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

Gary Player, the professional golfer... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Ron Love -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2011
Gary Player, the professional golfer who was called the "Black Knight," looked back on his life at 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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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 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 -- 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
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 -- 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.
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 -- 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
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 -- 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
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 -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Ron Love -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2011
Henry Bessemer is best remembered for developing the Bessemer Process, also called the pneumatic con

Preaching

Sermon

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
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

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For October 26, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
I am a scoreboard watcher. I follow a lot more games than I actually watch, but since technology makes it easy to check scores on a moment’s whim, I watch a lot of scoreboards of teams and games that I am at least mildly interested in. And as I check those scores, I find myself having immediate reactions: “Great!” “Oh, that's too bad.” “Excellent!” “Nuts.” And in the midst of that sports-fan roller coaster, I must continually remind myself that not all scores are final.
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Joel 2:22-32
Martin Luther sings the praises of God’s love revealed in this lesson. He wrote:

The love of God which lives in man loves sinners, evil persons, fools and weaklings in order to make them righteous, good, wise, and strong. Rather than seeking its own good, the love of God flows forth and bestows good. (Luther’s Works, Vol. 31, p.57)

John Wesley nicely summarizes the Spirit’s role in fighting the lure of our old sinful habits:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message is a role-play story. You will need two children to play the roles of the Pharisee and the tax collector. I usually ask two children if they will help me as they are all coming forward for the message, but you may select them however you choose.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, but your commandments are my delight.
Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.
(vv. 143-144)

When I was an associate pastor in Janesville, Wisconsin one of my responsibilities was to give a lecture on spirituality once a month at a drug treatment facility. The students who attended were persons who had been convicted of drunk driving and were required to attend the class as a condition of their sentence. Attendance was always good.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

We all dislike people who blow their own trumpets, although sometimes we may be in awe of them. Jesus too deplored such behaviour and was never in awe of those who practised it. In our worship today let us open ourselves to Jesus, allowing him to see what is in our hearts.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we allow other people's behaviour to intimidate us.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we refuse to reach our own fullest potential because we are afraid.

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
Every morning when sleep leaves and waking comes there is cause for praising God. Caught up, as we are, in the currents and eddies of our lives, this is easy to forget. This wonderful psalm is a reminder. God's bounty and abundance spill into our lives like waters over a causeway. God's delight in creation explodes in a million different colors. In every moment there is reason to give God praise.
Robert R. Kopp
When I was a little boy growing up in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania's First Presbyterian Church, one of those Christian chalk artists with black light, neon colors, and black felt canvas who made pictures of Jesus look like those Elvis portraits for sale on the side of the road at the beach showed up as entertainment for a Sunday evening potluck dinner.
John E. Berger
Today's sermon begins with this little one-person drama.
Mark Ellingson
Have you ever felt that you were absolutely at the end of your rope, left without hope? Sometime during the years of 539 B.C. to 331 B.C. that is the way the people of Judah felt. It seems that their land had been ravaged by a plague of locusts which had had catastrophic consequences.

Once a harvest has been destroyed, you cannot repair it. If a building has burned to the ground, you cannot repair it. In those instances you need to start from scratch with a fresh start.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL