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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

Adoniram Judson after being... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Ron Love -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2014
Adoniram Judson after being a Deist at Providence College (now Brown University) realized after grad
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
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 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
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
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 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
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
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.
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
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.
On April 19, 1854... -- Romans 8:12-25 -- Ron Love -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2014
On April 19, 1854, at the age of 19, Baptist preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon was called to pastor N
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

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John Jamison
Object: This message is a role-play for your children and requires no additional objects.

Note: You can use this role-play with a large or very small group. You will want one child to play Thomas, one child to play Jesus, and the rest of the children to play the disciples. When I have had only had one or two children, I have “volunteered” an adult or two to help out.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! Let’s get started!

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For April 27, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
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Bonnie Bates
Acts 5:27-32
The Acts of the Apostles begins with the ascension of Jesus, and the arrival of the Holy Spirit who galvanizes them to begin the spread of the Good News of Jesus the Christ. It is not long, despite signs and wonders, that the apostles find themselves facing real opposition. Arrest and threats. However, in the leadup to this passage, they ignore these threats and continue to share the Good News. The news about this comes to the religious leaders while they’re debating what to do about them.
Frank Ramirez
Sometimes movies end with the “happily ever after moment.” Finally — Hooray! Sometimes movies begin with the “happily ever after moment.” Roll up your sleeves. The real fun is just beginning.

Acts 5:27-32

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
Every eye will see him…. (v. 7)

The speed of news is not quite instantaneous. There’s this traffic cop called the speed of light that strictly enforces that 186, 242 mile per second speed limit built into our universe. If there’s a way around that limitation it remains the stuff of speculation — out of this world speculation.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Thomas had never seen his friends so excited. Peter's eyes were shining, and he could hardly contain his impatience. John was always quieter than Peter, but even he seemed full of barely suppressed eagerness. They were both tugging at Thomas, while at the same time dancing round him.

Thomas reluctantly agreed to go to the cave with them, although he continued to think they were mad. "If there was nothing there last week, how can it have changed now?" he kept asking.

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
Anyone can throw a party. It's easy to jump up and down and shout loud "alleluias." Pay the DJ, set out the drinks and the buffet table, and that's about it. At first, it's a blast! Whirling bodies and pulsing rhythms fill the night. Laughter and clinking glasses seem like an endless and joyful dialogue. But, by midnight it all starts to get a little old. People get tired of shouting and dancing and head home because they have to work the next day. The DJ was only hired for a few hours and he, perhaps, has another gig at an after-hours club across town.
Richard E. Zajac
... Unless I see... I will not believe...

I must credit the Reverend R. Maurice Boyd for this talk. Many of its ideas stemmed from "Consequences of Candor," a chapter in his book Corridors of Light.1

__________
David Kalas
When the curtain opens on Scene Two, we see a familiar scene. It is the austere, official chamber where the Sanhedrin hold court. The room is cold and intimidating. It feels even more so when the first characters begin to arrive on stage.

These are the members of the Sanhedrin: the leaders in the land who form the ruling council for the Jews of first-century Palestine. They are a distinguished looking group. They are well-dressed, well-manicured, and well-to-do. Their faces betray the seriousness of the purpose for which they have gathered.
Henry F. Woodruff
No cavalry rode to the rescue; this time the savior was technology. Here is how it happened. Longing for more intimate communication between preacher and congregation, the church purchased and installed a wireless microphone system. With an FM receiver in place and wearing a lapel microphone, the preacher could get out from behind the pulpit or lecturn and roam about, even into the midst of the congregation.

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