God's Kingdom!

For Tuesday, August 12, 2025:

Luke 17:20 NLT: “The Pharisees asked Jesus, ‘When will the Kingdom of God come?’”

There was always a little hostility as the Pharisees questioned Jesus. It was on their agenda to have Jesus killed. It just hadn’t happened yet! They needed a bullet-proof reason to justify Jesus’ murder, hence the trick questions. So they challenged him to either “put up” and produce the Kingdom of God, or to “shut up” and stop claiming he was the Messiah!

Jesus gave them the correct answer, but it wasn’t what they were expecting. “The kingdom of God is not observable. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you! It’s within your grasp!” Jesus knew that the Pharisees’ hostility and preconceived doubt would render them unable to see or receive the kingdom of God. In fact, the Kingdom of God was among them because the King of kings was among them!

So as we believers live out our lives, I want us all to look for signs of the Kingdom, people loving God and loving their neighbors. These aren’t all big things. As I walked into a convenience store yesterday, a man was coming out, and he insisted on holding the door open for me. I told him, “That’s OK, you go first.” He would not! He insisted on being nice and would not take “no” for an answer. That forced me to walk “in” the “out” door, which is strictly against my nature!

This morning, my youngest daughter sent a picture of two baby birds that hatched in her porch fern. These puffballs had their beaks open to the sky, waiting for mom and dad to insert some nutrition! Just born, how do they know to open their beaks? How do the parents know to gather food? Who told them to reproduce? How do they fly? Only God!

From now on, find your own examples of God stuff, and then give thanks. The Kingdom is a marvelous place to live if you’re on the Jesus Team!

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

Faith!

For Wednesday, July 6, 2022:

2 Peter 3:10a NLT: “The Day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.”

Jesus is returning. We need to perpetually be ready, because we don’t know the exact date.

It is written that we are saved by grace through faith. Being ready for the Day of the Lord is about our faith. If our faith in Jesus is constant, a part of who we are, we’ll certainly be prepared when the King of kings appears in the sky!

Lord, help us be prepared for your Son’s return.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Psalms 138 - God for ALL Nations!

April 23, 2018 Monday Message:

“Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord, for all of them will hear your words. Yes, they will sing about the Lord’s ways, for the glory of the Lord is very great.” Psalms 138:4-5 NLT

Psalm 138 talks about two kinds of kings. There are earthly kings or rulers of countries. But they all answer to the other King – the King of kings in heaven. The Psalm says that earthly kings will all sing about the goodness of the heavenly King.

And when the text says, “EVERY king in ALL the earth…,” that’s good news for us all. Jewish and Gentile kings will join together in singing to the Lord.

God comes to us through the Hebrew people, but He is a God for ALL nations. And therefore his Son, Jesus the Messiah, is the redeemer for people from ALL nations!

The Good News is that you and I are included in Jesus’ rescue of mankind. You can count on it.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Apr. 29, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Van steps into Revelation.