Jesus the Socialite!

For Tuesday, May 26, 2026:

Luke 4:38-39a NLT: “Jesus went to Simon’s home, where he found Simon’s mother-in-law very sick with a high fever. ‘Please heal her,’ everyone begged. Standing at her bedside, he rebuked the fever, and it left her.”

Jesus is particularly good at setting things right, putting things back to their intended way, their intended purpose. Satan and his demons, on the other hand, are known for disruption, for sending situations and people in the wrong direction, well off their intended course. Just prior to this, Jesus had cast a demon out of a wild man, creating a ruckus in the Synagogue. The disciples were starting to believe that Jesus could do anything! Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sidelined with a severe fever, and Jesus was asked to intervene. A few words from the Son of God sent the fever on its way. Demons fear Jesus and his name, so the fever is quickly extinguished. Score “one” for Jesus!

Close friendship and a sense of community are benefits for Christians who live the way Jesus intends for us to live. Christians are meant to love one another and share generously. It’s not unusual for a good friend to do a favor for his/her brother or sister. So when Jesus was asked to help Simon’s mother-in-law, it was a given that he’d pitch in.

When Jesus walked on the Earth, he was a social creature, always visiting someone’s house, taking a meal with others, and hanging out with ‘the guys!’ Invite him into your house today. You might be surprised at all the good that could happen!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Philia = Friendship!

For Friday, October 4, 2024:

Hosea 6:4 NLT: “O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you?” asks the Lord. “For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight.”

God sounds exasperated! He’s been commanding the Jews to love one another for a few thousand years, and they still don’t get it. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” (from Leviticus 19:18)

It’s like frustrated parents, at their wits’ end with their child’s behavior, shouting the rhetorical question, “What am I going to do with you?!!!”

Here’s what God finally did. He sent his Son to earth to straighten things out, to prioritize the Father’s commands. Jesus clearly taught us to love God and to love our neighbors. This is what we call, “brotherly love.” It could just as well be, “sisterly love” too! This is being kind, being helpful and figuring out the next right thing to do. This kind of behavior isn’t just being nice; it’s honoring God!

To show his love for mankind, Jesus took the sins of the world upon himself, wiping our slates clean and giving us a shot at the hereafter. God is good!

Look for what you can do to honor God today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Church!

For Tuesday, April 2, 2024:

Colossians 1:2a NLT, to the church in Colosse from Paul and Timothy: “We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Early Christians were considered somewhat unusual. They didn’t fit in with the rest of society. Almost everyone else had a selfish “look out for #1” mentality. But these unconventional Christians shared their resources and loved everybody. How odd!

Epaphras was the Christian leader in their city, and he taught well. Followers of Jesus were “all in!” Believers frequently gave up businesses, homes and land, and donated the proceeds to the work of the church, helping spread the Good News! They had experienced unconditional love and friendship from their new Christian family! There was no going back; this was too good! They had made a decision to join up with these Christians. They liked what they saw, and chose to do life with these people. No one is ever sorry they made that decision!

Paul and Timothy wrote only the one letter to Colosse. It was assumed that all the Christians would be doing life together, and their one message would be heard by all.

At my church, following the Good Friday service, we all received an email from the lead pastor expressing gratitude for all the really good people in the congregation, people with whom we can live our lives. I believe God put us together, and each of us made a decision to stay.

I hope everyone reading this has a good church family that they can count on during life’s trials. God wants us to all experience fellowship!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

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

Friendship!

For Wednesday, August 16, 2023:

Romans 5:11 NLT: “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”

Did you ever have a friend, a really good friend, but something went awry and the friendship dissolved. But you miss your friend, so you forgive and compromise to rebuild and restore the friendship. When all is reassembled, we tend to value that special friendship even more, because it was once lost!

God has always loved his premier creation, mankind, but being good friends was out of the question because mankind was lost in sin. Jesus came to straighten things out. He carried our sin away, leaving us free to reestablish our friendship with the Lord. Thank you, Jesus!

Friendship is always bi-directional. Since God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, if the friendship isn’t working, it’s mankind that needs to change.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength!

May 06, 2019 Monday Message

“One by one their seats were emptied.

One by one they went away.

Now the family is parted.

Will it be complete one day?” from ‘Will the Circle Be Unbroken’ c.1907

Jesus taking our sin upon himself made it possible for us to see heaven from the inside. We would pray the same for our spouse, our families and our loved ones. Jesus said all those who believe will see their loved ones again.

In this life, seeing our families is high on our agenda, near the top of our things-to-do list. But in the next life, heaven, God and Jesus will be so awesome that worship will top off our daily agenda. We’ll still know our friends and family and be glad to see them all, AFTER we’ve praised the lord for all he has done for us.

Nehemiah said, “The joy of the lord is your strength,” and I believe that heaven’s residents will be filled with the joy of the lord - not a temporary short-lived happiness that can come and go, but a permanent joy that comes from living in God’s presence. Nehemiah 8:10b

I pray that I’ll see ALL my friends and family in heaven, and that we can all worship the lord together!

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets May 12, 2019, Mother’s Day, at 10:30AM, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406. I’ll continue in 1^st Corinthians 1:18-31 “Those Who are Being Saved...” See you at church!

Psalms 133 - Fellowship

March 19, 2018 Monday Message:

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for believers to dwell together in unity!” Psalms 133:1

Our lives are better when we share them with others. We aren’t designed to live alone. God saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone, so He created Eve, and told them to be fruitful and to multiply.

But marriage relationships are only one example. We make other acquaintances that become our friends, sometimes really good friends. Some of our best friends should be our church friends, and that’s what David is talking about in Psalm 133.

The Acts 2 church shared meals, prayed and worshiped together and celebrated the Lord’s Supper. But equally important - they were “there” for each other – someone to celebrate good times with you – a shoulder to cry on when life doesn’t work out. Their BFF’s were their church-friends! It was a good way to live.

So don’t think of “church” as just a building. It’s fellowship – people we care about, and friends who will go the extra mile for you. Count on it!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Mar. 25, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla leads us through Jesus’ Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

Monday Message is also available at:

http://www.mondaymessage-norton.blogspot.com/