Hopelessly Confused!

For Saturday, May 11, 2024:

Ephesians 4:17 NLT: “With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.”

When reading your Bibles, one of the most important things to remember is “context.” The same words can have different meanings in different situations. Paul is not condemning all Gentiles any more than he would exalt all Jews. There are, after all, good Gentiles and bad Jews!

Who Paul is condemning are those living a wild and sinful life, living only for their own pleasure, living only for the world. Do not emulate those who are hopelessly confused. We already know right from wrong, since God’s New Covenant writes God’s Laws on our hearts. God has given each of us his value system. We call it a conscience! If we stop and think for a minute, we already know when we shouldn’t do something.

Many in the world nowadays are “hopelessly confused.” Wars are being fought, and entire races of people are falling victim to genocide. As followers of Jesus, we have been given a higher standard. Live like the Lord says in his Bible!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Gentiles Included!

For Tuesday, April 9, 2024:

Colossians 1:27 NLT: “God wanted everyone to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.”

Jesus came to our planet through the Jews, but he came to redeem the whole world. That includes both Jews and Gentiles. That includes me, and it most certainly includes you!

Jerusalem was the “headquarters” for the Jewish religion. In Jerusalem was the Temple. At the time, most people who lived in Jerusalem were Jews, but not so much in the countries outside of Israel. Only a few Jews were scattered in the hinterlands; most were Gentiles. My point is that “The Way,” the Christian group in Jerusalem, were most likely converted Jews. That’s where most of the disciples ministered. But in the city of Colossae, a 500 mile hike from Jerusalem, most worshipers were Gentiles, and they were Paul’s audience for this letter to the Colossians.

Paul wanted to make it abundantly clear that the Good News of Jesus included all the believers in Colossae, Gentiles who had seen the light! This is particularly Good News for most of us who are not former Jews! Yes, Jesus came for YOU, and believers have assurance of salvation, a guaranteed place in eternity as a child of the Almighty! So claim what Jesus promised!

There is no end to the good things Jesus did for us!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Jesus' Return!

For Sunday, November 5, 2023:

Isaiah 11:10 CEV: “The time is coming when one of David's descendants will be the signal for the people of all nations to come together. They will follow his advice, and his own nation will become famous.”

Isaiah is sharing what God has shown him about the future. I only wish he could have given us exact dates! But only God knows...

The return of Jesus, a descendant of David, will fulfill this prophesy. Believers from all nations will be on the same page – Jews and Gentiles coming together under Jesus’ leadership. Their headquarters will be in Israel, in Jerusalem, and the world will acknowledge the significance of the Holy land.

Israel is currently defending itself from attacks from radical Islamic factions. The Bible says that Israel will be victorious. The numbers are in their favor, but make no mistake – this is a religious war!

There are only two choices – God’s side, or the other side. Make sure you’re on the right side. Your eternal security is hanging in the balance!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Jesus Included Everyone!

July 18, 2022 Monday Message:

Romans 1:6 NLT: “You are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.”

To “include” is huge in Christianity, but we don’t talk about it much. Everyone likes to be included. Perhaps you first came to church because your family or your friends included you. And now it’s your turn to include others.

Friends from your neighborhood, your job or your recreation seem really nice, and it would be a shame to not include them in your church. They’d fit right in! “Three of us are going to church, and there’s room for one more in the car. We’d like to include you! We’ll get lunch afterwards…” How could they turn you down?

The Messiah came to earth through the Jews, but Jesus is for people of ALL nations! Jesus wanted to make sure that we ALL are included! He taught us to include everyone!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Gentiles Included!

For Saturday, June 18, 2022:

Malachi 1:11 TLB: “’My name will be honored by the Gentiles from morning till night. All around the world they will offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name shall be great among the nations,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

If you could graph the Israelite’s relationship with the Lord, it would be up and down, up and down, over and over again. Faced with dire circumstances, they would return to the Lord crying out for help. God, with everlasting loving-kindness, would welcome them back. But when everything was running well, the chosen people would once again drift away from God.

God’s statement here predicts what would also happen with Paul’s ministry. If Israel isn’t ready to hear the Good News message of forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus the Christ, we’ll share that Good News with Gentiles, and that includes most of us nowadays! We have been given a Redeemer!

Anyone who investigates will already know there is a Creator God. He has written that knowledge on our hearts!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

You're Included!

For Tuesday, May 31, 2022:

John 10:16 NLT, Jesus speaking: “I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.”

Jesus says that ALL believers are included in the Eternal Kingdom. He’s telling his Hebrew audience that Gentiles will be included too. And people from other nations, and people with different skin colors. Anyone who claims Jesus as Lord will be included!

Since we’re saved by grace through faith, we need to accept the free gift offered by our Lord, and have faith that Jesus can do what he said he would do. Jesus, who died on the cross, was up, alive, and walking around where everyone could see him three days later. He proved that there is life after this life, and promised to prepare an eternal place for all believers.

Everything else Jesus prophesied came true, so we have every reason to trust his heavenly promise!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Chosen!

For Thursday, May 12, 2022:

Romans 9:15 NLT, God’s words to Moses: “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”

Jesus came to the world through the Jews, but he is to be the Light of the World, the whole world! God loves all of mankind! Everything he created he declared to be ‘very good!’

Therefore Gentiles have been issued an invitation to seek the Kingdom of God. God commissioned Paul to make new Christians, to plant new churches, and none of them are found in Israel! Today we ALL have an invitation to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. God’s desire is that none would perish, so say ‘yes!’ Do it today!

God has issued the invitation. We all need to RSVP!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Gentiles too!

January 3, 2022 Monday Message

Matthew 2:2 NLT: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose in the east, and we have come to worship him.”

Epiphany means gaining a full and complete understanding of something that is really important to you. Epiphany means your eyes have been opened, and you can now see the truth! On the church calendar, we celebrate Epiphany on January 6^th, 12-days after Christmas. We celebrate the revelation of the Christ child to the Magi, Wise Men from the east. Up to this point, Jesus was known only in the Hebrew world, known only to his fellow Jews. But the Magi are Gentiles, and as we now know, Jesus came to the world through the Jews with a mission of redeeming ALL of mankind! And this would be the first inclusion of Gentiles, which is Good News for most of you reading this!

We Three Kings details: Tradition shows us a picture of three kings on camels riding across the desert to visit Jesus, but there were probably more. The Bible speaks of three gifts, but never mentions the number in the entourage. It’s unlikely they would have traveled alone. Once in Bethlehem, “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary.” Apparently the Holy Family had abandoned the stable in favor of a more traditional dwelling. Consequently, these Wise Men never met the Shepherds from the manger scene! Their gifts gave the Holy Family the resources to travel to Egypt when Herod was killing all the male Hebrew babies. God made a way for them to stay safe!

Rejoice that Gentiles are included in God’s redemption plan. Jesus is the hope of the entire world!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Worthy!

For Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Acts 13:47 NLT: “The Lord gave us this command when he said, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’”

Paul, having survived his encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, has an uncompromising view of belief in our Redeemer. In his mind, each of us can be our own judge. And if you choose to not believe, you are judging yourself unworthy of eternal life! It’s your choice – you be the judge!

Paul didn’t waste a lot of time with those who refused to believe. He simply moved on, taking his Good News message of salvation to the next group who would listen, those searching for the hope offered by Jesus the Messiah. After sharing in the synagogue, Paul courageously evangelized among the Greeks, the Gentiles, doing his part to offer salvation to anyone who would choose Jesus as their Savior.

Don’t judge yourself unworthy of redemption!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Equal Heirs!

For Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Ephesians 3:6 Phillips, Paul speaking: “This secret was hidden to past generations of mankind, but it has now, by the Spirit, been made plain to God’s consecrated messengers and prophets. It is simply this: that the Gentiles, who were previously excluded from God’s agreements, are to be equal heirs with his chosen people, equal members and equal partners in God’s promise given by Christ through the Gospel.”

After Jesus gave us the New Covenant, there are no longer “insiders” and “outsiders.” Jesus told the believers to make disciples of ALL nations, so you and I are included, and that’s Good News! Everyone in the world has been offered hope!

As children of God, we are heirs to the eternal kingdom. Jesus has prepared a place for you, and will welcome you with open arms!

It’s all family business!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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