Community of Believers

April 27, 2015 Monday Message:

“They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Acts 2:42 MSG

Jesus said to make disciples of all nations, but he never said we should do it alone. As the church began, the apostles stuck together, first selecting a replacement for Judas. They believed that Jesus’ intention was that the “twelve” be complete.

After Pentecost, “The Way,” as Christians became known, worshiped and ate meals together, sharing their resources. This gave them a solid home base, a community to be sent FROM, as they preached the Good News. God added to their number daily.

Paul was called into ministry by Jesus himself, and as he spread the Gospel, he often took close friends with him, friends such as Barnabas, Luke, John Mark, Priscilla, Timothy and Titus. There are more, but my point is that he didn’t go alone. He brought a ministry TEAM that first established a local church, a solid home from which they could be sent to do more ministry.

At my church, Jesus in the City Fellowship, we’re good at “sending,” but our home base is a bit sparse. Comparing this with the Biblical example, we know we need to grow our congregation, our base of operations. A stronger “home” will provide for stronger outreach.

Other churches have a solid congregation, but don’t do much “sending.” Ideally, there should be a balance - a strong church with lots of sending. Where is your church in this picture?

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, May 3, Pastor Michael Pilla brings a message from Acts 19:23-41.

A Community of Best Friends

April 20, 2015 Monday Message:

“All the Lord’s followers often met together, and they shared everything they had.” Acts 2:44 CEV

Building a church family should be more than just signing-up people to show up once a week. In Acts 2, the believers became one giant extended family.

Yes, they met for worship as you’d expect, but they also broke bread together, sharing their food happily and freely. Those blessed with abundance would sell a property to help those who needed help. That’s why God blesses some with abundance – so they can help others.

Being a member of a community of best friends was a highly desirable thing, and The Way grew largely through attraction. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

As church leaders, we should endeavor to build that kind of community, the kind that attracts people. We shouldn’t have to coerce membership. If we build an Acts 2 church, people will knock on our doors willingly, seeking to be included in the family of God.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, April 26, Pastor Michael Pilla brings a message from Acts 19, and discusses future plans for JICF.

Re-Commissioned

April 13, 2015 Monday Message:

“Simon, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord, you know I do.” “Then feed my sheep.” from John 22:15-17 CEV

God calls each of us into ministry in various ways. Most are not ministry professionals. Some are helpers, encouragers, counselors or mentors. Some have the gift of hospitality. When the church needs to celebrate a victory or launch a new event, they know exactly what needs to take place.

But sometimes we can all get tired, discouraged or afraid, and our ministry efforts lose the priority they once had. We need a boost, a shot-in-the-arm, a re-launching of our commission. We need to be re-called into ministry.

In spite of the fact that Jesus had told the disciples that he needed to suffer and die, I get the feeling that no one saw Good Friday coming. That series of events left their movement fractured, without a leader. Simon had been trained for the role, but that same Simon denied Jesus three times to save his own skin. The disciples were depressed and confused; ministry was at a standstill.

Jesus needed to re-launch the ministry and re-commission Simon. Jesus needed to let everyone know that Simon was still the point-person for the new movement, and that the Christians were still in business.

Sometimes a ministry needs to be re-launched. Sometimes a Christian worker needs to be re-commissioned. It worked for Jesus! “Feed my Sheep - follow Me!”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, April 19, we welcome Pastor Retha Dowells with a message from Luke 7:36-50.

New Covenant

April 06, 2015 Monday Message:

“When the women found the stone rolled away, they went in. But they did not find the body of Jesus.” Luke 24:2-3 CEV

For thousands of years before Good Friday, mankind sinned and died without hope. Many people believed in God-the-creator, and they believed that God loved them, but not one was able to live a perfect life, to obey every law. So they died in uncertainty.

On Good Friday, Jesus himself paid the price for the sins of the world. He took those sins to the grave.

So Saturday was a strange day, a dividing point, a line in the sand separating the old from the new, separating the law from grace. Both good and bad: Good - everyone’s sins in the grave. Bad - Messiah in a tomb. On Saturday, the next step wasn’t clear. The disciples were disappointed, disillusioned and quite afraid on this transitional day. They could not yet see tomorrow.

But on Sunday, resurrection day, everything changed for the better, and everyone was amazed. Jesus had conquered both sin and death with the same event! Even though he told everyone it was necessary to die and rise again, no one fully understood, so Sunday caught everyone by surprise. But the empty tomb made it abundantly clear that death was not the end. There was indeed hope for everyone who trusted Jesus with their eternal destination.

Easter Sunday, the first day of the week, is the first day of the rest of our lives. Before Good Friday, we were lost; after the Resurrection, we have hope.

“Born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3b ESV

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, April 12, we’ll look at Peter’s call to ministry, and your call to ministry, John 21. See you at church!