Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - April 11, 2025
April 11, 2025
Dear Resurrection Family,
We have an amazing weekend coming up with our Egg-Ventures for families, Palm Sunday worship, and our official launch of Resurrection Lee’s Summit! And it’s going to be beautiful, spring weather in Kansas City! In worship, we’ll turn to the most important word the cross speaks to us about God and about ourselves, the climax of our Lenten sermon series.
THIS WEEKEND – THE CRUCIFIXION: WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS
Years ago, J.B. Phillips wrote a book called, Your God is Too Small. In it he noted the pictures of God many of us have etched in our minds – the police officer God, the angry parent God, the rule-obsessed God, and others. As we continue our study of the question, Why Did Jesus Have to Die?, we’ll turn to both the motivation behind Jesus’ death and the apex of its meaning: the wondrous love of God.
God is not the angry parent, rule-obsessed God, or the police officer pulling radar on our lives. 1 John 4:8 captures the God revealed on the cross: “God is love.” And that famous verse of scripture that Luther called “the heart of the bible” and “the gospel in miniature” says it this way, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.” Paul notes, “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This weekend we’ll consider the love of God seen on the cross and how it saves us. I’ll be preaching live at Lee’s Summit for the grand opening at 10 am and at 5 pm at Leawood (I thought I’d be preaching life at 7:30 am at Leawood but am uncertain – I may need to be at Lee’s Summit a bit earlier for a run through). But whether the sermon is coming by video or live, it will be a powerful weekend of worship. Do you know someone who needs to know they are loved (I think that would be everyone!)? Invite them to join you for worship in person, online or on TV.
PALM PARADE AT ALL LOCATIONS THIS WEEKEND
This weekend we celebrate Palm Sunday as the beginning of Holy Week with a Kids Ministry Palm Parade at all Resurrection locations. Parents and grandparents, make sure to be on time, even early, for Sunday School check-in, as kids will be lined up to parade through worship celebrating Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem. This is always a special and meaningful moment in the life of our congregation as we prepare for Easter, and we don’t want any child to miss out on the parade!
RESURRECTION LEE’S SUMMIT OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES SUNDAY!
Our first official worship service will be at 10 am this Palm Sunday at The Pavilion at John Knox Village (520 NW Murray Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO 64081). If you have friends or family members in the Lee’s Summit area who don’t attend a church, invite them to check out Resurrection. We are excited to be part of the Lee’s Summit community. I’ll be preaching live at Lee’s Summit for this first service. If you know people who might be interested in Resurrection Lee’s Summit, share this webpage with them.
Here’s our postcard that went out in the Lee’s Summit area that says a bit about Resurrection. Feel free to copy the image and post it on your social media.
DON’T MISS THE EASTER EGG-VENTURES
- Sat., April 12, 10 am – noon at Resurrection Leawood, Overland Park, Brookside
- Sat., April 12, 10 am – noon at the National WW1 Museum and Memorial (hosted by Resurrection Downtown
- Sat., April 12, 2 – 4 pm at Resurrection West, Blue Springs and Spring Hill
- Sun., April 13, after 10 am worship at Resurrection Liberty
HOLY WEEK OPPORTUNITIES
INVITE SOMEONE TO EASTER WORSHIP!
We anticipate larger than usual crowds for Easter worship, and we have added some additional services at some of our locations – 7 am services at Leawood, West, Blue Springs and Brookside, and 9:10 am service in the Foundry at Leawood. In addition, we will have a special Kids’ Interactive Service at 10 am at Leawood, West, Overland Park, Spring Hil, and Brookside. All the services will have inspiring music and worship, and I’ll share the same Easter sermon. If you have flexibility in your schedule and could attend one of the earlier services, you can help make room for someone who might be worshiping for the first time and seeking the Easter message of hope.
FAMILY EVENTS COMING UP
Family Movie Event – The King of Kings, A Story Told by Charles Dickens! is a powerful new animated film that brings to life the story of Jesus through the imagination of a young boy listening to his father’s bedtime stories. Resurrection is hosting a special movie event at AMC Town Center 20 Theater in Leawood on Saturday morning, May 3 at 10 am or 10:15 am. Invite your friends and neighbors and join us for this fun and meaningful movie morning. You can reserve your tickets here.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE CHAPEL’S STAINED-GLASS WINDOW!
CELEBRATING GROUNDBREAKING AT RESURRECTION LEAWOOD!
Construction on the chapel, student center and outdoor spaces officially begins the Monday after Easter (allowing us to use all of our parking on Easter!). Throughout the project, we’ll be providing updates and a live video on the website: resurrection.church/generation/leawood.
THIS WEEK’S PODCAST: THE I AM SAYINGS OF JESUS
Adam Hamilton
Resurrection Senior Pastor
Reverend Adam Hamilton is the senior pastor of Church of the Resurrection and the author of 22 books. He has been married to LaVon since 1982, and she has been a critical partner in every dimension of Adam’s work. They have two daughters and one granddaughter.
Adam’s writings are known for helping readers make sense of challenging theological questions, exploring the significance of the biblical stories, and equipping Christian leaders to be more effective in their work. He earned his MDiv from Perkins School of Theology and graduated with honors from Oral Roberts University with a degree in Pastoral Ministry.
