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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 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
What's wrong with Jesus telling us to lose our lives?... -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2012
What's wrong with Jesus telling us to lose our lives? Is he a masochist?
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
Sermon illustrations for Transfiguration Sunday, Cycle C (2013) -- Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2, Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2012
Exodus 34:29-35
The lesson refers to grace and mercy... -- Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 -- Mark Ellingsen -- All Saints Day - B -- 2012
The lesson refers to grace and mercy being on God's holy ones (v. 9).
NULL -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
With a lot of earthly wisdom and femme fatale, Esther achieved justice for the Jewish people, perhap
Why does God so love the world?... -- John 3:1-17 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2012
Why does God so love the world (v. 16)? The Triune God knows no other way.
There was much lamenting that had Jesus come sooner... -- John 11:32-44 -- Mark Ellingsen -- All Saints Day - B -- 2012
There was much lamenting that had Jesus come sooner Lazarus might not have died (v. 32).
NULL -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
Jesus wants to maintain our saltiness; he gives us more salt!
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
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
God's ways are not our ways... -- 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2012
God's ways are not our ways.
NULL -- Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
Famed preacher of the early church John Chrysostom [known as the one with a golden mouth] offers an
Isaiah's call... -- Isaiah 6:1-8 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2012
Isaiah's call. We make a big deal of responding to God's call. It is odd.
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
Christians have been made people who go against the grain... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2012
Christians have been made people who go against the grain. Martin Luther King Jr.
Sermon Illustrations for All Saints Day (2012) -- Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44 -- Richard A. Hasler, Mark Ellingsen, Cynthia E. Cowen, Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Ron Love -- All Saints Day - B -- 2012
Note: Because of a scheduling error, we are highlighting these illustrations from 2012.
NULL -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
Like Job, Americans do not like to admit that they are sinners, but rather like to think of themselv
David did not gloat over the victory over Saul... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2012
David did not gloat over the victory over Saul.
NULL -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
Why is Jesus so tough on the rich? Why is it harder to enter God's kingdom if you are rich?
These parables of Jesus remind us... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2012
These parables of Jesus remind us that we don't have much to do with the growth of God's kingdom, wi
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 (2012) -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41), Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 10:35-45 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Cynthia E. Cowen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Richard A. Hasler, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
Life is difficult in America given our present economic realities... -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2012
Life is difficult in America given our present economic realities, not unlike the hopelessness felt
NULL -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
We are awed by war stories of heroes who took a bullet for a friend.
If death is nothing Christians need fear... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2012
If death is nothing Christians need fear, why do we spend so much time worrying about it, being sad

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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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