False Prophets

July 28, 2014 Monday Message:

Jesus: “Beware of false prophets.” Matt. 7:15a ESV

Jesus adds that false prophets come disguised in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. It’s bad enough that their teaching is untruthful; but they’re also intentionally furthering their agenda through deceit and lying.

Last Sunday, I told our congregation to take out their Bibles, so they could double-check what they’re hearing. At our church, we intend to teach only the truth, so we can stand this test. ALL churches SHOULD be able to withstand this test.

But as more and more mainline denominations deviate from Biblical accuracy, it becomes more challenging to spot the wolf in sheep’s clothing. It’s important that we all fact-check everything that we’re being told. If we’re passive, it’s far too easy to fall victim to the deceit.

How fortunate we are to live at a time when everyone’s cell phone can contain a Bible app. But therefore, as Christian leaders and teachers, we need to fact-check everything we’re saying. If we spit out inaccurate information, we’re in trouble; some teenager has probably already looked it up! 

The early church taught “sola scriptura,” meaning “only scripture,” “only God’s word.” They believed that the Bible is the inspired and authoritative word of God. If all we really need is God’s word, we can exclude a lot of church tradition and individual interpretation, and believe only the facts.

Sticking with God’s Word is a lot easier than trying to sort out sheep and wolves.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday at 10:30am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Dan Pilla opens up Acts Ch. 5.

World Peace?

July 21, 2014 Monday Message:

Jesus: “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Matt. 10:34b ESV

If you’re in the business of making new Christians – and we all should be – you might step on a few toes as you lead people to the Lord. Jesus did.

But Jesus did not want us to hold back, to make a wimpy presentation on his behalf. Rather, we are told to go boldly.

We are filled, and often re-filled with the Holy Spirit. This protects us and fills us with courage to speak up, even when it’s not popular.

Generally, non-believers feel threatened by Christianity. It was so even during Jesus’ time. If the Old-Testament prophecies were all fulfilled through Jesus, the Temple leaders would no longer have power over the people. They took Jesus and his followers to be a threat to their authority.

The Romans thought they were above everyone else, and their leader, Caesar, claimed to be Lord. This new Christian sect claimed that Jesus was Lord, flying in the face of the Roman government.

If the world could all be Christian and live by the Acts 2 church model, we would truly love our neighbors and know peace. But that hasn’t happened, and so we have wars and rumors of war, and it will be that way until Jesus returns.

We could pray for world peace, or we could pray, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus.”

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday, at 10:30am, in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, I’ll wrap up Acts 4 - the believers were of one mind, which gave them power to change the world!

Closer to God

July 14, 2014 Monday Message:

“God has made his people strong, honoring his faithful ones – the people of Israel who are close to him.” Psalms 148:14 NLT

My church’s ministry is in the inner-city, and violence, gangs, drugs and prostitution often surround the people to whom we minister. I have a couple of cliché sayings I like to use to encourage them.

“If you’re IN HERE, you’re NOT out THERE!” In other words, if you’re at the church, the treatment center, the self-help group, the small group, the Bible study – you’re NOT out on the streets where trouble’s waiting. And,

“If you’re doing THIS, you’re not doing THAT!” If you fill your time by serving others and helping out at church, your agenda will be so full of good stuff that you won’t have time to pursue things that could get you into trouble.

Stay close to God. Sin separates us from God and takes us farther from God, but TODAY is the accepted day to repent, return, and get right with God. God and sin cannot share the same space, so when you move closer to God, you automatically move farther from sin.

If you repent and call Jesus your savior, you are adopted into the Holy family, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities therein. Now you’re close to Him, just like the Israelites in Psalm 148. It's good to stay close to God.

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday, at 10:30am, in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, I’ll wrap up Acts 4. Peter and John get out of jail, but there’s a lot more to the story – don’t miss it!

Love Your Neighbor

July 07, 2014 Monday Message:

“They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” Acts 2:45 NIV

On the day of Pentecost, Jerusalem was filled with visitors, Jews who came to celebrate Shavuot, God giving the Torah through His servant Moses on Mt. Sinai.

As you may recall, at the great altar call that day, 3,000 came forward to become members of “The Way.” They were baptized and thus became card-carrying members of the Jesus Community. But everyone soon realized that since many of these people were out-of-towners, they had no place to stay and no source of income. If these new Christians were to survive, they would all have to share.

This isn’t like Communism. No one forced the believers to share, and there was no set amount of benefit. Instead, each received according to his need. And there’s really no further mention of it. My guess is that most of the new Christians either found employment or re-located their enterprise to the Jerusalem area. This short-term solution solved a short-term problem.

The core believers in this new church realized that Jesus was much more important to them than their possessions.

Jesus should be ahead of possessions in all our lives.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday, at 10:30am, in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Rev. Van Dickerson preaches “Freedom in Christ” pt. 3.