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Bob Ove

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Robert S. Ove is a retired Lutheran pastor who serves as interim pastor where and when needed. He has written for various publications, including Guideposts, Reminisce, and Lutheran Partners. A native of Wisconsin, Ove received his BA from Carthage College and did a year of graduate work at the University of Iowa. His first job was teaching on the Mescalero Apache reservation. Ove's first book, Geronimo's Kids, tells of this experience. Following a brief career in film and photography, he left his business to attend Hamma School of Theology at Wittenberg University for his M. Div., becoming a pastor. During his pastoral career, Ove has served churches in nine different states from New York to California and Canada. Upon "retirement," Bob served as a missionary to Nepal. His latest book, In the Shadow of Everest, relates many of his Nepalese adventures. He is a member of Christ the Ray of Hope Lutheran Church where he does some supply preaching, teaching, and writing.
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Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

We must be careful not... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- Bob Ove -- New Year's Day - B -- 2014
We must be careful not to take this passage too literally.
Sermon Illustrations for Easter 6 (2014) -- Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21 -- Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Acts 17:22-31
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 5 (2014) -- Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45 -- Scott A. Bryte, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Ezekiel 37:1-14"Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones..."
Sheepherding has changed... -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 -- Bob Ove -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2014
Sheepherding has changed.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 -- Exodus 3:1-15, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2014
Exodus 3:1-15
Sermon Illustrations for New Year's Day (2015) -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2014
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
We see in the news... -- 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Bob Ove -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
We see in the news that the president and some in Congress try to do good, but their "good" is often
There is a play... -- John 11:1-45 -- Bob Ove -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
There is a play called Lazarus Laughed.
Jesus must be with us... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Bob Ove -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2014
Jesus must be with us right now wherever we are here on earth, but we don't recognize him.
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 -- Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2014
Exodus 12:1-14
Horeb is actually Sinai... -- Exodus 3:1-15 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2014
Horeb is actually Sinai. It is called God's mountain.
Sermon Illustrations for Christmas 2 (2015) -- Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2014
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Sermon Illustrations for Ascension of the Lord (2014) -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2014
Acts 1:1-11
I always think... -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Bob Ove -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
I always think of that old spiritual "Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones, now hear the word of the
Sermon Illustrations for Thanksgiving Day (2014) -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 17:11-19 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2014
Deuteronomy 8:7-18
We have been given... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2014
We have been given free will to choose wickedness or God.
How hard it must have been... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2014
How hard it must have been for our Lord to know the horrible agony that awaited him.
How many times has that... -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2014
How many times has that been sung by the Israelites?
Theophilus means... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Bob Ove -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2014
Theophilus means "lover of God." We hope all Christians will be lovers of God.
This passage gives... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Bob Ove -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2014
This passage gives the historical reason and setting for the feast of the Passover.
Sermon Illustrations for Christ The King (Proper 29) (2014) -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2014
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 -- Genesis 22:1-14, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2014
Genesis 22:1-14
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 -- Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2014
Exodus 14:19-31
The word was Jesus... -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2014
The word was Jesus. He was with God in the beginning and he was God. There is only one God.
Everything that happened... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Bob Ove -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2014
Everything that happened to Jesus was foretold in the Old Testament.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
14 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
10 – Worship Resources
18 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 1
30 – Sermons
90+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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The Village Shepherd

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Call to Worship:

A thief asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into his kingdom. In our worship today, let us explore those qualities which make Jesus a king.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I fail to worship you as king.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I'm not interested in any kind of royalty.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

Lord, have mercy.


Reading:

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Constance Berg
I admit I like it when people are articulate. I like a leader to show a wealth of knowledge on a certain subject. Many people feel the same way. We like the flamboyant skater with a glittery costume and dramatic moves. We like the politician who shakes hands, has good debates, and shows up in the right photos. We admire the celebrity who gives selflessly.

So then, why have we been attracted to Jesus as our authority? Jesus was born in a barn. His father could not hold a job and was therefore demoted to the lowest trade at that time: carpenter. His mother was a teenager.
Schuyler Rhodes
"Be still and know that I am God."

How difficult it is to be still. The world in which we live conspires to make of us a blur as we rush about doing all the things we feel called to do. Indeed, it is difficult to be still. Today, the average worker in the American work force puts in fifteen to twenty more hours a week than a worker did a generation ago. Today, the demands of parenting and community are overwhelming as many find themselves also caring for aging parents. Being still? Sounds nice, but when would that happen? During sleep?
John W. Clarke
Although we are going to concentrate on Jeremiah 23:1-6, it is important to note that these verses are a part of a larger section that is best understood in its entirety. This section contains a collection of prophecies concerning the Davidic kings. It is not important that it be broken down verse by verse, but rather theme by theme.
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He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created ... in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell...
-- Colossians 1:15-16, 19

Julia Ross Strope
If we love the Lord with all our hearts, minds, and strength,
we are going to have to stretch our hearts, open our minds,
and strengthen our souls ... God cannot lodge in a narrow mind;
God cannot lodge in a small heart. To accommodate God they must be palatial.
-- William Sloan Coffin, Credo

Call To Worship (Leader)

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