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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

Who we are is whose we are -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41), Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 10:35-45 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
Every parent of young children can identify with this: A little boy was asked his name, and he repli
Challenged -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, Mark 13:1-8 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2012
Rabbi Harold Kushner remembered a scene from a television program that he saw years ago.
Hearing a familiar voice -- Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44 -- Wayne Brouwer -- All Saints Day - B -- 2012
One of the greatest marketing trademarks of all time was built on Francis Barraud's 1899 painting of
Hanging onto hope -- Jeremiah 33:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Luke 21:25-36 -- Wayne Brouwer -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
Advent is, for the church, a solid hook in the vast, uncharted, chaotic voids of space, allowing us
Time after time -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Wayne Brouwer -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2012
Time is the news of the day. Yesterday was yesteryear.
Wedding day -- Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2012
The bride was obviously nervous. She could hardly get through the wedding rehearsal.
Tears -- Genesis 15:1-12 (17-18), Philippians 3:17--4:1, Luke 13:31-35 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
"As luck would have it, providence was on my side!" wrote Samuel Butler. But what does that mean?
Glow-in-the-dark -- Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2, Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Wayne Brouwer -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2012
The story of Madame Curie is more fascinating than most fictional novels.
Looking for a king in a democratic age -- Micah 5:2-5a, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
One morning in 1872, David Livingstone wrote this in his diary: “March 19, my birthday.
When everything old becomes new -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:5-10, John 12:20-33 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
Here's a parable: a man is convicted of a criminal act.
Seeing the world through Abraham's eyes -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
Scott Camp told of a university student who was working on a doctorate investigating the social cult
It's all about Jesus -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Good Friday - B -- 2012
The story of God's love in the Bible focuses on Jesus. But Jesus did not appear in a vacuum.
Somebody with skin on -- Acts 10:44-48, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
It was a dark and stormy night. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed.
Harvest hope -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2012
An ancient Jewish writing declares, "Pentecost is the day on which Torah was given." According to th
What kind of kingdom? -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17, Mark 4:26-34 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2012
When I was in high school a new music teacher came to town.
Home -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2012
One day in l748, the hymn writer Charles Wesley was in a dark and somber frame of mind.
Character -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2012
Every parent of young children can identify with this: a little boy was asked his name, and he repli
Meandering -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2012
Wanderers meander.
Wisdom -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2012
Ibn Saud was the first modern king of Saudi Arabia.
Human price tags -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17, Mark 7:24-37 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2012
Soren Kierkegaard once wrote of a strange break-in at a large store in his native Denmark where the
Hindsight, foresight, and insight -- Proverbs 1:20-33, James 3:1-12, Mark 8:27-38 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2012
A boy in first grade came home from school and told his mother that his class had had a substitute t
Religion and politics -- Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
"Politics are almost as exciting as war and quite as dangerous!" said Winston Churchill.
Testimonies -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
In Susan Howatch's novel Absolute Truths, the main character is a rather perfect man.
Only the grateful believe -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 17:11-19 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2011
A schoolteacher asked her students to make a list of the things for which they were thankful.
Greatness finding itself -- Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12 -- Wayne Brouwer -- All Saints Day - A -- 2011
Erik Erikson's book about the early years of Martin Luther is called Greatness Finding Itself

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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...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For September 28, 2025:
  • Money! Money! Money! by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. “This is the even-handed dealing of the world! There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty; and there is nothing it professes to condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth!” — Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
The president of the college I attended was the kind of man who always said what was on his mind. He had a very healthy self-image and wasn’t concerned about how people might take him. At one of the graduation ceremonies, he stood at the podium, looked out over the huge crowd of people, shook his head, and said to himself (right into the microphone, of course), “All these Christians in one place, and no one’s taking an offering!”
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
The lesson makes clear that God is present in the world of business, in our daily work.  John Wesley offered thoughtful reflections on the nature of work; he noted:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. (vv. 14-15)

One morning last October, Bruce Klemm got up and sang a song to his wife, Virginia, as he has done every morning of the 42 years they have been married. Little did he know that within a few hours, he would be calling her to say goodbye.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told a story about a rich man and a beggar to illustrate the way in which we fail to notice those who are poor. In our worship today let us remember the poor and ask God to teach us a real concern for them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we fail notice some people.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we deliberately leave people out.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we care only about ourselves.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Lent 1, Cycle C, for an alternative approach to vv. 1-2 and 9-16.)

The writer of this psalm deftly employs a striking image, that at once offers us hope in times of trouble -- but at the same time, redefines for us what it means to be a human being in the world.

Schuyler Rhodes
Many Christians can be heard in or out of worship these days as they lift up their voices and say, "Praise the Lord!" The phrases are familiar, almost rote. Mouths open and words emerge. Pastors and liturgists remind the faithful that this God is not only worthy of our praise; this God sort of requires it of us. This God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5) who brooks no competition from other gods we might pursue. Yes, God is worthy of praise. Right?
Clayton A. Lord Jr.
It always amazes me when I read about a sports figure who decides to hold out for more money. With salaries that are often in the millions, they feel underpaid unless they are at the next level. I heard one player say to a reporter on Sports Center, "It's not about the money. It is about respect." A few moments later, the host of the show made the comment, "When they say it isn't about the money, it's always about the money."

Chrysanne Timm
As we conclude several weeks of readings in the book of the prophet Jeremiah and next week look at the companion text from the book of Lamentations, a common thread begins to emerge. It is the thread of grief. Jeremiah has been called by God to a truly thankless job -- that of accompanying the people of his homeland into a time of loss and grief. Because of decades of idolatry and treaties with neighboring nations, the people of Judah will lose the land God once graciously gave to their ancestors.
R. Robert Cueni
The lesson for today continues the discussion on the proper use of material possessions by describing what happens when a person tries to "serve both God and wealth" (Luke 16:13). Today's Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus leaves us repulsed by the gory details, puzzled by the literal description of eternal life, and hopeful that the Lord didn't really mean all those terrible things about the punishment due us "Haves" for our treatment of the "Have Nots."

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. I brought some coins with me this morning. (Show the coins.) How many of these coins would it take to be rich? (Let them respond.) I think it would take millions of these coins before you would really be rich. How many of you would like to be rich? (Wait for show of hands.) I think most of us would like to be rich. What would you think if you had a wish that everything you touched turned to gold? (Let them respond.) You would soon have lots and lots of gold and you would quickly be very, very rich. There's a famous story about a man who had

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