Authority!

For Tuesday, October 27, 2026:

Mark 1:21-22 NLT: “Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.”

Jesus was traveling with at least Simon, Andrew, James and John. They stopped in Capernaum, about 20 miles north of Nazareth. The Bible doesn’t tell us if this was the final destination, or if it was along the way to somewhere else. But on the Sabbath, they all showed up where you’d expect.

At the Synagogue, it was normal and customary to invite guests to speak, especially if they were from some other region. That’s how news spread if something new had occurred. Of course, Jesus, Son of God, beginning his ministry is new, and the worshipers in Capernaum were among the first to hear him.

Some people are gifted at public speaking, and I believe Jesus was one with that gift. A few weeks ago I listened to a speaker who couldn’t hold my attention. It sounded like he was reading from a textbook. Boring! Later that same day but at a different church, the congregation was clapping, shouting Amen’s and lining up for the altar call. The topic was still Jesus, but the second bunch was fully engaged, and I attribute that to the skill given to the speaker, the conduit connecting the Holy Spirit with the congregation.

In this scripture, Jesus was that conduit. He spoke in manner that lent authority to what he spoke. People trusted what they heard. They had confidence in Jesus’ teaching. They believed it was truth, and truth is God’s opinion on everything!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

God's Goals!

For Monday, October 26, 2026:

Acts 4:28 NLT: “Everything everyone did – Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and even the people of Israel – was determined beforehand according to God’s will.”

Opposing God will get you nowhere. Even if you’re trying to do good things, your efforts will be futile if they differ from God’s master plan, his goals.

Think about the game of football. If the teams were playing on an open grassy space, no one would know when a team had scored. So they place markers every 10 yards, and put a goal post at each end. Now we can see when a team makes a touchdown. We can see if the football goes through the uprights. My point is that if we know the goal, we will realize when it has been achieved. But if we don’t know, can’t see or don’t understand the goal, we might be striving for progress in the wrong direction!

Case in point: If you were trying to further God’s agenda on earth, who would think that killing God’s Son would be a good idea? Probably no one! But as it happened, as he died, Jesus took the sins of the world to the place of the dead. Mankind was forgiven, given a second chance. That was God’s plan. And we might not have known that Jesus was impervious to death. He would walk away from the tomb with the angels saying, “Didn’t he tell you?” Yes, Jesus did tell them, but the disciples had never before seen anything like this! It’s one thing to hear about resurrection, but quite another to actually witness it!

I believe Jesus intentionally kept Christianity simple. He didn’t give us too many things to do. His goals were achievable. Love God and love your neighbor. Share the Good News by making disciples of all nations and baptize the newcomers. Use Jesus’ name to heal the sick and cure leprosy. Raise the dead when it is not yet their time. And cast out demons, the source of most worldly trouble. Again, use Jesus’ name.

Claim Jesus as your Lord and Savior and follow his commands, and you’ll get through this life just fine. The life after this life will be even better!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Fishing for People!

For Sunday, October 25, 2026:

Mark 1:17-18 NLT: “Jesus called out to Simon and his brother Andrew, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ And they left their nets at once and followed him.”

Is it more important to fish for fish or to fish for people? Somehow fishing for people seems more important. We’re not just reeling in people. We’re saving souls, their eternal essence. If we teach the truth about Jesus the Christ and if those we teach become believers, they won’t spend a day in eternity’s fire. Jesus will have prepared a place in the hereafter for all believers, a good, safe place.

That’s why Jesus commissioned us to make disciples of all people from all nations. He doesn’t want to lose a single soul. He wants everyone to be able to choose salvation over eternal misery. We can provide that opportunity in our corner of the world.

Now is the best time to get in the game, to answer Jesus’ team-building call. Simon and Andrew left at once, leaving the family’s fishing business behind. Nothing is more important than saving souls, and we’re blessed to be included!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church