-15
There is a play... -- John 11:1-45 -- Bob Ove -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
There is a play called Lazarus Laughed.
We see in the news... -- 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Bob Ove -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
We see in the news that the president and some in Congress try to do good, but their "good" is often
Jesus must be with us... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Bob Ove -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2014
Jesus must be with us right now wherever we are here on earth, but we don't recognize him.
Sermon Illustrations for Thanksgiving Day (2014) -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 17:11-19 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2014
Deuteronomy 8:7-18
Sermon Illustrations for Christmas 2 (2015) -- Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2014
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Horeb is actually Sinai... -- Exodus 3:1-15 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2014
Horeb is actually Sinai. It is called God's mountain.
I always think... -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Bob Ove -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
I always think of that old spiritual "Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones, now hear the word of the
Sermon Illustrations for Ascension of the Lord (2014) -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2014
Acts 1:1-11
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 -- Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2014
Exodus 12:1-14
Sermon Illustrations for Christ The King (Proper 29) (2014) -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2014
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
How many times has that... -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2014
How many times has that been sung by the Israelites?
How hard it must have been... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2014
How hard it must have been for our Lord to know the horrible agony that awaited him.
This passage gives... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Bob Ove -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2014
This passage gives the historical reason and setting for the feast of the Passover.
Theophilus means... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Bob Ove -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2014
Theophilus means "lover of God." We hope all Christians will be lovers of God.
We have been given... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2014
We have been given free will to choose wickedness or God.
Sermon Illustrations for All Saints Day (2014) -- Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- All Saints Day - A -- 2014
Revelation 7:9-17
The word was Jesus... -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2014
The word was Jesus. He was with God in the beginning and he was God. There is only one God.
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 -- Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2014
Exodus 14:19-31
You can often tell... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Bob Ove -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2014
You can often tell where someone is from by the way they speak.
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...

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Object: This message is a role-play story. You will need two children to play the roles of the Pharisee and the tax collector. I usually ask two children if they will help me as they are all coming forward for the message, but you may select them however you choose.

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