January 31, 2011 Monday Message:
Jesus, praying: “I am praying … for all who will ever believe in me.” John 17:20a
Prayer needs to be on your agenda. Jesus was known for stepping away from the group, finding a quiet place, and spending time with the Father. If prayer matters to Jesus, it should matter to you too.
During the Last Supper, his final Passover meal, Jesus took time to pray for you and me. He prayed that all his followers would be of one mind. He prayed that one day we could join him again, to see him shining in all the glory the Father had given him.
In spite of the impending crucifixion, unselfish prayer remained on Jesus’ to-do list. He prayed for the apostles, for other believers, and even for future believers in the 21st century.
That’s right – Jesus prayed for YOU! So lift your voice! Be a part of what Jesus taught us to do. You can and should, in Jesus’ name, pray to the Father. Try it today.
Norton Lawellin
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
You are the Light
January 24, 2011 Monday Message:
Jesus speaking: “You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14a
Jesus taught using parables and analogies, so that everyone could easily understand his message. The Bible says that Jesus is the bread of heaven, the living water, and the light of the world. But in a juxtaposition of the rhetoric, Jesus says that YOU are the light of the world!
Believers, those of us with Jesus in our hearts, are the arms, legs, hands and feet of the church. The light of Jesus shines through us. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to make this so.
Remember that Jesus left us with an agenda. We are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to be with us always, until the end of the age.
We are to let our light so shine before others, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven.
That’s what the bible says.
Norton Lawellin
Jesus speaking: “You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14a
Jesus taught using parables and analogies, so that everyone could easily understand his message. The Bible says that Jesus is the bread of heaven, the living water, and the light of the world. But in a juxtaposition of the rhetoric, Jesus says that YOU are the light of the world!
Believers, those of us with Jesus in our hearts, are the arms, legs, hands and feet of the church. The light of Jesus shines through us. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to make this so.
Remember that Jesus left us with an agenda. We are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to be with us always, until the end of the age.
We are to let our light so shine before others, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven.
That’s what the bible says.
Norton Lawellin
Monday, January 17, 2011
Best Sermon Ever!
January 17, 2011 Monday Message:
Truly the Sermon on the Mount was the best sermon ever. Jesus delivered this message c AD30 to his disciples and a large crowd of followers. We don’t know which mountain. Matthew summarizes this message, while Luke reports the similar Sermon on the Plain. Both contain what we call Beatitudes or blessings, promises that teach us that no matter how bad things appear here on earth, God has you covered.
Both Matthew and Luke report Jesus speaking about the poor or poor in spirit, saying, “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Mourners or those who are weeping will be comforted and laugh. The hungry will be satisfied according to Luke, while Matthew writes that those who hunger after righteousness will be filled. He tells of those persecuted for seeking righteousness receiving the kingdom of heaven. Luke concludes with the followers of the Son of Man receiving the kingdom of heaven.
Only Matthew reports that the meek will inherit the earth, the merciful will likewise obtain mercy, the pure of heart will see God, and the peacemakers will be called sons of God.
On the mount, Jesus instructed his listeners about good works, holiness, judging others, the law and how to pray. We still use his Lord’s Prayer in most worship services.
It seems that the overall theme is “Love.” God loves all the people he created, and God has a special place for each of them. Jesus loves us just as God loves us. And we are to love the Lord our God, and love one another the same way that God loves us. After all, we’re like family.
Norton Lawellin
Truly the Sermon on the Mount was the best sermon ever. Jesus delivered this message c AD30 to his disciples and a large crowd of followers. We don’t know which mountain. Matthew summarizes this message, while Luke reports the similar Sermon on the Plain. Both contain what we call Beatitudes or blessings, promises that teach us that no matter how bad things appear here on earth, God has you covered.
Both Matthew and Luke report Jesus speaking about the poor or poor in spirit, saying, “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Mourners or those who are weeping will be comforted and laugh. The hungry will be satisfied according to Luke, while Matthew writes that those who hunger after righteousness will be filled. He tells of those persecuted for seeking righteousness receiving the kingdom of heaven. Luke concludes with the followers of the Son of Man receiving the kingdom of heaven.
Only Matthew reports that the meek will inherit the earth, the merciful will likewise obtain mercy, the pure of heart will see God, and the peacemakers will be called sons of God.
On the mount, Jesus instructed his listeners about good works, holiness, judging others, the law and how to pray. We still use his Lord’s Prayer in most worship services.
It seems that the overall theme is “Love.” God loves all the people he created, and God has a special place for each of them. Jesus loves us just as God loves us. And we are to love the Lord our God, and love one another the same way that God loves us. After all, we’re like family.
Norton Lawellin
Monday, January 10, 2011
Join the Royal Family
January 10, 2011 Monday Message:
If you know David’s story, you know that, for a time, he lived in exile, without the royal diadem. But when David was a King, he lived like a King. David had it all — the finest foods, servants taking care of his every need, and a royal palace to call home.
