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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 -- Joel 2:21-27 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2012
There is an ecological dimension to this text (concern with the land).
NULL -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2012
Envy is destructive. The evil stepmother of Snow White actually killed her out of envy.
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 2 (2013) -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17--4:1, Luke 13:31-35 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
NULL -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2012
Martin Luther provides compelling images about this text: "Day and night everybody's concern is how
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 (2012) -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, James 5:13-20, Mark 9:38-50 -- Richard A. Hasler, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Cynthia E. Cowen, Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
NULL -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
The American Dream seems to be in shambles today.
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
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9
A 2006 Pew Foundation survey... -- John 6:56-69 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2012
A 2006 Pew Foundation survey and a Baylor Religion Survey of the same year found that 4 in 10 Americ
Sermon Illustrations for The Nativity of Our Lord (2012) -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2012
Isaiah 9:2-7
NULL -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
John Calvin calls attention to the implication that Jesus' reference to being like a hen who gathers
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 1 (2012) -- Jeremiah 33:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Luke 21:25-36 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Many Americans do not feel God to be directly involved in their lives... -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2012
Many Americans do not feel God to be directly involved in their lives.
How we feel like doing loving things this time of year... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- Mark Ellingsen -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2012
The Christmas spirit. How we feel like doing loving things this time of year.
NULL -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- Mark Ellingsen -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2012
This is not a text about making New Year's resolutions, but a description of the new reality God has
Sermon Illustratins for Advent 2 (2012) -- Malachi 3:1-4, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
Malachi 3:1-4
Jesus' actions in the gospel challenge social and religious convention... -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2012
Jesus' actions in the gospel challenge social and religious convention in the name of a more spiritu
Paul urges the Philippians... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
Paul urges the Philippians and us to rejoice in the Lord that they need not worry about anything and
The lesson refers to the people of faith relating to God like in a marital union... -- Isaiah 62:1-5 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2012
The lesson refers to the people of faith relating to God like in a marital union.
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 3 (2012) -- Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Statistics released by the Corporation for Economic Development... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2012
Statistics released by the Corporation for Economic Development reveal the number of poor families h
This lesson is a prophecy of the Messiah... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Mark Ellingsen -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
This lesson is a prophecy of the Messiah.
The gospel reports on Jesus' first miracle... -- John 2:1-11 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2012
The gospel reports on Jesus' first miracle (at the wedding at Cana).
Sermon Illustrations for First Sunday after Christmas Day (2012) -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26, Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 2:41-52 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2012
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
In pointing out to us that wisdom is a gift of God... -- Proverbs 1:20-33 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2012
In pointing out to us that wisdom is a gift of God, our lesson seems to confirm what Benjamin Frankl
Mary's famous prayer, The Magnificat, is a profound... -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Mark Ellingsen -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
Mary's famous prayer, The Magnificat, is a profound and moving celebration of God's merciful treatme

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