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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

Trinity in Practice -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, John 16:12-15, Romans 5:1-5 -- David Coffin -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2019
Who is the God of our congregation? How is this God made known in the community?
Faith for the Long Haul -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40 -- David Coffin -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2019
It is getting toward the end of the summer, and a certain extended family is sitting out on the dec
What Do You Value? -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13 -- David Coffin -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2019
A pastor has been called to a certain congregation with one major mandate in mind: “Revitalize our y
What Makes a Saint? -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18, Ephesians 1:11-23, Luke 6:20-31 -- David Coffin -- All Saints Day - C -- 2019
This is the day that the early church commemorated the great leaders and heroes of the church, espec
Cost of Deliverance (COD) -- Matthew 2:13-23, Hebrews 2:10-18, Isaiah 63:7-9, Psalm 148 -- David Coffin -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2019
In my early years of ministry, I took this Sunday off, and let the supply preacher worry about these
Hearing God's Voice -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41), Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 10:35-45 -- David Coffin -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2018
It is a dark, damp, raining Wednesday night in a certain pastor’s church study.
God's Entrance -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, Mark 13:1-8 -- David Coffin -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2018
Another cold, autumn Wednesday evening as the sun sets early and the church council gathers into the
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
Comfort perspectives -- Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2018
During the winter months in the Midwest and East Coast USA, churches might see worshipers who are li
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
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
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

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For September 14, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A sheep stuffy or toy.

* * *

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

Did you know that Jesus traveled around and hunted for people who were doing something illegal and breaking the laws? (Let them respond.) He really did.And when he found someone who was doing something illegal, do you know what he did with them? (Let them respond.)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Our text tells us that we are skilled in doing evil (v.22). An anonymous late medieval treatise titled German Theology tells us why:

It is the nature and property of the creature to seek itself and its own things, and this and that, here and there, and in all that it does and leaves undone as desire is to its own advantage and benefit. (Varieties of Mystic Experience, p.162)

Martin Luther King, Jr. offers an alternative to this vision:
David Coffin
All three of today’s texts can be viewed as good news that God never gives up on God’s people. This is despite their resistance to repent or simple straying from the community of faith. We can observe family and loved ones at various points of their faith journey through the lens of each of these texts. Jeremiah 4 informs the people their neglect of honoring their covenant with God is about to result in disastrous consequences. Paul recalls in 1 Timothy 1 how he thought he was falling God’s will until he had his literal come to Jesus moment!

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (vv. 6-7)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told stories to illustrate to the people God's gladness whenever anyone turned to him and chose life. There is still rejoicing in heaven whenever any one of us turns to God.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I think I'm too insignificant for you to bother with me.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with other people, but only with myself.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Proper 12/Pentecost 10/Ordinary Time 17, Cycle B, for an alternative approach.)

The psalm writer has an interesting perspective on the origin of injustice in our world. He begins this psalm with the assertion that those who do not believe in God are "fools." He goes on to accuse them of corruption and of being incapable of doing good. Later on he writes, "Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the Lord?" (v. 4).

Elizabeth Achtemeier
"Now it is I who speak in judgment upon them" (v. 12). Ours is a society that does not accept that as the Word of God. Many people do not believe that God judges anyone. Rather, the Lord is a forgiving God, a kindly deity who overlooks all wrong. As in the Gospel lesson for the morning, the Lord searches for the one lost sheep and returns it gently to the fold, or he hunts for the one lost coin until he finds it. God accepts the lost as they are, we think, overlooking Jesus' teaching about repentance and transformation of life.
Scott Suskovic
We usually don't spend too much time thinking about our own sinfulness. On occasion, of course, our feelings of guilt overwhelm us. We can't stop thinking about our sinfulness. If we are in that situation, we may need to talk that out with someone. Apart from times like that, we don't think much about our own sinfulness. We have ways of getting around that.

R. Robert Cueni
Back before the ways of the Taliban became common knowledge, there was a fascinating little article about how they jailed barbers when they didn't do culturally correct haircuts.1 The newspaper reported that young men in Kabul, Afghanistan, have started wearing their hair the way the actor Leonardo DiCaprio wears his. Long, not only on the sides, but so long in the front that hair can drop over the eyes. They call the style, "the Titanic," named for the blockbuster movie starring DiCaprio about the 1912 sinking of the cruise ship by that name.

Special Occasion

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