Jesus = Hope!

Dec. 30, 2019 Monday Message:

Jesus speaking: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b NIV

When you become a Christian, all your problems won’t instantly disappear. In fact, Jesus tells us to expect some trouble in this life. We live in a fallen world, and we have to interact with other people who may not know Jesus like we do. Or they might be good people who made mistakes and bad decisions, leaving problems in their wake.

What Jesus offers us is a light at the end of the tunnel. The problems we’re experiencing are in THIS world, NOT the NEXT world! In our ‘life-after-this-life,’ Jesus offers us the free gift of eternal life in the presence of God! He offers a solution to our tribulation, to our problems. Jesus offers us hope!

Sometimes life is hard – the world can be tough. But rejoice because Jesus has overcome the world!

Happy New Year!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Young Jesus visits the Temple – for 3 days! Luke 2:41-52

The LORD Saves!

Dec. 23, 2019 Monday Message:

Angel to Joseph: “Mary will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21 NLT

That’s quite a statement! And being entrusted to nurture God’s Son is quite a responsibility! But to name him Jesus – that raises to mission to an even higher level. Names used to have meanings, and the name “Jesus” means “the Lord saves.”

Matthew further explains that the birth of Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” We get to walk on the same earth where God walked! Matt. 1:23

Mankind couldn’t get in front of its sinful ways, so God decided to intervene, to solve the problem himself. Jesus was destined to rescue us from eternal damnation by paying the price for the sins of the world. After all, God’s desire is that none would perish!

This gift of eternal life through faith in the Son is a free gift. Think of it as your Christmas present. Merry Christmas!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 4pm for the Children’s Christmas Program, and then next Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll look at Jesus growing up! Luke 2:21-40

Shepherds

Dec. 16, 2019 Monday Message:

“The night of Jesus’ birth, there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.” Luke 2:8 NLT

Do you wish you could have been a shepherd back at the time of Jesus’ birth? Probably not! It was tough work. Think of roughing it, camping outdoors perpetually. The sheep were constantly being moved to fresh pasture. So the shepherds didn’t have a house, and often not even a tent. They just lived and slept out in the open. It was dusty and dirty, there were no showers and sanitation was a myth. It got cold at night, and sometimes the best solution was to huddle-in with the sheep. After all, sheep are already wearing a wool blanket! But then soon, the shepherds would smell just like their sheep, which explains why they were social outcasts when they ventured into town. No one wanted to be around them. And since they were known for their barbarism and shenanigans, shepherds could not even be called as witnesses.

But for some reason that only God knows, angels appeared to the shepherds announcing the birth of the Son of God: “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:11-12

The shepherds decided to go into town and check it out. And sure enough, there was baby Jesus, lying in the manger! The shepherds told everyone about the angels. They were all amazed, and Mary treasured all that had happened. Everything turned out just as the angels foretold!

We know now that God was breaking into our world to rescue mankind from our sin problem. And amazingly, the shepherds found themselves in the same room with their Creator! Now do you wish you could have been a shepherd that night?

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Founding Pastor Michael Pilla teaches from Luke 2 - the birth of Jesus.

God Never Fails

Dec. 9, 2019 Monday Message:

“No word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:37 NIV

God sent his messenger, the angel Gabriel, to lay the groundwork for two unusual births.

First, Gabriel told Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth, well past child bearing years, would give birth to a son, who was to herald the way for the coming Messiah. Their son told everyone to repent and return to the Lord, for the Kingdom of God was at hand. We know that man as John the Baptist.

Next, Gabriel told a young virgin, Mary, that she would give birth to the Son of God himself. Mary was confused. She was engaged, but had not yet consummated her marriage to Joseph. But this is a divinely inspired birth. We know this child to be Jesus, Son of God, lying in a manger. Wouldn’t you love to have been there?

If God, the Creator of all things, lays out a prediction for you, you can take that to the bank. Understand that God is the #1 Creator, and everything in this world and in the spiritual world was created BY him. It only stands to reason that in the end, the Creator will win! No word from God will ever fail. Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it’s not the end!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We welcome guests from the New Hope tour. Founding Pastor Michael Pilla continues our Advent journey.

