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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 Proper 10 | OT 15 (2021) -- 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 -- 2021
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 5 (2021) -- 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 -- 2021
Isaiah 40:21-31
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 (2021) -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2021
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 11 | OT 16 (2021) -- 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 -- 2021
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Sermon Illustrations for The Transfiguration (2021) -- 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 -- 2021
2 Kings 2:1-12
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 (2021) -- Ruth 1:1-18, Hebrews 9:11-14, Mark 12:28-34 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2021
Ruth 1:1-18
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 12 | OT 17 (2021) -- 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 -- 2021
2 Samuel 11:1-15
Sermon Illustrations for Ash Wednesday (2021) -- 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 -- 2021
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Sermon Illustrations for All Saints Day (2021) -- Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen -- All Saints Day - B -- 2021
Isaiah 25:6-9
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 13 | OT 18 (2021) -- 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 -- 2021
2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 1 (2021) -- 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 -- 2021
Genesis 9:8-17
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 27 | OT 32 (2021) -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44 -- Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2021
Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 (2021) -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, Mark 13:1-8 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2021
1 Samuel 1:4-20
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 2 (2021) -- 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 -- 2021
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Sermon Illustrations for Christ the King Sunday (Proper 29) (2021) -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37, Psalm 132:1-12 (13-18) -- Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2021
2 Samuel 23:1-7; Psalms 132:1-12 (13-18)
Sermon Illustrations for Thanksgiving (2021) -- Joel 2:21-27, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Matthew 6:25-33, Psalm 126 -- Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2021
Joel 2:21-27
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 3 (2021) -- 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 -- 2021
Exodus 20:1-17
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 1 (2021) -- Jeremiah 33:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Luke 21:25-36 -- Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2021
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 2 (2021) -- Baruch 5:1-9, Philippians 1:3-11, Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2021
Baruch 5:1-9
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 4 (2021) -- 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 -- 2021
Numbers 21:4-9
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 3 (2021) -- Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18 -- Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2021
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 5 (2021) -- 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 -- 2021
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Sermon Illustrations for Passion Sunday (2021) -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2021
Isaiah 50:4-9
Sermon Illustrations for Advent 4 (2021) -- Micah 5:2-5a, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2021
Micah 5:2-5a
Sermon Illustrations for Maundy Thursday (2021) -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2021
Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14

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John Jamison
Object: A drawing or photo of lips and a drawing or photos of a heart.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For September 1, 2024:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
I was a young man and fairly new to the ministry. I was feeling stung by some criticism that I had received, and so I was talking to my parents about it because they knew the person involved. And along the way, my mother said to me, “Well, you’ve got to consider the source.”
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Song of Solomon 2:8-13

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“It’s just wrong,” Martha whispered. “He needs to take off his hat in church.”

John looked up from reading the Sunday bulletin. “Who has to take off his hat?”

“That young man.” She pointed to the other side of the church. “He’s up there near the front.”

“Henry? That’s not a hat, he’s just changed his hair color again.” John shook his head. “I swear that lad changes the color more than I change my socks.”

Martha sighed. “You need new glasses. I don’t mean Henry but to the left of him.”

“Oh, the one with the Yankees cap?”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

In our worship today let us open our hearts to Jesus, asking him to help us to be clean and pure within.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we are not always fully aware of our inner selves.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we appear better on the outside than we are inside.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, help us to become the same inside as outside.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Mark A. Hultquist
Items necessary for the treatment of a cold or flu such as: blanket, pillow, hot water bottle, thermometer, sweater, aspirin, vitamin C, container of orange juice.
Carlos Wilton
"There's Jackson, standing like a stone wall." Those words, spoken at the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), secured the reputation of Confederate officer Thomas Jonathan Jackson. Forever after, he has been known as Stonewall Jackson -- the courageous general who could not be moved, even as the bullets whistled by him.

Schuyler Rhodes
Leaders of all stripes have always had sycophants in abundance to sustain their delusion of power. Doting tongues to puff up the king are nothing new. From Elizabethan jesters to plaster-faced, neck-tied staffers in oval offices, it seems a constant theme. But here we find a caveat of sorts. Sure, the king is a "handsome man." Let us be clear, however, about where real power is to be found.
Robert L. Salzgeber
When I was a camp director the rules of long established and understood games were constantly being changed in order to incorporate a larger sphere of players. For the same reason Jesus said, "You have a clever way of rejecting God's law in order to uphold your own teaching." Jesus had a knack for constantly changing the rules of the game of life in order to incorporate a larger sphere of people in his kingdom net.
Stephen M. Crotts
The Hebrew word for love, awhab or awrag, means "to pant, to long for, to breathe heavily after." Psalm 41:1 says, "As a deer pants for the waters so my soul longs after you." In John 3:16, the idea is that God so loved the world, so breathed heavily after you and me, that he gave his only Son....

God is passionate for you. His breathing is labored. He loves you.

There is a book in the Old Testament that is full of heavy breathing. It is titled, "Song of Solomon," or "The Song of Songs." And it deals forthrightly with sexual passion, courtship, and matrimony.

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