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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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Children's sermon

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The Immediate Word

Waiting For The Kingdom -- John 18:33-37, Revelation 1:4b-8, 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Psalm 132:1-12 (13-18) -- Christopher Keating, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2015
Our world has been shaken once again by unspeakable violence.
What We Do, Who We Are -- Luke 2:41-52, Colossians 3:12-17, 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26, Psalm 148 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Robin Lostetter, George Reed, Christopher Keating -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2015
In this week’s gospel text, Jesus slips away from his parents and their traveling party as they prep
Authority And Power -- Mark 1:21-28, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 111 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Leah Lonsbury, Ron Love, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2015
In this week’s epistle pericope Paul takes on a dispute among the Corinthian church over whether
Back To School Blues -- James 3:1-12, Mark 8:27-38, Proverbs 1:20-33, Psalm 19 -- Christopher Keating, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed, Robin Lostetter -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2015
This week’s Old Testament and Psalm readings proclaim the importance of discerning the voice of the
The Emperor's Clothes -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Mary Austin, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2015
Many congregations will observe this coming Sunday as Epiphany Sunday -- so this installment of
There's Something In The Water -- Mark 1:4-11, Acts 19:1-7, Genesis 1:1-5 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2015
This week’s gospel text is Mark’s bare-bones account of Jesus’ baptism...
Urgent Message -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20, Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Psalm 62:5-12 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Leah Lonsbury, Ron Love, George Reed -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2015
This week’s lectionary passages contain a pair of warnings about the urgency of changing our beha
The Emperor's Clothes -- Matthew 2:1-12, Ephesians 3:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Mary Austin, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2015
Many congregations will observe this coming Sunday as Epiphany Sunday -- so this installment of
Unveiled -- Mark 9:2-9, 2 Kings 2:1-12 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Leah Lonsbury, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2015
Mark’s account of the transfiguration takes center stage in this week’s lectionary texts.
Wiser Than Wisdom, Stronger Than Strength -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Exodus 20:1-17, John 2:13-22, Psalm 19 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
As we know all too well from the headlines, many places in our world are extremely dangerous.
Alive Together With Christ -- John 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-10, Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 -- Leah Lonsbury, Christopher Keating, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
Paul lays out for the Ephesians in this week’s lectionary passage a chilling distillation of the dea
Remembering No More -- John 12:20-33, Hebrews 5:5-10, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 51:1-12 -- Mary Austin, Leah Lonsbury, Ron Love, Christopher Keating -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
In this week’s Jeremiah text, God communicates through the prophet about the coming of “a new cov

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Roger Cohen wrote an article... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Ron Love -- New Year's Day - B -- 2014
Roger Cohen wrote an article for the New York Times in which he discussed that as a child he
So you understand... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- Ron Love -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2014
"So you understand the roaring wave of fear that swept through the greatest city in the world just a
Christian Richter (1676-1711)... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Ron Love -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2014
Christian Richter (1676-1711) saw one steeple but many denominational expressions.
Thorstein Veblen is... -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Thorstein Veblen is a name that is unfamiliar to most of us; yet his introduction of an economic con
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 (2014) -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Romans 7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2014
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Cecil De Mille learned... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ron Love -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2014
Cecil De Mille learned in June 1958 that the plans to place translations of the hieroglyphics on the
At Old English taverns... -- John 9:1-41 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
At Old English taverns people drank from pint- and quart-sized containers.
In 1869 at the London... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Ron Love -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2014
In 1869 at the London Metaphysical Society, Thomas Huxley first used the word "agnostic." Huxley ref
Evagrius Ponticus... -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Ron Love -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Evagrius Ponticus, also known as Evagrius the Solitary, was a Christian monk and ascetic who resided
Adoniram Judson after being... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Ron Love -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2014
Adoniram Judson after being a Deist at Providence College (now Brown University) realized after grad
Sermon Illustrations for Thanksgiving Day (2014) -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 17:11-19 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2014
Deuteronomy 8:7-18
Sermon Illustrations for Maundy Thursday (2014) -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2014
Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 -- Exodus 3:1-15, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2014
Exodus 3:1-15

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Easter 2
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 3
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 4
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: An orange and a lemon that are about the same size and shape, a knife, a cutting board, orange and yellow paint, and some paper towels. Prepare the fruit by painting the lemon orange, and the orange, yellow. The more alike they look, the better.