Prophecy

Dec. 2, 2019 Monday Message:

“Prophecy”

Traditionally, how you determine if it’s the Lord speaking through a prophet is if what he/she predicts actually comes to fruition. In much the same way, if a prophet of God foretells an event, and that event actually happens, it also proves that God is in it; that God is real.

About 2,000 years ago, the birth of two babies was foretold by angels. The first was shown to Zechariah and his wife, both beyond childbearing years. They were given a son, the person we know as John the Baptist. He was the prophet counseling people to repent and return to the Lord; he was preparing the way for the Messiah.

The second of course is baby Jesus, given to Mary and Joseph who had not yet consummated their marriage. The Holy Spirit seems to be in charge of unconventional conception.

The shepherds came to witness the event, and they reported: “Everything turned out exactly the way they’d been told!” Luke 2:20b Msg

Prophecy fulfilled!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Founding Pastor Michael Pilla continues our Advent journey.

Be Thankful!

Nov. 25, 2019 Monday Message:

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:1 NIV

The key words is ‘now!’ I checked 10 different Bible translations on this passage, and they all include the word ‘now!’ So we don’t have to do anything further. It’s never ‘Jesus plus something else.’ Christ alone is the answer to our salvation. If you have Jesus in your heart, there is no condemnation RIGHT NOW!

We are blessed to live in a nation where it’s easy to learn about Jesus. If we follow Jesus – join a church, make a lot of ‘church friends’ – our lives might go better, be easier. That wasn’t the case for early Christians. Once siding with Jesus, they might be mocked, persecuted, sometimes even killed.

But Paul writes, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Once you’ve been adopted into the Holy Family, you’re promised that this life will end well. Heaven and all within await us in our lives after this life.

This unconditional love of God is another reason for which to be thankful. Just think: God could be ornery, angry and demanding. But He’s not. Our God looked at all his creation and saw that it was very good. He loves us in spite of our faults, in spite of our wrongdoings, and that’s the best gift of all.

Thanksgiving should be more than a day – Thanksgiving should be 24/7!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Founding Pastor Michael Pilla leads us into the Advent Season.

"More God!"

Nov. 18, 2019 Monday Message:

“This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown (from heaven) down to the earth with all his angels.” Rev. 12:9 NLT

In case you don’t know, Satan is an angel gone bad, a fallen angel. And sort of like the Pauli Exclusion Principle, which states (simplified) that two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time, there can be no evil in the presence of God – only good stuff. Therefore Satan and his supporters were cast down to earth. The bad news is that now WE have to contend with them.

Some people try to tough it out, to do battle with the devil. Oftentimes they don’t win.

I believe a better solution is, “More God!” When the Hebrew people wandered in the desert, a cloud would follow them around and from time to time descend on the tabernacle. This was the divine presence of God, the Shekina, a visible sign that God-the-Creator was still caring for His people.

As we witness revival from time to time, the prayer has always been that God would show up – praying for more God rather than praying for less evil.

Jesus taught us to pray that the Kingdom of Heaven, where God is in charge, would also come to earth. Pray that God would make “up there” come “down here.” Pray for “More God!”

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll talk about Thanksgiving and the goodness of God. See you at church!

Dead Man Walking!

Nov. 11, 2019 Monday Message:

Jesus speaking: “Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” John 11:25b NLT

At the home of Mary and Martha, their brother Lazarus was dead – really dead! He’d been dead long enough that his body was wrapped, prepared for burial and placed in a tomb. Guest were crying, wailing, mourning. They put on ashes and tore their clothes. Lazarus had been dead for four days.

Jesus had been summoned, but it’s like he was dragging his feet. When he heard of the illness of Lazarus, Jesus didn’t even leave for two more days. He says this is for the glory of God, so that everyone will understand who He is.

Arriving at their house, Jesus prayed in a loud voice so that everyone could learn! Jesus claimed, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” Then Jesus asked Martha if she believed this – but that question should be for all of us. Do you believe what Jesus said?

Dead Lazarus lived once again; everybody present witnessed it!

Jesus himself conquered sin and death on the same day – as a free gift for mankind! Without resurrection and life after this life, there’s no point to our theology. You too can receive Jesus’ gift – forgiveness of all sin and life after this life - if you believe!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Pilla teaches about the prophecies concerning Jesus.