But David knew that his earthly circumstances couldn’t guarantee eternal salvation. He knew it was necessary to put his faith, hope and trust in something of substance, something of eternal value. In Psalm 27:4, David’s one prayer is to, “live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”
David’s earthly life was like a roller coaster — up and down. When he was a small shepherd-boy, David took on Goliath to defend the honor of God. David was anointed to be king, but that made him a target for others who wanted the throne. David finally became king, but then fell into sin during the Bathsheba years. But David repented and returned to the LORD, assuming his role as an earthly ancestor of Jesus and a man after God’s own heart.
David’s life was a lot like many of our lives — we’ve all seen ups and downs, times when we feel closer to God, and times when we drift away. We would all be wise to, like David, repent and return to the LORD. Because Jesus has covered us with his righteousness, we too are people after God’s own heart. Welcome to the royal family!
Norton Lawellin
If you know David’s story, you know that, for a time, he lived in exile, without the royal diadem. But when David was a King, he lived like a King. David had it all — the finest foods, servants taking care of his every need, and a royal palace to call home.
But David knew that his earthly circumstances couldn’t guarantee eternal salvation. He knew it was necessary to put his faith, hope and trust in something of substance, something of eternal value. In Psalm 27:4, David’s one prayer is to, “live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”
David’s earthly life was like a roller coaster — up and down. When he was a small shepherd-boy, David took on Goliath to defend the honor of God. David was anointed to be king, but that made him a target for others who wanted the throne. David finally became king, but then fell into sin during the Bathsheba years. But David repented and returned to the LORD, assuming his role as an earthly ancestor of Jesus and a man after God’s own heart.
David’s life was a lot like many of our lives — we’ve all seen ups and downs, times when we feel closer to God, and times when we drift away. We would all be wise to, like David, repent and return to the LORD. Because Jesus has covered us with his righteousness, we too are people after God’s own heart. Welcome to the royal family!
Norton Lawellin
Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy Epiphany!
January 03, 2011 Monday Message:
Happy New Year, and Happy Epiphany!
What’s Epiphany? The word means a revelation or new insight. That revelation is often a divine being, and for us it’s Jesus. In the Christian church-year calendar, Epiphany is January 6th, celebrating when the Magi from the east came to worship baby Jesus, the one born King of the Jews.
Only the Gospel of Matthew speaks of this. We sing, “We Three Kings of Orient Are…” but we don’t really know that there were three of them. The Bible doesn’t say how many men, but it does say that three gifts were presented. We don’t know that they were Kings. In fact, the visitors are often referred to as Magi, sorcerers, magicians, astronomers or astrologers. But while they probably practiced some of these things, we also know that these were educated men. They had studied enough astronomy to recognize a new star in the heavens. And they had studied enough world religion to know that a King would be born, that the star was a sign, and that they should follow. They were seekers. Our visitors are probably from Babylon, not the Orient. And they weren’t at the manger with the shepherds. Magi visited as much as two years later.
The real Kings in our story are Herod and Jesus. The visitors from the East first approached Herod, asking, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?” Of course Herod didn’t have a clue, so they all visited the Pharisees and Scribes, who quoted from Micah 5, directing the Magi to Bethlehem.
What’s curious to me is that no Pharisees accompanied the entourage to Bethlehem. They were told that the holy King had been born, but chose not to go. But the Magi, not from Israel and probably Gentiles, showed up to worship the King sent from heaven. You see, everyone created in the image of God needs a redeemer. So God sent His Son for us all.
Norton Lawellin
Happy New Year, and Happy Epiphany!
What’s Epiphany? The word means a revelation or new insight. That revelation is often a divine being, and for us it’s Jesus. In the Christian church-year calendar, Epiphany is January 6th, celebrating when the Magi from the east came to worship baby Jesus, the one born King of the Jews.
Only the Gospel of Matthew speaks of this. We sing, “We Three Kings of Orient Are…” but we don’t really know that there were three of them. The Bible doesn’t say how many men, but it does say that three gifts were presented. We don’t know that they were Kings. In fact, the visitors are often referred to as Magi, sorcerers, magicians, astronomers or astrologers. But while they probably practiced some of these things, we also know that these were educated men. They had studied enough astronomy to recognize a new star in the heavens. And they had studied enough world religion to know that a King would be born, that the star was a sign, and that they should follow. They were seekers. Our visitors are probably from Babylon, not the Orient. And they weren’t at the manger with the shepherds. Magi visited as much as two years later.
The real Kings in our story are Herod and Jesus. The visitors from the East first approached Herod, asking, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?” Of course Herod didn’t have a clue, so they all visited the Pharisees and Scribes, who quoted from Micah 5, directing the Magi to Bethlehem.
What’s curious to me is that no Pharisees accompanied the entourage to Bethlehem. They were told that the holy King had been born, but chose not to go. But the Magi, not from Israel and probably Gentiles, showed up to worship the King sent from heaven. You see, everyone created in the image of God needs a redeemer. So God sent His Son for us all.
Norton Lawellin
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