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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

Epiphany Attraction -- Matthew 2:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2023
“Epiphany” describes the manifestation or self-revelation of God as an ordinary invisible power.
Fulfillment in Darkness -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2023
“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
Relationships Tested -- Matthew 4:1-11, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19 -- David Coffin -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023
Imagine a young couple about to be married who have just processed up the aisle of a traditional Chr
Sacrificial Service -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 27:11-54 -- David Coffin -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2023
In most churches I have served this is the week of Palm Sunday.
Glorifying God -- Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- David Coffin -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2022
According to a recent Religion News Service article, a growing number of people say they be
Focused Faith -- Genesis 45:3-11, 15, 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50, Luke 6:27-38 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2022
In the 1982 movie entitled Gandhi, the story begins in the year 1893, when Mohandas K.
Priestly People -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Joshua 5:9-12 -- David Coffin -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2022
In my junior high confirmation classes, I remind the students that there will be a day when they wil
Life Goes On -- Acts 5:27-32, John 20:19-31, Revelation 1:4-8 -- David Coffin -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2022
It is springtime when the flowers start to bloom.
Being One Differently -- Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, John 17:20-26 -- David Coffin -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2022
The enthusiastic exclamation of Easter Sunday, “He is risen” is a distant echo during the week of th
Which God is Served? -- Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37, Psalm 82 -- David Coffin -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2022
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgement” Psalm 8
Rugged Faith Journey Tools -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- David Coffin -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2022
Today’s texts address various life situations where the Christian faith journey is rugged in differe
Mature Faith -- Lamentations 1:1-6, Lamentations 3:19-26, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10 -- David Coffin -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2022
All of today’s texts address times along the faith journey where a mature faith is helpful.
Response to Distractions -- Haggai 1:15b--2:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, Luke 20:27-38, Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 -- David Coffin -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2022
All four of today’s texts address distractions which may lead us astray of becoming the people of fa
Advent Ethics -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44 -- David Coffin -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2022
Imagine a church women’s group who meets monthly in the church basement around coffee and snacks.
Enlightenment Expectations -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2021
What can we reasonably expect from the church during troubling times such as pandemics, economic dow
Living Our Baptism During Lent -- Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15 -- David Coffin -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2021
The season of Lent is a time to grow in our faith by means of taking our baptism vows seriously (be
Delivery Dinner -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- David Coffin -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2021
In a particular German ethnic county, spring is the time for confirmation parties, easily identified
New Life Guidance -- Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18 -- David Coffin -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
Easter is a season of new life and that which guides the church into new life.
Timely Trinity Spirit -- Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17, Psalm 29 -- David Coffin -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2021
Bill is an older middle-aged public-school administrator who is staring out his window, as more chan
Legitimacy, God's Real Deal -- Mark 6:14-29, Ephesians 1:3-14, 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- David Coffin -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2021
All three texts point how one stakes a claim for legitimacy under God’s plans for their lives and th
Relating to God -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:56-69 -- David Coffin -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2021
It is another summer slump time for Sunday worship attendance at old “First Church.” Every year, be
God's Reputation -- Mark 10:2-16, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- David Coffin -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2021
On November 4, 1979, the United States Embassy in Iran was overtakenby rebel students.

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Fulfillment in Darkness -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2023
“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
Relationships Tested -- Matthew 4:1-11, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19 -- David Coffin -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023
Imagine a young couple about to be married who have just processed up the aisle of a traditional Chr
Mature Faith -- Lamentations 1:1-6, Lamentations 3:19-26, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10 -- David Coffin -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2022
All of today’s texts address times along the faith journey where a mature faith is helpful.
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Passion / Palm Sunday
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120+ – Illustrations / Stories
37 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Maundy Thursday
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The Lord God helps me;
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Isaiah 50:5-9a
The 2022 poll of the American Psychological Association revealed the highest levels of stress and weariness in the American population ever recorded. Commenting on this lesson and its reference to the need for the servant to sustain the weary (v.4), John Calvin observed that Christians “cannot escape this condition” (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.VIII/2, pp.55-56), and then added:
David Coffin
In most churches I have served this is the week of Palm Sunday. The congregation sings “All Glory Laud and Honor,” as either the youth or other members of the church process around the sanctuary waving their palms. The processional text is usually read and sermon topic is based on this text (Matthew 21:1-11). Such ministry is not mutually exclusive to this passion set of texts today. It depends on which theme one chooses to emphasize this Sunday.

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Object: A wipe-off marker board, markers, and eraser. The board can be of any size you can find.

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Around the end of the nineteenth century, a book appeared on the life on Jesus. Nothing surprising about that, you may think, but this was the first time that anyone had written a life of Jesus outside the gospels. It was like a starter's flag, for after that, numerous books were published on the life of Jesus.

All the books were different, and it became apparent that they all reflected the author's own perception of Jesus. It also became apparent that each author's perception of Jesus very much mirrored himself and

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John A. Tenbrook
What really happened to the centurion who presided over our Lord's crucifixion? According to both Matthew and Mark, the centurion confessed that truly Jesus was God's Son. Luke says that the centurion simply asserted Jesus' innocence. But what went on in the centurion's mind as he watched this innocent young Galilean rabbi suffer a horrific death, forgiving his torturers and mockers, and promising Paradise to a fellow victim?

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Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so." But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. (vv. 11--14)

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Johnny is four years old and he stopped taking naps before his second birthday. From his 6:15 am wake up (all by himself, no alarm clocks) until his 8 pm bed time, Johnny is in perpetual motion. He is running or talking or both all day long, and he expects the same from everyone around him. You can't be around Johnny very long without feeling exasperated and exhausted, yearning for just a few minutes of peace and quiet. You may know Johnny, or someone just like him.
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Come in! Come in! Do come in! Far be it from me that I should deny a visitor the hospitality of my little home. After all, it isn't really my home. I'm just a tenant. It belongs to the Lord, as does everything else you see around here, although I admit it isn't much. If I have an extra mat for a bed, or loaf of bread, or skin of wine, and you have need of it, consider it a gift from God to you.
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"Truly, this man was God's Son!" (Matthew 27:54 NRSV).

"Truly, this man was a son of God!" (Ibid., alternate reading).

"This man really was God's Son!" (Ibid, CEV) said the soldier, at the foot of the cross, as Jesus died.

So where in heaven was God while his Son hung there between heaven and hell; between life and death? Between the hosannas and the hallelujahs -- the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, the not so triumphal exit come Friday -- and Jesus' triumphant return to life on Easter -- where was God?
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ABC produced a television program titled Strange World. The story line of a rather dull episode was that a young scientist set out to transfer the memory of the mind from one person to another. The experiment was extended to transfer the experience of death in the mind of one person to another. In order to carry out his experiment the scientist decided to kill in order to transfer the brain fluids from the dead person to the live person. What triggered the experiment in the first place was a fascination with death.

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