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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

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The text refers... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
The text refers to the darkness and drunkenness/addictions of the present age, calling us to get rea
our sense of propriety are easily offended... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Reason and our sense of propriety are easily offended by the lowly state of the baby whom the wise m
At least two ways... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2013
At least two ways present themselves for illustrating the comment in verse 4 that God desires all to
Sermon Illustrations for Trinity Sunday (2013) -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Romans 5:1-5, John 16:12-15 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2013
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 2 (2013) -- Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
Isaiah 11:1-10
Sermon Illustrations for Baptism of Our Lord (2013) -- Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Cynthia E. Cowen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2013
Isaiah 43:1-7
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 (2013) -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Scott A. Bryte, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
NULL -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2013
Our text is all about Wisdom and how we might understand the Son of God as the Wisdom of God.
The text makes... -- Isaiah 11:1-10 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
The text makes clear that the Messiah is concerned with justice, especially for the poor.
our lesson is about how baptism is for everyone... -- Acts 8:14-17 -- Mark Ellingsen -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2013
Americans don't think highly of immigrants.
We often do not see... -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2013
We often do not see God in our everyday lives, in the work we do and in our economic transactions.
Our lesson speaks of our unity... -- Ephesians 4:1-16 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2012
Our lesson speaks of our unity, for Christ now fills all things.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 (2012) -- Ruth 1:1-18, Hebrews 9:11-14, Mark 12:28-34 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Cynthia E. Cowen, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2012
Ruth 1:1-18
The story of David's remarkable compassion toward his rebellious son... -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2012
The story of David's remarkable compassion toward his rebellious son Absalom is a love that seems to
Paul speaks of a love abounding... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
Paul speaks of a love abounding (v.
NULL -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2012
A 2008 Pew Forum poll revealed that 65% of the American public believe that many religions (not just
In calling himself the bread of life... -- John 6:34, 41-51 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2012
In calling himself the bread of life, Jesus was making the point about how essential he is for human
Advent is a time for looking ahead... -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
Advent is a time for looking ahead, a time to plan for the future, just like Malachi plans for the c
NULL -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2012
Our lesson is all about giving, not about how much to give, but the spirit of giving.
Our lesson urges us to make the most of our time... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2012
Our lesson urges us to make the most of our time (v. 16). Americans do not do that very well.
The ancient theologian Saint Augustine... -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
The ancient theologian Saint Augustine helps us see that John is a model for how we might be messeng
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 (2012) -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, Mark 13:1-8 -- Cynthia E. Cowen, Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2012
1 Samuel 1:4-20
Paul refers to Christ creating one new humanity... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2012
Paul refers to Christ creating one new humanity, especially in the church.
NULL -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2012
The idea of giving things up for Jesus seems rather quaint; not very fashionable these days.
NULL -- Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2012
Our lesson suggests that the sacrifice of Christ gives confidence to enter into the presence of God

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For October 19, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
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Jeremiah 31:27-34
John Calvin makes very clear why a new covenant is needed according to this text. He observes:

… the fault was not to be sought in the law that there was need of a new covenant, for the law was abundantly sufficient, but that fault was in the levity and the unfaithfulness of the people. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.X/2, p.130)
David Coffin
What happens when one’s past life narrative or goals in life have drastically shifted or collapsed? How do they rebuild hope? For Israel, they lost their land, monarchy, and national identity. In the days of the New Testament,they could easily be identified as living in the “fourth world” country. That is, existing in substandard conditions in one’s own native land?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
Rose sat back in her chair and opened her magazine. She heard the thump of the stairs and caught a glimpse of her daughter and son in the corner of her eye. She turned her head as they put water bottles in their backpacks.

“What are you two doing?” she looked over at the clock. “Don’t you have homework?”

“All done,” Paul and Linda announced at the same time.

Rose ignored Linda but locked eyes with Paul. He met her gaze for a few moments and then sighed.

“Okay, I’m almost done but still have some math questions,” he admitted.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told us that we should always pray and not lose heart, for God is on our side. In our worship today let us pray to the Lord for the needs of others and for all our own needs.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes you don't seem to be there when I pray and I feel like I'm talking to myself.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes my prayers seem so dry and boring that I give up.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Psalm 119 is well-known as the longest chapter in the Bible. The poem is actually an extended, and extensive, meditation on the meaning of the law. Given the sterile connotations often associated with "law" and "legalism," it's hard sometimes to appreciate the lyrical beauty of these reflections. One thing is for certain, the writer of this psalm does not view the law as either sterile or void of vitality.

Schuyler Rhodes
There is perhaps no better feeling than knowing that someone "has your back." Having someone's back is a term that arose from urban street fighting where a partner or ally would stay with you and protect your back in the thick of the fray. When someone has your back, you don't worry about being hit from behind. When someone has your back you can concentrate on the struggle in front of you without worrying about dangers you cannot see. When someone has your back you feel protected, secure, safe.
David Kalas
I wonder how many of us here are named after someone.

Chances are that a good many of us carry family names. We are named for a parent, a grandparent, an uncle, or an aunt somewhere on the family tree. Others of us had parents who named us after a character in the Bible, or perhaps some other significant character from history.

All told, I expect a pretty fair number of us are named after someone else.

John W. Clarke
Our reading today from the prophet Jeremiah is one in which the Hebrew people, not knowing what else to do in terms of addressing their predicament, decide to blame it all on God. They believed their problems to be the result of their sins and the sins of their fathers. Of course, one person's sin does indeed affect other people, but all people are still held personally accountable for the sin in their own lives (Deuteronomy 24:16; Ezekiel 18:2).
Donna E. Schaper
As usual, the epistle is a little more graphic than we can quite grasp. Itchy ears: what a concept just in physical terms. Experience it for a minute. You itch, you scratch, you sort of know you shouldn't scratch because it will only make the itch worse. But still you scratch, while wondering how the itch ever got started in the first place. What a concept: itchy ears as a vehicle for spiritual truth.

John E. Berger
Did Jesus ever do comedy? Indeed he did, and the Parable of the Unjust Judge is partly comic monologue. The routine began with a probate judge so ridiculously dishonest that he announced, "... I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone...." (There must have been a gasp of disbelief from Jesus' audience.)

The Unjust Judge was nagged by a widow, however, who had every right to nag, because she had been cheated by somebody in the community. A good judge would have helped the widow, but remember, this judge "neither feared God nor had respect for people."

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And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? (v. 7)

Good morning, boys and girls. Yesterday, I was riding in my car and I kept hearing this noise. I call it a squeak. Do you know what a squeak sounds like? (let them answer) Squeaks are very annoying. It is hard to find a squeak in your car, so it is still squeaking.

I also have a chair that has a squeak and I brought it in with me today because it is

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