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

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
Boastful of his drug addictions... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Ron Love -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2011
Charlie Sheen, boastful of his drug addictions, parties with porn stars, and confrontations with CBS
NULL -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Ron Love -- Good Friday - A -- 2011
Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote a poem honoring the heroics of the British light cavalry at the Battle of
Before they were to wed, Kat von D got a tattoo... -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2011
Before they were to wed, Kat von D got a tattoo of her betrothed Jesse James, underneath her left ar
Early politicians required feedback from the public... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Ron Love -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered importan
NULL -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Ron Love -- Good Friday - A -- 2011
In January 2011, three Christian missionaries were murdered in India.
Friday, July 22, 2011, made it one year -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- Ron Love -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011, made it one year. A year that is a testimony of love.
During the Revolutionary War... -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- Ron Love -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington knew how important it was to be a God-fearin
NULL -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Ron Love -- Easter Day - A -- 2011
Lou Holtz, the renowned coach of Notre Dame, concluded his autobiography with this message: "God ans
There is a company in Florence, South Carolina... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Ron Love -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
There is a company in Florence, South Carolina, that has been making bricks for 125 years.
NULL -- Acts 2:14-32 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
A very long and controversial hearing was held in the Senate before Clarence Thomas was approved as
In the 1700s many women had blemishes and pale skin... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Ron Love -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
In the 1700s many women had blemishes and pale skin that they wanted to enliven.
NULL -- John 20:19-31 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
On January 14, 2011, President Barack Obama issued his proclamation for Religious Freedom Day.
In the October 1739 edition of Poor Richard's Almanac... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Ron Love -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
In the October 1739 edition of Poor Richard's Almanac, Benjamin Franklin made this astute obs
NULL -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Ron Love -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
During the assassination attempt on Congresswoman Giffords in Tucson, six other individuals were kil
In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Ron Love -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair.
NULL -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Coincidentally at the time of the Tucson assassination attempt on Congresswoman Giffords, a report w
President John Adams described himself as... -- Philippians 3:4-14 -- Ron Love -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
President John Adams described himself as "a church-going animal." He and his wife Abigail believed
NULL -- John 10:1-10 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
In the mid 1800s, Gustave Dore wore a book on his observations of life in London.
When Benjamin Franklin died... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Ron Love -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
When Benjamin Franklin died, late in the evening of April 17, 1790, he had a picture of the Day of J
NULL -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Ron Love -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Sarah Palin placed on her website a map indicating the districts where liberal congressmen must be r
In the late 1800s... -- Exodus 32:1-14 -- Ron Love -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
In the late 1800s, Native Americans were considered "wards" of the federal government.
NULL -- Acts 17:22-31 -- Ron Love -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
In this year's voting for players to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame, sluggers were absent from the
Charles Darwin remains a controversial individual... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Ron Love -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Charles Darwin remains a controversial individual because of his theory of evolution.

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