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Mark Ellingsen

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Mark Ellingsen, a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), has been a professor of Church History at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, since 1993. He graduated magna cum laude from Gettysburg College (Pennsylvania) and Yale University, from which he received three master's degrees in divinity, arts, and philosophy, as well as his Ph.D. He has authored 26 books including his latest, Wired for Racism? How Evolution and Faith Move Us to Challenge Racial Idolatry, published by New City Press and Reality and Waves: A Quantum Physics Cosmology, Philosophy of Religion, and Ethic (Lexington Books). He and his wife have three grown children. When he is not writing or teaching, Ellingsen enjoys discussing politics, sports, and playing guitar.
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Commentary

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sermon Illustrations For Easter Sunday (2020) -- Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-18 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, M Adryael Tong -- Easter Day - A -- 2020
Acts 10:34-43
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 (2020) -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2020
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Sermon Illustrations For Easter 2 (2020) -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, M Adryael Tong -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Acts 2:14a, 22-32:
Sermon Illustrations For Easter 3 (2020) -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35 -- Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, M Adryael Tong -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 (2020) -- Genesis 45:1-15, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32, Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28, Isaiah 56:1, 6-8, Psalm 67 -- Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bill Thomas -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2020
Genesis 45:1-5
Sermon Illustrations For Easter 4 (2020) -- Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10, Psalm 23 -- Bonnie Bates, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, M Adryael Tong, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Psalm 23
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 (2020) -- Matthew 16:13-20, Exodus 1:8--2:10, Romans 12:1-8 -- Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2020
Exodus 1:8--2:10
Sermon Illustrations For Easter 5 (2020) -- Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 -- Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, M Adryael Tong, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Acts 7:55-60
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 (2020) -- Exodus 3:1-15, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28, Jeremiah 15:15-21, Psalm 26:1-8, Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b -- Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2020
Exodus 3:1-15
Sermon Illustrations For Easter 6 (2020) -- Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21 -- Frank Ramirez, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, M Adryael Tong -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Act 17:22-31
Sermons Illustrations For Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 (2020) -- Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2020
Exodus 12:1-14
Sermon Illustrations for Ascension of the Lord (2020) -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, M Adryael Tong, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2020
Acts 1:1-11
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 (2020) -- Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35 -- Frank Ramirez, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2020
Exodus 14:19-31
Sermon Illustrations For Easter 7 (2020) -- Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, John 17:1-11 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, M Adryael Tong -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Acts 1:6-14
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 (2020) -- Exodus 16:2-15, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2020
Exodus 16:2-15
Sermon Illustrations For Day Of Pentecost (2020) -- Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, John 20:19-23 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, M Adryael Tong -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2020
Acts 2:1-21
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 (2020) -- Exodus 17:1-17, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:28-32, Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2020
Exodus 17:1-7
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 (2020) -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Philippians 3:4b-14, Matthew 21:33-46 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2020
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
Sermon Illustrations for Christmas 2 (2020) -- Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2020
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Sermon Illustrations for Baptism of Our Lord (2020) -- Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-17 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2020
Isaiah 42:1-9
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 (2020) -- Exodus 32:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Matthew 22:1-14, Isaiah 25:1-9, Psalm 23 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2020
Isaiah 25:1-9, Psalm 23
Sermon Illustrations For Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 (2020) -- Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2020
Isaiah 49:1-7
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 (2020) -- Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22 -- Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2020
Exodus 33:12-23
Sermon Illustrations For Epiphany 3 (2020) -- Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2020
Isaiah 9:1-4
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 (2020) -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46, Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18, Psalm 1 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2020
Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18; Psalm 1

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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Elena Delhagen
For May 19, 2024:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
Pentecost accents the belief that the Christian church is a Spirit movement, not another world institution. Imagine a pastor who is on the denomination committee for examining pastoral candidates that are on various points along their journey toward ordination either before, during or just after completion of seminary/Bible college training. All the pastoral candidates are excited about their future of making a positive change and impression on the churches they serve.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bill Thomas
Acts 2:1-21
Martin Luther viewed Pentecost as a day of celebration, as on a sermon in the topic he noted “it was on this present Pentecost Day that the joyful blessed and lovely kingdom of Christ was established, a kingdom filled with joy, courage, and certainty.”  Complete Sermons, Vol.6, p.152) Awareness of the Holy Spirit is a big part of the joy and certainty Pentecost brings.  John Wesley, then, offers a timely warning about how not to lose a sense of the Spirit and the joy and confidence this insight offers.  He wrote:

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“I’m not sure why we’re doing this,” Ollie muttered to himself as he took his place on the bandstand. He unpacked his guitar and played a few chords to make sure that it was in tune. “The acoustics are better in the church building.”

“They may be,” Todd said raising his voice over the sounds of the busy park. “Going to be a noisy afternoon from the sounds of it.”

“Huh?” Ollie looked over at his smiling friend. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

“You’re just saying what we’re all thinking, isn’t he Wendy?’

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: Today’s message will include a role-play. You will need one child to play the role of the shepherd and the rest of the children will be the people from town. I usually pick an outgoing child for my shepherd so they will act out a bit. Encourage everyone to have fun and ham it up a bit.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
As I recall, there was a mighty, rushing wind at the last Bank Holiday weekend. It didn't herald the coming of God quite as much as the coming of a mighty, rushing rain, and for many unfortunate people, substantial flooding. And it was accompanied by considerable power, for it uprooted and destroyed one of our laburnum trees.

SermonStudio

Mark Ellingsen
Theme of the Day
The Holy Spirit gets around. Historically the church has also commemorated its origins on this festival. In some traditions, confirmation is celebrated.

Collect of the Day
Petitions are offered that the Spirit come and transform the faithful to give them language to proclaim the word. The Holy Spirit, Justification (by Grace), Sanctification, and Evangelism are emphasized.

Psalm of the Day
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
* Hymn to God the creator; praise for God's providential interventions.
James Evans
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see The Day Of Pentecost, Cycle A, for an alternative approach.)

Elizabeth Achtemeier
On the previous Sundays of this Eastertide, we have heard the risen Christ tell his followers to remain in Jerusalem until he sends the Holy Spirit upon them. That will enable them to be his witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Having promised that, he ascended into heaven, to rule over all at the right hand of the Father. That promise was spoken during the forty days that the Lord was with the apostles and disciples after his resurrection.
Arthur H. Kolsti
Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord to the breath, prophesy mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
-- Ezekiel 37:4-10
Ron Lavin
The Holy Spirit is called "your Advocate" in the New English Bible translation of John 15:26. Other translations may be helpful in understanding the meaning of the Holy Spirit. The King James Version uses the term "The Comforter." The Revised Standard Version and the New International Version use the term "The Counselor." The Phillips translation and the Barclay translation call the Holy Spirit "The Helper." I like the title "The Advocate" best of all. This term "The Adovcate" includes comforting, counseling, and helping.

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