Repent!

June 16, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 13:2-3 NIV, Jesus speaking: “Do you think that these (murdered) Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Don’t miss the point of Jesus’ teaching. The Bible says that ALL have sinned, so on Judgment Day we’re all in the same boat. It’s up to that judge to separate the sheep from the goats.

Goats may have just continued sinning. Or if their sinning ceased, they never repented. They were never sorry. Goats never squared things up with their fellows or with their maker.

Sheep, on the other hand, have an advocate, a counselor at their side. The Holy Spirit will point out their humble ways and their apologetic attitude. Repentant believers have their past sins wiped away. Jesus took care of that. And with a clean slate, sheep can be welcomed into the Kingdom!

So in a way, it doesn’t seem to matter as much what you did as a sinner, as what you INTEND to do as a repentant believer. Jesus wants us to draw a line in the sand. We all have a past, the before-Jesus time, but believers have a future, the after-Jesus time, and that’s what Heaven is keeping its eye on.

If we applied God’s rules to our criminal justice system, we wouldn’t punish offenders so much for what they did, but for what they intend to do. Of course, we have no way of seeing into the future, so that’s not really practical. But the reason we incarcerate criminals is that we expect their deviant behavior to repeat itself. They need Jesus.

Getting back on the straight and narrow won’t work without Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Judgment!

For Tuesday, December 3, 2024:

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 NLT: “God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.”

As this age comes to an end, the sheep will be separated from the goats. Of course, the sheep will be with their Good Shepherd, Jesus. The goats, who never did obey Jesus, will be judged for their disobedience, the outcome of which will be eternal separation from God and his kingdom.

It will be an exciting time as the New Heaven and the New Earth are created and the word of Jesus becomes the law of the land. Fire, angels and trumpets sounding! Until this time, mankind had the freedom to choose God or to reject God. But now God is asking for your decision. Make up your mind to be one of the good guys!

Choose wisely!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Belong to God!

For Saturday, December 2, 2023:

3 John 11 Phillips: “Never let evil be your example, dear friend of mine, but always good. The person who does good belongs to God, but the one who does evil does not know God at all.”

Once again the Bible is separating the sheep from the goats. In this scenario, a church had not been welcoming to itinerant evangelists, traveling workers doing just what Jesus said to do. That is wrong, and the Bible counsels us to not hang out with these people. Instead, be a part of the group that loves their neighbors. When in doubt, just do what Jesus did!

Think about it. It’s easy to come forward during a revival meeting and say a short prayer asking Jesus into your heart. The hard part is figuring out how to best live the rest of your life! Becoming a Christian represents a radical transformation for most people. You might need to make new friends and avoid the old ones. Frankly, your old evil friends will fall by the wayside. They have nothing in common with you any longer. Be intentional about doing the next right thing.

The person who does good is walking with the Lord. “They will know we are Christians by our love!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Swords?

November 6, 2023 Monday Message:

Matthew 10:34 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.”

Remember the sheep and the goats? (Matthew 25:31-46) The sheep, members of Jesus’ flock, in spite of being persecuted, will eventually know Shalom, the peace of the Lord. They are headed for the best place ever – eternity in God’s presence!

The goats, on the other hand, make a lot of their own trouble. Lies, deceit and evil deeds are on their agenda, and sometimes it takes a sword to derail Satan’s plans. Goats are headed for the lake of fire, but there’s a lot of violence along the way.

Jesus coming to earth forces the question, “Will you accept God’s free gift of salvation?” Each one of us must give an answer. Do you believe Jesus is God’s son? Do you believe his forgiveness is your ticket to heaven?

This Holy War goes back to Adam and Eve. Common sense should tell us that the Creator will be victorious over anything that he created!

Salvation follows repentance!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Sheep or Goats?

October 16, 2023 Monday Message:

Matthew 25:30-31 NLT: Words of Jesus: “But when the Son of Man (Jesus) comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”

Jesus promised that he would return. Everything else he prophesied came to fruition, so we have no reason to doubt this. Remember that God is all-powerful; he can do anything. God is not limited by things that would constrain mankind.

When the Bible says that Jesus will sit on his throne, it’s removing all doubt as to who is the King of kings, the Lord of lords. That Jesus is the Messiah is settled, once and for all. It’s said that when we die, we face judgment. At that point, our lives will have ended; the final chapter of our story is in ink! And Jesus simply separates those who lived for him from those who opposed him and his teaching. The sheep, the good guys, go to the right to be with Jesus. The goats on the left, who failed in this life, will go to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. There are only two destinations. Choose wisely!

Today is the best day to claim Jesus as your personal savior. Staying with him is certainly the better choice!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Jesus vs the World!

For Tuesday, May 30, 2023:

Matthew 18:7 NLT, Jesus speaking: “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.”

Jesus simplified being a believer. Group A: Christian believers follow the teachings of Jesus and his Father in heaven. Group B: The “world,” people living in sin and tempting others to sin.

There are only two groups. On judgement day, Jesus will place everyone in the proper group, just like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Therefore if someone sins against us, we don’t need to seek revenge. We can let go and let God. At the end times, the world’s judge will settle all matters.

Believers line up with the other sheep following Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Sheep vs Goats!

For Tuesday, May 2, 2023:

1 John 3:10 NLT: “Now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.”

Friends, on judgement day there will only be two groups. The Bible says that the sheep will be separated from the goats. Sheep will go with their shepherd, who will lead them to their Father’s house.

Remember Jesus said that those who are not with me are against me. In this scripture, John tells us how to identify who is in Jesus’ group, the children of God. They will live righteously and exude kindness and love for their fellows. In short order, we can identify who is with us and who is in the other group.

Believers who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. Sinning isn’t an option because believers are children of God!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Sheep and Goats!

For Wednesday, November 23, 2022:

Matthew 24:37 NLT: “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.”

No one knew when the flood would arrive, but Noah was ready. No one knows when Jesus will return. Are you ready?

In Noah’s day, about 2,300 BC, people were partying and enjoying huge wedding celebrations. They were going about their everyday business, and were quite surprised when it started to rain! At the time, sin was out of control, and God had decided to rid the world of sinful, disobedient people.

Q: Is sin once again running rampant on earth? Will sin and debauchery reach a point where God will once again intervene? Day by day we’re getting closer! Jesus will return as the consummate judge, separating the sheep from the goats.

Make sure you’re one of his flock!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship