Trials and Tribulations!

For Saturday, November 29, 2025:

Romans 5:3-4 NLT: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”

“Thank you, Lord, for these problems in my life!” Somehow that prayer doesn’t seem to make sense. Shouldn’t being one of the faithful give us a better life, protect us from problems? The logical answer is ‘yes,’ but that’s not how life works.

 If we have conquered a problem in the past, we’ll have God-given experience in dealing with it. We’ll recognize the same issue if it crops up again and know how to proceed. Our experience can help others battling similar demons. Case in point: Most alcohol and drug counselors are themselves in addiction recovery. Similarly, people undergoing cancer treatments form small groups to support one another through brutal therapy. Being kind and helpful, i.e. loving our neighbors, is what Jesus told us to do.

With a Christian viewpoint, we can change life’s biggest problems into valuable Kingdom assets, and the world will be a better place! Salvation awaits the faithful!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

 

Jesus' True Words!

October 6, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 20:17b NLT, Jesus, quoting Psalm 118:22: “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”

Last Sunday, our preacher stated that the death of a martyr often triggers a revival or a revolution. When Jesus was about to face death, He was rejected by all those who should have been his biggest supporters: Priests, Bible teachers, Pharisees and Temple leaders. His (Father’s) foundational principles became the cornerstone of The Way, which became Christianity, the world’s largest religion with 2.3B followers. Turns out that it’s best to NOT reject Jesus!

Any gods prior to Jesus (and his Father) were fictitious, made-up gods. Back then, you could buy a god-statuette – even a nice silver one – at the local market, bring it home and put it up on your mantle. And what you had was a nice decoration, not any kind of a real God. Jesus performed healings and miracles that were well documented. Jesus even raised a few people from the dead, notably Lazarus, the Centurion’s son and the Widow’s Son. After Jesus, there was a significant decrease in fictitious gods, because Jesus’ actions were factually recorded.

Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” Every word Jesus said has proven to be true, and this statement is no exception. People who say that all religions lead to heaven are wrong.

Other examples: Martin Luther was trying to get his denomination back to the Bible. He nailed his list of issues to the church door in Wittenberg. He used Gutenberg’s printing method to publish the Bible in his native language. He was never trying to break away from the church or to start a new religion. But when he passed, his followers continued the work, calling themselves “Lutherans,” and Protestant Christianity was born.

In 1964, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. He continued on that path while preaching Jesus until his demise. When he was assassinated in 1968, the Civil Rights movement went into high gear. The protests, marches and positive changes increased. His efforts changed our country forever.

I always try to keep these messages non-political. Our topic is Jesus, not politics. But I couldn’t help but notice the many references to Jesus and forgiveness as the news covered Charlie Kirk’s memorial service. Perhaps Jesus will serve as the common denominator to draw our nation back together. Perhaps we will love one another once again! After all, that’s what Jesus said to do!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Arrested!

For Thursday, October 2, 2025:

Mark 14:46 NLT: “Then a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs grabbed Jesus and arrested him.”

The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders had been planning Jesus’ demise for quite some time. They didn’t want to arrest Jesus in the Temple. It would seem wrong. It would look bad if a temple teacher were arrested. “Keep police action out of our worship space!”

One of Jesus’ defenders produced a sword and sliced off an ear of the High Priest’s slave. Jesus restored the ear, to which I would say, “Look at what just happened. The man you’re arresting can heal whatever’s wrong and cure any disease! Perhaps we should rethink this!”

But without knowing it, the Pharisees were fulfilling God’s plan. The blood of Jesus was to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. Mankind would thereby be redeemed. It would be a rough couple of days for Jesus, but after that, his mission would be complete. (“It is finished!”)

Jesus would have to walk through the fire by himself. (50) “All his disciples deserted him and ran away.” God was keeping them safe. If they stayed close to Jesus, they too would have been killed as accomplices. But God was counting on the disciples to function as leaders of “The Way,” the new Christian church! They needed to be preserved!

The church that the disciples established still exists nowadays, with many franchised locations. We worship at one each week. Thankfully, God had the disciples temporarily step back. When Jesus rose from the grave, they regrouped and came back stronger than ever. 2K years later, people are still signing up for the Jesus team!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Father, Son, Spirit!

For Sunday, August 3, 2025:

Hebrews 6:10 NLT: “God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.”

Think of the book of Hebrews as a Bible teacher instructing new converts. They believe, but aren’t up to speed on everything yet. Basic principles about Christian theology are missing in their database, but, being Hebrews, they are familiar with God. Teaching Hebrew people is easier than teaching a pagan group, where you have to start from square one, creation!

