Believers!

For Sunday, September 6, 2026:

Acts 4:4 NLT: “Many of the people who heard Peter and John’s message believed them, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.”

Peter and John had been arrested and jailed for preaching the truth about Jesus. Nonetheless, many people believed them and the number of believers grew to about 5,000 men. Only counting the men was like counting “families,” as most men were married and had at least two children. So this probably represents about 20K people, thereby leaving a significant hole in the Temple’s population.

Previously, the Pharisees and Temple leaders ran everything. All the Jewish people and their tithes automatically went to the Temple. But with these kind of numbers, Jesus and his followers posed a serious affront to both the Temple’s power and its pocketbook.

I believe that Christianity was never supposed to be a new, separate religion. After all, Jesus was raised Jewish. His arrival should have been the next chapter. Instead, the desire for power and the love of money got in the way. Many of those who loved God wouldn’t accept the Son of God!

The life of Jesus is well documented in the four Gospels. If you only consider healings and raising of the dead, it would be hard not to believe that Jesus was heaven-sent. His other miracles serve to reinforce the truth we’ve already learned.

Christianity grows through attraction, so today is always the best day to invite someone to join you for worship. Everyone deserves to know the truth!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

The Golden Rule!

For Sunday, August 16, 2026:

Luke 6:29, 31 NLT, Jesus speaking: “If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”

Jesus is throwing his support behind the Golden Rule, a philosophy found in Confucianism and Egyptian and Greek teachings. More importantly, it’s the way God Almighty wants us to treat one another. “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”

Back then, If a Roman soldier asked for help carrying his shield or weapons, you were required to do that for one mile. Jesus’ advice is to carry the items two miles, what we call going the extra mile. Go above and beyond what is asked of you. If someone wants your coat, give them your shirt too. Do a better job than is required. Do a little bit extra to make the world a better place for everyone.

Following the crucifixion, the first Christian church was known as “The Way.” That church grew by attraction. Observers could clearly observe a group that loved one another and shared generously. It was a new way of living; it seemed good and people wanted to become a part of it.

Nowadays, churches are still called to improve life here on earth. Each body of believers is unique and should take on projects as God inspires their hearts. Following the example of Jesus, churches are seldom about improving their own lot. We are to “do to others.” We can then share with them the greatest gift of all, the forgiveness of our sins through the sacrifice of Jesus. Our churches still grow through attraction!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Love!

For Saturday, February 14, 2026:

John 13:34-35 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

"They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love.” We’ve all heard the song. Loving one another seems like a good idea, but did you realize that this is a command issued by the one who saves us?

2K years ago, the prevailing attitude was to look out for #1. But the followers of Jesus were different. They looked out for each other. They were kind to their neighbors, even to those who weren’t following the Messiah. This command of Jesus was a new and innovative way of living. It was more gentle and helpful to others. It was doing the next right thing. People liked what they saw and wanted to join. This helped the early church grow through attraction.

The government at the time was the Roman Empire. Rome did nothing to help the people. Citizens had to help each other. The Roman army had two things on its agenda: keeping peace in the region and loyalty to Caesar. Christians were pretty quiet about their dislike for Caesar, and exceeded expectations for keeping peace. So for the most part, the army left Christians alone. Their love for one another meant that they did not fuel conflict in Israel.

So do what Jesus did. Be nice, be kind, be helpful and do the next right thing. These aren’t just good ideas. These are commands from the mouth of Jesus. Out of love for what Jesus did for mankind, we should obey, keeping his commands high on our agenda. In the end, it works out better for everyone. If we love our neighbors, they’re more likely to love us in return!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Defenders!

For Tuesday, April 23, 2024:

Philippians 1:27-28a NLT: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.”

Paul teaches that “whatever happens,” we should uphold the value system given to us by Jesus. But the reality is that trouble will probably come, and people in high places will oppose you. Being a champion for Christ won’t be easy.

Remember that Paul was writing this from his prison cell. His crime was preaching the Gospel, and here he is encouraging others to do the same. For them, it may also be a rocky road. (To be forewarned is to be prepared!)

Each believer should be perpetually prepared to be an apologist, a defender of the Gospel. This is about standing up for Jesus, now the main thing in our lives. Any consequences for us are secondary, relatively unimportant to God’s big picture. God will care for those who believe in his Son, either here on earth or in the hereafter. Paul could make a case for living, and a case for dying. Living, he could do more work for the Kingdom. Dying, he’d see Jesus sooner. Paul left that decision in God’s hands.

If we’re believers and still living, we should be clearly recognizable as Christians. We should love our neighbors, show kindness, share our assets, be helpful, and do the next right thing. Observers should be able to assess our behavior, and say with certainty, “Those are Christians!” Christianity’s number will increase through attraction. People will like what they see, and want to experience it themselves. Welcome them with open arms!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Become a Disciple!

October 9, 2023 Monday Message:

Mark 2:14 NLT: “As Jesus walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.”

The Roman army had conquered the Hebrew people, and they were not happy about it. Unless you were a Roman citizen, life was miserable under Roman rule, and here was this guy, tax collector Levi, a Jew working for the bad guys. Everyone despised tax collectors, but as it turns out, Levi was dissatisfied with his life. He was looking for a change. Most people in the region had heard of Jesus and all the healings and miracles. So when Jesus issued the simple invitation, Levi made his decision for Christ! We know him as Matthew, an Apostle of Jesus whose name is on the first book of the New Testament!

Making a decision for Jesus can be that simple. If the Christian community is doing things right, others will like what they see and want to become a part of it. That’s the way the first church, The Way, grew. Christianity grows best by attraction. If people don’t like what they see, all the evangelizing in the world won’t convince them.

Therefore we should endeavor to model our lives after our Savior, showing love and kindness and being helpful to others. Shine the light of Jesus into the world, and the world will gather at the light!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Confidence in God!

For Friday, September 29, 2023:

Psalm 55:16 NIV: “As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me.”

David was declaring his confidence in the Lord. Although his life consisted of one crisis after another, God would time-after-time rescue him. Others would see God rescue David from impossible situations, so then they would want to learn about David’s God.

This is how the original church, The Way, grew by leaps and bounds. People saw kindness and love, people caring for one another. They liked what they saw and wanted to learn about it and become a part of that community.

If your home church is not attracting others, you can be a part of the solution. We should live our lives following the example of Jesus, and that love, caring and kindness will draw others in. They will want what we have!

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Jesus is the Answer!

July 12, 2021 Monday Message

Matthew 4:24 NLT: “News about Jesus spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all.”

Friends, Jesus is the answer! No matter the problem, the sickness, the disease - whether it’s physical illness or the result of demonic activity – the answer is the same: Jesus! Or if there’s a problem in your government – laws, persecution, lack of justice – the answer is the same. Pray about it, and then turn the whole thing over to Jesus. Like the old saying says, “Let go and let God!”

2k years ago, people witnessed the healings and then spread the word about Jesus. Others responded to their witnessing. While Christianity traditionally grows through attraction, no one will be attracted to it if they don’t know about it. That’s why we need to do what people did in Jesus’ day – we need to proactively communicate the Good News! Tell the world that Jesus is the answer. Let them know how well it worked for us!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406