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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

Sermon illustrations for Epiphany 4 (OT 4) Cycle C (2013) -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 1:4-10
America is a... -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2013
America is a pharisaic nation.
You've gotta promote yourself... -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2013
You've gotta promote yourself, or you get nowhere in the economy.
NULL -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
To behold the New Jerusalem is to see life on earth differently.
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 3 (OT 3) Cycle C (2013) -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21 -- Cynthia E. Cowen, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2013
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Sermon Illustrations for Christ the King / Proper 29 (2013) -- Jeremiah 23:1-6, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 23:33-43 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 (2013) -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Scott A. Bryte, Ron Love -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Sermon illustrations for Easter 6 (2013) -- Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5, John 14:23-29 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 16:9-15
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 1 (2013) -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
This is a text... -- Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2013
This is a text to remind us that faith has implications for politics, for the way American society s
This troubling book... -- Philemon 1:1-21 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2013
This troubling book regarding Paul's interaction with the slave of a Christian implies a number of f
NULL -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Lydia was an outsider in Paul's world -- a Gentile woman.
NULL -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Paul's concern with confessing that Jesus is Lord (v.
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 3 (2013) -- Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Isaiah 55:1-9
How can we say... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2013
How can we say Christ is King in view of the natural catastrophes that befall our nation, in view of
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 (2013) -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
NULL -- John 14:23-29 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
We need to be careful about the proper relationship between loving God and being loved by him (vv.
NULL -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
This is a Sunday historically related to the theme of repentance, when candidates for Baptism held o
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 (2013) -- Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2013
Isaiah 65:17-25
The text reminds us... -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2013
The text reminds us how skilled we are in doing evil, in sinning.
Sermon illustrations for Easter 7 (2013) -- Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, John 17:20-26 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 16:16-34
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 4 (2013) -- Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2013
Joshua 5:9-12
This is a dangerous... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2013
This is a dangerous text, easily distorted.
The great joy Jesus... -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2013
The great joy Jesus and the Father feel over the reclaiming of just one lost sheep and just one lost
NULL -- Acts 16:16-34 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Americans think they are good and decent people, worthy of salvation by their lifestyle.

Political Pulpit

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
34 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For November 16, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
Another natural disaster has flattened a number of coastal communities. Despite the weather and major television station warnings, and government disaster preparations, the dystopian destruction nightmare of Luke 21 has decimated another community. Also, it is reasonable to believe that this is not the last year for hurricanes, Tsunami’s, wildfires, mudslides and tornados. They will occur again. However, as weary citizens are interviewed in one group of people with the background of homes in rubble and streets still draining flood waters, they will not leave. This is their home.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez

Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
“The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. (v. 25)

A week after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, country singer Toby Keith — who died Feb. 5, 2024 — wrote a patriotic ballad titled “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” It was filled with populist fighting rhetoric that matched the mood of a nation shaken by the shocking death and destruction of that day.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A blood pressure monitor. It is actually called a sphygmomanometer, and is pronounced “sfig·mow·muh·naa’·muh·tr”.

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The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
-- Isaiah 12:3

John W. Clarke
No reading of Luke is complete without coming to realize that Luke is concerned that the world understands that Jesus is the hope of the world and that any teaching that leads away from that fact is a false teaching. No matter what, no matter when, Jesus will be there to give us life.

Scott Suskovic
Whoever does not work should not eat!
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NLT)

Wow! Kind of takes your breath away, doesn't it? Not a lot of ambiguity in that rule. "You don't work, you don't eat." For a religion based on grace, it seems a bit unyielding.

Mark Ellingson
Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling image. What is freedom? How would you define it? What does it mean to you? Webster's New World Dictionary defines freedom as being exempt from control or from arbitrary restrictions. Freedom is said to be the ability to choose or determine one's own actions.

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