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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 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
I suppose some would say... -- Genesis 1:1-5 -- Bob Ove -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2014
I suppose some would say "in the big bang." I'm not sure it makes much difference how God does thing
This was a shocking message... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Bob Ove -- Easter Day - A -- 2014
This was a shocking message to the Jews, especially the Pharisees who hated all Gentile outsiders.
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
Isn't Jesus saying that people... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2014
Isn't Jesus saying that people are more important than principles? The Pharisees were the
This is not a passage... -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 15:6-11 -- Bob Ove -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
This is not a passage we want to happen to us.
His message is one of baptism... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- Bob Ove -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2014
His message is one of baptism. That seems to be the beginning our Christian walk.
As the whole account... -- John 20:1-18 -- Bob Ove -- Easter Day - A -- 2014
As the whole account of the resurrection seems to indicate, no one, family or disciples, seemed to h
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 2 (2014) -- Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Mark 1:1-8 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
Isaiah 40:1-11
Sermon Illustrations for Trinity Sunday (2014) -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2014
Genesis 1:1--2:4a
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Philippians 3:4b-14, Matthew 21:33-46 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2014
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
Sermon Illustrations for Trinity Sunday (2014) -- Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, John 20:19-23 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2014
Acts 2:1-21
We can see what Paul is... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2014
We can see what Paul is complaining about here.
Sermon Illustrations for Easter 2 (2014) -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Sometimes there is hard... -- Isaiah 40:1-11 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
Sometimes there is hard service we are asked to perform for our sins.
We have a confession... -- Micah 6:1-8 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2014
We have a confession in the common service.
Can we start out like Paul?... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2014
Can we start out like Paul?
On the day of... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Bob Ove -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2014
On the day of Pentecost they spoke in many languages so that all the visitors there heard and unders
Sermon Illustrations for Christmas 1 -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2014
Isaiah 61:10--62:3
Our first assignment... -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Our first assignment is to give praise to God the Father of Jesus.
So often we find the... -- Mark 1:1-8 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
So often we find the fulfillment of the Old Testament in the New.
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 (2014) -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2014
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 -- Exodus 32:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Matthew 22:1-14 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2014
Exodus 32:1-14
Not all the disciples... -- John 20:19-23 -- Bob Ove -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2014
Not all the disciples had seen the risen Lord, so they were still frightened of the powers that be.
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It was a dark and stormy night. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed. Suddenly, Kimberly, our middle daughter, was standing next to our bed, sobbing in fear. My wife held and comforted her for a few minutes, and then I led her back to the room she shared with her older sister Kristyn. I tucked her tightly into the sandwich of her sheets and blankets, snugging things up for extra safety.
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Acts 10:44-48

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This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (v. 12-13)

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Do you love anyone enough to offer them your last Rolo? According to the advert, Rolos are so incredibly delicious that nobody could be that selfless. Those who consider offering their last Rolo to someone they love, snatch it back at the last moment and keep it for themselves.

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