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

There was a woman in Nepal... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
There was a woman in Nepal who couldn't walk. She had been crippled for many years.
NULL -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20) -- Bob Ove -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
There are some people and some denominations that believe God only comes to us dramatically, as he d
Sermon illustrations for Epiphany 4 (OT 4) Cycle C (2013) -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Jesus is talking... -- John 8:31-36 -- Bob Ove -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2013
Jesus is talking to Jewish believers and makes the promise that if they are faithful to his teaching
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 (2013) -- Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Mark Ellingsen, Scott A. Bryte, Ron Love, Bob Ove -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 2:4-13
NULL -- John 21:1-19 -- Bob Ove -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
I was telling a Muslim I know why we were so sure Jesus was raised from the dead.
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 3 (OT 3) Cycle C (2013) -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21 -- Cynthia E. Cowen, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2013
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 (2013) -- Joel 2:23-32, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Luke 18:9-14 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2013
Joel 2:23-32
The writer (Paul?)... -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2013
The writer (Paul?) urges those to whom he is writing, to keep on loving each other.
Sermon illustrations for Easter 5 (2013) -- Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 11:1-18
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 1 (2013) -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
The message here... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2013
The message here is: Don't give up!
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 (2013) -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Scott A. Bryte, Ron Love -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 18:1-11
NULL -- Acts 11:1-18 -- Bob Ove -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
There is a lesson in this passage for all denominations.
NULL -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
We might have said we lived in a land flowing with milk and honey except for those in the Midwest wh
Sermon Illustrations for Christ the King / Proper 29 (2013) -- Jeremiah 23:1-6, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 23:33-43 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 23:1-6
I made a retreat to... -- Jeremiah 18:1-11 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2013
I made a retreat to a monastery years ago and visited a monk who was making pottery.
NULL -- John 13:31-35 -- Bob Ove -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
I thought Jesus was always glorified, but it seems here as though the Father glorified him "at once,
NULL -- Luke 4:1-13 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Aren't we tempted more when we are hungry or thirsty or have some other urgent need?
Paul is hinting... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Bob Ove -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2013
Paul is hinting that we have no excuse for not serving our Lord in whatever he gives us to do for hi
This scripture forbids us... -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2013
This scripture forbids us from hating anyone, much less our family.
Sermon illustrations for Easter 6 (2013) -- Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5, John 14:23-29 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 16:9-15
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 3 (2013) -- Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Isaiah 55:1-9
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 (2013) -- Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2013
Isaiah 65:17-25
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 (2013) -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)
Easter 4
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 5
33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Elena Delhagen
Quantisha Mason-Doll
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
For April 21, 2024:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
These lessons all testify to Jesus is our all-in-all. The Good Shepherd theme could also be stressed.  

Acts 4:5-12
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 4:5-12
The hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation” was written by Samuel J. Stone around 1866. It was part of a collection of twelve hymns that emphasized a part of the Apostles’ Creed. “The Church’s One Foundation” speaks specifically to article nine of the Apostles’ Creed, and it emphasizes that Jesus is the one upon whom the church is built. According to C. Michael Hawn, the song became known as the “battle song of the church.”

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me. (v. 4)

Are there angels among us who save people in danger?

One of the stories I tell in response to this question, was sent to me by Robyn Bradley of Oxford, Wisconsin. She’s a therapist and licensed clinical social worker who is the Director of Psychological Health for the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A hearing aid.

* * *

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

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
There was a farmer living in a remote part of the Norfolk countryside who had been burgled a number of times. On the last occasion he was disturbed in middle of the night, he went downstairs with his gun and when a torch was shone into his face, he pulled the trigger several times.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
(See Lent 4, Cycle A, and Easter 4, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

If asked how many images of God this most familiar of all psalms includes, most people would probably say one, that of shepherd. (And, while saying it, there's a good chance they'd actually be picturing Jesus with a lamb in his arms, thanks to the famous painting of that scene hanging in Sunday school rooms all over America.) But, in fact, there are two images of God in this psalm -- the shepherd (vv. 1-4) and the host at a banquet in the temple (vv. 5-6).

Richard E. Zajac
... the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...

Doctor Bernie Siegel claims that coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous.

__________

I have spent nine years here at the hospital. In the course of those nine years I've witnessed and experienced many strange things. I've watched events occur that made me stop and think and wonder. I've found myself doing something or I've found others doing something that made me scratch my head. I've come across many coincidences that made me wonder if indeed they were coincidences.
David H. Webb
It is hard to find a more bold expression of the Easter faith than what we hear from Peter today in our first lesson.

Peter and John had just healed a lame beggar at the gate of the temple. Without hesitation Peter proclaimed to the astonished crowd that the healing was the work of God who had raised Jesus from the dead. Almost immediately, the Sanhedrin arrests Peter and John and puts them on trial. They ask. "By what power or by what name did you do this?" (v. 7).

Mark J. Molldrem
Easter is in springtime for a reason. Springtime is that time of year when new life emerges from the old. Easter is that time of history when New Life emerged from the old.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL