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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 Advent 2 (2018) -- Baruch 5:1-9, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2018
Baruch 5:1-9For they went out from you on foot,
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 3 (2018) -- John 2:13-22, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Exodus 20:1-17 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
Exodus 20:1-17
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 4 (2018) -- John 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-10, Numbers 21:4-9 -- Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
Numbers 21:4-9
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 6 | OT 11, Cycle B (2018) -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17, Mark 4:26-34, Psalm 20 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Ron Love -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2018
1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 and Psalm 20
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 3 (2018) -- Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18 -- Bill Thomas, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2018
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 5 (2018) -- John 12:20-33, Hebrews 5:5-10, Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Bob Ove, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 7 | OT 12, Cycle B (2018) -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2018
1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 4 (2018) -- Micah 5:2-5a, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2018
Micah 5:2-5a
Sermon Illustrations for Passion/Palm Sunday (2018) -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Bonnie Bates, Ron Love -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2018
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 8 | OT 13 (2018) -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Ron Love -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2018
2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 and Psalm 130
Sermon Illustrations for The Nativity of Our Lord (2018) -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2018
Isaiah 62:6-11
Sermon Illustrations for Maundy Thursday (2018) -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Ron Love, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Bonnie Bates -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2018
Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 9 | OT 14 (2018) -- 2 Samuel 5:1-15, 9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13 -- Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2018
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 and Psalm 48
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 10 | OT 15 (2018) -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2018
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12-19 and Psalm 24
Sermon Illustrations for First Sunday after Christmas Day (2018) -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26, Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 2:41-52 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2018
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Sermon Illustrations for Good Friday (2018) -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Frank Ramirez, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen -- Good Friday - B -- 2018
Isaiah 52:13-55:12
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 11 | OT 16 (2018) -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Frank Ramirez, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2018
2 Samuel 7:1-14a & Psalm 89:20-37
Sermon Illustrations for Easter Day (2018) -- Isaiah 25:6-9, Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, John 20:1-18 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas -- Easter Day - B -- 2018
Acts 10:34-43
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 12 | OT 17 (2018) -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21, Psalm 14 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2018
2 Samuel 11:1-15 and Psalm14
Sermon Illustrations for Second Sunday of Easter (2018) -- Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 1:1--2:2, John 20:19-31 -- Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Acts 4:32-35
Sermon Illustrations for the Third Sunday of Easter (2018) -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Acts 3:12-19
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 13 | OT 18 (2018) -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35 -- Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2018
2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a and Psalm 51:1-12
Sermon Illustrations for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (2018) -- Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Acts 4:5-12
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 14 | OT 19 (2018) -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, John 6:34, 41-51 -- Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Bob Ove, Ron Love -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2018
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 and Psalm 130
Sermon Illustrations for the Fifth Sunday after Easter (2018) -- John 15:1-8, 1 John 4:7-21, Acts 8:26-40 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Acts 8:26-40
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...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For July 6, 2025:
  • Who Is My Neighbor? by Tom Willadsen based on 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20; Psalm 30.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
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.

* * *

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
2 Kings 5:1-14
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
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

John E. Sumwalt
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!

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
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.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Stan Purdum
Carlos Wilton
(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.

April Yamasaki
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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