Login / Signup

Bob Ove

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.
Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sermon Illustrations for Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 (2014) -- Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Matthew 23:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2014
Joshua 3:7-17
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 (2014) -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Scott A. Bryte, Bob Ove, Derl Keffer -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2014
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 3 (2014) -- Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Exodus 17:1-7
I have a Baptist pastor friend... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2014
I have a Baptist pastor friend who is so proud of the fact that he has a job on the side and gets no
There are two ways people... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2014
There are two ways people think you come to God.
Now that the... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Bob Ove -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Now that the Russians finally got rid of the communist regime, they are complaining that there is no
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 (2014) -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2014
Joshua 24:1-3a
That first sentence... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
That first sentence should make fools of the ones who claim to know more than our Lord, who, this pa
NULL -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Bob Ove -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2013
Being justified is what faith is all about.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 (2013) -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Scott A. Bryte, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
I just received a letter from a fellow missionary in Nepal... -- Isaiah 43:1-7 -- Bob Ove -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2013
What a positive uplifting passage! The part of coming through the waters reminds us of our baptism.
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 3 (2014) -- Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23 -- Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
Isaiah 9:1-4
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 2 (2013) -- Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
Isaiah 11:1-10
Sermon illustrations for Easter 4 (2013) -- Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 9:36-43
Be content with what... -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2013
Be content with what you have! How many times have you heard that -- even as children growing up!
One child coming out of church after service asked the pastor, Are you God?... -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Bob Ove -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2013
One child coming out of church after service asked the pastor, "Are you God?" When we wear our cleri
No, we are no longer bound... -- Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2013
No, we are no longer bound by the law, but the law shows us that we have messed up!
That passage can't... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
That passage can't help but make me think: I follow Luther! I follow Peter! I follow Calvin!
The instruction... -- Romans 15:4-13 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
The instruction book for life is our Bible.
Wow!... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Bob Ove -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2013
Wow! Wouldn't you like to live then to see all those miracles?
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 22 | OT 27 (2013) -- Lamentations 1:1-6, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2013
Lamentations 1:1-6
Can you imagine standing all day while someone read the Bible to you?... -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2013
Can you imagine standing all day while someone read the Bible to you? That in itself shows faith!
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 10 | OT 15 (2013) -- Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2013
A builder uses a plumb line to determine true vertical from the gravitational center of the earth, n
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 5 (2014) -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16), Matthew 5:13-20 -- Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)

Free Access

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
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)
Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 26
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christ the King
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
18 – Sermons
110+ – Illustrations / Stories
17 – Children's Sermons / Resources
12 – Worship Resources
17 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)

New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A crown and a cross. If you have enough small crosses, you could give one to each child at the end of the message.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For November 24, 2024:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Look, he is coming with the clouds,
    and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
    and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen. (v. 7)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Bill Thomas
Bonnie Bates
Mark Ellingsen
2 Samuel 23:1-7
This scripture is said to be the last words of David. We are called to hear the words and know that they need to live on in us. “One who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God, is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.” This call for justice remains. It is a call that lives throughout the scriptures. Justice is vitally important to the faithful followers of God. To rule with justice is to answer the call of God.
Wayne Brouwer
One morning in 1872, David Livingstone wrote this in his diary: “March 19, my birthday. My Jesus, my king, my life, my all, I again dedicate my whole self to thee. Accept me, and grant, O gracious Father, that ere the year is gone I may finish my work. In Jesus’ name I ask it. Amen.”

Just one year later, servants came to check on their master’s delay. They found him on his knees in prayer. He was dead.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:



These responses may be used:




Let us pray for the Church and for the world, and let us thank God for his goodness.

Almighty God our heavenly father, you promised through your Son Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray in faith.

SermonStudio

Robert G. Beckstrand
The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty ...
your throne is established from of old,
you are from everlasting ...
More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
more majestic than the waves of the sea,
majestic on high is the LORD.
-- Psalm 93:1a, 2, 4

Theme: The majesty of Yahweh

Outline
1-2 -- Yahweh's eternal sovereignty is seen in the laws of the physical world.
3-4 -- The hostile powers of earth (like "floods"), however majestic or loud-sounding, threaten his rule in vain.
John R. Brokhoff
The Ancient of Days takes his seat on the throne of judgment.
Today's lesson is apocalyptic literature written at a time of
persecution by Antiochus Epiphanes IV around 165 B.C. Chapter 7
tells of four beasts representing the Persian, Medean, Greek and
Syrian empires. The most terrible beast is the last which led to
the writing of Daniel and the Maccabbean revolt. Our pericope
interrupts the account of the fourth beast. It consists of a
vision of a heavenly court of judgment upon the reign of
Lee Ann Dunlap
The weeklong pastor's training event was about halfway through its course and the pastor coordinating the event was enjoying her break with a leisurely stroll across the grounds. But what began as a beautiful leisurely spring day soon turned somewhat anxious when she returned to her room and found a message taped to her door, "Call the bishop's assistant as soon as possible." She spent part of the afternoon playing phone tag between class sessions. "Whatever could it be?" she pondered.

Cathy A. Ammlung
I'd rather hear Saint Matthew talk about Christ the King. His story of the Last Judgment is vivid. Concrete acts are laid out. "As you have done to the least of these," Jesus says, "you have done to me." We may disagree or cringe, but we can picture this King claiming kinship with the lowly.

Luke's story is good, too. Jesus hangs between two criminals and promises to one that "today you will be with me in Paradise." We see a dying King offering kingly gifts to the dying who trust in him. We may be puzzled, we may object, but again, we can picture it.
H. Alan Stewart
Maybe you have had the experience of being mentioned in the last will and testament of someone who has died. As you listen during this poignant experience to the reading of a deceased person's last wishes, a legacy is being passed on. Both as we live and as we die, we pass on a legacy to the rest of the world.
Charles And Donna Cammarata
Call To Worship
From Psalm 145.
Leader: I lift you high in praise, my God, my King!
People: I will bless your name for all eternity.
Leader: You are magnificent!
People: You can never be praised enough!
Leader: There are no boundaries to your greatness.
People: All generations stand in awe of you.
Leader: Your beauty and splendor have them all talking.
People: We compose songs on your wonders.
Leader: Books could be written filled with the details of your greatness.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL