God's Good Work!

For Saturday, October 31, 2020 

Philippians 1:6 NLT, Paul speaking: “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Pre-Jesus, we lived for worldly things without regard for the Lord. But after coming to know Jesus, we began a spiritual journey, with each season seeing progress but not perfection. 

Paul says that Jesus will continue to work in us and through us as we live our lives for Him. “Continuing day-by-day” describes our path - we’re all a work-in-progress!

Thankfully, God’s timing is perfect – Jesus will have the work in us complete on the day he returns! He’s returning to redeem all believers, and that gives us hope! 

Blessings to all today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

God's Love!

For Friday, October 30, 2020 

Psalm 119:76 NLT: “Let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.”

Like the song says, Jesus loves you, and Father God and the Holy Spirit love you too. They are one. In our minds, we tend to limit God’s love to the human love we give and receive, that of which we have knowledge. But that would be underestimating God! His love for us is much greater than our love, and that gives us hope! 

In older Bibles, we find the words “everlasting lovingkindness” to describe God’s love for us. This gives the love and the kindness a duration, ‘everlasting,’ which is forever!

The Jewish Bible uses the word ‘chesed’ to describe the bountiful love and mercy God shows toward humanity. Let God’s love serve as an example of the love we should show our neighbors. That’s what Jesus said to do! 

Blessings and safety to all!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Live by Faith!

For Thursday, October 29, 2020 

Habakkuk 2:4 NLT: “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.”

Other Bible translations say, “The righteous will live by faith,” or, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” This is the cornerstone of modern Christianity, what we call “Reformed Theology.” Martin Luther had been searching for better answers to achieve salvation. Prior to the 1500’s, people thought “good works” could get you into heaven, or if you gave money to the church, indulgences, the church could grant you access to heaven. Neither of these theories is true. 

Our access to heaven is through the work Jesus did on the cross in the “Great Exchange,” taking the sin of the world to the place of the dead, and clothing believers in garments of white, pure enough to experience heaven from the inside! That’s why believers can look forward to their life after this life! That’s why we have hope!

Blessings and safety to all! 

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Resurrection!

For Wednesday, October 28, 2020 

Romans 1:4 NLT: “Jesus was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The Bible contains several accounts of resurrection. Jesus raised the daughter of Jarius, a Synagogue leader, and later his good friend Lazarus. But the ultimate “raised-from-the-dead” was Jesus himself! Jesus had been beaten, crucified, a spear thrust into his side, pronounced dead by the Roman Centurions, and his body placed in a grave. Three days later God had him up, out and walking around where people could see him! 

So friends, death is not the end. There is clearly life after this life. God, who is the Creator of all life, has the ability to give life to whom he will – even after death!

We have just a few years here on earth to lock-in our future. Jesus has given us all the chance to walk alongside him, to spend eternity in the presence of the Father, and that gives us a lot of hope for our future! 

Blessings and safety to all!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Closer to God!

For Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Ephesians 2:13 NLT: “Now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.”

In Hebrew jargon, a sinner is said to be “far from God.” The sinner is then counseled to repent and return, to come “closer to God.” Paul is applying this principle to the Gentile world, which includes most of us. We’re moved closer to God by faith, our belief in the sacrificial work Jesus did on the cross. 

Realize that Jesus on the cross was an act of redeeming love. Jesus-the-mediator was reconciling God and mankind, taking the sin of the world to the place of the dead, and making all who would believe acceptable before God Almighty!

The work Jesus did guarantees believers hope for the life after this life! 

Blessings to all this week!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Know God!

October 26, 2020 

Romans 1:20 NLT: “Ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

God is not hiding! He wants everyone to know all that he does for us. Everyone should already know, since God has written these things on our hearts! 

Unfortunately, some people resist knowing God. An inherent narcissistic quality drives many to vain and selfish ends, rendering them unwilling to “let go and let God!” Their lives are a lot more difficult than they would have to be!

While someone might survive this life not knowing God, that plan won’t work when you get to the next reality. Your ticket to heaven doesn’t depend on how good you are. It depends on the work Jesus did on the cross, taking the sin of the world to the place of the dead, and dressing believers in garments of white, ready to see heaven from the inside, and that gives us hope! 

Blessings to all this week!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Jesus-team!

For Sunday, October 25, 2020 

Ephesians 2:10 NLT: “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

God waited until the 6^th day to create mankind. I believe a lot of thought went into the design. We’re created in His image – our spirit is modeled after God himself – and yet curiously we were given freedom of choice. Correctly choosing to follow the Messiah Jesus, we fit right in with God’s vast eternal plan! 

When we’re working WITH God rather than against Him, doing His work becomes a blessing, not a burden. God has only good things planned for the new brothers and sisters of Jesus!

When we join the Jesus-team, our old self dies and our old ways become distant memories. It’s like we’re born again! Fresh, given a new start! God is a God of second chances, and he doesn’t want to lose anyone. He always provides a return path for those who want to come home! 

Blessings to all this Sabbath day!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Creator!

For Saturday, October 24, 2020 

Romans 1:19 JBP: “It is not that evil people do not know the truth about God; indeed he has made it quite plain to them.”

Deep down, everyone knows that there is a God, a Creator, someone responsible for setting the universe in motion. God has written it on our hearts. If we open our eyes, it is plain to see. 

Who spins the Earth so that the sun comes up every morning and sets every night? Who tilted the Earth so we could have 4 seasons? Who set the Earth the exact correct distance from the sun so we’re not too hot and not too cold? It’s obvious that Intelligent Design was involved!

So now that we all have this valuable information the question is, what are we going to do with it? God lets us choose. We can try to go it alone, or we can choose to be a member of God’s Holy Family. If you believe in His Son, God will adopt you into the Holy Family and Jesus will call you “brothers and sisters.” I choose to walk with my brother Jesus! 

Blessings to all this weekend!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Family of God!

For Friday, October 23, 2020 

1 Corinthians 1:9b NLT: “God has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Jesus is described as God’s only Son. And when we become believers, we too become members of the Holy Family, children of God, born again because of God’s grace. And that, in a way, makes us siblings with Jesus, with the rights and privileges of all the other family members. 

So we’ll have ‘family’ in heaven, right? But we’ll also be joining a huge family of Christians here on earth. They’re not a perfect lot, but our God is a loving and forgiving God, and will keep us all pointed in the right direction. Try to get along with your new brothers and sisters, remembering that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and that gives us all hope!

Blessings and safety to all! 

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Treasure in Heaven!

For Thursday, October 22, 2020 

1 Corinthians 1:7 NLT: “Now (that you’re a Christ follower,) you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Bible says that God will always equip you for the journey on which He’s sending you. If you’re a believer, part of a church family, you’re included in God’s family, where the Good Shepherd always takes excellent care of his flock, and that gives us hope! 

Jehovah Jireh, God the provider, will meet both your earthly needs and your spiritual needs. Believers will have everything they need, not everything they want!

In the US, we have Social Security, kind of a savings account for when we get older. Some of us have a 401k retirement plan. Don’t forget to also fund your heavenly 401k. Jesus taught to store up treasure in heaven. You’ll be retired on earth for 20-40 years, but you’ll be in heaven for eternity! 

Blessings and safety to all!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Strength!

For Wednesday, October 21, 2020 

1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT: “God will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.”

Now that we’re pointed in the right direction, we need the strength to persevere. Fortunately, God keeps his hand on all the future saints. His desire is that no one would perish, and if you’re a friend of the Son, He considers you one of his own. 

We have been given a choice. We can spend eternity in the presence of God, or in a distant, miserable place, wishing we were in the presence of the Lord. Today is the accepted day to cast that decision in stone. God knows your heart, and if you’re truly “IN,” he’ll help you stay on track, and that gives us hope!

Like the song says, “I have decided to follow Jesus,” and I hope you have too! 

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

God is Good!

For Tuesday, October 20, 2020 

Psalm 119:65 NLT: “You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as you promised.”

We tend to reach out to God when something is wrong, when something needs fixing. That’s OK – God is there for us and wants to help. But did you ever stop to consider all the blessings God has ALREADY poured out on you? 

If you have Jesus in your heart, Satan cannot exist in that same space. Sometimes God’s blessing is as simple as protection from evil. Our lives are immeasurably improved when God has his hand on the situation.

If you’ve tried living with God and living without God, I’m sure you’ll agree that life is way better WITH God! 

Blessings and safety to all!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Convictions!

Monday Message, October 19, 2020: 

1 Thessalonians 1:5a GNT: “We brought the Good News (Gospel) to you, not with words only, but also with power and the Holy Spirit, and with complete conviction of its truth.”