Worship

Nov. 4, 2019 Monday Message:

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” Psalms 122:1 NKJV

Nowadays, a lot of people view attending church as some kind of requirement, as an obligation. One time when our service ran a little long, the Pastor’s 20-year-old son chastised me. “I’ve been in churches all my life, and church is supposed to be one hour – no more, no less!”

Not true! David regarded worship as an opportunity! He wrote songs, he wrote poems, he wrote prayers and he led others in worship of the Lord. He prayed in a loud voice, played the lyre and sang songs to the Lord. He danced before the Lord both before and after he was king. We need to remember that David was a part-time king, but a full-time worshiper!

I suspect that with David as your Worship Leader, church wouldn’t end after one hour. It would end when David had expended all his energy in worship of the Lord. But he was going to stay for a good while afterwards, praying, and you’re welcome to join him. After all, if God shows up, you don’t want to leave early and miss it!

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll look at the resurrection of mankind, and how that looks for us, 1 Cor. 15:35-58. See you at church!

The Good Shepherd

Oct. 21, 2019 Monday Message:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalms 23:1 NKJV

This leads to the question, “Want WHAT?”

At the top of our list should be, “I don’t want any other shepherd, any other God.” ‘God is good’ is more than just words in a song. God will see that you have everything you need, but of course NOT everything that you want.

43 times God said that he will be our God and we can be his people! God is like a rock, and he doesn’t change his mind or go back on his word. If God wants us to be ‘his people,’ that’s forever!

Our ministry frequently connects us with people battling addictions. And because of the chemical use, they may have lost their house, their car and their family. But now they’re in a treatment program. They have a room, a warm bed, clean clothes and three meals a day. When it seemed like they had lost everything, God still had his hand on the situation.

Sometimes you have to do your part, hold up your end of the deal. If you want supper, God might get you a job. YOU have to show up, do good work, collect the paycheck and visit a grocery store. And voilà, you have supper!

Many Christians have a ‘before’ story and an ‘after’ story, and pretty much all agree that life is way better when following the Good Shepherd.

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM – YIKES! It’s Daylight Savings time! We’ll look at the Resurrection of Jesus and what that means for us, 1 Cor. 15:12-34. See you at church!

Peacemakers

Oct. 21, 2019 Monday Message:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matt. 5:9 NIV

This scripture points to reconciliation. For example, if there was a disagreement or conflict – between you and someone else, or between 2 parties where you’re the mediator – and you reach an agreement to put the issue behind you and restore the relationship, that’s reconciliation. And reconciliation replaces conflict with peace.

In our spiritual walk, we must first reconcile with God. Toward that goal, Jesus is the Great Peacemaker, reconciling mankind’s relationship with the Father by paying the price for our sins. When our relationship with the Father is restored, our inherent state of conflict is replaced with peace. “Shalom” was the standard greeting in Jesus’ day, which translates, “peace to you.” The shalom greeting also includes good health, lack of conflict, abundance, oneness with God, and prosperity, but most of all, peace.

Since we now have a relationship with Jesus, we can share the Good News with others, making disciples of all nations, helping others reconcile their relationship with God. We have been so blessed by what Jesus did for us that we feel compelled to pass it on. We become conflict-resolvers, “peacemakers,” children of God! Shalom!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Paul summarizes Jesus’ walk on earth, Good News for us all! Founding Pastor Michael Pilla teaches from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11.

Pray Continually

Oct. 14, 2019 Monday Message:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess. 5:16-18 NIV

Construction workers left our backyard gate open last Friday, and our little Boston Terrier Gracie went missing. This isn’t a good thing – Gracie is an indoor lap dog who has no business sleeping outside, and it was just starting to snow. She has a fur coat, but it’s not very thick. We posted on all the “lost dog” web pages, but no results, so she spent Friday and Saturday nights outdoors.

