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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

Who Belongs Here? -- Matthew 2:1-12, Ephesians 3:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2025
An upper middle-aged man is politely led out of the factory where he works by both the union and man
Messenger's Message -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2025
Imagine an aging church leader or preacher who has seen one technology tool after another change the
Wilderness Tool Kit -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13 -- David Coffin -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Around 1987, an aspiring young musician left the confines of his Midwest rural Indiana home to try t
Servant Sovereign -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 23:1-49 -- David Coffin -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2025
Where is God now?
Redirected Life -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19 -- David Coffin -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
A medical worker is working long, hard, stress filled hours in an urban hospital setting.
Life Giving Spirit -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- David Coffin -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2025
An older couple is given an eight-month eviction notice to leave their residence.
God Still Cares -- Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Luke 11:1-13 -- David Coffin -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2025
Another mass shooting appears on the television “Breaking News!” Many people have lost count of the
Beyond Status Quo -- Isaiah 5:1-7, Hebrews 11:29--12:2, Luke 12:49-56 -- David Coffin -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2025
When does the status quo no longer seem to be working?
Persistent Grace -- Luke 15:1-10, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 -- David Coffin -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2025
All three of today’s texts can be viewed as good news that God never gives up on God’s people.
A Season for Everything -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Matthew 25:31-46 -- David Coffin -- New Year's Day - B -- 2024
After ten years of employment at a certain company, a mid-level manager is called into a special mee
Community Priorities -- Mark 1:21-28, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2024
During this time of the Epiphany season, we might be seeking voices or signs as to what priorities G
Faith Stretching Exercises -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38 -- David Coffin -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
It is the second week into the Lenten season.
Good Friday Gifts -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- David Coffin -- Good Friday - B -- 2024
All of today’s texts have a gift for our spiritual journey on this day.
Is it Good Enough? -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48 -- David Coffin -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
Pastor Morgan was shocked!
Spirit Movement -- Acts 2:1-21, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Romans 8:22-27 -- David Coffin -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2024
Pentecost accents the belief that the Christian church is a Spirit movement, not another world insti
Getting the Job Done -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41, 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49, Psalm 9:9-20 -- David Coffin -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2024
An older person walks across the stage of a smaller state university to receive a hard-earned advanc
Wilderness Provisions -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- David Coffin -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2024
Regardless of who we are and where we live, we will all one day face some form a wilderness.
Embodied Faith -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17, Mark 7:24-37 -- David Coffin -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2024
In many church circles, the cry goes out for, “We need good leadership!” Growing pressure is placed
Creative Words that Matter -- Mark 10:17-31, Hebrews 4:12-16, Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- David Coffin -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2024
A younger clergy colleague once shared in our ministerial group that people in his generation do not
The New Chapter -- Mark 10:17-31, Hebrews 4:12-16, Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- David Coffin -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2024
The sizzling, fresh aroma of bratwursts and fresh beef burgers is carried downwind to the parsonage
Bearing Fruit of Advent Hope -- Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18 -- David Coffin -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2024
How many frustrated preachers have wished in the back of their minds that they could begin a sermon

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Wilderness Tool Kit -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13 -- David Coffin -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Around 1987, an aspiring young musician left the confines of his Midwest rural Indiana home to try t
Life Giving Spirit -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- David Coffin -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2025
An older couple is given an eight-month eviction notice to leave their residence.
God Still Cares -- Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Luke 11:1-13 -- David Coffin -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2025
Another mass shooting appears on the television “Breaking News!” Many people have lost count of the
Community Priorities -- Mark 1:21-28, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2024
During this time of the Epiphany season, we might be seeking voices or signs as to what priorities G
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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For September 21, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Well, it’s autumn, and by now the seeds we planted in the spring either took root and produced or else the weather, pests, rabbits, or our own laziness conspired to make this year’s garden less than a success. But at one point we had to get started and actually plant seeds for the future.

Jeremiah is looking back from the perspective of our spiritual well-being and laments than our spiritual harvest has all been for naught. He wonders if it is now too late for a recovery. Is there no healing, no balm in Gilead, to apply to our wounds?
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9
In the spring as farmers and gardeners prepare to plant we are looking at a summer of possibilities. Hard work, to be sure, but also potential. What will happen? What will this season be like? At summer’s end there will be no more questions. We’ll know. Maybe it was a great season, and we have canned or frozen many vegetables. Maybe the farmers have brought in a bumper crop and they got a good price besides.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message will be based on a game you will play. See the note below.

NOTE: Ask three or more adults to come up and play the role of Simon for your group. Tell them to all speak at once, asking the children to do different things. The goal is to create a nice bit of confusion for the children to experience.

* * *

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

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Hey!” Annie waved at the woman standing next to the open doorway. “Can you come here?”

The woman made her way past the other nursing home residents and stood next to Annie’s wheelchair.

“What can I do for you?”

“You look familiar.” Annie squinted at her. “Do I know your name?”

“I’m Brenda.” The woman pointed at her name tag. “I work in the kitchen and sometimes help serve the meals when they are ready.”

“That’s right. I think we’ve met before.” Annie tapped her lips with her finger. “You have the nice smile.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” In our worship today let us remember the little things in our lives and ask God to help us to be utterly faithful in them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we pretend that little sins don't matter.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we imagine that you don't notice little sins.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
This poignant prayer of lament and community grief gives expression to what it feels like to suffer as a person of faith. If we believe we are truly part of God's community, then the destruction of that community -- as was the case with Israel in 587 B.C. -- becomes a time for doubt, anger, and confusion. Furthermore, if we believe we are individual members of that community, our personal suffering also creates an opportunity for a crisis of faith: "Why didn't God protect me?" Of course, it does not take a national catastrophe to raise those sorts of questions.
Kirk R. Webster
If feedback is the breakfast of champions, perhaps we would do well to examine some of our prayer habits. If you have ever heard someone use The Just Really Prayer, you know exactly what problem we are talking about.

That prayer goes something like this, "Lord, we just really thank you for this day. We come before you and just really pray for mercy. We offer ourselves to you and just really ask that your will be done in our lives. Amen." I'm thankful this particular Just Really prayer was mercifully short, unlike the next example, The Good Guilt-Based Prayer.
John W. Wurster
Another season has come and gone. Promises that were made have not been fulfilled. Good intentions haven't yielded any tangible results. Dreams have not come true. High hopes have proven to be only wishful thinking. Nothing has really changed; nothing has really improved. The time keeps moving along, but we seem stuck in the same ruts. Old routines remain, prejudices persist, dullness and anxiety continue to be constant companions. Lingering in the air is that nagging sense that things aren't quite right, not as they could be, not as they should be.
R. Robert Cueni
In the scripture lesson for today Jesus tells a perplexing parable about a thoroughly dishonest employee who was praised for his dishonesty. In this story Jesus not only seems comfortable suggesting that it is acceptable to compromise with moral failings, but our Lord appears to commend his disciples to "go and do likewise." For centuries, preachers, commentators, and scholars have struggled to make sense of this outrageous tale.

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