Servant Leadership!

 For Sunday, June 25, 2023:

Matthew 20:28 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus is explaining to the 12: “Among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.” This same principle applies to all Christians and is still valid nowadays.

It’s called Servant Leadership, leaders who genuinely care for their constituents. Benevolent leadership is rare; we hear about it mostly around churches, Bible studies and the name of Jesus. I pray we could hear it more in politics and in our government. I pray for other countries who don’t enjoy freedom.

Jesus put servant leadership into action as he gave his life to redeem mankind, paying the price for the sins of the world, the ultimate sacrifice.

The best reason to practice servant leadership is because that’s what Jesus did!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Psalms 72 more - Benevolent Leadership

December 05, 2016 Monday Message:

The job of a king, or any leader of a country, is to serve its citizens. A country runs more efficiently and is a safer place with good leadership – but it needs to be benevolent leadership.

Jesus was the prime example of benevolent leadership. With his connection to heaven, he could have forced everyone to bow down, but he did not.

Instead, with Jesus, the blind had their eyes opened, those who were in darkness came into the light, those who were far from God came closer to God. Those who needed food were fed, disease was washed away, dead were restored to life, and those who needed hope were shown the way to eternal life. In fact, Jesus himself became the sacrifice for the sins of the entire world, guaranteeing that anyone who would repent and follow him would get to see heaven from the inside!

Solomon writes of benevolent leadership in Psalms 72:12-14 “The king will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their lives in his eyes.” Of course Solomon is writing about himself, how he intends to lead Israel.

Our prayer is that every nation on earth would be led by God-ordained benevolent leaders. King, President, Prime Minister – someday they’ll ALL have to answer a much higher authority, one who values compassion.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am. This Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, Pastor Pilla celebrates Advent 3 – the story of Jesus’ arrival continues to unfold.

Land of the Free!

July 02, 2012 Monday Message:

“…the land of the free!” Francis Scott Key from the Star Spangled banner, 1814.

When the Lord brought the Hebrew people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, they were delivered from slavery. There was no more enforced compromise on their lives; they were free to practice their religion, free to worship their God, the creator.

But a harsh reality soon reared its ugly head: God’s people were not perfect, and with no leaders, there was no one to adjudicate conflicts. And there was no system in place to provide for their common defense.

So the Jews went to the Lord and begged, “Please, please, please can we have a king?”

In my mind, I picture God saying, “Those crazy Jews! After raising up Moses, demanding ‘Let my people go,’ all the plagues, Passover, parting of the Red Sea, wandering 40 years in the desert, I have finally assured their complete and total freedom. And now, after all that, it’s a king they want!”

Kings are not without their own issues. Saul started well but finished poorly. David started and ended well, but experienced a train wreck in the middle of his reign. Solomon is thought to be wise in some things, but not in his selection of 700 wives, including non-Jews who would tempt him away from God and lead to his downfall.

God knew the pros and cons of living under a king, but ultimately the good must have outweighed the bad, because God granted them a king.

This beings us to the concept of benevolent leadership, whereby the king, president or prime minister uses his political clout only for the benefit of the entire nation. In other words, there are no political agendas – just doing what’s best for the people.

As we celebrate July 4^th, our country’s birthday and the freedoms the U.S.A. represents, remember to include God. Thank him for the freedoms we enjoy, and pray for benevolent leaders here in the “land of the free!”

Norton Lawellin

This Sunday I’ll be teaching Galatians 3:26-4:11 (God sent his Son that we might be adopted…) - at Jesus in the City – the old location – lower level of Trinity First, 1115 E. 19^th St., Mpls., 11am.

We’re looking forward to July 29 – when Jesus in the City Sunday worship moves to the Oliver Ministry Center, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue. Note the new service time: 10:30am. Please pray for this huge new opportunity as God enlarges our territory!