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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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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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
The Catholic Apostolic church... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Ron Love -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2014
The Catholic Apostolic church movement officially began in 1831 in England and quickly spread to the
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 (2014) -- Exodus 17:1-17, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:28-32 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
Exodus 17:1-7
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 (2014) -- Genesis 25:19-34, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Scott A. Bryte, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2014
Genesis 25:19-34
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 5 (2014) -- Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45 -- Scott A. Bryte, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Ezekiel 37:1-14"Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones..."
Alfred Hitchcock was recognized... -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18 -- Ron Love -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2014
Alfred Hitchcock was recognized in the film industry as a director whose movies typically progressed
Sermon Illustrations for Christ The King (Proper 29) (2014) -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2014
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 -- Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2014
Exodus 14:19-31
In April 4, 1991 the... -- Genesis 25:19-34 -- Ron Love -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2014
In April 4, 1991 the Coptic Orthodox Church in Mayiet Bara, a Muslim country, received a permit to r
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 2 (2015) -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2014
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
A district superintendent... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Ron Love -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2014
A district superintendent in the United Methodist church, along with a dozen other district superint
Sermon Illustrations for All Saints Day (2014) -- Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- All Saints Day - A -- 2014
Revelation 7:9-17
The religion of Hinduism understands... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Ron Love -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2014
The religion of Hinduism understands the entrapment of living a self-centered life.
Earnest Presswood was born... -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Ron Love -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2014
Earnest Presswood was born in 1908 and grew up on the prairies of Canada.
The New York Times has... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2014
The New York Times has a column called the "Corner Office" in which they interview the CEO of
Sermon Illustrations for Good Friday (2014) -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove -- Good Friday - A -- 2014
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Anger is not only... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Ron Love -- Good Friday - A -- 2014
Anger is not only destructive to one's soul, but it is equally destructive to one's physical health.
Cecil B. DeMille produced... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Ron Love -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2014
Cecil B. DeMille produced more than seventy major motion pictures during the course of his career.
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 -- Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2014
Exodus 12:1-14
After the opening salvo of the... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Ron Love -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2014
After the opening salvo of the Revolutionary War at Concord, colonial defeat was looming.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 (2014) -- Genesis 28:10-19a, Romans 8:12-25, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Scott A. Bryte, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2014
Genesis 28:10-19a
United Methodist bishop... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Ron Love -- Good Friday - A -- 2014
United Methodist bishop and contemporary theologian William Willimon wrote that without pride there
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 1 (2014) -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
Isaiah 64:1-9
John Wesley, the... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Ron Love -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2014
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, in a sermon titled "Upon Our Lord's Sermon On The Mount, Disc
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was known... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Ron Love -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was known as the "prince of preachers." As the pastor of Metropolitan Tabern

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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The Immediate Word

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For September 7, 2025:

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him…. (vv. 28-29)

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Object: A pair of heavy gloves you might use to protect your hands when you are working or gardening.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! But I need to warn you that this story can be really tough to understand, so let’s see if we can figure it out.

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Jeremiah 18:1-11
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The Village Shepherd

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Call to Worship:

Jesus said that we must be utterly committed to him, even to facing danger and pain, if we want to follow him. In our worship today, let us ask him for help in this formidable task.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we are scared to stand up for you.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we love other things more than you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we are more concerned with our own image than with you.

SermonStudio

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O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
-- Psalm 139:1-2

Schuyler Rhodes
It would be an easy thing to read through this psalm and nod in assent before moving on to the next. It all seems pretty obvious. "Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread...." It is tantamount to what the young people refer to as a "no-brainer." Much of this bad advice could be avoided by turning off our televisions. And the sinner's well-worn walkways? They too seem fairly apparent. Yet somehow they continue to be well worn.
Paul E. Robinson
Another world, another day, another time. The bright sun cast its long dark shadows along streets filled with carts and animals, never once falling on automobile, trolley or McDonald's litter in the gutter.
Lee Ann Dunlap
What would you do if you opened your mailbox one day to find a letter from the city or county announcing that you have to move? That land your grandparents worked so hard to till, or for which you struggled so long to purchase is deemed the best land available for a new shopping mall. The appraisers will soon be checking out your home to determine its fair market value and you are expected to vacate.
Rick McCracken-Bennett
I remember as I was growing up, before gas became more precious than gold, that our family would go on buggy rides, as we called them, on Sunday afternoons after church and dinner. It was a great time for the entire family to be together, to wander back roads aimlessly, and to talk about just about anything you could imagine.
Gary L. Carver
The old man is about to retire for the evening. Closely he clutches a collection of correspondence as he replaces the worn letter he had read back into the bundle. It is the most treasured possession that he owns. As he hits his knees, he shakes his head in wonder and amazement at what God had done in his life. Only God could have taken him from where once he was to where he is now. And his prayer is one of gratitude.

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