Temptations!

For Wednesday, April 15, 2026:

Luke 4:1b-2a NLT: “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days.”

This was a major event in Jesus’ life. He must have talked about it, retold the story many times. He had not yet called the 12, and yet they write about it.

It’s the classic battle between good and evil. Satan’s goal is to derail anything God is for. Truth and honesty are prime targets. Lust and greed are high on Satan’s list. He offers authority and influence, worthless because Jesus already has those traits. In the end, Jesus refuses each of Satan’s offers, countering with scripture: “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”

Satan should have just given up. Was God’s Son ever going to oppose his Father? I think not! And yet Satan has to try. It’s in his job description! Jesus refuses Satan’s offers, and that fits his job description. Our job as Christians is to do what Jesus did. Be nice, be kind, love our neighbors, and most of all love the Lord and all that he stands for!

Many temptations will confront us in this life, and our job is to reject Satan and side with Jesus. He was heaven-sent to deal with mankind’s sin issues. He carried away our sins, leaving believers unblemished, spotless in God’s eyes, and eligible for residence in God’s eternal heavenly Kingdom!

Keep your eyes on the prize!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Cleaning Out the Temple!

March 30, 2026, Monday Message:

Mark 11:15a NLT: “Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices.”

Yesterday, we celebrated Palm Sunday, when Jesus made his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. People waved palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna, save us, save us now!” Both the Pharisees and the Roman army ordered Jesus to silence his people, but Jesus told them that even rocks would cry out, celebrating the return of God’s Son to Jerusalem, celebrating sins being forgiven!

So today became the day to clean house at the Temple. It seems to me like Jesus had a list titled “Things to do before the crucifixion,” and this topped the list.

The Temple had three general areas. The innermost was the “Holy of Holies,” reserved for God. The Temple Sanctuary was for worship, sacrifices and Jewish traditions and rituals. The outer court was where all hell broke loose, and I mean that literally. Lies were uttered, scams took place and merchants took advantage of visitors.

Let me explain. Devout Jews would travel hundreds of miles, bringing their best animal to sacrifice to the Lord at the Temple. Upon arrival, they were told that their animal wasn’t suitable, and they would have to purchase a different animal, which was conveniently available right up the street at an inflated price. Of course, the visitors only had their native currency, so money-changers saw an opportunity to make another unfair shekel. This was the scam taking place in God’s house, and Jesus would have none of it. He drove the animals out of the Temple, and overturned the money-changer’s tables! Jesus stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. He concluded: “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

Jesus’ opinion on this hasn’t changed. There will be times when we need to collect money at a church, but honesty should be the key: no scams and no over-inflated prices. You don’t want Jesus to have to overturn your money tables!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Choose Wisely!

For Saturday, February 7, 2026:

Romans 6:18 NLT: “Now you (believers) are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.”

That great songwriter (and philosopher) Bob Dylan observed, “You’re gonna have to serve somebody.” Realize that, and decide today who you will serve.

The easy way and oftentimes the most profitable way is to follow the corrupt. Accept bribes, perpetrate scams, and only look out for yourself.

The better way, God’s way, puts truth and honesty at the top of our things-to-do list. We’re to love our fellows, and see that they have enough to eat and clothes to wear. Jesus specifically tells us to care for widows and orphans, those beaten up by wars, violence and corrupt governments.

We understand that we become slaves of whatever we choose to obey. You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living on earth and eternal life in the hereafter. It’s a choice! As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

"Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you!” Romans 6:17

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Omnipresent!

For Thursday, August 14, 2025:

John 12:44-45: Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me.”

Omnipresence is a challenging concept for some individuals to grasp. That God could be on the throne of heaven, Jesus could walk on earth alongside mankind with the mobile Holy Spirit on the bench, waiting to be called into action seems unbelievable. But it’s true. Our God, the Creator of the universe, isn’t limited by human constraints. Time and location cannot put chains on our God! He can be in more than one place at the same time. Omnipresent. But they’re all the same God!

Every word Jesus spoke was true, and this is no exception. He said, “I and the Father are One.” Hearing this, our opinion of the Son should go up considerably! This spirit-being, living within believers, is actually God himself. We are indwelt by a version of our Creator! Believers belong to Jesus; believers belong to God!

By definition, God and the Holy Spirit cannot be seen by human eyes. Jesus was sent to give us a glimpse into heavenly standards. His truth, honesty and love for God and his neighbors were unequaled. Our biggest challenge is to imitate the Savior.

