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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

The freedom that Paul... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2013
The freedom that Paul describes in this text is a word we need badly in America today, as according
Everything in Jesus'... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- Mark Ellingsen -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2013
Everything in Jesus' ministry, and our lives as Christians, begins in the waters of baptism.
The negative reaction of the Sanhedrin and Jewish leaders... -- Acts 5:27-32 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
The negative reaction of the Sanhedrin and Jewish leaders to Peter's witness is in direct contradict
Sermon Illustrations for Thanksgiving Day (2013) -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Philippians 4:4-9, John 6:25-35 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2013
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 12 | OT 17 (2013) -- Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Luke 11:1-13 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
Hosea 1:2-10
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 9 | OT 14 (2013) -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Scott A. Bryte, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2013
2 Kings 5:1-14
Sermon Illustrations for New Year's Day (2014) -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2013
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
It is so easy to demonize his lack of faith... -- John 20:19-31 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
The story of Doubting Thomas: It is so easy to demonize his lack of faith.
Giving thanks makes... -- Philippians 4:4-9 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2013
Giving thanks makes you happy.
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany of the Lord (2013) -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen, Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Cynthia E. Cowen -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Isaiah 60:1-6
When we encounter temptations... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
When we encounter temptations and other ideas that contradict faith, the insights of John Calvin and
This story reveals that we... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2013
This story reveals that we find faith in unexpected places, including in Naaman, the army commander
This text promises... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- Mark Ellingsen -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2013
This text promises a fresh start. That is so appropriate for the New Year celebration.
Sermon illustrations for Easter 2 (2013) -- Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 20:19-31, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 5:27-32
Sermon Illustrations for Reformation Day (2013) -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Epiphany is a story of the light... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Epiphany is a story of the light, the star, which leads the wise men to the light of the world.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 16 | OT 21 -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 1:4-10
In our gospel, Jesus would... -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2013
In our gospel, Jesus would have those he sends out to do mission to tread on snakes and overcome all
The story... -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
The story of Mary's pregnancy and eventual virgin birth is a problem for some American Christians.
Sermon illustrations for Easter 3 (2013) -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19 -- Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)
This text gets us... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2013
This text gets us to the heart of the Reformation; it is about the righteousness of God and Martin L
The text deals with... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
The text deals with the contrast between the two covenants (of the law and of the gospel).
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 10 | OT 15 (2013) -- Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2013
A builder uses a plumb line to determine true vertical from the gravitational center of the earth, n
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 3 (2014) -- Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23 -- Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
Isaiah 9:1-4
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

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