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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

Bumps in the Road -- Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21 -- David Coffin -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
Moving into another state with different levels of road maintenance can result in some unexpected di
Essence of Worship -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13 -- David Coffin -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2018
A family is getting ready to send their second child off to the area state University this autumn.
Living Out Our Purpose -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35 -- David Coffin -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2018
The honeymoon is over at a certain church. Reality sets in.
Directions for Life -- Proverbs 1:20-33, James 3:1-12, Mark 8:27-38, Psalm 19 -- David Coffin -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2018
One of the ripple effects of living in a “Post 911” era is whenever a person hears about a regional
Reason to wake up -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2017
It was one of those rough Fridays that one wishes to forget.
After The Big Event -- Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, John 17:1-11 -- David Coffin -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
It is about one year after the big 150th anniversary at First Church.
Varying New Life Experiences -- Acts 2:14a; 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31 -- David Coffin -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
As a pastor and a Christian, I have always found the challenge of “Easter” to be not allowing it to
Spirit Of Life -- Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45 -- David Coffin -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2017
Usually we emphasize the spirit around the season of Pentecost.
Inward And Outward Faith -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- David Coffin -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2017
It is the week before “Fat Tuesday,” and a given group of people are gathered in a restaurant, livin
First Encounter -- Malachi 3:1-4, Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40 -- David Coffin -- 2017
A family has recently moved into a community.
Serving What God? -- Genesis 22:1-14, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42 -- David Coffin -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2017
How does one preach in the middle of the summer and vacation time, when God is possibly the last thi
Fulfilled Faith Journey -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33 -- David Coffin -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2017
In an effort to challenge my own faith along my spiritual journey, I explored a book about “theodicy
The Delivering God -- Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35 -- David Coffin -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2017
As the school year has begun and the autumn has churches back into their routines, these texts raise
Commitment -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46 -- David Coffin -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2017
A pastor receives a telephone call from a person who is on the church roster, but who rarely attends
How Christ rules -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew 25:31-46 -- David Coffin -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2017
Reign of Christ or Christ the King Sunday lends itself to the narration of stories as to how people
Reframing a narrative of hope -- Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Mark 1:1-8 -- David Coffin -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2017
“Katharine” sits in her living room easy chair with her laptop, while sipping tea and watching the h
Priority commitments -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2016
One theme of the Epiphany season is coming to the realization of what God is up to in any given comm
Growing in faith -- Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- David Coffin -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2016
Growing in faith need not entail giving up chocolate, donuts, or red meat for Lent.
Trustworthy God -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- David Coffin -- Good Friday - C -- 2016
Why do the righteous suffer and the wicked often seem to prosper?
Entrance points into new life -- Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5, John 14:23-29 -- David Coffin -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2016
By this time, Resurrection of Our Lord Sunday is way behind in the rearview mirror of many people’s
Response to the call -- 1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29) 30-39, Galatians 1:1-12, Luke 7:1-10 -- David Coffin -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 2016
All three of this week’s texts address how a person of faith responds to a calling God has given him
Just use of wealth -- Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37 -- David Coffin -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2016
Ross Douthat has written a persuasive book that has influenced my vision for both preaching and prac
Reality Check -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13 -- David Coffin -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2016
A church is located in either a small town or urban community where the leading economic indicators
Faith in the meantime -- Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Luke 19:1-10 -- David Coffin -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2016
Paul Tillich suggests that human anxiety results when the imagined world we desire and the real worl

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Advent Values -- Jeremiah 33:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Luke 21:25-36 -- David Coffin -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2018
It is the end of the year meeting for a ladies church group, who faithfully congregates in the churc
UPCOMING WEEKS
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Easter 6
30 – Sermons
110+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
25 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Ascension
25 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
22 – Children's Sermons / Resources
18 – Worship Resources
23 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 7
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
25 – Worship Resources
27 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Pentecost
29 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
28 – Worship Resources
32 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Trinity Sunday
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140+ – Illustrations / Stories
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For May 9, 2021:
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John E. Sumwalt
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Contents
“Waking Up to Racism” by John Sumwalt
“Twists and Turns” by Frank Ramirez

 
Waking Up to Racism
by John Sumwalt
Psalm 98

Let the floods clap their hands;
    let the hills sing together for joy
 at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
    to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with equity. (vv. 8-9)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the mid-1960s, a popular song declared, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It's the only thing that there's just too little of.”1 It was an era of both national and international unrest. And the American landscape was reeling from the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, and opposition to both. Amidst headlines so marked by unrest and division, therefore, the sentiment of the song struck a chord with an American audience. 
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Acts 10:44-48
Prejudice is always wrong. Nat King Cole is a well-known artist who was the first African American to host his own national television program. In 1948, he purchased a beautiful home in an exclusive Los Angeles neighborhood. When the local neighborhood association confronted him and informed him it didn’t want any undesirables to move in, Cole responded, “Neither do I. If I see any coming in here, I’ll be the first to complain.” He lived in that house until his death in 1965.

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John Jamison
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (vv. 9-12)

Hi, everyone! (Let them respond.)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus gave up his life for us. In our worship today let us explore how to love one another as he has loved us.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our love for each other is thin and pale.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we pretend to love but fail to care.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we don't know how to love.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jo Perry-sumwalt
One evening, when I was 26 years old, beleagered by guilt for acknowledged sins, I was deep into an hour-long prayer of repentance. In despair, I grieved that I had broken the commandments and that I was not worthy of God's love.

Near me lay the Bible, unused and unfamiliar. I had never, ever read from the Bible. Yet my hands reached out and took the Bible to open it. I knew not where, nor why. But my hands knew the way. They opened to John 15:9-11 and as my eyes began to read, my mind knew the meaning with clarity. My eyes read verse 10 first:
Mark Ellingsen
Theme of the Day
God's love brings us together.

Collect of the Day
It is noted that God has prepared great joy for those who love Him. Petitions are then offered that such love may be poured into the hearts of the faithful so that they may obtain these promises. Justification as a reward for our deeds (love) is communicated by this prayer.

Psalm of the Day
Psalm 98
Stan Purdum
(See Christmas Day, Cycles A and B, for alternative approaches.)

Richard E. Gribble
Once upon a time a great and powerful king ruled over a vast territory. There was something very strange about this kingdom, however -- everything was the same. The people ate the same food, drank the same drink, wore the same clothes, and lived in the same type of homes. The people even did all the same work. There was another oddity about this place. Everything was gray -- the food, the drink, the clothes, the houses; there were no other colors.

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