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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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Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sermon Illustrations for Good Friday (2015) -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Frank Ramirez, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen -- Good Friday - B -- 2015
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 7 | OT 12, Cycle B (2015) -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41 -- Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2015
1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23) 32-49
Sermon Illustrations for Easter Day (2015) -- Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, John 20:1-18 -- Derl G. Keefer, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove -- Easter Day - B -- 2015
Acts 10:34-43
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 14 | OT 19 (2015) -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, John 6:34, 41-51 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bob Ove -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2015
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Sermon Illustrations for Second Sunday of Easter (2015) -- Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 1:1--2:2, John 20:19-31 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Acts 4:32-35
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 11 | OT 16 (2015) -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Frank Ramirez, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2015
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Sermon Illustrations for the Third Sunday of Easter (2015) -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Acts 3:12-19
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 (2015) -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:56-69 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2015
1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43
Sermon Illustrations for the Fourth Sunday after Easter (2015) -- Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Frank Ramirez -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Acts 4:5-12
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 18 | OT 23 (2015) -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17, Mark 7:24-37 -- Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2015
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
Sermon Illustrations for the Fifth Sunday after Easter (2015) -- John 15:1-8, 1 John 4:7-21, Acts 8:26-40 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Frank Ramirez -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Acts 8:26-40
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 (2015) -- Proverbs 1:20-33, James 3:1-12, Mark 8:27-38 -- Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2015
Proverbs 1:20-33
Sermon Illustrations for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (2015) -- Acts 10:44-48, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Acts 10:44-48
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 (2015) -- Proverbs 31:10-31, James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a, Mark 9:30-37 -- Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2015
Proverbs 31:10-31
Sermon Illustrations for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (2015) -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 (2015) -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, James 5:13-20, Mark 9:38-50 -- Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2015
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 (2015) -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Mark 10:2-16 -- Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2015
Job 1:1; 2:1-10
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 (2015) -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31 -- Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2015
Job 23:1-9, 16-17
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 (2015) -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41), Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 10:35-45 -- Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2015
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 (2015) -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52 -- Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2015
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 (2015) -- Ruth 1:1-18, Hebrews 9:11-14, Mark 12:28-34 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2015
Ruth 1:1-18
Sermon Illustrations for All Saints Day (2015) -- Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44 -- Bill Thomas, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- All Saints Day - B -- 2015
Isaiah 25:6-9
Sermon Illustrations for Reformation Day (2015) -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36 -- Ron Love, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 2015
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 (2015) -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, Mark 13:1-8 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2015
1 Samuel 1:4-20
Sermon Illustrations for Christ the King Sunday (Proper 29) (2015) -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37 -- Bob Ove, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2015
2 Samuel 23:1-7

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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Elena Delhagen
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Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
For April 21, 2024:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
These lessons all testify to Jesus is our all-in-all. The Good Shepherd theme could also be stressed.  

Acts 4:5-12
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 4:5-12
The hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation” was written by Samuel J. Stone around 1866. It was part of a collection of twelve hymns that emphasized a part of the Apostles’ Creed. “The Church’s One Foundation” speaks specifically to article nine of the Apostles’ Creed, and it emphasizes that Jesus is the one upon whom the church is built. According to C. Michael Hawn, the song became known as the “battle song of the church.”

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me. (v. 4)

Are there angels among us who save people in danger?

One of the stories I tell in response to this question, was sent to me by Robyn Bradley of Oxford, Wisconsin. She’s a therapist and licensed clinical social worker who is the Director of Psychological Health for the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A hearing aid.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s go!

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
There was a farmer living in a remote part of the Norfolk countryside who had been burgled a number of times. On the last occasion he was disturbed in middle of the night, he went downstairs with his gun and when a torch was shone into his face, he pulled the trigger several times.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
(See Lent 4, Cycle A, and Easter 4, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

If asked how many images of God this most familiar of all psalms includes, most people would probably say one, that of shepherd. (And, while saying it, there's a good chance they'd actually be picturing Jesus with a lamb in his arms, thanks to the famous painting of that scene hanging in Sunday school rooms all over America.) But, in fact, there are two images of God in this psalm -- the shepherd (vv. 1-4) and the host at a banquet in the temple (vv. 5-6).

Richard E. Zajac
... the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...

Doctor Bernie Siegel claims that coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous.

__________

I have spent nine years here at the hospital. In the course of those nine years I've witnessed and experienced many strange things. I've watched events occur that made me stop and think and wonder. I've found myself doing something or I've found others doing something that made me scratch my head. I've come across many coincidences that made me wonder if indeed they were coincidences.
David H. Webb
It is hard to find a more bold expression of the Easter faith than what we hear from Peter today in our first lesson.

Peter and John had just healed a lame beggar at the gate of the temple. Without hesitation Peter proclaimed to the astonished crowd that the healing was the work of God who had raised Jesus from the dead. Almost immediately, the Sanhedrin arrests Peter and John and puts them on trial. They ask. "By what power or by what name did you do this?" (v. 7).

Mark J. Molldrem
Easter is in springtime for a reason. Springtime is that time of year when new life emerges from the old. Easter is that time of history when New Life emerged from the old.

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