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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

In 1901 President William B. McKinley visited Niagara Falls... -- John 3:1-17 -- Ron Love -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2012
In 1901 President William B. McKinley visited Niagara Falls.
Anyone who has dedicated his or her life to... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Ron Love -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
Anyone who has dedicated his or her life to the service of the Lord is a priest who has emulated the
Sermon illustrations for New Year's Eve/Day (2012/2013) -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Cynthia E. Cowen, Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2012
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
NULL -- James 5:13-20 -- Ron Love -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
The Los Angeles Police Department experimented with a new technology that has become so effective in
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 (2012) -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20, 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1, Mark 3:20-35 -- Richard A. Hasler, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2012
1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20
First Lady Michelle Obama became... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Ron Love -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2012
First Lady Michelle Obama became defensive with the publication of the book The Obamas, by
When multi-billionaire Warren Buffett was eleven years old... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- Ron Love -- All Saints Day - B -- 2012
When multi-billionaire Warren Buffett was eleven years old, in the spring of 1942, he made his first
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 (2012) -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Mark 10:2-16 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Cynthia E. Cowen, Ron Love, Richard A. Hasler, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
Job 1:1; 2:1-10
Scolded and criticized... -- 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1 -- Ron Love -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2012
Scolded and criticized, Abraham Lincoln still insisted on signing the Emancipation Proclamation.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers were in the dark days... -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Ron Love -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2012
When the Pittsburgh Steelers were in the dark days of defeat, broadcaster Myron Cope tried to do som
Their crime was simple enough... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
Corrie ten Boom, along with 35 family members and friends, were all marched into the police station'
NULL -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Ron Love -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
There is a gentleman who quietly lives in Summerville, South Carolina, and goes unrecognized by his
In the early 1800s the Sisters of Mercy... -- Isaiah 6:1-8 -- Ron Love -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2012
In the early 1800s the Sisters of Mercy were organized in Ireland.
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 4 (2012) -- Micah 5:2-5a, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
Micah 5:2-5a
On February 24, 1742, Peter Bohler gathered a group of Moravians... -- 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
On February 24, 1742, Peter Bohler gathered a group of Moravians who would sail to the American colo
Though in the pastorate for a number of years... -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
Though in the pastorate for a number of years, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, still harbored
NULL -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Ron Love -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
In Kasto, Minnesota, there is a business called Drive-a-Tank.
The American colonies entering the War... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Ron Love -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2012
The American colonies entering the War for Independence from Britain knew it lacked the men needed f
It was a spirited Wednesday for the 55,528 fans gathered in Metrodome... -- Acts 4:32-35 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
It was a spirited Wednesday for the 55,528 fans gathered in Metrodome.
When the word of the Lord came to John the Baptist... -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
When the word of the Lord came to John the Baptist it brought him a spiritual peace and a desire to
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 (2012) -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31 -- Mark Ellingsen, Richard A. Hasler, Cynthia E. Cowen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
Job 23:1-9, 16-17
During the French Revolution the country was in economic chaos... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Ron Love -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2012
During the French Revolution the country was in economic chaos.
Roger Bannister is the first man to run the four-minute mile... -- John 20:19-31 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Roger Bannister is the first man to run the four-minute mile.
NULL -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2012
The Moravian community of Herrnhut in Saxony was well established by the year 1727.
NULL -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Ron Love -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
Great Britain's richest woman was American-born Eva Rausing.

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
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Katy Stenta
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For July 6, 2025:
  • Who Is My Neighbor? by Tom Willadsen based on 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20; Psalm 30.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity for the children.

Note: You will need an older volunteer to help with this activity. One option would be to find a teenager with some physical ability. If a teen is not available, an adult could be used instead. For simplicity here, I will refer to my older volunteer as “TOM”. You will also need to select three of your younger children to serve as volunteers in the story.

* * *

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
2 Kings 5:1-14
Bill Thomas
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Mark Ellingsen
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2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30
Naaman seeks healing. He travels hoping healing will come to him when he visits the king of Israel. Yet, healing does not come in that way. Rather healing comes through Elishah. Healing comes from believing and being cleansed in the River Jordan. Healing comes through Naaman’s faithfulness and through God’s grace. Psalm 30 also reminds us to seek healing; to seek God and God will heal and restore us. Do we believe that? Do we believe that God can bring healing?

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ (vv. 10-11)

When I visit your church for the first time, consider the possibility that I might be looking for a church home. I am a good-looking old guy, but I have gray hair and I dress down in the summer, so don’t be put off by my cargo shorts and tank top. Talk to me!

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Damien and Ora grinned at each other in excitement. The time had come - at last! They'd been with the Leader for months and months, waiting for this moment. Not that it had felt much like training. They'd simply lived with the Leader, listening to his stories, hearing about the Kingdom, learning to get along really well with all the other people at Mission Headquarters. Now all seventy of them were ready, the spaceship had docked, and the Mission was about to begin. Ora was glad she'd been paired up with Damien again.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Stan Purdum
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(See Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B, and Easter 3, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

Anyone who has ever had the experience of losing a friend because of some conflict or dispute, and then has had the friendship restored because of love and forgiveness, has a unique insight into the meaning of this psalm. Although the poem begins and ends with praise, there is in the middle of the poem a brief moment of confession and contrition that puts the praise portions of the psalm in an entirely different light.

April Yamasaki
A word of encouragement came from an unlikely source the other day in a television interview with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The former football player, wrestler, and now actor was asked about a low time in his life when he was very discouraged about his career and future.

"How did you make your way back from that?" he was asked.

The Rock replied, "You have to put yourself out there. You have to get out there and fail, and learn from your failures."

Larry D. Powell
In the summer of 1983, I participated in a ministerial exchange program sponsored by my denomination. My assignment was to a circuit of churches on the Isle of Man, a tiny island located in the Irish Sea. The months preceding the exchange included considerable correspondence with the minister on the island with whom I would exchange pastoral duties for six weeks.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
A wealthy businessman decided to take a walk and eat his lunch at the same time. He strolled by a park. There he purchased a hot dog and a soft drink. As he walked through the park two different "street people" approached him one by one. Each asked, "Can you help me? I am hungry." Each time the businessman looked straight ahead and kept walking. After finishing his lunch, he stopped and bought a chocolate eclair for dessert. As he was about to take the first bite, he was forced to jump out of the way as a young boy raced by on his skateboard. The eclair went flying and landed on the ground.

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