Believe!

April 6, 2026, Monday Message:

John 20:27 NLT: “Then Jesus said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!’”

On the cross, Jesus himself said, “It is finished.” The mission trip to planet Earth was complete. Sins had been paid for and forgiven, and the barrier between God and mankind had been torn, top to bottom. The only thing left to do would be to make sure everyone understands what just happened. The crucified Jesus had been brought back to life, proving that death is not the end! Both sin and death had been conquered!

No one had ever seen anything like this before, so explaining the miracle proved more difficult than it might first appear. Among the doubters was Thomas, who had not been present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples. “Come over here. Look at my hands! Put your hand into my side, where the spear was. Let your own two eyes guide your faith! Believe!”

Jesus also needed to let as many people as possible learn the truth of what had taken place. So he continued to teach, to speak publicly and heal those who needed healing. The man who everyone saw die on the cross was up, out of the tomb, walking around and carrying on conversations. He was a miracle that everyone could see with their own two eyes!

Over 2,000 years later, we’re still talking about it. Check it out for yourself. Read the testimony of the eyewitnesses. Then Jesus told Thomas, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” So friends, believe in your heart. Your eternal destiny depends on it!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Kingdom!

For Wednesday, March 4, 2026:

John 14:3 NLT, Jesus speaking about our next life in the Kingdom: “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.“

Jesus said he would prepare a place for loyal believers, and when that’s ready, he’ll meet us with open arms as we transition to the next reality. At that time, it might have seemed like a lot was going wrong around Jesus. But he’s not worried, and he doesn’t want the believers to worry either. It’s all going to work out for the best!

Think about it. If Jesus hadn’t been betrayed, he wouldn’t have been arrested. Without the arrest, there would have been no mock trial in the kangaroo court where he was found guilty and eventually crucified. We usually think of death as a bad thing, but this time Jesus took the sins of the world to the place of the dead, and mankind was given a fresh start! With our sins forgiven, we could once again seek residence in God’s eternal heavenly Kingdom! You see, everything that happened was part of God’s vast eternal plan!

It all played out exactly as Jesus knew it would, a series of illogical steps in exactly the right order that allowed God’s plan to come to fruition. God knows exactly what he’s doing, wouldn’t you say?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Satan: God's Pawn!

For Thursday, November 6, 2025:

John 14:30b-31a NLT, Jesus speaking: “The ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.”

Jesus knows his time on earth is drawing to a close. It’s nearly time for him to return to the Father. He calls Satan the “ruler of this world,” which seems odd. We all know that ultimately, God is in charge of everything. Therefore, God will allow Satan to rule the world only as long as it meets his purpose. Satan will poison the heart of Judas Iscariot as he betrays Jesus, thereby setting God’s plan in motion.

Here’s what God had Judas instigate. Jesus was betrayed, arrested, tried and crucified. On the cross, the sins of the world were heaped upon sinless Jesus. He was to take those sins to the place of the dead and leave them there. That way, mankind, forgiven and now appearing sinless, could join believers in the life after this life. God’s eternal Kingdom, Heaven, could be the forever home for all who call Jesus “Lord.”

God knew that mankind would succumb to Satan’s temptations. But God’s desire is that none would perish, that all would repent and return. So in advance, he planned for mankind’s rescue. He did for us what we are not able to do for ourselves.

God is good to us, far better than we deserve!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Good Friday!

For Good Friday, April 18, 2025:

John 19:6 NLT: “When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Today, we remember the day Jesus was crucified. The previous night, he was betrayed, arrested, denied, interrogated and flogged. He was declared innocent by Roman standards, but found guilty of Jewish Law for calling himself the Son of God. It was his own people, the priests and temple workers, who shouted, “Crucify him!”

On the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” That’s what it felt like at the time. Jesus had lived his life on earth perfectly, but now the sins of the world were heaped upon him. As he died, he took those sins of the world to the place of the dead and left them there. Jesus himself would be resurrected three days later.

This absence of sin allows mankind to spend eternity with Jesus and his Father. If we repent and return to the Lord, our sins can be forgiven, and we get to see heaven from the inside. This is a major plank in our theological platform.

With Jesus, everything will be OK!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Hope Eternal!

For Tuesday, September 13, 2022:

Mark 16:6 NLT: “But the angel said, ‘Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.’”

On the cross, Jesus took the sin of the world upon himself. Past sin, present sin, future sin – he took it all to the place of the dead, offering forgiveness and eternal salvation to all who would believe.

Though Jesus was crucified, declared dead by the Roman Centurions, three days later the tomb was empty. An angel told the women, “Jesus is not here! He is risen from the dead!” So with that one act, Jesus solved mankind’s problems of both sin and death.

As Jesus ascended, he left us with hope eternal!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Death Conquered!

For Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Acts 1:3 NLT: “During the forty days after he suffered and died, Jesus appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.”

The miracle is this: Eyewitnesses tell us that Jesus was crucified, died on the cross, and had a spear thrust into his side. His body was placed in a tomb. But three days later the tomb was empty, and eyewitnesses saw Jesus walking around, heard him speak, and even ate meals with him – for 40 more days!

Jesus told the believers to wait in Jerusalem until he sent the Holy Spirit. He talked about God’s Kingdom, and aren’t we all curious about God’s Kingdom? Jesus gave them spiritual support for their everyday lives, and hope for all eternity!

Yes, make no mistake: He is risen!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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