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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

NULL -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Reference to the praise offered by all living creatures and animals to God warrants ecological conce
Some situations seem... -- Joel 2:23-32 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2013
Some situations seem hopeless, like the plague of locusts inflicted on Judah.
In the text God laments... -- Jeremiah 2:4-13 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2013
In the text God laments the waywardness of Israel, of our waywardness for changing our God for what
Sermon illustrations for Easter 5 (2013) -- Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 11:1-18
Sermon illustrations for Epiphany 4 (OT 4) Cycle C (2013) -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 1:4-10
America is a... -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2013
America is a pharisaic nation.
You've gotta promote yourself... -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2013
You've gotta promote yourself, or you get nowhere in the economy.
NULL -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
To behold the New Jerusalem is to see life on earth differently.
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 3 (OT 3) Cycle C (2013) -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21 -- Cynthia E. Cowen, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2013
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 1 (2013) -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Sermon Illustrations for Christ the King / Proper 29 (2013) -- Jeremiah 23:1-6, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 23:33-43 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 (2013) -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Scott A. Bryte, Ron Love -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Sermon illustrations for Easter 6 (2013) -- Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5, John 14:23-29 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 16:9-15
NULL -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Paul's concern with confessing that Jesus is Lord (v.
This is a text... -- Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2013
This is a text to remind us that faith has implications for politics, for the way American society s
This troubling book... -- Philemon 1:1-21 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2013
This troubling book regarding Paul's interaction with the slave of a Christian implies a number of f
NULL -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Lydia was an outsider in Paul's world -- a Gentile woman.
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 3 (2013) -- Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Isaiah 55:1-9
How can we say... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2013
How can we say Christ is King in view of the natural catastrophes that befall our nation, in view of
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 (2013) -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
NULL -- John 14:23-29 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
We need to be careful about the proper relationship between loving God and being loved by him (vv.
NULL -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
This is a Sunday historically related to the theme of repentance, when candidates for Baptism held o
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 (2013) -- Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2013
Isaiah 65:17-25
The text reminds us... -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2013
The text reminds us how skilled we are in doing evil, in sinning.
Sermon illustrations for Easter 7 (2013) -- Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, John 17:20-26 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 16:16-34

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The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
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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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