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Mark Ellingsen

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 Epiphany 4 (2015) -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2015
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Sermon Illustrations for First Sunday after Christmas Day (2015) -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26, Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 2:41-52 -- Ron Love, R. Robert Cueni, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2015
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 5 (2015) -- Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2015
Isaiah 40:21-31
Sermon Illustrations for Ascension of the Lord (2015) -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2015
Acts 1:1-11
Sermon Illustrations for The Transfiguration (2015) -- 2 Kings 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2015
2 Kings 2:1-12
Sermon Illustrations for Pentecost (2015) -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2015
Acts 2:1-21
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 27 | OT 32 (2015) -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44 -- Bob Ove, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2015
Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
Sermon Illustrations for Ash Wednesday (2015) -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2015
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Sermon Illustrations for Trinity Sunday (2015) -- Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17 -- Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2015
Isaiah 6:1-8
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 2 (2015) -- Malachi 3:1-4, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6 -- R. Robert Cueni, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2015
Malachi 3:1-4
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 1 (2015) -- Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
Genesis 9:8-17
Illustrations for Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 (2015) -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20, 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1, Mark 3:20-35 -- Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2015
1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 4 (2015) -- Micah 5:2-5a, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- R. Robert Cueni, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2015
Micah 5:2-5a
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 3 (2015) -- John 2:13-22, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Exodus 20:1-17 -- Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
Exodus 20:1-17
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 6 | OT 11, Cycle B (2015) -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17, Mark 4:26-34 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2015
1 Samuel 15:34--16:13
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 4 (2015) -- John 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-10, Numbers 21:4-9 -- Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
Numbers 21:4-9
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 8 | OT 13 (2015) -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2015
2 Samuel 1:1, 16-27
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 5 (2015) -- John 12:20-33, Hebrews 5:5-10, Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 10 | OT 15 (2015) -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Sandra Herrmann, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2015
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 12 | OT 17 (2015) -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2015
2 Samuel 11:1-15
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 2 (2015) -- Mark 8:31-38, Romans 4:13-25, Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 13 | OT 18 (2015) -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35 -- Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2015
Illustrations2 Samuel 11:26--12:13
Sermon Illustrations for Passion/Palm Sunday (2015) -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2015
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 15 | OT 20 (2015) -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-4, Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58 -- Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2015
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Sermon Illustrations for Maundy Thursday (2015) -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Frank Ramirez, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2015
Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14

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New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 8:26-40
As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture — the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response — to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

 “I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For April 28, 2024:
  • On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
  • Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
  • Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

John S. Smylie
I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.
Ron Lavin
A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Paul E. Robinson
"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

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