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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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Commentary

Children's sermon

Illustration

The Immediate Word

From Womb To Tomb -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
This week the lectionary's designated Old Testament passage is God's declaration of the Ten Commandm
Gods Of Gold -- Exodus 32:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Matthew 22:1-14 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
The lectionary text from the Hebrew scriptures assigned for this week -- Aaron's creation of the gol
The Green Room -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Exodus 33:12-23, Matthew 22:15-22 -- Ron Love, Mary Austin, George Reed -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
In this week's lectionary epistle passage, Paul commends the Thessalonian Christians for their faith

Emphasis Preaching Journal

NULL -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Ron Love -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
Labor Day 2000 marked the fortieth anniversary of Betty Haughin's column, "Chit Chat." The column is
Names. Nicknames. Titles... -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
Names. Nicknames. Titles.
NULL -- Jeremiah 2:4-13 -- Ron Love -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2010
Stacy Finley knew people would go to any lengths and pay exorbitant sums of money for the promise of
NULL -- Isaiah 63:7-9 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2010
As a young vaudeville actor Bob Hope found himself alone each Christmas.
NULL -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Ron Love -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2010
William Booth had just stepped into the pulpit when members of his Methodist congregation started th
NULL -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2010
"So you understand the roaring wave of fear that swept through the greatest city in the world just a
Margaret Lee suffered from asthma... -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Ron Love -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
Margaret Lee suffered from asthma, so her husband, Sam Houston, the US Senator from Texas, decided t
NULL -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2010
Seventeen-year-old Joni Eareckson dived off a floating dock into the shallow water of the Chesapeake
NULL -- Jeremiah 18:1-11 -- Ron Love -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2010
Adelide Pollard was discouraged. Living in Chicago she taught at several girls' schools.
NULL -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2010
At the conclusion of the sermon, distribute to everyone in the congregation a wallet-size picture of
NULL -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Ron Love -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2010
Jesus was asked what it meant to be one of his followers.
NULL -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2010
Why is it that we practice a religion that has so little room for others?
NULL -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- Ron Love -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2010
Actress Ann Julian's struggle with cancer and her resulting double mastectomy has been much publiciz
NULL -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -- Ron Love -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2010
Rembrandt completed an inspiring painting in 1634 that he titled, "The Descent from the Cross." Stan
NULL -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- Ron Love -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2010
Cecil B.
NULL -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 -- Ron Love -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2010
We will never be sure of all the details. Separating fact from fiction may be nearly impossible.
Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft... -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2010
Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to enter the moon's orbit.
NULL -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Ron Love -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2010
Tom Monaghan needed money if he were going to study architecture at the University of Michigan and o
NULL -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2010
In 1946, a California lawyer needed a change in his life.
Julie of Bradenton, Florida, wrote an inspiring letter to Abigail Van Buren... -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19 -- Ron Love -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2010
Julie of Bradenton, Florida, wrote an inspiring letter to Abigail Van Buren, better known to us as D
Norman and Ruth Peale share adjoining offices... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2010
Norman and Ruth Peale share adjoining offices at the Foundation for Christian Living in Pawling, New
NULL -- Lamentations 1:1-6 -- Ron Love -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2010
Anna Matilda McNeil Whistler was immortalized in her son's painting, popularly known as "Whistler's

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.

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