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David Coffin

David Coffin is pastor of Elgin/Highland Lutheran Parish in Elgin, Iowa. David is a graduate of Ferris State University with a BS degree in printing. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Ohio) and his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Winebrenner Seminary. He enjoys bike riding and working with small group ministries. He also eats lots of pizza, so he needs to ride the bike.
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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Who Belongs Here? -- Matthew 2:1-12, Ephesians 3:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2025
An upper middle-aged man is politely led out of the factory where he works by both the union and man
Messenger's Message -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2025
Imagine an aging church leader or preacher who has seen one technology tool after another change the
Wilderness Tool Kit -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13 -- David Coffin -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Around 1987, an aspiring young musician left the confines of his Midwest rural Indiana home to try t
Servant Sovereign -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 23:1-49 -- David Coffin -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2025
Where is God now?
Redirected Life -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19 -- David Coffin -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
A medical worker is working long, hard, stress filled hours in an urban hospital setting.
Life Giving Spirit -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- David Coffin -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2025
An older couple is given an eight-month eviction notice to leave their residence.
A Season for Everything -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Matthew 25:31-46 -- David Coffin -- New Year's Day - B -- 2024
After ten years of employment at a certain company, a mid-level manager is called into a special mee
Community Priorities -- Mark 1:21-28, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2024
During this time of the Epiphany season, we might be seeking voices or signs as to what priorities G
Faith Stretching Exercises -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38 -- David Coffin -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
It is the second week into the Lenten season.
Good Friday Gifts -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- David Coffin -- Good Friday - B -- 2024
All of today’s texts have a gift for our spiritual journey on this day.
Is it Good Enough? -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48 -- David Coffin -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
Pastor Morgan was shocked!
Spirit Movement -- Acts 2:1-21, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Romans 8:22-27 -- David Coffin -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2024
Pentecost accents the belief that the Christian church is a Spirit movement, not another world insti
Getting the Job Done -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41, 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49, Psalm 9:9-20 -- David Coffin -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2024
An older person walks across the stage of a smaller state university to receive a hard-earned advanc
Wilderness Provisions -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- David Coffin -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2024
Regardless of who we are and where we live, we will all one day face some form a wilderness.
Embodied Faith -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17, Mark 7:24-37 -- David Coffin -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2024
In many church circles, the cry goes out for, “We need good leadership!” Growing pressure is placed
Creative Words that Matter -- Mark 10:17-31, Hebrews 4:12-16, Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- David Coffin -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2024
A younger clergy colleague once shared in our ministerial group that people in his generation do not
The New Chapter -- Mark 10:17-31, Hebrews 4:12-16, Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- David Coffin -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2024
The sizzling, fresh aroma of bratwursts and fresh beef burgers is carried downwind to the parsonage
Bearing Fruit of Advent Hope -- Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18 -- David Coffin -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2024
How many frustrated preachers have wished in the back of their minds that they could begin a sermon
Faith in God's Word -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28, Genesis 45:1-15, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- David Coffin -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2023
A person is a sincere Christian who prays for God’s will in their life at a young age.
Belonging Grace -- Exodus 16:2-15, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16 -- David Coffin -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2023
At first glance, one common thread that ties all three of these texts together is that of God’s grac

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Wilderness Tool Kit -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13 -- David Coffin -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Around 1987, an aspiring young musician left the confines of his Midwest rural Indiana home to try t
Life Giving Spirit -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- David Coffin -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2025
An older couple is given an eight-month eviction notice to leave their residence.
Community Priorities -- Mark 1:21-28, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2024
During this time of the Epiphany season, we might be seeking voices or signs as to what priorities G
Faith Stretching Exercises -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38 -- David Coffin -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
It is the second week into the Lenten season.
Spirit Movement -- Acts 2:1-21, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Romans 8:22-27 -- David Coffin -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2024
Pentecost accents the belief that the Christian church is a Spirit movement, not another world insti
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
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

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John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity.

Note: You will need to select six children to play roles in this activity. If you have a smaller group, you might ask some older youth or even adults to play the parts of the two attackers and the man being attacked. I will give suggestions for how they can play their roles, but feel free to help your children make the story as fun and memorable as you can. I have used boys and girls in the various roles, but you can change those however you want to change them.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For July 13, 2025:
  • Samaritans Among Us by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. Samaritans were despised and dismissed by the original audience who first heard Jesus tell this parable. Who are the Samaritans in our lives and how does this parable apply today?
  • Second Thoughts: The Helpers by Katy Stenta based on Amos 7:7-17.

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
I say, “You are gods,
    children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
    and fall like any prince….”
(vv. 6-7)

There have been any number of brother-sister acts that achieved a measure of fame. Take the Carpenters, famed for their singing, musicianship, and songwriting skills. Also worthy of mention are John and Joan Cusack who have acted together in over sixteen films.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
An ancient legend tells of a remote mountain village where people used to send their senior citizens out into the woods to die. The villagers had an eye to the future; they felt that those beyond a certain age would only slow down progress or use up valuable resources to no economically profitable end. Those who reached a certain age weren’t “put out to pasture” or “put out of their misery”; they were simply put out of other people’s way.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82
The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is more than 2,700 feet high—over half a mile tall. It has 160 floors and is twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City. It is home to the world’s fastest elevator which reaches speeds of forty miles an hour. The Burj Khalifa also hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck (on the 124th floor) and the world’s highest swimming pool (on the 76th floor).

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Mabel hummed a familiar hymn tune as she made her way to church. She always enjoyed her Sunday morning walk. It was one of the few times she felt safe to walk alone through the inner city, for she knew nobody would be up at 7.45 in the morning. Today was a particularly beautiful morning, with blue sky, warm sunshine, and the song of a few intrepid blackbirds who still inhabited the city.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Often, a distinction is made between the pastoral or priestly work of the church and the prophetic work. Pastoral care has to do with the care of souls, the offering of comfort in times of loss. The priestly character of pastoral work seeks to mediate the presence of God to those who are hurting.

Schuyler Rhodes
Trusting is never easy. Even in the best of relationships, people step into trust slowly. There is wariness -- questioning -- worry. What happens if trust is betrayed? What if this doesn't work? Sometimes it's like a dance. We step in and out of trust, moving to the rhythms of fear. For many, the routine is achingly familiar. Indeed, it's not easy to trust.
John Jamison
It was back in the days when the railroad was the most common mode of transportation. There were automobiles, and some airplanes, but the steam locomotive was the way most folks traveled and the way that most of the goods were distributed around the country. After dinner, people sat in the drawing room and listened to the radio programs, fading in and out from some faraway location, over the magical broadcasting signal.
Robert Leslie Holmes
Not many tourists to Washington, D.C., look for the Federal Bureau of Standards offices. It's the Capitol and the White House, the Supreme Court Building or the Smithsonian most of us want to see when we go there. Yet, at the Bureau of Standards offices something very important is stored, something that impacts your life and mine every single day. Have you ever bought the materials for a new project? When you did, most likely you purchased so many inches or feet or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline for your car and purchased it at a certain price per gallon.
David O. Bales
I have the two best jobs in the world. I teach social studies at Leon Griffith Junior High School (a fairly small junior high) and I am Sunday School Superintendent at Calvary Presbyterian Church (an enormous church school). Each job is my vocation. I tell people that at school they'll find my room where the halls cross. At church they can look but probably won't find me. I'll be in someone's classroom. At each job I practice what I most deeply believe: it's how you see the world that determines how you respond to it. I'll give you an example, actually, two examples.
Erskine White
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Stuart K. Hine)

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