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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

Advent Ethics -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44 -- David Coffin -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022
Imagine a church women’s group who meets monthly in the church basement around coffee and snacks.
Enlightenment Expectations -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2021
What can we reasonably expect from the church during troubling times such as pandemics, economic dow
Living Our Baptism During Lent -- Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15 -- David Coffin -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2021
The season of Lent is a time to grow in our faith by means of taking our baptism vows seriously (be
Delivery Dinner -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- David Coffin -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2021
In a particular German ethnic county, spring is the time for confirmation parties, easily identified
New Life Guidance -- Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18 -- David Coffin -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
Easter is a season of new life and that which guides the church into new life.
Timely Trinity Spirit -- Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17, Psalm 29 -- David Coffin -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2021
Bill is an older middle-aged public-school administrator who is staring out his window, as more chan
Legitimacy, God's Real Deal -- Mark 6:14-29, Ephesians 1:3-14, 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- David Coffin -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2021
All three texts point how one stakes a claim for legitimacy under God’s plans for their lives and th
Relating to God -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:56-69 -- David Coffin -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2021
It is another summer slump time for Sunday worship attendance at old “First Church.” Every year, be
God's Reputation -- Mark 10:2-16, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- David Coffin -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2021
On November 4, 1979, the United States Embassy in Iran was overtakenby rebel students.
Vulnerability Responses -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44 -- David Coffin -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2021
It could happen in any given community for a variety of reasons.
Promises Kept -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55), Micah 5:2-5a, Hebrews 10:5-10 -- David Coffin -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2021
The 1989 Christmas Vacation movie features Clark Griswold, his wife Ellen and two children
Worthwhile Journey -- Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, Matthew 17:1-9 -- David Coffin -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
It is the second Sunday in Lent!
Purposeful Passion -- John 18:1--19:42, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9, Psalm 22 -- David Coffin -- Good Friday - A -- 2020
In the 2002 movie Gran Torino Clint Eastwood plays the recently widowed and disgruntled ret
Advocating New Life -- John 14:15-21, Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- David Coffin -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
It was the high school graduation season in a certain community who had been blessed with the public
Living Which Values? -- Matthew 10:24-39, Romans 6:1b-11, Genesis 21:8-21 -- David Coffin -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2020
An older pastor and his wife who serve in a remote hill area with sporadic cell phone reception driv
Blessed Assurance -- Matthew 14:13-21, Genesis 32:22-31, Romans 9:1-5 -- David Coffin -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2020
A recently widowed woman in her early seventies is returning to the church where she raised her chil
Discipleship after Deliverance -- Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35 -- David Coffin -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2020
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Living the Book -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46 -- David Coffin -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2020
In the 2010 dystopian movie entitled Book of Eli (starring Denzel Washington), the main cha
Remembering our Testing -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 17:11-19 -- David Coffin -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2020
Three generations of family are gathering for their traditional Thanksgiving Day meal.
New-Found Christmas Life -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- David Coffin -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2020
Around the holiday season, there are hardworking faithful people who experienced heightened expectat
Life Goes On -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Matthew 25:31-46 -- David Coffin -- New Year's Day - C -- 2019
A man in his early sixties sits in front of his television set on New Year’s Eve, while drinking his
Passion for Life -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14--23:56 -- David Coffin -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2019
In this season of spiritual growth, one difficult test of faith is when a cherished matriarch of an
Lord of New Life -- Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30 -- David Coffin -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
In this season of new life, we are always reminded that Jesus as Lord found in the Christian scriptu

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Mature Faith -- Lamentations 1:1-6, Lamentations 3:19-26, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10 -- David Coffin -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2022
All of today’s texts address times along the faith journey where a mature faith is helpful.
God's Reputation -- Mark 10:2-16, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- David Coffin -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2021
On November 4, 1979, the United States Embassy in Iran was overtakenby rebel students.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 20 | OT 25 | Pentecost 15
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pentecost 16
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 17
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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For September 21, 2025:

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Well, it’s autumn, and by now the seeds we planted in the spring either took root and produced or else the weather, pests, rabbits, or our own laziness conspired to make this year’s garden less than a success. But at one point we had to get started and actually plant seeds for the future.

Jeremiah is looking back from the perspective of our spiritual well-being and laments than our spiritual harvest has all been for naught. He wonders if it is now too late for a recovery. Is there no healing, no balm in Gilead, to apply to our wounds?
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Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9
In the spring as farmers and gardeners prepare to plant we are looking at a summer of possibilities. Hard work, to be sure, but also potential. What will happen? What will this season be like? At summer’s end there will be no more questions. We’ll know. Maybe it was a great season, and we have canned or frozen many vegetables. Maybe the farmers have brought in a bumper crop and they got a good price besides.

CSSPlus

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Object: This message will be based on a game you will play. See the note below.

NOTE: Ask three or more adults to come up and play the role of Simon for your group. Tell them to all speak at once, asking the children to do different things. The goal is to create a nice bit of confusion for the children to experience.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great!

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Hey!” Annie waved at the woman standing next to the open doorway. “Can you come here?”

The woman made her way past the other nursing home residents and stood next to Annie’s wheelchair.

“What can I do for you?”

“You look familiar.” Annie squinted at her. “Do I know your name?”

“I’m Brenda.” The woman pointed at her name tag. “I work in the kitchen and sometimes help serve the meals when they are ready.”

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The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” In our worship today let us remember the little things in our lives and ask God to help us to be utterly faithful in them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we pretend that little sins don't matter.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we imagine that you don't notice little sins.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
This poignant prayer of lament and community grief gives expression to what it feels like to suffer as a person of faith. If we believe we are truly part of God's community, then the destruction of that community -- as was the case with Israel in 587 B.C. -- becomes a time for doubt, anger, and confusion. Furthermore, if we believe we are individual members of that community, our personal suffering also creates an opportunity for a crisis of faith: "Why didn't God protect me?" Of course, it does not take a national catastrophe to raise those sorts of questions.
Kirk R. Webster
If feedback is the breakfast of champions, perhaps we would do well to examine some of our prayer habits. If you have ever heard someone use The Just Really Prayer, you know exactly what problem we are talking about.

That prayer goes something like this, "Lord, we just really thank you for this day. We come before you and just really pray for mercy. We offer ourselves to you and just really ask that your will be done in our lives. Amen." I'm thankful this particular Just Really prayer was mercifully short, unlike the next example, The Good Guilt-Based Prayer.
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Another season has come and gone. Promises that were made have not been fulfilled. Good intentions haven't yielded any tangible results. Dreams have not come true. High hopes have proven to be only wishful thinking. Nothing has really changed; nothing has really improved. The time keeps moving along, but we seem stuck in the same ruts. Old routines remain, prejudices persist, dullness and anxiety continue to be constant companions. Lingering in the air is that nagging sense that things aren't quite right, not as they could be, not as they should be.
R. Robert Cueni
In the scripture lesson for today Jesus tells a perplexing parable about a thoroughly dishonest employee who was praised for his dishonesty. In this story Jesus not only seems comfortable suggesting that it is acceptable to compromise with moral failings, but our Lord appears to commend his disciples to "go and do likewise." For centuries, preachers, commentators, and scholars have struggled to make sense of this outrageous tale.

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