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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, Dialoguing With Critical Race Theory: Constitutional and Christian Links (Vernon Press). 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

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Occasions for Rejoicing -- Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
Since the Fourth Sunday in Lent has been historically identified as Laetare (Rejoicing Sund
The Magnificence Of God’s Activating, Future-oriented, Forgiving Love -- John 20:19-31, Revelation 1:4b-8, Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
This Sunday’s lessons proclaim that God and his resurrection have their way with us.
Plans Beyond Our Own Little Boxes -- Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, John 17:20-26 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
The lessons for the last Sunday of Easter witness to how we might live by the awesome vision of God
God Keeps Us On The Move -- Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2019
All the lessons for this Sunday testify that God keeps us on the move, gets us away from our p
How Devotion to God Changes Things -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2019
The key to this Sunday’s lessons is how they aim to get us to appreciate how devotion to God changes
Freedom! -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2019
The theme for this celebration of the Reformation is, appropriately enough, Freedom!
Christ Already Reigns! -- Jeremiah 23:1-6, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 23:33-43 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2019
It is appropriate that the celebration of Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the church year
Focusing On Jesus -- Matthew 1:18-25, Romans 1:1-7, Isaiah 7:10-16 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2019
The difference the coming baby makes is the overall theme of Advent 4.
God is with us everywhere -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2018
In accord with the Epiphany season, all the lessons deal with the issue of where God is to be found,
We need prophets -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2018
As Epiphany season pertains to living the Christian life, these lessons direct us to consider a part
Remembering our spiritual roots -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
The Second Sunday in Lent was typically devoted to the theme of “remembering” [Remiscere].
How God gets us to love him -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2018
The theme common to these texts for Maundy Thursday is to consider what God does to get us to love h
The Goodness of God -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Historically the Third Sunday of Easter has been a Sunday to celebrate the Goodness of God.
God does not abandon us -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Transpiring in the week when the Festival of Jesus’ Ascension is commemorated, it is not surprising
The Greatest and Truest Father -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17, Mark 4:26-34, Psalm 20 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2018
All the lessons for this Sunday early in the Pentecost Season proclaim the good news that God finds
All Are One -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2018
This is a Sunday for celebrating that All are One.
Christ Fills Us Up -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58, Psalm 111 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2018
This Sunday’s lessons in taking their bearings from the Gospel’s report of Jesus identifying with th
The Love God Creates Makes Life Better -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Mark 10:2-16, Psalm 26 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2018
All the lessons for this Sunday will lead to reflections on the love of God – in creation, human nat
Christ and His Love are In Charge -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37, Psalm 132:1-12 (13-18) -- Mark Ellingsen -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2018
The theme for the final Sunday of the church year is a reminder that Christ already reigns!
Why Christmas Matters -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-20 -- Mark Ellingsen -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2018
All the lessons testify to the theme of why Christmas matters!
God's Love Is In All Of Creation -- Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
The lessons for the Sixth Sunday of Easter direct us to sermons on the great things God’s love does,
Easter Makes A Difference In Our Lives -- Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-18 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Easter Day - A -- 2017
All of the texts for this Easter’s celebration of the resurrection direct us to consider the resurre
Revealing The Divinity Of Christ -- Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2017
Transfiguration is a celebration of God’s glory and how that glory is revealed in Christ when he was

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Plans Beyond Our Own Little Boxes -- Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, John 17:20-26 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
The lessons for the last Sunday of Easter witness to how we might live by the awesome vision of God
God is with us everywhere -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2018
In accord with the Epiphany season, all the lessons deal with the issue of where God is to be found,

