Koinonia!

For Tuesday, April 6, 2021

1 John 1:3 NLT: “We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”

John is the consummate eye-witness of all things “Jesus.” He writes of “koinonia,” which is translated here as ‘fellowship.’ John explains that you can be a part of Christian fellowship even if you don’t know or understand all the little details yet. Celebrate what you know, and don’t fret over what you don’t know. You can learn more later. But you can be included right now!

Acts 2:44 explains, “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common.” Some had known Jesus throughout his ministry; some were new converts. But ALL the believers now had fellowship with one another and with the Lord – koinonia. Each person had made a conscious decision to do life alongside the others. Their shared hope included everyone!

Blessings to all today! Stay safe!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Community of Believers

May 11, 2015 Monday Message:

“They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Acts 2:42

We attend churches, and those people become our church family. We meet in our home church, and home is where when you go there, they have to let you in. When the church is working right, all the people are doing life together.

Police, judges, courts, governments and legislators are “reactive.” They can react when there’s a problem, but they do little to prevent the problem in the first place, and their actions are a stopgap measure, not a long-term solution.

But the Church can be “proactive,” setting standards that keep people away from life’s problems, BEFORE they get in trouble. Church comes with a built-in value system.

The Bible teaches that church members should love each other as Jesus loves us. It’s “everlasting lovingkindness,” compassion and total forgiveness.

Anyone is welcome to join the voluntary Christian Community, and the greatest gift we can give someone is to include them in our Church family. We welcome others out of gratitude for what Jesus did for us.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, May 17, Pastor Michael Pilla continues in Acts 20.

Community of Believers

June 30, 2014 Monday Message:

“Everyday God added to their number those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47b JBP

Following Simon-Peter’s persuasive altar call on Pentecost (Acts 2,) the early church had to work out some details. With 3,000 new members, how were they going to “do” church?

First, they stuck with basics. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and prayer. The Bible says that everyone was in awe because many miracles, signs and wonders were taking place.

But our new believers took things a step further. Many sold their property and possessions and divided the proceeds among the fellowship according to need. Jesus had said, “Love your neighbor,” which they interpreted as, “Take care of your neighbor,” and they brought life to this principle.

This new church had become the centerpiece of their lives. They met in the Temple and prayed together, ate meals together, and in fact had formed an entire “community” of believers. It’s a compelling model, then and now.

They were filled with joy, and the rest of Jerusalem looked up to them. And God added to their number daily.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday, at 10:30am, in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week I’ll wrap up Acts 2 as we discuss the new community of believers.