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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.
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Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

We have only two choices... -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2014
We have only two choices in life: be an egotistical sinner thinking only of ourselves -- even if we
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 (2014) -- Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2014
Micah 6:1-8
It makes me think of my... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2014
It makes me think of my ultimate reward as I look ahead to where future generations will end up, but
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 (2014) -- Genesis 28:10-19a, Romans 8:12-25, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Scott A. Bryte, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2014
Genesis 28:10-19a
I always wonder about... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Bob Ove -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2014
I always wonder about Andrew.
The Sadducees and Pharisees were... -- Matthew 22:34-36 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2014
The Sadducees and Pharisees were trying to justify themselves.
Abraham's was a life of... -- Genesis 28:10-19a -- Bob Ove -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2014
Abraham's was a life of authority and decision, Isaac's life was one of submission, and now Jacob's
Sermon Illustrations for Ash Wednesday (2014) -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Scott A. Bryte, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2014
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Sermon Illustrations for Reformation Sunday (2014) -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-38 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2014
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Parables are much better... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2014
Parables are much better than scholarly dissertations!
When I was in Nepal... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Bob Ove -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2014
When I was in Nepal as a missionary it was illegal to be a Christian until 1992; I met the first Chr
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 (2014) -- Genesis 29:15-28, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2014
Genesis 29:15-28
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 1 (2014) -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11 -- Bob Ove, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 -- Exodus 16:2-15, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2014
Exodus 16:2-15
When I went on a... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2014
When I went on a retreat to a monastery once, I sat looking out a window wondering what I should pra
God has given us... -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
God has given us free will! Some have said that was his big mistake!
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 (2014) -- Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2014
Exodus 33:12-23
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 (2014) -- Genesis 32:22-31, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2014
Genesis 32:22-31
This was a sequel... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
This was a sequel to the fall of Adam. Adam was tempted and fell.
There are even some Christians... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Bob Ove -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2014
There are even some Christians who give us laws that must be kept.
Jacob had two wives... -- Genesis 32:22-31 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2014
Jacob had two wives, which can be a problem for those who follow scripture literally.
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 2 (2014) -- Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17 -- Scott A. Bryte, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Genesis 12:1-4a
Isn't it hard to "picture"... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Bob Ove -- All Saints Day - A -- 2014
Isn't it hard to "picture" heaven in your mind?
What a message of... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2014
What a message of compassion! If we are sick he will heal us. If we are hungry, he will feed us.
All Israelites today... -- Romans 4:1-6 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
All Israelites today and in Jesus' day bragged about Abraham.
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In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.
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As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture — the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response — to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

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“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

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Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

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

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For April 28, 2024:
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Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
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Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
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We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

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I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.
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A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Paul E. Robinson
"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

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