Repent and Return!

August 17, 2026, Monday Message:

Acts 3:19 NLT, Peter, preaching in the Temple: “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”

Paul is giving everyone the Cliff’s Notes condensed version of how to get right with God. You may know it as the Reader’s Digest condensed version. Friends, coming under God’s umbrella may not be as complicated as you think!

“Repent and Return.” It’s that simple. God already knows you’ve sinned and the Bible says that ALL have sinned, so that’s a pretty inclusive group! What everyone needs to do is realize what has gone wrong, repent for those actions, and then turn back to the Lord. Put God back up on his pedestal. Give him the place in your life that he should have had all along.

In the Hebrew language, the process is described as turning, like we were headed North but should have been going South. Ideally, we should be growing closer to God, but sin left us falling away. We were backsliders. NOW is the best time to turn or (re)turn to God. Closer to God is always better than farther from God.

Adam and Eve were the first to sin, to think they could be like God. They could not. They had to realize their mistake, their sin, and place themselves back under God’s care. Understand that God still loved them. While they had been sinning, God was making clothes for them.

When God’s people were still doubting, (doubting the Lord is a sin…) God sent 10 plagues, convincing Pharaoh to let God’s people go! When God’s people were afraid to trust in Yahweh, (not trusting Yahweh is a sin…) little David decided to take on the mighty Goliath. It was easier to convince God’s people to return after Goliath’s defeat!

If anyone asks you what to do to become a Christian, to square things up with the Almighty, explain “Repent and Return.” Don’t overcomplicate it. Realize that God WANTS everyone to Repent and Return!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Pay Attention!

For Friday, March 13, 2026:

Hebrews 13:22 NLT: “I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.”

This Epistle is written to the Hebrew people. The writer has a certain advantage and a certain disadvantage. Let me explain.

The Hebrews have a history of believing in our God. They already know about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses (and the Lord) led them out of Egyptian slavery. God gave Moses the 10 Commandments on Mt. Sinai. The author of “Hebrews” didn’t have to convince anyone that there is a God, a Higher Power, a Creator, so half of the writer’s work is already accomplished. That’s the good news!

The disadvantage is having to convince these people that there’s more to their religious saga. The story of God’s interaction with mankind wasn’t finished, and still isn’t finished. I believe Christianity should have been, “Judaism, the next chapter.” Like Paul Harvey used to say, “The rest of the story!” Jesus, Son of God, coming to Earth, performing miracles and healings and eventually taking away the sins of the world is huge. We call it the New Testament, but it’s really the continuing history of God’s people, significant enough that we base our daily calendars on the event.

The story is not finished. The Bible includes prophecy about the last days, including Jesus’ second coming. I pray that a talented writer will document all that happens during the end times. The book, the story of God’s people on Earth, will be complete when believers are called home!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

God Showed Up!

For Saturday, September 17, 2022:

Psalm 114:7 NLT: “Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.”

Psalm 114 speaks to the way God intervened when it was time for his people to leave Egypt. The word “tremble” could indicate great fear or great excitement. People living for themselves, living for the world, should tremble in fear. But people of God jump for joy when the Lord shows up!

After the plagues, God’s people safely passed through the Red Sea, which later swallowed up their oppressors. The Hebrews safely crossed the Jordan river into the Promised Land. God provided for them as they crossed the desert, even sending a spring of water out of a rock!

God appeared to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Just when the believers needed help and direction, God showed up! And when we cry out for help nowadays, God will still show up if we remember to invite him!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

God's People!

For Saturday, October 9, 2021

Leviticus 26:12 NLT, God speaking: “I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people.”

God clearly desires a relationship with mankind, but it needs to be a reciprocal, bi-directional relationship. He has agreed to be our God, with mankind being his people. We need to agree to be his people, and acknowledge him as our God. Over the years, the people wax and wane over this relationship, whereas God’s position is solid, like a rock, unchanging. God will always be there for us if we seek him.

Knowing we are irrevocably God’s people gives us hope!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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