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 2 (2024) -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2024
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
Sermon Illustrations for First Sunday after Christmas Day (2024) -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26, Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 2:41-52 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2024
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 8 | OT 13 (2024) -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2024
2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 3 (2024) -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2024
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 9 | OT 14 (2024) -- 2 Samuel 5:1-15, 9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13 -- Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2024
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 10 | OT 15 (2024) -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2024
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 4 (2024) -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28 -- Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2024
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 11 | OT 16 (2024) -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2024
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 5 (2024) -- Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2024
Isaiah 40:21-31
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 12 | OT 17 (2024) -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21, Psalm 14 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2024
2 Samuel 11:1-15
Sermon Illustrations for Transfiguration Sunday (2024) -- 2 Kings 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9 -- Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2024
2 Kings 2:1-12
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 13 | OT 18 (2024) -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35 -- Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2024
2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a
Sermon Illustrations for Ash Wednesday (2024) -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -- Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2024
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 1 (2024) -- Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15 -- Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Genesis 9:8-17
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 14 | OT 19 (2024) -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, John 6:34, 41-51 -- Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2024
2 Samuel 18:5-8, 15, 31-33
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 2 (2024) -- Mark 8:31-38, Romans 4:13-25, Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 15 | OT 20 (2024) -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-4, Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58 -- Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2024
1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 3 (2024) -- John 2:13-22, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Exodus 20:1-17 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Exodus 20:1-17
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 (2024) -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:56-69 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2024
1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 4 (2024) -- John 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-10, Numbers 21:4-9 -- Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Numbers 21:4-9
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 (2024) -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13, James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23, Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9 -- Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2024
Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 5 (2024) -- John 12:20-33, Hebrews 5:5-10, Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 16 (2024) -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17, Mark 7:24-37 -- Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2024
Proverbs 22: 1-2, 8-9, 22-23
Sermon Illustrations for Passion Sunday (2024) -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2024
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 (2024) -- Proverbs 1:20-33, James 3:1-12, Mark 8:27-38 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2024
Proverbs 1:20-33

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For October 26, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
I am a scoreboard watcher. I follow a lot more games than I actually watch, but since technology makes it easy to check scores on a moment’s whim, I watch a lot of scoreboards of teams and games that I am at least mildly interested in. And as I check those scores, I find myself having immediate reactions: “Great!” “Oh, that's too bad.” “Excellent!” “Nuts.” And in the midst of that sports-fan roller coaster, I must continually remind myself that not all scores are final.
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Joel 2:22-32
Martin Luther sings the praises of God’s love revealed in this lesson. He wrote:

The love of God which lives in man loves sinners, evil persons, fools and weaklings in order to make them righteous, good, wise, and strong. Rather than seeking its own good, the love of God flows forth and bestows good. (Luther’s Works, Vol. 31, p.57)

John Wesley nicely summarizes the Spirit’s role in fighting the lure of our old sinful habits:

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John Jamison
Object: This message is a role-play story. You will need two children to play the roles of the Pharisee and the tax collector. I usually ask two children if they will help me as they are all coming forward for the message, but you may select them however you choose.

* * *

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John E. Sumwalt
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, but your commandments are my delight.
Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live. (vv. 143-144)

When I was an associate pastor in Janesville, Wisconsin one of my responsibilities was to give a lecture on spirituality once a month at a drug treatment facility. The students who attended were persons who had been convicted of drunk driving and were required to attend the class as a condition of their sentence. Attendance was always good.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

We all dislike people who blow their own trumpets, although sometimes we may be in awe of them. Jesus too deplored such behaviour and was never in awe of those who practised it. In our worship today let us open ourselves to Jesus, allowing him to see what is in our hearts.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we allow other people's behaviour to intimidate us.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we refuse to reach our own fullest potential because we are afraid.

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
Every morning when sleep leaves and waking comes there is cause for praising God. Caught up, as we are, in the currents and eddies of our lives, this is easy to forget. This wonderful psalm is a reminder. God's bounty and abundance spill into our lives like waters over a causeway. God's delight in creation explodes in a million different colors. In every moment there is reason to give God praise.
Robert R. Kopp
When I was a little boy growing up in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania's First Presbyterian Church, one of those Christian chalk artists with black light, neon colors, and black felt canvas who made pictures of Jesus look like those Elvis portraits for sale on the side of the road at the beach showed up as entertainment for a Sunday evening potluck dinner.
John E. Berger
Today's sermon begins with this little one-person drama.
Mark Ellingson
Have you ever felt that you were absolutely at the end of your rope, left without hope? Sometime during the years of 539 B.C. to 331 B.C. that is the way the people of Judah felt. It seems that their land had been ravaged by a plague of locusts which had had catastrophic consequences.

Once a harvest has been destroyed, you cannot repair it. If a building has burned to the ground, you cannot repair it. In those instances you need to start from scratch with a fresh start.

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