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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

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.
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
Some translations say "happy"... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Bob Ove -- All Saints Day - A -- 2014
Some translations say "happy" instead of blessed.
We are still paying... -- Genesis 21:8-21 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2014
We are still paying for Abraham's and Sarah's mistake with Hagar.
How would we feel if there... -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2014
How would we feel if there were two walls of water on either side of us, and a whole army chasing af
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 (2014) -- Exodus 17:1-17, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:28-32 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
Exodus 17:1-7
Sermon Illustrations for Easter 5 (2014) -- Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 -- Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Acts 7:55-60
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany of Our Lord (2015) -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2014
Isaiah 60:1-6
Sermon Illustrations for Good Friday (2014) -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove -- Good Friday - A -- 2014
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Shouldn't Thanksgiving be a... -- 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 -- Bob Ove -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2014
Shouldn't Thanksgiving be a happy time?
Jesus' life could... -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2014
Jesus' life could shame us all. We might not stoop to wash anyone's feet.
I feel the same about my wife... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2014
I feel the same about my wife.
When someone today... -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Bob Ove -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
When someone today claims to have a vision of Jesus and God, we don't drag them off to be stoned.
How many I knew in Nepal... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2014
How many I knew in Nepal who were prisoners because of Jesus.
This is probably... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Bob Ove -- Good Friday - A -- 2014
This is probably a quote from Jeremiah. Don't try to hurry God. He does things in his good time.
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 1 (2014) -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
Isaiah 64:1-9
That biblical word... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Bob Ove -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2014
That biblical word "perfection" has puzzled me.
That passage sounds familiar... -- Exodus 17:1-17 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
That passage sounds familiar.
When I found a home... -- John 14:1-14 -- Bob Ove -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
When I found a home that we could retire to, my wife had never seen it.
Sermon Illustrations for Baptism of Our Lord (2015) -- Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2014
Genesis 1:1-5
Sermon Illustrations for Easter Sunday (2014) -- Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-18 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love -- Easter Day - A -- 2014
Acts 10:34-43
Don't we wish that... -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
Don't we wish that were true of all confirmands!
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 (2014) -- Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1b-11, Matthew 10:24-39 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2014
Genesis 21:8-21
In seminary we read many deep... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
In seminary we read many deep theological books going into great intellectual detail, but Jesus only
Sermon Illustrations for Easter 7 (2014) -- Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, John 17:1-11 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Acts 1:6-14
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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Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, but your commandments are my delight.
Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live. (vv. 143-144)

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Call to Worship:

We all dislike people who blow their own trumpets, although sometimes we may be in awe of them. Jesus too deplored such behaviour and was never in awe of those who practised it. In our worship today let us open ourselves to Jesus, allowing him to see what is in our hearts.



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Once a harvest has been destroyed, you cannot repair it. If a building has burned to the ground, you cannot repair it. In those instances you need to start from scratch with a fresh start.

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