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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

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Leaning into God's Future -- Jeremiah 17:5-10, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Luke 6:17-26 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2019
There is a powerful scene in Robert Bolt’s play A Man for All Seasons.
Beginnings -- Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11 -- Wayne Brouwer -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2018
In 1954, Marcelle Maurtette wrote a play called Anastasia.
Glory -- Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17, Psalm 29 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2018
Victor Hugo called his masterpiece Misérables, a religious work. So it is.
Winsome Wisdom -- Proverbs 31:10-31, James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a, Mark 9:30-37, Psalm 1 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2018
In H. G. Wells’ tale “The Queer Story of Brownlow’s Newspaper,” it is November 10, 1931, when Mr.
Leaning Into an Unknown Future -- Baruch 5:1-9, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2018
Advent reminds us of the power in Jesus’ words to his disciples.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Living on purpose -- John 20:19-31, 1 John 1:1-2:2, Acts 4:32-35 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Note: This installment is from the Emphasis archives.
Beginnings -- Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11 -- Wayne Brouwer -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2018
In 1954, Marcelle Maurtette wrote a play called Anastasia.
Transfiguration transition -- 2 Kings 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2018
While the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) seem at first glance to have little obvious lit
The Crisis That Changed Everything -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:5-10, John 12:20-33 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
One of the German army prison camps during World War II was divided into two sections.
Do You Understand? -- Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
“If you don’t know where you are going,” says an ancient source, “any road will get you there.”
Glory -- Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17, Psalm 29 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2018
Victor Hugo called his masterpiece Misérables, a religious work. So it is.
Security -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43, Psalm 130 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2018
Some years ago, Newsweek magazine carried a little article about a fortune-tellers’ convent
Parents and Children -- 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 -- 2018
In one of the “Peanuts” cartoons, Charlie Brown sits in his father’s barber shop and describes his r
Winsome Wisdom -- Proverbs 31:10-31, James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a, Mark 9:30-37, Psalm 1 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2018
In H. G. Wells’ tale “The Queer Story of Brownlow’s Newspaper,” it is November 10, 1931, when Mr.
An Upside-Down World -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31, Psalm 22:1-15 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2018
Søren Kierkegaard once wrote of a strange break‑in at a large store in his native Denmark where the
Turn of Fortune -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2018
In 1954, Marcelle Maurtette wrote a play called Anastasia.
Leaning Into an Unknown Future -- Baruch 5:1-9, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2018
Advent reminds us of the power in Jesus’ words to his disciples.
Following Jesus -- Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
Thomas Long told about the examination of ministerial candidates in a North Carolina presbytery.
The Lamb Of God -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2017
George MacDonald helps us understand the heart-tug of grace in his children’s tale known as “Papa’s
The Faith Of Abraham -- Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2017
Faith that would become stronger must become not only a public faith, but a faith that makes commitm
Curses And Blessings -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2017
Maurice Boyd remembers one incident that sealed the impact of his father on his life forever.
Refocus -- Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2017
The only way to defeat pride is to make it irrelevant.
Optical Illusion? -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2017
Walking through a carnival midway at the county fair, a man met his neighbors, a young couple with t
Changed -- Genesis 25:19-34, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2017
Having outgrown its old and limiting facilities, a large church finally managed to build a magnifice
Mistaken identity -- Exodus 1:8--2:10, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2017
Appearances can be deceiving.

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Sermon

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Easter 4
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
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33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
30 – Worship Resources
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Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
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.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 8:26-40
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?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

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

 “I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

CSSPlus

John Jamison
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.

* * *

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

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For April 28, 2024:
  • On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
  • Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
  • Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
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.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
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.

John S. Smylie
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.
Ron Lavin
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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