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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 Easter 7 (2014) -- Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, John 17:1-11 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Acts 1:6-14
Too often the impact... -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Easter Day - A -- 2014
Too often the impact of Easter does not register in our lives.
Jesus reminds us that we... -- Mark 13:24-37 -- Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
Jesus reminds us that we do not have a moment to waste, we need to be prepared.
This account of the... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2014
This account of the great commission in this text gets us thinking about evangelism.
One point this lesson makes... -- John 1:43-51 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2014
One point this lesson makes is that Jesus does not want miracles to be the reason for or the root of
Jesus seems to favor the poor... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2014
Jesus seems to favor the poor in this parable.
This story of the... -- Acts 1:6-14 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
This story of the ascension seems to be a text that teaches us of our distance from God, as Christ d
Sermon Illustrations for Easter 2 (2014) -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 2 (2014) -- Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Mark 1:1-8 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
Isaiah 40:1-11
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 (2014) -- Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1b-11, Matthew 10:24-39 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2014
Genesis 21:8-21
Sermon Illustrations for Trinity Sunday (2014) -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2014
Genesis 1:1--2:4a
Sermon Illustrations for Christmas 1 -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2014
Isaiah 61:10--62:3
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 -- Exodus 32:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Matthew 22:1-14 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2014
Exodus 32:1-14
There is much... -- John 17:1-11 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
There is much literature about the fraying of America into different social classes that never inter
Peter's preaching on the... -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Peter's preaching on the first Pentecost was a testimony to the fact that though Jesus has returned
Impatience with God... -- 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
Impatience with God, the feelings of those addressed in the first century by the lesson, is the huma
God does great things... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2014
God does great things with ordinary people.
Paul says that in Christ we... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2014
Paul says that in Christ we are no longer slaves to sin.
This lesson calls the faithful... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2014
This lesson calls the faithful to rejoicing. Americans are not doing a lot of rejoicing.
Sermon Illustrations for Trinity Sunday (2014) -- Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, John 20:19-23 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2014
Acts 2:1-21
Doubt about the... -- John 20:19-31 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2014
Doubt about the resurrection is not just Thomas' hang-up.
Sermon Illustrations for Third Sunday of Advent (2014) -- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2014
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 (2014) -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2014
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Over 46 million Americans... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Mark Ellingsen -- New Year's Day - B -- 2014
Over 46 million Americans live in poverty.
Americans have this habit of... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2014
Americans have this habit of making God into their own image. When we do that, we get it wrong.

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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

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For May 5, 2024:
  • Longing for Belonging by Dean Feldmeyer — “A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love and be loved and to belong.” — Brene Brown
  • Second Thoughts: Is Blood Thicker Than Water? by Elena Delhagen based on 1 John 5:1-6 and Acts 10:44-48.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
It was a dark and stormy night. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed. Suddenly, Kimberly, our middle daughter, was standing next to our bed, sobbing in fear. My wife held and comforted her for a few minutes, and then I led her back to the room she shared with her older sister Kristyn. I tucked her tightly into the sandwich of her sheets and blankets, snugging things up for extra safety.
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Acts 10:44-48

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: Pieces you might use, like dice, a spinner, a ball, or any other “unusual” things you might find. I used a beanbag, a shoe, and a piece of paper.

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StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (v. 12-13)

You have heard the saying “We are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful.” Jesus’ invitation to “follow me” is an invitation to faithfulness. That might be described by the old-fashioned word “fidelity.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Do you love anyone enough to offer them your last Rolo? According to the advert, Rolos are so incredibly delicious that nobody could be that selfless. Those who consider offering their last Rolo to someone they love, snatch it back at the last moment and keep it for themselves.

Or you might of course, love Terry's chocolate orange, and feel it's something which would be good to share. But at the last moment, like cuddly Dawn French, you'd say, "No, it's mine, not Terry's, it's all mine!"

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
Anyone who has made a long road trip with children singing "99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall" can support the notion of "singing a new song." Children love the repetition of singing the same song over and over. Parents or youth group leaders who have been in this situation can identify with the need to sing a new song.
Nancy Kraft
Are you in love with God? In 1 John, the author has a lot to say about the love of God and the way that love changes our lives. We love because God first loved us. God's love fills us to overflowing so that it flows through us to other people. Annie Dillard said that we catch grace like a man filling a cup underneath a waterfall.1 That's the way we receive God's love. But there can be a problem for us when we put a lid on our cups and the water can't get inside. We're closing our hearts off to the love of God.

Harry N. Huxhold
A remarkable feature of Dwight D. Eisenhower's memoirs is the composure with which he greeted crises. He titled his autobiography At Ease, an appropriate description for not only his retirement, but the manner in which he appeared to be on top of life. Colleagues, of course, could recall how excited he could get in revealing his impatience with mediocrity and the failures of the people in his command. However, what was impressive was the way he took control in the European theater in World War II with no fear for his own life and great confidence in the Allied offensive.
E. Carver Mcgriff
Charles Wesley began one of the Methodist Church's favorite hymns with this line: "Come Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire." Of course, tradition now uses the alternate term, "Holy Spirit." Wesley called it the "fountain of life and love." And so it is. Once we experience the Holy Spirit, we know it is exactly that: the source of life and love. The giving of that Spirit into the lives of us all is the point of this passage.

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