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.