Just my opinion: I believe God’s plan of sending Jesus to Earth to redeem mankind was intended to be the next chapter of Judaism, not a completely separate religion. After all, we didn’t switch Gods, although Christian eyes were opened to recognize Jesus as God’s Son and the Holy Spirit as our advocate. The Bible says that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, so our God has always been a Triune God. John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus was present at creation, and Genesis 1:2 says that the Spirit of the Lord moved over the waters of Creation. That Triune God is who we worship!

We expect our God to be fair and honest, and he won’t let us down. If we obediently love the Lord and love our neighbors, God has an eternal reward for us. The Son has prepared a place for the faithful in the hereafter. But let me be clear. Our redemption comes from our loyalty to the Son, not from our good works. But good works are typical for a committed follower of Jesus!

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Count the Cost!

For Tuesday, July 8, 2025:

Luke 14:28a NLT, Jesus speaking: “Don’t begin (following me) until you count the cost.”

Disciples of Jesus don’t come and go. They come and stay. Accepting Jesus as your Savior, as Lord of your life, is a forever decision. So before you climb aboard, be certain you understand the cost.

Personally, I’m blessed, fortunate that my parents knew Jesus and brought me to church. My spouse was raised attending church. It’s easier to be a Christian yourself when everything is harmonious.

However, those coming from different countries or religions have a much more challenging row to hoe. They may find themselves at odds with friends and/or family. Therefore, their new Christian friends will be instrumental in cementing their decision.

Jesus says that only a fool would lay out a foundation but lack the funds to complete the building. So if you’re choosing to get on the Jesus train, be prepared to ride it to the end of the line. There’ll be plenty to do along the way!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Jealous God!

For Sunday, March 2, 2025:

Exodus 34:12 NLT: God, speaking to Moses: “Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped.”

God decided to settle the Hebrew people in Israel. God’s decision. A Rabbi once told me, “It’s our land. God gave it to us!”

Of course the people previously living in the land weren’t happy with God’s decision, and we’ve witnessed conflict in the Middle East for over 3k years. Those people worshiped other gods and made idols. God said, “You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.” Remember the covenant: “I will be your God, and you will be my people.” God sees this relationship as a marriage. If some other god is worshiped, our God considers that adultery!

God knows his people, their weaknesses and their trends. If they were to intermarry with the locals, idols could be brought into their homes. If they shared a meal sacrificed to a false god, they would be supporting that god. God’s people were told to, “Break down their pagan altars, smash their sacred pillars, and cut down their Asherah poles.“ Our Creator-God has no patience for other-god stuff.

Nowadays we must tread carefully. If we are called to “make disciples of all nations,” we must have some interaction with nonbelievers. But we need to have our feet firmly planted in a Christian community that then sends us to evangelize, and to which we can safely return. We are not to join with the pagans, but they are welcome to worship our God, the jealous God!

Acknowledging our God as the only God isn’t negotiable; it’s a fact; it’s truth. Through His Son Jesus, he’s willing to forgive our past and include us in his eternal Kingdom. Hope to see you there!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Baby Christians!

For Wednesday, August 28, 2024:

1 John 2:13b NLT: “I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one.”

Here’s the problem: A lot of sin is short-term fun. If it wasn’t fun, nobody would be doing those things. But the reality is that sin is long-term pain, something to be avoided at all costs.

As people become new believers, remember that they’ve been fighting an extreme battle with the evil one. Surviving that encounter is commendable. And winning that battle is cause for celebration! It’s a dividing line in our lives. After Jesus, everything will be different. Everything will be better!

We should celebrate with new believers, and then help them mature. It’s not good for them to remain baby Christians forever. They could become our future leaders who go on to teach truth to many others!

God bless the young in faith and those who mentor them!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Disciples!

For Saturday, June 8, 2024:

1 Peter 2:1 NLT: “Get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.”

As ‘fishers of men,’ most effort seems to be focused on the ‘catch.’ Evangelists have been sent to catch (convert) a many more Christians, and some are quite good at it! But if you catch a real fish, it’s worthless until you clean it! Catching new Christians doesn’t do them or us much good until they’re cleaned!

I’ve said before that loving your neighbor was a foreign concept to most people. They were mainly concerned with looking our for #1. But now that they’re Christians, loving God and loving our neighbors should move up on our agenda.