* * *

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

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For May 11, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
Tinkerbell is the delightful sprite in Peter Pan who drifts between the world of senses and the world of magic. She sprinkles “fairy dust” to make children fly; she sparkles around Peter Pan as a comrade adventurer.

Once, in one episode of a televised version of Peter Pan, Tin­kerbell ingested some poison. There was nothing to be seen of her, tiny thing that she was, other than the brightness of her little light. But with the poison, her light began to fade. Before our very eyes she grew dimmer, pulsing with a weakening glow.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Acts 9:36-43
Cryonics is an interesting and, if I’m honest, disturbing practice. You might be wondering, what is cryonics? The aim of cryonics, according to Dennis Kowalski, the president of the Cryonics Institute in Michigan, is to “keep bodies in a stable, preserved state until the necessary medical technology arrives.” As of June 1, 2024, there were about five hundred people who have tried to keep themselves preserved for future medical advances to revive.

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Hello, Peter. Come on in to the office,” Pastor Carl held open the door for him. “Oh, don’t worry about your shoes.”

“They’re muddy and I really should take them off,” Peter said. “Besides if I don’t, I’ll be hearing my mother’s voice telling me to take them off before coming into your office.”

Pastor Carl smiled. “Fair enough.”

After a few moments, Peter took the offered seat across from Pastor Carl.

“So how are you finding our church?” Pastor Carl asked. “I know you mentioned we’re a bit more casual and smaller than you are used to.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus said that he gives eternal life to those who follow him. As we worship God today, let us believe in his words so that we too may enjoy the Life that he offers.



Invitation to Confession:

 Jesus, sometimes we leave you out of our lives.
Lord, have mercy.

 Jesus, sometimes we are disappointed because you don't answer prayers in the way that we wish.
Christ, have mercy.

 Jesus, sometimes we refuse to believe that you still act in our lives today.

SermonStudio

David E. Leininger
Women have always been uniquely important in the life of the church, whether or not men want to admit it. It started with Mary. Women were accorded special status during Jesus' ministry; in fact, it was probably women who were major financial supporters of the itinerant rabbi and his friends. Women were the first witnesses to the resurrection. This is not a feminist statement but a factual statement: from the first day to this day, if it were not for the women, there would be no church. It is that simple.

Donald Charles Lacy
History shows that people are invariably looking for Messiahs or Christs. There is that special person who is to come among them and, in a sense, do for them what they cannot do for themselves. Even for years after our Lord arose from the dead and ascended -- yes, and still at this moment -- people are looking.

Henry F. Woodruff
Now you can't even trust the police. When I was a child growing up in Texas, everyone knew how to spot the police cars: they were big old Ford Crown Victorias, painted black with white doors, sporting black wall tires with little moon hubcaps -- or, if they really wanted to be sneaky and fool you, they were big old Ford Crown Victorias painted gray, with whip antennas and license plates that read "City" on them. You could bet the farm on it. Now all that has changed. Police cars are all different makes and models and colors.
Clyde W. Wentzell
1. O my Good Shepherd, O Lord of my soul,
Keep me forever beneath your control.
In right paths lead me for your name’s sake.
All the best choices, Lord, help me to make.

2. When through dark valleys my walk is severe,
Keep me from evil, Lord, ever be near.
Your rod and staff, my discipline be,
O my Good Shepherd, keep watch over me.

3. You spread a table of bountiful store.
Rich are your mercies and love evermore.
Oil on the head, anointing most pure,
Flows in abundance as your love is sure.

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