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Wayne Brouwer

Wayne Brouwer is a pastor of the Christian Reformed Church in North America and is an Associate Professor of Religion at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, as well as a member of the faculty of Western Theological Seminary. Brouwer has been the lead pastor in three different congregations. He is a graduate of Dordt College and holds degrees from Calvin Theological Seminary and McMaster University. Over 700 of his articles have been published as well as over a dozen books. Previous CSS Publishing titles by Pastor Bouwer include Political Christianity and Humming Till the Music Returns. He has been a consistent contributor to Emphasis: A Preaching Journal since 2004 and is one of several authors featured in Navigating the Sermon. Pastor Brouwer resides in Holland, Michigan, with his wife Brenda and they are the parents of three daughters.
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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Beautiful Scandal -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Good Friday - C -- 2025
When Canadian missionaries Don and Carol Richardson entered the world of the Sawi people in Irian Ja
Miracles -- Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Tinkerbell is the delightful sprite in Peter Pan who drifts between the world of senses and
The Good Life -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Romans 5:1-5, John 16:12-15 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2025
When Ryan Barbarisi was in fifth grade at Grace Community Christian School in Tempe, Arizona, his te
Living Upside Down -- Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2025
An ancient legend tells of a remote mountain village where people used to send their senior citizens
Becoming Healthy -- Luke 4:14-21, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2025
It seems everybody knows about Victor Hugo’s greatest novel, even if few have actually read it.
Starting Over -- Genesis 45:3-11, 15, 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50, Luke 6:27-38 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2025
We all believe in justice; we all cry out to have our rights protected.
Turning Point -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17--4:1, Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
There is an ancient legend first told by Christians living in the catacombs under the streets of Rom
Big Beginnings -- Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11 -- Wayne Brouwer -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2024
Children are often naively honest, as a friend of mine found one day.
Ecstasy and Real Life -- 2 Kings 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2024
Shortly before he died in a training accident with the Royal Canadian Air Force in December of 1941,
Lost... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Exodus 20:1-17, John 2:13-22 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Each of our lectionary readings for today reminds us that we have forgotten who we are.
Waking to a New Day -- Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, John 20:1-18 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Easter Day - B -- 2024
When builders dug in modern Rome to secure the footings for a new parking garage, they uncovered an
The Life that Changes Lives -- Acts 10:44-48, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
It was a dark and stormy night. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed.
Good Grace -- Mark 2:23--3:6, 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 2024
The Black Angel. That’s what Michael Christopher calls Herman Engel in his play.
Importance -- Mark 6:1-13, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2024
Do you remember Rudyard Kipling’s tale of “How the Camel Got Its Hump”?
Reaching -- 2 Samuel 19:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, John 6:35, 41-51 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2024
In Hendrik Ibsen’s famous drama Peer Gynt, the hero of the story tries to find the meaning
Submission -- Proverbs 31:10-31, James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a, Mark 9:30-37 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2024
Friends in Alberta used to tell of an uncle who married late in life.
I Want to See! -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2024
In Morris West’s novel The Clowns of God, there’s a powerful scene where a father and his d
When Democracy Isn't Enough -- John 18:33-37, Revelation 1:4b-8, 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2024
One morning in 1872, David Livingstone wrote this in his diary: “March 19, my birthday.
What Did You Get for Christmas? -- Isaiah 62:6-12, Titus 3:4-7, Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20 -- Wayne Brouwer -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2024
There is a powerful scene in Herman Melville’s great epic, Moby Dick, where Captain Ahab st

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Turning Point -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17--4:1, Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
There is an ancient legend first told by Christians living in the catacombs under the streets of Rom
Beautiful Scandal -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Good Friday - C -- 2025
When Canadian missionaries Don and Carol Richardson entered the world of the Sawi people in Irian Ja
Becoming Healthy -- Luke 4:14-21, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2025
It seems everybody knows about Victor Hugo’s greatest novel, even if few have actually read it.
Becoming Healthy -- Luke 4:14-21, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2025
It seems everybody knows about Victor Hugo’s greatest novel, even if few have actually read it.
Lost... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Exodus 20:1-17, John 2:13-22 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Each of our lectionary readings for today reminds us that we have forgotten who we are.
Reaching -- 2 Samuel 19:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, John 6:35, 41-51 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2024
In Hendrik Ibsen’s famous drama Peer Gynt, the hero of the story tries to find the meaning

Illustration

StoryShare

New Beginnings For A New Year -- Matthew 25:31-46, Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Psalm 8 -- David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Wayne Brouwer, John E. Sumwalt -- New Year's Day - A -- 2006
Contents What's Up This Week