Becoming a Christian is more than receiving a heavenly ticket. We should also look like Christians and act like Christians. Our Christian faith needs to be recognizable. If our love for others isn’t visible, how will anyone be able to identify us?

So catch ‘em, but also clean ‘em and teach ‘em. Becoming a Christian is a lot more than simply reciting a short prayer you found in Billy Graham literature! Jesus said that we are to make disciples of all nations. Not just make Christians, but make true disciples. Equip them to love the Lord and to love their neighbors!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Forever!

For Wednesday, June 5, 2024:

1 Peter 1:23 NLT: “For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.”

When you became a Christian – when Jesus occupied a permanent place in your life – everything changed! Your eternal destination changed from the lake of fire to eternity in the presence of the Lord! Instead of just looking out for #1, we were taught to love and care for our fellows. We were taught to share! Widows and orphans became our friends, friends who could count on Christians when they needed help!

When we became Christians, our life span transformed from earthly days to forever days in the Kingdom that never ends. We have Assurance of Salvation, a reservation on the inside of heaven. Jesus said so!

Pretend that you’re an orphan with nothing in this world, and suddenly you’re adopted into the best family ever! Wow – big transformative change! The Holy Family wants to include you – in everything!

When Jesus taps you on the shoulder, say “Yes!”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Christians First!

For Tuesday, April 30, 2024:

Philippians 3:3 NLV: “The act of becoming a Jew has nothing to do with us becoming Christians. We worship God through His Spirit and are proud of Jesus Christ. We have no faith in what we ourselves can do.”

At the time the resurrected Jesus ascended back to the Father, there was no New Testament. It hadn’t been written yet. Those who ministered with Jesus eventually documented what He said and what we should do. But that comes much later.

At that time, those who ministered with Jesus were all Jews who became followers of Christ, hence “Christians.” When they shared the Good News with their friends, those friends were converted Jews as well. So the mistaken notion developed that one needed to first become a Jew to eventually become a Christian. Not so fast!

It was Jesus himself who personally called Paul to itinerant ministry all over Asia Minor. Paul was put in charge of sharing the Good News with Gentiles, the non-Jews. Paul told everyone he met about Jesus – right away! There was no middle step of becoming a Jew first. After considerable prayer and consulting with the Jerusalem elders, the matter was settled. You did NOT have to first become a Jew in order to become a Christian!

God wants people who worship in truth and in spirit. The truth part is obvious, but our spirit needs to also connect with the Lord’s spirit. Each of us needs to accept the free gift offered by Jesus, eternal salvation in the presence of the Father.

By ourselves, no salvation is accomplished; but with God and his Son, everything is possible!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Marriage!

For Wednesday, April 24, 2024:

Colossians 3:18-19 NLT: “18: Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. 19: Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.”

In my experience, these two verses take the #1 spot for creating angst in the reader. Usually the problem is lifting one verse out of context without considering the other. But just like a marriage requires two people, these two verses describing a Christian marriage are designed to fit together.

Let’s get one thing straight: Submission doesn’t imply slavery. Submission means you are part of a group, part of a team. Both husband and wife have agreed to play on the family team. So if the family is a team, the husband is the “designated leader” of the team, but only because the wife grants him that position. The wife has her place alongside the “leader,” and the children have their place in relation to the leader and the wife.

The wife enjoys being on the team because she is loved by her husband who treats her well, who respects her. The Christian husband puts his wife up on a pedestal, and seeing her there brings him joy! The two love one another “as is fitting in the Lord.”

God invented this partnership, so we know that it works!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Mission!

For Friday, March 08, 2024:

Isaiah 6:11 NLT, Isaiah, speaking with God: “Then Isaiah asked, ‘For how long, Lord?’”

Isaiah, now a prophet of God, had been given his first assignment. He was to call out Israel over their disobedience, hence their impending doom. Israel had scriptures but never bothered to open the book. God, who had rescued them and given them the promised land, no longer held a place on their agenda.

God had warned Isaiah ahead of time that no one would listen to his preaching. Sounds like a dismal assignment. But our take-away from this should be that when God says ‘Get going,’ we should do just that: Get up and get going! We shouldn’t question the mission or the reasoning behind it if the instructions came from the Lord. We should be living out God’s will for us!

If you’re a Christian, God’s laws are written on your heart. And Jesus said the most important things are to love the Lord and love your neighbor. If you love the Lord, hang out with his people sometimes. Show up at church. And if you love your neighbor, you have to interact with them also. That way we can all share the Good News!

When God lays a mission at our feet, our response should be, “Here am I; send me!”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship