Palms Away!

March 30, 2015 Monday Message:

“They took palm branches and went out to meet him shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!’” John 12:13 NIV

Last Sunday, most of our churches celebrated Palm Sunday. Let’s take a second look at the first Palm Sunday.

In 538BC, the Jews were allowed to return and rebuild the Temple. They used palm branches in the rededication, and the palm became a symbol, a type of logo, for the Hebrew people, the Jewish religion and the Temple.

Minted coins were to feature the image of Caesar, but twice, during wars against Rome, Israel minted coins featuring palms. Waving a palm branch at a Centurion was highly confrontational, and would surely get you arrested.

God had promised the Israelites a Messiah for quite some time, and many believed that Jesus was the anointed one. But they were expecting a Messiah who would liberate them from Rome. They hadn’t considered that the Messiah would rescue them from sin and open the doors of heaven.

So on that day, Jesus rode in to Jerusalem, and out came the palm branches and bright clothes to line the street, as would be done for a king. The crowd shouted, “Blessed is the King of Israel!” They honored Jesus, not Caesar, as King of the Jews.

Some things are not Caesar’s.

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 5, Pastor Michael Pilla teaches about the empty tomb.

Serve Somebody

March 23, 2015 Monday Message:

“The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve…” Mark 10:45a ESV

Consider that the best form of government may be a “Benevolent Dictatorship.” The initial reaction of most people is, “No way! Dictators are evil!” And when they’re working in the world with mammoth egos to feed, you’re right - the general population oftentimes suffers.

It’s different when God is the dictator. The key is benevolence. There are rules, standards and directives, but they are for our own good. God loves us. God, who is in charge of everything, saw mankind was in trouble, and even sent his own Son to help solve the problem.

When Jesus walked the earth, he never held his status over anyone. In fact, quite the opposite. Jesus, living under the

Romans, was quite familiar with oppressive rulers. “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.”

And here’s how Jesus feels about that: “It shall not be so among you.” He explains, “Whoever would be great among you must be servant of all.” And he leads by example, sacrificing his own life so that we might live: “The Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom for many.”

I’m OK with the dictatorship; Jesus is my King!

Norton Lawellin

Each Sunday, Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, March 29, Dan Pilla speaks on the Triumphal Entry.

Of One Mind with the Father

March 16, 2015 Monday Message:

When a Pharisee lawyer asked Jesus which is the greatest commandment, Jesus answered from the shema, something every Jew would know: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul...” And then Jesus made an addition to the list: “…and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 ESV

The ‘heart’ means our physical being. Our earthly bodies should be ‘all-in’ for God. Our ‘soul’ refers to our eternal spiritual being. It too should be ‘all-in’ for God. But now Jesus tells us to also use our minds. How does that work?

Loving God with our minds starts with wanting to know more about God, and then diligently scrutinizing everything we learn – digesting it, if you will, because every truth we learn about God is, in fact, a little piece of God.

God claims that David was a man after his own heart. You too can be a member of that group. Pretend you discover that the earth is round. Therefore God, when designing the planets, must have said something like, “Hey, let’s make these round!” Imagine that – now you’re on the same page with God! The words you’re now thinking are the same words God spoke at creation!

We’re imperfect, just as David was, and a millennium later, Paul. The human condition doesn’t change. But David, Paul and you and I can all be part of God’s team, by using the same words, going the same direction, doing our best to be of one mind with the Father.

That’s what Jesus said to do – to worship God with our minds!

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Every Sunday, Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, March 22, we’ll get the inside scoop on Zacchaeus, Luke 19. Bring your Bibles!

Known God

March 09, 2015 Monday Message:

Paul: “I found an altar with the words, ‘To an Unknown God.’” from Acts 17:23 CEV

Humans have an innate sense that a power greater than themselves created the universe, the power that we call God. God deserves worship, and the Bible says that mankind was made for worship, and that’s what all humans seem to do.

Time after time, when researchers uncover unknown tribes in remote parts of the world, we find that they have invented gods to worship, often quite an elaborate system of gods. This is what Paul encountered as he entered the Areopagus in Athens. They had gods for the sun, the moon and the earth; for rain, fair weather and abundant crops; and for health and healing. They had even erected an altar “to an unknown God,” in an attempt to not overlook anyone.

So they were seeking a god, and Paul had first-hand knowledge of the one who rose from the dead! This was no chance encounter! In his younger days, Paul might have belligerently confronted everyone, told them how wrong they were, but by now he’s more easy-going. He simply tells the Good News story, explaining what he knows. Some believe, some aren’t convinced, and some want to hear more at another time.

We’re called to be like Paul, to share the Good News story when opportunity presents itself, not in a belligerent or confrontational way, but with love and kindness. Some will believe, some won’t be convinced, and some will want to learn more at another time. We’re responsible for the effort, for a willingness to serve; the outcome is up to the Lord.

Norton Lawellin

Each Sunday, Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Mar. 15, Pastor Michael Pilla continues our journey through Acts.

Friend of God

March 02, 2015 Monday Message:

“So it happened just as the scriptures say: ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’ He was even called the friend of God.” James 2:23 NLT

Friendship is a precious commodity. It’s easy to be a friend when everything is going well, but life’s not always that way. It’s way more difficult to be a friend when the other person’s life is fraught with difficulties. But it’s most challenging to be a friend when you’re part of the problem!

As we journey through life with the Lord, we should desire to walk alongside Abraham, to be known as a friend of God. Sometimes we’re not very good at it. We sin, we let our friend down. Fortunately God is the best kind of friend, one who will love us even when we mess up.

Pray that the Holy Spirit would live in you. Know that God has the power to make you a winner. Make a conscious decision to place your will and your life in the hands of your creator, and believe that any uncertainty about your eternal destiny is gone forever.

After all, you have a best friend — Jesus!

Norton Lawellin

Each Sunday, Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Mar. 8, Pastor Michael Pilla continues our journey through Acts.