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Ron Love

Ronald H. Love was called into the ordained ministry from a career as a state trooper. He has served Methodist churches in rural, inner-city and suburban settings for 20 years, and also served for four years as an Army chaplain. Dr. Love has also been a corporate librarian for a Fortune 500 company and been a university professor for ten years, teaching history and theology. His writing experience includes denominational publications, magazine articles on religion, and a newspaper devotional column. He holds a bachelor's degree in sociology (Slippery Rock State College), master's degrees in library and information science (University of Pittsburgh), secondary education (Duquesne University), church history (Indiana University of Pennsylvania), and theology (Wesley Theological Seminary), as well as a doctorate in homiletics (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). Dr. Love now resides in South Carolina.
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Commentary

Children's sermon

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Comedian David "Sinbad" Adkins owed $8.15 million in back taxes -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2011
Comedian David "Sinbad" Adkins owed $8.15 million in back taxes.
Prominent on the upper left arm of Angelina Jolie... -- Isaiah 40:1-11 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Prominent on the upper left arm of Angelina Jolie was the name of her husband, Billy Bob Thornton.
NULL -- Genesis 32:22-31 -- Ron Love -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2011
In 1614, Pocahontas married English colonist John Rolfe in Jamestown.
NULL -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Mohandas Gandhi once said, "Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement.
NULL -- John 3:1-17 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Mother Teresa once said, "Be kind and merciful.
The movie Sarah's Key... -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Ron Love -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2011
The movie Sarah's Key is based on the novel of the same title.
Paul Revere was employed by the Boston Committee... -- Mark 1:1-8 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Paul Revere was employed by the Boston Committee on Correspondence and the Massachusetts Committee o
NULL -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Ron Love -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2011
"Stand Down" is a program sponsored by the American Legion for homeless veterans.
NULL -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
David Livingston was placed gently on his bed. Ill, few believed he could live until morning.
In the early days of World War II... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ron Love -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2011
In the early days of World War II, Ruth Handler and her husband Elliott designed plastic picture fra
Unique. Controversial. That is the label often... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 -- Ron Love -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Unique. Controversial.
NULL -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Ron Love -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2011
Middleweight boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter was sentenced to death on a 1966 conviction of a triple
NULL -- John 9:1-41 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
In order to foster congeniality and cooperation among various Christian denominations, the World Cou
Jeret Peterson was a gifted freestyle skier... -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2011
Jeret Peterson was a gifted freestyle skier who seemed to defy the law of gravity, especially with h
In September of 1985 my church burnt to the ground... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
In September of 1985 my church burnt to the ground.
NULL -- Genesis 45:1-15 -- Ron Love -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2011
Sophia Gimenez, of Denver, has been keeping a continuous blog on her journey to be admitted to colle
NULL -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Ron Love -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
In the movie The Devil's Advocate (1997) Kevin Lomax is a defense lawyer who specializes in j
When the armistice was signed... -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -- Ron Love -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2011
When the armistice was signed that ended the Spanish-American War, which was fought in 1898, the Ame
The Republican Party seemed assured of victory... -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
The Republican Party seemed assured of victory in the 1948 Presidential election.
NULL -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Ron Love -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2011
Dennis McClung, of Mesa, Arizona, believes that the world is going to end on December 12, 2012 -- 12
NULL -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Ron Love -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2011
After the Tucson shootings in front of the Safeway Store, where there was an attempted assassination
In the opening decades of Methodism, it was not... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- Ron Love -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2011
In the opening decades of Methodism, it was not a church but a religious society focused on spiritua
NULL -- Exodus 3:1-15 -- Ron Love -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2011
Stephen Harold Spender (1909-1995) was an English poet, novelist, and essayist who concentrated on t
NULL -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Ron Love -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2011
In Billy Graham's daily devotional he was asked what is more important to God, our actions or the mo
John Wesley had firmly established his societies... -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2011
John Wesley had firmly established his societies of believers who became known as Methodists for the

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Advent 3
30 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 4
32 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
10 – Worship Resources
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4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Christmas!
24 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For December 14, 2025:

CSSPlus

Mary Kay Eichelman
Today I have rolled out the red carpet for you.  We are not famous people, movie stars or royalty, so maybe you have not had this kind of fancy treatment. But often for very important people, red carpet is actually put down for them to walk on.

