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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 Epiphany 3 (OT 3) Cycle C (2013) -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21 -- Cynthia E. Cowen, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2013
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 (2013) -- Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Mark Ellingsen, Scott A. Bryte, Ron Love, Bob Ove -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 2:4-13
NULL -- John 21:1-19 -- Bob Ove -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
I was telling a Muslim I know why we were so sure Jesus was raised from the dead.
Jesus is talking... -- John 8:31-36 -- Bob Ove -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2013
Jesus is talking to Jewish believers and makes the promise that if they are faithful to his teaching
Sermon illustrations for Easter 5 (2013) -- Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 11:1-18
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 (2013) -- Joel 2:23-32, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Luke 18:9-14 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2013
Joel 2:23-32
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 1 (2013) -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
The writer (Paul?)... -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2013
The writer (Paul?) urges those to whom he is writing, to keep on loving each other.
NULL -- Acts 11:1-18 -- Bob Ove -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
There is a lesson in this passage for all denominations.
The message here... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2013
The message here is: Don't give up!
NULL -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
We might have said we lived in a land flowing with milk and honey except for those in the Midwest wh
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 (2013) -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Scott A. Bryte, Ron Love -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 18:1-11
NULL -- John 13:31-35 -- Bob Ove -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
I thought Jesus was always glorified, but it seems here as though the Father glorified him "at once,
Sermon Illustrations for Christ the King / Proper 29 (2013) -- Jeremiah 23:1-6, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 23:33-43 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 23:1-6
NULL -- Luke 4:1-13 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Aren't we tempted more when we are hungry or thirsty or have some other urgent need?
I made a retreat to... -- Jeremiah 18:1-11 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2013
I made a retreat to a monastery years ago and visited a monk who was making pottery.
Sermon illustrations for Easter 6 (2013) -- Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5, John 14:23-29 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 16:9-15
Paul is hinting... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Bob Ove -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2013
Paul is hinting that we have no excuse for not serving our Lord in whatever he gives us to do for hi
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 3 (2013) -- Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Isaiah 55:1-9
This scripture forbids us... -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2013
This scripture forbids us from hating anyone, much less our family.
NULL -- Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5 -- Bob Ove -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
The Holy City, Jerusalem, can signify where all of God's people will live.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 (2013) -- Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2013
Isaiah 65:17-25
NULL -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Bob Ove -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Reading this passage, you wonder if your thoughts can contain what God has said.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 (2013) -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Sermon illustrations for Easter 7 (2013) -- Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, John 17:20-26 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 16:16-34
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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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The Immediate Word

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For July 6, 2025:

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Object: This is a role play activity for the children.

Note: You will need an older volunteer to help with this activity. One option would be to find a teenager with some physical ability. If a teen is not available, an adult could be used instead. For simplicity here, I will refer to my older volunteer as “TOM”. You will also need to select three of your younger children to serve as volunteers in the story.

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2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30
Naaman seeks healing. He travels hoping healing will come to him when he visits the king of Israel. Yet, healing does not come in that way. Rather healing comes through Elishah. Healing comes from believing and being cleansed in the River Jordan. Healing comes through Naaman’s faithfulness and through God’s grace. Psalm 30 also reminds us to seek healing; to seek God and God will heal and restore us. Do we believe that? Do we believe that God can bring healing?

StoryShare

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But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ (vv. 10-11)

When I visit your church for the first time, consider the possibility that I might be looking for a church home. I am a good-looking old guy, but I have gray hair and I dress down in the summer, so don’t be put off by my cargo shorts and tank top. Talk to me!

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Damien and Ora grinned at each other in excitement. The time had come - at last! They'd been with the Leader for months and months, waiting for this moment. Not that it had felt much like training. They'd simply lived with the Leader, listening to his stories, hearing about the Kingdom, learning to get along really well with all the other people at Mission Headquarters. Now all seventy of them were ready, the spaceship had docked, and the Mission was about to begin. Ora was glad she'd been paired up with Damien again.

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(See Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B, and Easter 3, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

Anyone who has ever had the experience of losing a friend because of some conflict or dispute, and then has had the friendship restored because of love and forgiveness, has a unique insight into the meaning of this psalm. Although the poem begins and ends with praise, there is in the middle of the poem a brief moment of confession and contrition that puts the praise portions of the psalm in an entirely different light.

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A word of encouragement came from an unlikely source the other day in a television interview with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The former football player, wrestler, and now actor was asked about a low time in his life when he was very discouraged about his career and future.

"How did you make your way back from that?" he was asked.

The Rock replied, "You have to put yourself out there. You have to get out there and fail, and learn from your failures."

Larry D. Powell
In the summer of 1983, I participated in a ministerial exchange program sponsored by my denomination. My assignment was to a circuit of churches on the Isle of Man, a tiny island located in the Irish Sea. The months preceding the exchange included considerable correspondence with the minister on the island with whom I would exchange pastoral duties for six weeks.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
A wealthy businessman decided to take a walk and eat his lunch at the same time. He strolled by a park. There he purchased a hot dog and a soft drink. As he walked through the park two different "street people" approached him one by one. Each asked, "Can you help me? I am hungry." Each time the businessman looked straight ahead and kept walking. After finishing his lunch, he stopped and bought a chocolate eclair for dessert. As he was about to take the first bite, he was forced to jump out of the way as a young boy raced by on his skateboard. The eclair went flying and landed on the ground.

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