Psalms 139 - God the Creator

April 30, 2018 Monday Message:

“Lord, see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:24 NIV

It seems that as people get older, they become more concerned with things eternal. God, formerly on the back burner, suddenly becomes the hot topic of the day.

But God isn’t just there for you in your final days; He’s been there from your beginning. “You, God, created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Ps. 139:13

Did God do a good job? Yes! “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Ps. 139:14

God wants you to walk with him 24/7, from before your birth until after your death.

And get ready - there IS life after this life – Jesus said so! He personally conquered sin and death on the same day!

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, May 6, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM, when I’ll begin our sermon series in Hebrews. See you at church.

Psalms 138 - God for ALL Nations!

April 23, 2018 Monday Message:

“Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord, for all of them will hear your words. Yes, they will sing about the Lord’s ways, for the glory of the Lord is very great.” Psalms 138:4-5 NLT

Psalm 138 talks about two kinds of kings. There are earthly kings or rulers of countries. But they all answer to the other King – the King of kings in heaven. The Psalm says that earthly kings will all sing about the goodness of the heavenly King.

And when the text says, “EVERY king in ALL the earth…,” that’s good news for us all. Jewish and Gentile kings will join together in singing to the Lord.

God comes to us through the Hebrew people, but He is a God for ALL nations. And therefore his Son, Jesus the Messiah, is the redeemer for people from ALL nations!

The Good News is that you and I are included in Jesus’ rescue of mankind. You can count on it.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Apr. 29, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Van steps into Revelation.

Psalms 137 - In a Foreign Land

April 16, 2018 Monday Message:

“We just cannot sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land.” Psalms 137:4

In Psalm 137, known as, “By the Rivers of Babylon,” God’s chosen people were captured by the Babylonians c.600 BC. They miss their home in Jerusalem, and pray for the destruction of Babylon. In fact, in 516 BC, Persia (now Iran) destroyed Babylon.

But Jesus teaches us to handle conflict differently. We are to turn the other cheek and pray for our enemies.

As we share the Good News with ALL nations, we understand the need to coexist with everyone, including our enemies.

“Vengeance is mine – I will repay,” says the Lord. So don’t you worry about getting even; leave that to God. You and I just need to worry about telling everyone the Good News about Jesus!

Turns out we CAN sing our song in a foreign land! Just don’t worship there!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Apr. 22, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. It’s New Hope Tour day and Commissioning Sunday with guests from IMF.

Psalms 136 - His Love Endures Forever

April 9, 2018 Monday Message:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever.” Psalms 136:1 NIV

As children, we sang, “Jesus Loves Me.” But the love of God isn’t just for children – it’s for ALL of us. And God’s love is for all time – past, present and future. God’s desire is that none would perish, but that ALL would repent and return. In other words, there’s a spot in heaven with your name on it, and God wants you to claim it.

The original word used here for God’s love is “chesed,” which is often translated, “everlasting lovingkindness.” In the English language, we have only one word for “love.” I love my car; I love my dog; I love my wife; I love my God! We use the same word, but its meaning varies with context.

God’s love for mankind cannot be adequately described by any single word in the English language, but “everlasting lovingkindness” gets us close. God loves us so much that he sent his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NLT

Every verse in Psalm 136 ends the same way: “His (God’s) love endures forever.”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Apr. 15, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla continues post-Easter messages.

Psalms 135 - Covenant God

April 2, 2018 Monday Message:

“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.” Psalms 135:3a NIV

Psalm 135 appears to have been assembled using verses from other Psalms. That’s OK - we can never have too many Psalms encouraging us to Praise the Lord!

When “Lord” is written in all capital letters, it’s our way of translating the covenant name of God. He said, “I will be your God, and you can be my people.” That may seem like an oversimplification, but the principle holds true even today for all who love the Lord.

Holding up his end of the covenant, God’s desire is that no one would perish. He wants to meet us all in the next reality, heaven. But unfortunately, mankind took on sinful ways, and ALL had fallen short of the gory of God. So God, in his wisdom, came to earth himself (Jesus) to personally pay the penalty for mankind’s sins with his own life. Interestingly, three days later he rose from the dead – the empty tomb that we celebrate on Easter Sunday – just as prophesied! So the sin problem and the death problem were reconciled through the same events.

The children’s song says, “Jesus Loves Me.” How much? “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV

Norton Lawellin

Join us for worship! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets Sunday, Apr. 8, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Today we’ll walk on the road to Emmaus. Who was that guy? Luke 24:13-34