On Sunday morning I went to church while my wife stayed home to put up “lost dog’ posters. At church I told everyone what had happened, and before the service, as the Worship Team gathered in prayer, a few people prayed that Gracie would come home to us. In a way, it seems kind of silly. Shouldn’t we be praying for new Christians or World Peace or something of significance, not a lost dog? But I appreciated the kind thoughts, and have to admit that I too had prayed for Gracie’s return.

During our church service, the phone in my pocket vibrated – my wife texted that Gracie was home, safe and sound! As my wife finished with the lost dog posters, someone pulled up in front of our house and asked, “Is this your dog?” She wouldn’t come in, and refused the reward money. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not!

I later found out that our grandson Mason, who lives near Mexico City, prayed at breakfast that Gracie would come home to us. Which prayer worked? Perhaps ALL of them!

God has all the time in the world. He can answer big prayers, little prayers and even prayers about seemingly insignificant matters. God just wants you to talk to him – He desires a relationship with you - He wants to be included in your daily life. No detail is too small.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We welcome the tour from New Hope Center. Guest Speaker Dan Pilla teaches Biblical financial freedom - Parable of the Talents.

Apostles/Disciples

Oct. 7, 2019 Monday Message:

“You, then, are to go and make disciples of all the nations and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you…” from Matt. 28:18-20 JBP

Today, “disciple” means follower of a teacher, leader or philosopher. Discussing the Bible, we tend to use ‘disciple’ and ‘apostle’ interchangeably, although the true meanings are slightly different. 2,000 years ago, “disciple” simply meant, “student.” The Greek “mathetes” is a compound word: the mental effort needed to think something through; and a leaner or student. That’s a disciple – one who learns from the teacher.

An “apostle” is the one sent to deliver those teachings to others. The apostle is a messenger, in this case, bringing the Good News (Gospel) to all nations. Just as angels bring heavenly messages, apostles spread the message of salvation to their students, their disciples.

So in Matthew 28, Jesus is empowering all the “apostles” to go forth and make more “disciples.” This is why we do what we do!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Founding Pastor Michael Pilla opens up 1 Cor. 14:1-19.

Excellence vs Perfectionism

Sept. 30, 2019 Monday Message:

Doing Kingdom work with excellence honors God and inspires people, but being a nit-picking perfectionist is a sin.

Perhaps we can define ‘excellence’ as ‘each person doing the best they can do.’ The Carnegie Hall pianist and the Church pianist will probably exhibit different levels of competence, but each should be doing his/her best.

Sometimes the challenge is matching the right talent to the right task. A hobby-level guitarist probably shouldn’t serve on the Worship Team in the big room for the main service. But we DO need people to lead folk songs around the campfire. And elementary students love to sing simple songs. We need to find the task that’s the best fit for a person’s talent and skill-level.

If a person is learning a new job and they’ve reached a point where they’re ‘pretty good’ at it, we need to put them in the game. They may not be perfect yet, but their skills will increase as they acclimate to the position.

If you’re leading a Bible study group, there will come a time when MOST of the class will understand MOST of the teaching. You’ll know when. And then for the sake of the entire class, it’s time to move on, knowing you’ve done your best.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. This week founding Pastor Michael Pilla looks at 1 Cor. 14:1-19 – Tongues and Prophesy.

Body of Believers

Sept. 23, 2019 Monday Message:

Paul writing to the Corinthian Church: “If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how could you smell anything?” 1 Cor. 12:17 NLT

Just like the human body, our body of believers is made up of many different parts. The Spirit has given us different spiritual gifts and talents, and we are called to put those varied talents to work for the kingdom.

Your talents are different from my talents, and the kingdom is better with us all. The saying, “Our strength is in our diversity,” rings especially true here.

The Bible says that we have all been entrusted with at least one spiritual gift; some are given with several. We are given these spiritual gifts so that we can share our talent with the kingdom. It’s kind of like tithing. Nowadays most of us earn money, and we’re expected to render a certain portion of that to further the kingdom. In the same way, the Spirit has entrusted us with spiritual gifts and talents, and God expects us to put some of that to work for His Kingdom too.

Pastor Rick Warren – “Purpose-driven Rick,” says that a non-serving Christian is a contradiction in terms. So what are your talents that you can share with your fellow believers?

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. This week founding Pastor Michael Pilla looks at 1 Cor. 12:12-31.