Login / Signup

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.
Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Commentary

Children's sermon

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

William Shatner for years avoided any convention... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- Ron Love -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2011
William Shatner for years avoided any convention that was related to the television series Star T
NULL -- Ezekiel 34:11-24 -- Ron Love -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2011
In the late 1800s there were two fundamental scientific principles that physicians used to diagnosis
When it appeared that Congress would be unable to pass... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ron Love -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2011
When it appeared that Congress would be unable to pass the 2011 budget, 800,000 federal employees wh
Cadel Evans of Australia... -- John 1:43-51 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2011
Cadel Evans of Australia never lost his vision; he never lost his hope; he never lost his perseveran
NULL -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Ron Love -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2011
In Colonial America each household was required to keep a leather bucket next to the front door.
Susan Roy wrote a book that studied the history of the fallout shelter... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ron Love -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2011
Susan Roy wrote a book that studied the history of the fallout shelter, titled Bamboozled: How th
The altar has inspiring symbolic meaning... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2011
In the Catholic church the altar has inspiring symbolic meaning.
Five weeks before Benjamin Franklin's death... -- John 8:31-36 -- Ron Love -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
Five weeks before his death, Benjamin Franklin received an inquiry about his beliefs from a Congrega
Ladies wore corsets... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Ron Love -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front.
NULL -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Ron Love -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2011
Glenn Beck lost his viewers, 400 advertisers, and his relationship with Fox News when he said Presid
Two popular reality TV shows... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2011
Two popular reality TV shows deal with pawnshops.
As all the other Anglicans in church knelt at their pews... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- Ron Love -- All Saints Day - A -- 2011
During prayer as all the other Anglicans in church knelt at their pews, George Washington would stan
NULL -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Ron Love -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2011
Albuquerque police office Trey Economidy received national attention when a posting to his Facebook
In 1898, Florence Nightingale wrote a book... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Ron Love -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
In 1898, Florence Nightingale wrote a book on nursing that was titled, Notes on Nursing: What It
Claudia Puig reviewed... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2011
Claudia Puig reviewed the movie Cowboys & Aliens for USA Today.
NULL -- 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 -- Ron Love -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2011
In George Washington's day, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted.
NULL -- Genesis 28:10-19a -- Ron Love -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2011
We are celebrating over the next four years the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.
NULL -- 2 Corinthians 5:20--6:10 -- Ron Love -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
In January of 2011, when Dan Uggla signed the contract to be the coach of the Atlanta Braves, he did
When The Oprah Winfrey Show ended... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2011
After the close of The Oprah Winfrey Show, People magazine did a review of its 25 year
Thomas Jefferson was a deist... -- Isaiah 64:1-9 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Thomas Jefferson was a deist.
NULL -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Ron Love -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2011
The Grammy Awards have dropped a significant number of categories eligible for recognition -- decrea
NULL -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Rudyard Kipling, best known as the author of The Jungle Book, wrote a poem titled The Whit
Dignity therapy... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2011
Hospice has introduced "dignity therapy" for terminally ill patients.
In the past, common entertainment included... -- Mark 13:24-37 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
In the past, common entertainment included playing cards.
NULL -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Ron Love -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2011
Everyone in the village believed Pendle Hill was haunted by demons.

Preaching

Sermon

Worship

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
and more...
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...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
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)

CSSPlus

John Jamison
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.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
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

Stephen P. McCutchan
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.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL