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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

Transitions -- Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2016
The bride-to-be was obviously nervous.
Testimony -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2016
In 1637, Eilenburg, Saxony, was surrounded by the dark night of the soul. Europe was at war.
Powerful prayer -- Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, John 17:20-26 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2016
Dr. James Dobson tells a story about his son when he was just a little fellow.
Seeing beyond -- 1 Kings 19:1-4, Galatians 3:23-29, Luke 8:26-39 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2016
In Morris West’s novel The Clowns of God, there’s a powerful scene where a father and his d
Personal testimony -- Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Luke 11:1-13 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2016
Victor Hugo called his masterpiece Les Miserables a religious work. So it is.
Lying eyes, crying eyes -- Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2016
The great composer Felix Mendelssohn loved to tell the marvelous story of how his grandparents Moses
Grace: reinterpreting our lives -- Lamentations 1:1-6, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2016
One college professor presented his class syllabus on the first day of the new semester.
Eschatological ethics -- Haggai 1:15b--2:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, Luke 20:27-38 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2016
There is a powerful scene in Herman Melville’s great epic Moby Dick, where peglegged Captai
After the storm -- Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2016
What difference does my life make for others around me? What difference does anyone’s life make?
The right gift -- Isaiah 7:10-16, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-25 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2016
Some gifts we receive are simply add-ons to the polite niceties of the relationship.
A place at the table -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2015
Here’s a parable: a man is convicted of a criminal act.
Prophet -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2015
When the nation of Israel came out of Egypt and met God at Mount Sinai, there was a political tra
Of jungles and gardens -- Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
After Margaret Mead, the world-renowned anthropologist, gave a presentation at a university, she hos
Conflicting expectations -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20, 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1, Mark 3:20-35 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2015
The year was 1934.
Shattered dreams and reviving hopes -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, John 6:35, 41-51 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2015
A Jewish boy in Europe grew up with a profound sense of admiration for his father.
Compassion: the language of heaven -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2015
Ian Maclaren tells the story of a young woman in his book Beside the Bon­nie Briar Bush.
Wordsmithing -- Proverbs 1:20-33, James 3:1-12, Mark 8:27-38 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2015
A Jewish rabbi was officiating at the funeral of a woman from his congregation.
Beyond consumerism -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2015
I know a mother who remembers an embarrassing moment that happened when she went with her daughter’s
The good voice of poverty -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2015
In my times of great energy and passionate success, I never think about death. I was born to live!
Born a child and yet a king -- Micah 5:2-5a, Hebrews 10:5-10, 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.
At the gate of the year -- 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 -- 2014
Time is the news of the day. Yesterday was yesteryear.
Living as if faith matters -- Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2014
When Eric Lomax was posted to Singapore in 1941 he knew nothing of the horror that lay ahead of him.
The calm at the center -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2014
One Chinese word-symbol for "doubt" is a caricature of a person with each foot in a different canoe.
Tough beginnings -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11 -- Wayne Brouwer -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Ancient Israel's calendar of daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly markers was not so much a schedule o
A world turned upside down -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2014
In 17th-century England, under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell and his righteous Puritanism, Parli

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Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 17
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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For September 21, 2025:

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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.

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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.

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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!

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“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?”

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The Village Shepherd

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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.

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

Christ, have mercy.

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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.
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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.

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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.
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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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