Citizens of Heaven!

For Sunday, September 24, 2023:

Philippians 2:5 NLT: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Just becoming a Christian isn’t the end of change in our lives. We need to also be intentional about living like Jesus lived. Paul writes about love, fellowship, compassion and tender hearts. He counsels the church in Philippi to agree wholeheartedly with one another and to work together with one mind and purpose. Get on the same page, y’all! Being selfish is off limits, and don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought. Caring for others should be high on your agenda.

Last Friday I live-streamed a message for Jesus In the City Fellowship, where I challenged viewers to picture heaven in their mind’s eye, asking, “What does it look like,” and, “What are the people doing?” Turns out they were all nice, helpful and loving their neighbors. They had smiles on their faces and a good attitude in their hearts. And Paul is counseling believers everywhere to live like citizens of heaven.

My best advice is to live like Jesus lived! Blessings as we worship today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Citizens of Heaven!

For Sunday, October 23, 2022:

Philippians 3:20 NLT: “We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.”

Paul is writing to the believers in Philippi. Paul must have been a charismatic individual. People liked him and wanted to spend time alongside him. Paul would explain that he was starting a church based on Jesus the Messiah, and people would show up without yet being clear on all the theology. Paul would teach and later write letters to clarify details and get the believers back on track. These letters are our Epistles in the Bible.

Those who put their faith, hope and trust in Jesus the Christ become citizens of heaven. We are adopted as “children of God,” with all the rights and privileges of any heir. Jesus said he would return to the Father and prepare a place for us. Jesus only spoke the truth, so we have every reason to believe that this is so!

There’s a room in heaven with your name on the door!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Citizens of Heaven

Aug. 26, 2019 Monday Message:

“We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.” Phil. 3:20a

Mankind has claimed, negotiated for and oftentimes fought wars over ownership of a piece of land. Israel claims their country’s land because God gave it to them; the Palestinians say they were there first. This dispute has gone on more than 3,000 years, and continues to this day.

The border between the United States and Mexico has been in the news a lot lately. It’s just a jagged line drawn on a map, drawn by mankind, and a lot of residents in the region wish it wasn’t there. They have friends, relatives and employment opportunities on both sides of the line. Free back-and-forth access would improve the lives of a lot of people, yet we spend millions enforcing the man-made line, with no end in sight.

Believers have a better deal. Paul teaches that believers can think of themselves as “Citizens of Heaven,” and if we are “Citizens of Heaven,” then we are just resident aliens visiting earth. Suddenly borders don’t matter so much. In heaven, US believers and Mexican believers may have adjacent rooms – who knows?

Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it’s not yet the end! God is still in charge!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla opens up Philippians Ch. 4 on this holiday weekend. Welcome Guest Worship Leader David Boeltl.