Weekly sermons delivered at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Prairie Village, Kansas, USA.
Through visions God instructs Peter to visit the home of a Roman centurion, a Gentile, and while Peter is there the Holy Spirit comes over Cornelius' household -- crossing barriers of scripture and tradition.
In this powerful Easter message, The Rev. Dr. Alix D. Pridgen invites us to consider what burdens we carry—grief, regret, fear, doubt—and reminds us that the resurrection of Jesus brings more than celebration; it brings release. Through Scripture, story, and honest reflection, we're led to see how the risen Christ meets us in our heaviest moments, offering forgiveness, freedom, and new life. The tomb is empty, and love has the last word. Step into the light of Easter with resurrection confidence.
Jesus visits the home of Martha, Mary & Lazarus on his way to Jerusalem. Mary pours costly perfume over Jesus' feet as an outpouring of love. In the same way Jesus will pour out his life in love for us.
The essence of holiness is loving God with one's whole heart, soul, mind and strength, and loving one's neighbor as oneself. When we don't love God with all that we are, and when we don't treat one another with love, there will be pain and sadness, but our loving God is at work to reconcile us.
Current events, disasters, and signs of hope.
Jesus is trying to protect us, and we won't listen to him.
When we know that we belong to a loving, patient and powerful God, we can make it through the tough times, too. Scarred perhaps, but intact. Knowing that God is with us – and that God is reconciling our world, we can make it through Lent, and war, and financial crisis. We can make it through relocations, parenthood, divorces, cancer, the death of our children, difficult work, and all the other things that bedevil us and test our limits of faith and endurance. Because we belong to Jesus – into whose life and death we are baptized… we, too, can walk with courage and stamina and faithfulness and hope until that day when he takes us by the hand and leads us into the Promised Life to Come.
The story of the Transfiguration reveals the changes in us.
How can we maintain our dignity and sense of self… in the face of bullying and mistreatment… when you cannot run away and fighting back is not an option? Jesus says we can take charge of our story and give the unexpected response.
If we want to see God's work in the world… if we want to see God's miracles in life… We have only to look in the places where nobody else is looking… and at the people nobody else respects. There we will see him -- God's messiah – coming with power – for us– Just as God did in Nazareth.
Sermon on John 2:1-12 where Jesus turns water into wine.
Jesus tells us the greatest commandment is to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. He didn't say it was easy.
Bartimaeus and Malala refuse to be silenced -- and are blessed.
Jesus tries to take a vacation and meets a woman whose words challenge his prejudice and change his vision of ministry. Sermon on Mark 7:24037
Joshua challenges us to choose which god we will serve. Sermon on Joshua 24:1-25
Sermon on Ephesians 4:25-5:2 Life in the Body of Christ
Sermon on Amos 7:7-15 and Mark 16:18-49 The need for critics and honest criticism and a call to more responsible politics.
A sermon on the call of Samuel (I Sam. chapter 3) and our call to honesty and to tell our leaders the truth--especially when it's not what they want to hear.
God's love, mercy and forgiveness transforms and heals us. Share the good news!
Jesus looks to God for his mission and shows us how to say "no" to the trap of pleasing everyone else.
Jesus casts a demon out of a man in a synagogue. We have our own "demons" but Jesus can cast them out, too.
There were also many women who followed Jesus and were his disciples in the same way as the "12 apostles"--but their stories and contributions were minimized during the process of the canonization of the Holy Bible and by early Gospel writers. Today, I lift up the voice and experience of Mary from Magdal/Migdal.
God is determined to be with us and nothing will stand in God's way. The Lord is coming!
Our hope is founded on the reliability of God's Word. Signs of hope abound!
Christ the King Sunday 2023Text: Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus' enemies try to force him to choose between two narrow positions on an issue--but he chooses to answer in a way that acknowledges the complexity of life. We must maintain our allegiance to God while at the same time navigating the realities of this world.
A sermon addressing the war between Israel and Gaza. The text is Matthew 22:1-14
Giving up everything and gaining even more. A sermon on Philippians 3:4-14
God provides a fountain of life from the very rock we thought was blocking our path. A sermon on Exodus 17:1-7.
Sermon on Romans 11:1-32 God intends to save all people.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd and the less than lovely sheep.
Sermon on Luke 24:13-35 Two disciples meet Jesus on the Emmaus Road.
God has a long history of using faithful doubters.
Jesus and a Samaritan woman have a life-changing encounter.
Nicodemus is invited to a Spirit-filled life but finds himself filled with questions.
A sermon on the story of Jesus' testing from Matthew 4:1-11. How to face temptation.
Micah calls us to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our G_d.
Sermon on Matthew 2:13-23 God brings good in the midst of evil.
Sermon on Matthew 24:36-44. Preparing for the coming reign of God.
All Saints Sunday 2022 -- a sermon on Daniel 7
Sermon on Luke 15: 11-19. A journey to wellness.