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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

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.
Talk about a fire and... -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41 -- Bob Ove -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Talk about a fire and brimstone sermon! Most will turn people off, but this one hit home.
How many of us are always... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 -- Bob Ove -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
How many of us are always happy?
Wow! We might obey... -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2014
Wow! We might obey the letter of the law, but Jesus carries it at least one step "too" far.
Democracy is a disaster throughout... -- Exodus 32:1-14 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2014
Democracy is a disaster throughout the Bible!
A mother had to wait forty... -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2014
A mother had to wait forty days after the birth of a son before she was considered clean enough to e
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 (2014) -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Romans 7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2014
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
There were two men... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Bob Ove -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
There were two men walking along. Only one is named, Cleopas, so who was the other?
Sermon Illustrations for Fourth Sunday of Advent (2014) -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Sermon Illustrations for Transfiguration Sunday (2014) -- Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Scott A. Bryte -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2014
Exodus 24:12-18
Jesus was reading the minds of those... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2014
Jesus was reading the minds of those Pharisees.
The custom in that day... -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2014
The custom in that day was for the parents to select a mate for their son or daughter.
Sermon Illustrations for Easter 4 (2014) -- Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10 -- Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Acts 2:42-47
After David had a chance... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 -- Bob Ove -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
After David had a chance to relax and think, he compared his house to the one they had given the Lor
They must have had... -- Exodus 24:12-18 -- Bob Ove -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2014
They must have had to sit around for seven days before the Lord made his appearance.
Paul did not travel alone most... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2014
Paul did not travel alone most of the time, but sometimes he left one of his friends behind and some
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
The first time I read... -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2014
The first time I read this I thought of our president.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 (2014) -- Genesis 25:19-34, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Scott A. Bryte, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2014
Genesis 25:19-34
When Jesus saw... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2014
When Jesus saw the crowd he went on a mountain so he could be heard better -- like us preachers from
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2014
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 2 (2015) -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2014
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
We have only two choices... -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2014
We have only two choices in life: be an egotistical sinner thinking only of ourselves -- even if we
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 (2014) -- Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2014
Micah 6:1-8
It makes me think of my... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2014
It makes me think of my ultimate reward as I look ahead to where future generations will end up, but
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
14 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
10 – Worship Resources
18 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 1
30 – Sermons
90+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – 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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Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For December 14, 2025:

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Today I have rolled out the red carpet for you.  We are not famous people, movie stars or royalty, so maybe you have not had this kind of fancy treatment. But often for very important people, red carpet is actually put down for them to walk on.

You would think Jesus, the Son of God, would have had the red carpet prepare the way before Him. Do you know what He had instead? He had a man named John the Baptist. It says in Mathew 11:19,

I will send my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way before you.

Good morning, boys and girls. What am I holding? (Let them answer.) That's right, a loaf of bread. Did any of you eat toast for breakfast this morning? Or did any of you have wheat cereal? (Let them answer.) Bread and (name a wheat cereal) are made from wheat.

Let me ask you another question. Are any of you anxious to see what might be in some of your Christmas presents under your tree? (Let them answer.) You must have great patience to wait until Christmas when you may open them.

That's why I brought this loaf of bread this morning. I want
Leah Thompson
Object: a department store magazine/catalog (or clothing store magazine/catalog)

What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. (v. 8)

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Janice B. Scott
There wasn't much that Adrian was good at, except swimming. He learned to swim when he was little more than a baby, and he loved it. When he was seven he joined a swimming club. It was there that he first met Mr Stevens, the swimming coach.

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C. David Mckirachan
Frank Ramirez
Contents
"Truckin'" by C. David McKirachan
"Heretic or Saint?" by Frank Ramirez


* * * * * * * * *


Truckin'
C. David McKirachan
Isaiah 35:1-10

SermonStudio

Elizabeth Achtemeier
This passage has many affinities with the prophecies of Second Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55), and it has often been attributed to him. But there are differences. In Isaiah 40:3, the "way" is for the Lord, here it is for the redeemed and ransomed (vv. 9-10). In Isaiah 51:11, the reference is to the return from Babylonian exile. Here in verse 10, that context is missing, and those who are returning to Zion are the members of Israel dispersed throughout the ancient Near East. Thus, this text is probably from a time after Second Isaiah and sometime after 538 B.C.
Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1--10 (C, E, L); Isaiah 35:1--6, 10 (RC)
Paul E. Robinson
Christmas has a way of bringing back memories. One that came to my mind as I was preparing this message was when my family would be driving home at night in the car and my father would lead us in singing a song. To all of us family members who remember those fun, cozy journeys toward home, there are many layers of meaning to the words. The song goes like this:

There's a long, long trail awinding,
Into the land of my dreams,
Where the nightingales are singing
And the white moon beams.
There's a long, long night of waiting
Dallas A. Brauninger
E-mail
From: KDM
To: God
Subject: Be Patient
Message: In the meantime, God.... Lauds, KDM

E-mail from KDM to God. Subject: Be patient. Message: In the meantime, God.... Lauds, KDM.
Susan R. Andrews
It was a painful experience for both of us. Jane was a young mother about my age. She had been on the pastor nominating committee that called us to New Jersey. And we had shared much laughter and friendship through the years. She also was on the session - and that cold November night she seemed edgy and distant. I soon found out why. Following the meeting, she waited for me out in the parking lot. And after I locked the church door, she simply lit into me. "How dare you!" she said. "How dare you push your own political viewpoints down our throats, and abuse your privilege as a pastor!
H. Burnham Kirkland
Theme: Prepare The Way

Call To Worship
Leader: To those wandering in darkness,
People: Christ came as the Light of the World.
Leader: To those who are at odds with others and themselves,
People: Christ is the Prince of Peace.
Leader: To those who seek the presence of the divine,
People: Christ is Emmanuel, God with us.
All: Come, let us anticipate the advent of our Lord.

Invocation
Robert S. Jarboe
(Distribute this sheet to the readers.)

Date:

Reader A:

Reader B:

Introit
(As the introit is being sung, Readers A and B come forward and stand by the Advent wreath until the music is finished.)

Litany
Reader A: Please turn to the Advent litany in your bulletins.
(Pause as they do so.)
Let all who take refuge in God be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
O God, spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
Inevitably it happens to any adult or any church leader toward the end of the year, or the time their driver's license expires. Despite the well-intended efforts to try to settle it through the mail, we end up in a long line at the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office. Typically there is a little box with numbers one is supposed to take so they may be identified when the clerk calls for that number's turn in line. The wait can be very tedious. The workers and customers are both tired and anxious with each unique personal vehicle issue.

Special Occasion

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