Inspired by the heritage of African-American churches, Mark Ellingsen has created innovative, visionary sermons on Old Testament texts from the Revised Common Lectionary. His messages reflect his unique vantage point as a Lutheran of Norwegian heritage teaching at a historically black seminary, and they are a model for anyone who wants to learn how to relate the Bible to the cutting-edge social issues of our day. Ellingsen suggests that many American Christians have abdicated their responsibility to advocate justice in our society or to talk about what the gospel can do in our lives and society as a whole from Monday through Saturday. Ellingsen believes these Old Testament texts are relevant to our contemporary lives. An all-too-common view of many Christians is look to the New Testament to find the liberating word of God, while viewing the Old Testament as being about the law and the confining demands of tradition. But Ellingsen says that the history of Christianity proves this is not true. He observes that Martin Luther was primarily an Old Testament scholar, and that African-American churches have based many of their traditions of liberation on Old Testament stories and prophetic traditions. Mark Ellingsen's offering of sermons based on Old Testament texts reflects his usual thorough biblical scholarship and his readable, down-to-earth style that consistently render his material useful to both scholars and those seeking the inspiration of a faithful Christian. Richard H. Stough, Publisher King Publications Mark Ellingsen has had a rich and varied career as a parish pastor and a seminary professor. In addition to serving several Lutheran congregations in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, he has held teaching positions at Luther-Northwestern Seminary and the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg, France. Ellingsen currently is on the faculty of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, the largest historic African-American seminary in the United States. A regular contributor to several homiletics periodicals, Ellingsen is also the author of ten books, some of which have been used as homiletics texts in many American and Canadian seminaries.

"He who has ears let him hear." Jesus said those words many times. What did he mean? He also declared, "The truth will set you free." Which truth? Free from what? This book will tell you in no uncertain terms, a message to be stapled on the world's bulletin board for any who pass by, and in particular for those who have the "right ears." It is a thorough explanation of the astonishing freedom won by Christ for his elect and the devastating implications this has for all world religion and philosophy, especially Christianity. It will shatter the myths underpinning many long cherished beliefs and rock the Church to its foundations. Along with many other surprises you will discover that the word "church" is not even in the Bible! This investigation covers most aspects of the Church with special reference to its origin in early times: fathers, councils, creeds, buildings, names and titles, saints, priesthood and clergy, celibacy, ordination, confirmation, sacraments, tithes, sabbaths, festivals, gospels and media, assurance, second-coming and ecumenical beliefs. All these are weighed against Scripture, namely the teachings of Christ, the apostles and prophets, and found to be either non-existent, obsolete, not the same thing or quite the opposite! However, these concepts did not materialize from nothing; all came from someone, somewhere. The revelation of each source will be quite a shock for readers who thought they had a handle on the facts. Well-documented and researched but written in dynamic style, this presentation is often moving and alarming. This is the truth which sets free.

What every believer should know about this beautiful new life. We can be restored from a broken life. We can be personally improved but perfection is not humanly possible. We are called to be healers and workers in faith. Are we healing people with our hands or hurting them? God's most effective signs of His existence are through human beings who allow themselves to be manifested in God. There is a field of harvest waiting to be yielded by believers or will the lost harvest be winnowed like chaff on the threshing floor. Faith needs believers who take action through compassion not hypocrites who masquerade as believers. There are people who are hurting, who need love by encouraging words and helping hands. If we are truly set free as believers those who are in darkness will be drawn to our light and our joy and they will ask us where does our light and joy come from. What will we tell them?

Just because you know and have experienced grace does not mean you fully understand it.​

Have you ever wondered what it would take for a brainwashed, suicidal victim of a cult to be able to live a normal life? I know a little more than some about deliverance. Once I was told I was possessed by demons and a danger to all those around me. I stayed up many a night being "delivered," coughing up "demons." Told I didn't have enough faith or I was in love with the demon inside of me and I didn't want to let it go. I went to many a prayer meeting, but the "demons" wouldn't let go. Or so I thought. The demons were not what was inside of me; it was the company I kept who was around me. They piled lie upon lie upon lie in my mind. Why? I don't know. For manipulation, for control, for kicks, or maybe out of ignorance. It almost broke me. It took me to the edge of my sanity, and let me tell you, it's been a long way coming back. Have you ever been there? What darkness do you face? Are you on the edge of your sanity? Let me tell you there is a peace that belongs to those who belong to Christ. This book will show you how a life with Christ is the only way to be fully set free from the situation that you face. This book will shine the light of hope into your life. Set Free through Christ Who Strengthens Me is my journey from being a victim of a cult to living a full life with Christ. Come share the journey with me and see how Christ will be your strength when you are at your darkest hour.

What is the ending to the human drama? Will all be reconciled to God in the end? Does God demand an altar, a corpse, and blood? Or, rather, is the Christian God set apart from all the other gods throughout history? All Set Free sets out to answer some of the more difficult questions Christians today are faced with. It will challenge the Augustinian understanding of hell and the Calvinist understanding of the atonement; replacing them with a more Christ-centered understanding of both doctrines. This book will also use the work of Rene Girard in order to reshape how many understand "what it means to be human." Then and only then should we ask: "Who is God?" Come explore what has become Matthew's theological pilgrimage to this point. Come discover the God of peace.

When Abraham Lincoln became president in March 1861, the United States was on the brink of the Civil War. Six states had already left the Union. The North and the South fought over the question of slavery. More than anything, Lincoln wanted to reunite the states. He refused to recognize the Confederacy as a separate country. Yet the Constitution didn’t give the president the power to end slavery. But what could Lincoln do by law? Why was slavery so important to the southern states? How would Lincoln manage to keep the Union together? Discover the clever plan behind Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, and learn how it freed the first slaves.

Imagine life with unlimited possibility, where fear, misconceptions, and insecurities don't have the power to rob us of our potential or our dreams. In Set Free to Live Free, Saundra Dalton-Smith shows women how to break free from seven mental ties that hold them back, including striving for perfection, comparing themselves to others, all-or-nothing attitudes, and more. Through case studies and inspirational writing, she encourages women to embrace spontaneity, be transparent, nurture their bodies, and cultivate a balanced life.

A theological and literary reflection on sin and redemption using the New Testament, Augustine, Dante, and Flannery O'Connor.

Written by one of the best known and most respected evangelical biblical scholars of all time, "Paul" explores the primary themes in Paul's thought as they developed in the historical context of his life and travels.