Sermon

SermonStudio

A Portion Of Thyself -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2021
At a graduation ceremony, the president of a Christian college stood at the podium and looked out ov
Into The Wilderness -- Luke 4:1-13 -- Wayne Brouwer -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2021
Jesus was tempted.
Mountaintop Experience -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2021
Some years ago, the History Network created a strange new hit series.
Who's Fault Is It? -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2021
The youth pastor at one of my former congregations had a cartoon taped to his office door.
In The Mirror -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2021
The first birth is extraordinarily exciting, isn’t it?
Terms Of Endearment -- John 12:1-8 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2021
In his short story, “The Capital of the World,” Ernest Heming-way reported an event they talk about
Scandal -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2021
While Don Richardson was a student at Prairie Bible Institute in the 1950s, his heart burned in anti
Night And Light -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2021
A friend of mine had rewritten a familiar proverb and used it ominously.
Faces At A Funeral -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Good Friday - C -- 2021
During the nineteenth century, all Oxford graduates were required to translate a portion of the Gree
Creation Reborn -- John 20:1-18 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Easter Day - C -- 2021
When I was a pastor in rural southern Alberta, we held our Easter Sunrise worship services in a ceme
Messiah's Community -- John 20:19-31 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2021
In his widely-read testimony, Man’s Search for Meaning, famed psychiatrist Viktor Frankl remembered
Starting Over -- John 21:1-19 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2021
Sometimes the healing of our hurts starts only when we find another song to sing.
Hearing A Familiar Voice -- John 10:22-30 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2021
As parents of three wonderful daughters, my wife and I can sympathize with the couple who sent their
The Accent Of Heaven -- John 13:31-35 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2021
She opened our eyes to the way that civilizations unfold and develop.
Glowing Network -- John 14:23-29 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2021
During World War II, many members of the Lutheran church in Germany lost their faith because Hitler
The Captain's Voice -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2021
I was walking through a building on a college campus when I spied a student lounging in an overstuff
The Divine Mission -- John 17:20-26 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2021
A friend of mine taught ethics at a Christian college.
A Cry in the Dark -- Luke 21:25-36 -- Wayne Brouwer -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2015
"Screw your courage to the sticking-place," says Lady Macbeth to her doomed husband in Shakespeare's
The Peaceable Kingdom -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2015
What difference does my life make for others around me? What difference does anyone's life make?
A Dance in the Desert -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2015
Even though we like laughter and enjoy praise and celebration, especially at this time of year, it d
King Jesus -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2015
One morning in 1872, David Livingstone wrote this in his diary: "March 19, my birthday.
The Wrong Gift -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- Wayne Brouwer -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2015
What did you get for Christmas?
Kingdoms In Conflict -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2007
When Vince Lombardi was hired as head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1958, the team was in dismal
Political Pardon -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2007
My parents were married in the wave of weddings that followed World War II.
Why Is God Unfair? -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2007
One of my favorite courses to teach is "Introduction to Biblical Literature." It is a 200-level cour

Stories

StoryShare

New Beginnings For A New Year -- Matthew 25:31-46, Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Psalm 8 -- David O. Bales, Terry Cain, Wayne Brouwer, John E. Sumwalt -- New Year's Day - A -- 2006
Contents What's Up This Week
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

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: You may present this message as a simple story, or have the children act it out as a role-play. I will show the role-play version, but you can ignore the acting pieces and just tell the story if you prefer.

Note: For the role-play version, you will need to select two girls and one boy to play the roles. You might also have a broom and a dust rag if you want to.

* * *

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

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For July 20, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52
Amos proclaims the word from God that punishes the people. The people are to be punished for their lack of faith, for their focus on practicing deceit, betraying honesty to their neighbors, and being impatient for the time after the Sabbath when they can focus on profit and selling their crops and wares. Oh, my! What a terrible message for people. You have been unfaithful so I will punish you. And then in the psalm, God is proclaimed to be the olive tree, that which brings blessing.
David Kalas
I have tried to find different ways of saying it so that my children don’t tire of hearing it. But the basic principle remains the same, and my kids have heard it a ton. “First things first.” They ask if they can do this or they start to do that, and I will endeavor to redirect them, saying, “Why don’t we make sure we’re doing first things first!”

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (v. 24)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
One of Martha's earliest memories was of her little sister Mary singing and dancing in the middle of an admiring crowd of friends. Mary had always been a dancer, from the time she could walk. Privately, Martha thought she'd always been something of a show-off and ought to go on the stage, for Mary loved an audience.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jeanne Jones
Several years ago, before we moved to Wisconsin, I was an honorary nanny for our pastor's son, Jonathan. I took care of him from the time he was able to walk until our pastor moved, when Jonathan was about five. We had wonderful times together. One time, when I was at their house, and we had been doing some spiritual direction together, Pastor Michael asked me if I knew the name of my guardian angel.
James Evans
We are not surprised when we learn about crooks and robbers boasting about "mischief done against the godly" or "plotting destruction" all day long. The image we have in our minds about who "bad" people are, and how they conduct themselves, make such accusations completely plausible. We are less inclined to believe such things about leaders, especially respected leaders among us. We have difficulty believing someone with wealth and power would deliberately plot to do someone else harm.
Arley K. Fadness
Today's gospel from Luke 10 follows the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke positions the good Samaritan and the Mary-Martha story back to back for good reason. The parable and the story are examples of the Great Commandment "to love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." The good Samaritan parable illustrates "love to neighbor," whereas the Mary-Martha story illustrates "love to God."
Kirk R. Webster
In the early 1990s, Wesley Nunley of Dallas completed a project he had dreamed of for decades. "I tell you, this could be a big thing," he explained. Wes then walked out to a concrete octagon in the middle of his backyard. With a beaming smile, arms raised up in excitement, the energetic retiree said, "This welcomes the UFO to land, which has never been done before."
John W. Wurster
It was the best of times. A time of prosperity and confidence, a time of relative peace, a time when most everything looked pretty good, a time when most everyone felt pretty good. It was a time maybe not unlike our own time.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
Our God is both wise and caring: afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Pastoral Prayer
God, we bow before you this morning, knowing that you hear every prayer. We know that in all of Creation, you are the source of life. You are the one who set the light swirling between the galaxies. The breath of your Spirit pulses through all life. You have even become flesh among us. We praise you, Lord, that in all your wonder, you have not forgotten us.

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