When in doubt, do what Jesus did!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

"God Trends"

For Saturday, March 15, 2025:

Leviticus 19:1, 2b NLT: The Lord said to Moses, “You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

If we expect to live alongside God in heaven or on the New Earth, we need to meet his standards. We need to live in such a way that our Father in heaven can be proud of us.

Leviticus ch. 19 reads like someone expositing the 10 Commandments. We are being taught the best ways to please God and to get along with all our neighbors. God lays out these same principles in several places in the Bible. God (obviously) knows right from wrong, and he doesn’t change his mind. If worshiping idols was wrong 3,000 years ago, it’s still wrong today. Jesus stressed loving our neighbors, honesty and fairness. These things still apply nowadays. I call these principles, “God Trends.”

If a situation arises and we can’t find that exact thing in the Bible, look for a parallel. Look for the “God Trend.” Jesus’ command to love our neighbors still applies nowadays, and his Father would be pleased if we supported the Son’s “God Trends.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth!

For Thursday, February 20, 2025:

Exodus 23:1 NLT: “You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.”

People of God should be people of integrity. We should not lie, cheat or steal. The song says, “They will know we are Christians by our love,” but it should also say, “They will know we are Christians by our truth.” Christians should be known for honesty.

Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Liars, scammers and thieves will don a coat of Christianity, attempting to fool many, attempting to add credibility to their sham. They need to be called out on their offensive nature and expelled from the fellowship before they pollute others.

There’s really only one right way to live. It’s God’s way or the highway! Remember, truth is God’s opinion on everything!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

False Teachers

For Saturday, August 26, 2023:

Jude 4a NLT: “Some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches.”

In the USA, church membership is in decline. Historically, people drift away from God until they’re in deep trouble. Then they call on the Lord, pleading to be rescued. God tells those people to repent, and when they do, he puts his rescue plan in motion, and the people turn back towards God, get closer to God – until they become complacent and start falling away again. This cycle repeats, over and over. When will God say enough is enough and put an end to this folly?

To find prospective Christians, it’s necessary to be in the world. But when it’s time to worship or sit under Bible teaching, we need to hear only truth and honesty. We need to hear from people with a high view of the Bible, who believe every word is God-inspired and truthful.

Choose carefully where you worship!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Justice!

For Tuesday, August 15, 2023:

Psalm 99:4 TLB: “Our mighty King is determined to give justice. Fairness is the touchstone of everything God does. He gives justice throughout Israel.”

We can always count on God for fairness and justice. Furthermore he cannot lie and he loves us unconditionally. If you think about it, God treats us with what we call the “Golden Rule.” He will treat us as we treat him. Those who love God and his Son will be rewarded with an eternal place in God’s Kingdom. Those who have no respect for the Lord will find themselves in a lake of fire. And as bad as that seems, it’s fair and honest.

Fairness, justice and honesty are some of the character traits of God Almighty. They’re not going to change! We can always count on these “God Trends!” If something seems ‘off,’ it’s mankind that needs to change, not God!

Nowadays God dispenses justice throughout the entire world, not just Israel!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Pure Hearts!

For Saturday, January 14, 2023:

Matthew 5:8 NLT: “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”

When a woman and a man love each other enough to consider marriage, they say, “I love you with all my heart.” Not just what the lips say, and more than a few polite actions. This is an ‘all in’ commitment to one another, with ‘forever’ attached to it! Jesus‘ words, “pure hearts,” carry the idea of honesty and unflinching devotion to God’s value system.

This is a warning to all who are not pure in heart, including the Pharisees who appear pure in ceremony, clothing and food. But their emphasis on ritual and the law was used to persecute others. They had forgotten to be forgiving and to love their neighbor.

The best reward of all is seeing God. In this life, those with pure hearts will find God in nature, in scripture and in our church families, and then face-to-face in the next reality. Keep your eyes peeled; God is all around!

Seeing the Lord fills us with hope!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Be like Jesus!

For Thursday, April 22, 2021

Philippians 2:5 NLT: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Progress, not perfection – that’s how I look at this. While none of us can perfectly emulate the life of Jesus, it’s a worthy goal. If everyone added honesty, forgiveness and compassion to their character, the world would be a better place.

If everyone took on the attitude of Jesus, people would all get along. Countries would all get along. We’d insist on caring for widows and orphans, and if someone did mess up and break the rules, we’d first consider using that as a teaching moment to get them back on track. People would be less concerned with getting even! Jesus aligned himself with those who most needed to hear his message, giving them and us hope!

Jesus loved ALL of mankind!

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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