When people truly believe in something, others tend to get involved too. That can be bad or good. Hitler drew a crowd, convinced them he had a better plan for the world and got millions to sign up. That was bad. Jesus preached the Gospel of forgiveness and the love of the Father, and commissioned us to sign up the world. That’s Good News! 

There are certain non-negotiable points in Christianity, including the inerrancy of the Bible, the virgin birth of Christ, Jesus taking the sin of the world upon himself, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and the imminent personal return of our Savior.

You could visit almost any major denomination and they would agree on these points. Successful churches adhere to these principles rigorously, and in their own way, each of them succeeds in convincing sinners to turn back to God. When people hold deep-rooted convictions, others want to sign-up, to become a part of that action. 

God tells us that our belief, our conviction honors His plan. And His plan is for us to have hope!

Blessings and safety all week, 

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Worship

For Sunday, October 18, 2020 

Revelation 4:8b NLT: “Day after day and night after night the living beings keep on saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty — the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.’”

In heaven, praise goes on forever - it’s like the Sabbath never ends! Praise for the Creator continues 24/7! But on earth, some choose to not worship at all, and many who call themselves “Christians” only relate to God for an hour or two on Sunday morning. The contrast is startling! 

To God, intelligent design is a full-time job. We are the subjects of His plan for mankind. He makes sure we have air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat and clothes to keep us warm, at least those of us dealing with the Upper Midwest’s winter!

Therefore our love for the Lord should cover every waking moment, be a part of every decision we make and every relationship with our fellows. We should live our lives under the “God-umbrella,” covering everything we do. 

God has included you in His plans – so make sure you include Him in your plans!

Blessings and safety on the Sabbath! 

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Almighty One!

For Saturday, October 17, 2020 

Revelation 1:8 NLT: “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”

It’s comforting to know that the Creator won’t abandon his “Earth/Human” project. He was with us at the beginning, will walk every step of the way alongside us and will still be present when it’s all over. Our lives are not given over to blind fate, to random meaninglessness or to endless cycles with no resolution. 

“Almighty” means, “The One who has His hand on everything!” This tells us that Jesus has a plan for history. We are not on a fools journey without a destination. He directs the path of human events toward his designed conclusion, and we (lucky us!) get to be a part of it! We have hope knowing that the Designer is still in control.

This is the day the Lord has made – He’s still in charge! 

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Included!

For Friday, October 16, 2020 

Romans 1:6 NLT: “You are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.”

“Included” – it’s one of my favorite words. Our Savior, Jesus the Christ, came to the world through the Hebrew people, but was sent to rescue ALL who would believe. In this case, Paul is reassuring the Roman Christians that they too are included in the family of God. 

If you claim Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life – if you believe that He is truly the Son of the Living God, then you’re included! You’re part of the group that gets to see heaven from the inside! Salvation requires a decision. God lets us choose to accept Jesus or to say no, and today is the best day to make that decision, to cement your eternal destination.

The Gospel is big enough and great enough for the whole world. Jesus asked us to share this Good News with “all nations,” so that everyone can be included. He wants everyone to have hope! 

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

God's Love!

For Thursday, October 15, 2020 

Psalm 119:58 NIV: “I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.”

God’s love is showered upon us as a response to our love for him. His desire is that none would be lost, but he won’t run you down and tackle you! You have been given, after all, free choice. 

I wanted to say that God’s love was the ‘reciprocal’ to our love, but that could imply that they’re equal, and they’re not. We can only love God with a human portion; He can love us back with a Godly portion, so much greater!

If we have faith as small as a mustard seed, God will adopt us into the Holy Family and shower us with his good will, and knowing that gives us a lot of hope! 

Blessings to all!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

God's Way!

For Wednesday, October 14, 2020 

Romans 12:9 NLT: “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.”­

Jesus said to love God and to love our neighbors. That’s the summary of Jesus’ value system. We would do well to adopt it as our own. 

When we’re living in harmony with our Creator, we don’t have to question our decisions. We don’t have to worry if we’re right or wrong. We don’t have to concern ourselves with outcomes. Knowing we’re living as our Designer intended leads to confidence and gives us hope.

Tell yourself, “It’s God’s way or the highway!” 

Blessings to all!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406