You would think Jesus, the Son of God, would have had the red carpet prepare the way before Him. Do you know what He had instead? He had a man named John the Baptist. It says in Mathew 11:19,

I will send my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way before you.

Good morning, boys and girls. What am I holding? (Let them answer.) That's right, a loaf of bread. Did any of you eat toast for breakfast this morning? Or did any of you have wheat cereal? (Let them answer.) Bread and (name a wheat cereal) are made from wheat.

Let me ask you another question. Are any of you anxious to see what might be in some of your Christmas presents under your tree? (Let them answer.) You must have great patience to wait until Christmas when you may open them.

That's why I brought this loaf of bread this morning. I want
Leah Thompson
Object: a department store magazine/catalog (or clothing store magazine/catalog)

What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. (v. 8)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
There wasn't much that Adrian was good at, except swimming. He learned to swim when he was little more than a baby, and he loved it. When he was seven he joined a swimming club. It was there that he first met Mr Stevens, the swimming coach.

StoryShare

C. David Mckirachan
Frank Ramirez
Contents
"Truckin'" by C. David McKirachan
"Heretic or Saint?" by Frank Ramirez


* * * * * * * * *


Truckin'
C. David McKirachan
Isaiah 35:1-10

SermonStudio

Elizabeth Achtemeier
This passage has many affinities with the prophecies of Second Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55), and it has often been attributed to him. But there are differences. In Isaiah 40:3, the "way" is for the Lord, here it is for the redeemed and ransomed (vv. 9-10). In Isaiah 51:11, the reference is to the return from Babylonian exile. Here in verse 10, that context is missing, and those who are returning to Zion are the members of Israel dispersed throughout the ancient Near East. Thus, this text is probably from a time after Second Isaiah and sometime after 538 B.C.
Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1--10 (C, E, L); Isaiah 35:1--6, 10 (RC)
Paul E. Robinson
Christmas has a way of bringing back memories. One that came to my mind as I was preparing this message was when my family would be driving home at night in the car and my father would lead us in singing a song. To all of us family members who remember those fun, cozy journeys toward home, there are many layers of meaning to the words. The song goes like this:

There's a long, long trail awinding,
Into the land of my dreams,
Where the nightingales are singing
And the white moon beams.
There's a long, long night of waiting
Dallas A. Brauninger
E-mail
From: KDM
To: God
Subject: Be Patient
Message: In the meantime, God.... Lauds, KDM

E-mail from KDM to God. Subject: Be patient. Message: In the meantime, God.... Lauds, KDM.
Susan R. Andrews
It was a painful experience for both of us. Jane was a young mother about my age. She had been on the pastor nominating committee that called us to New Jersey. And we had shared much laughter and friendship through the years. She also was on the session - and that cold November night she seemed edgy and distant. I soon found out why. Following the meeting, she waited for me out in the parking lot. And after I locked the church door, she simply lit into me. "How dare you!" she said. "How dare you push your own political viewpoints down our throats, and abuse your privilege as a pastor!
H. Burnham Kirkland
Theme: Prepare The Way

Call To Worship
Leader: To those wandering in darkness,
People: Christ came as the Light of the World.
Leader: To those who are at odds with others and themselves,
People: Christ is the Prince of Peace.
Leader: To those who seek the presence of the divine,
People: Christ is Emmanuel, God with us.
All: Come, let us anticipate the advent of our Lord.

Invocation
Robert S. Jarboe
(Distribute this sheet to the readers.)

Date:

Reader A:

Reader B:

Introit
(As the introit is being sung, Readers A and B come forward and stand by the Advent wreath until the music is finished.)

Litany
Reader A: Please turn to the Advent litany in your bulletins.
(Pause as they do so.)
Let all who take refuge in God be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
O God, spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
Inevitably it happens to any adult or any church leader toward the end of the year, or the time their driver's license expires. Despite the well-intended efforts to try to settle it through the mail, we end up in a long line at the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office. Typically there is a little box with numbers one is supposed to take so they may be identified when the clerk calls for that number's turn in line. The wait can be very tedious. The workers and customers are both tired and anxious with each unique personal vehicle issue.

Special Occasion

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