Sabbath!

 For Sunday, April 26, 2026:

Luke 4:16 NLT: “When Jesus came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures.”

 Looking at that text, we already know about Jesus, we know about Nazareth, we know about synagogues and the Sabbath. What strikes me as the teachable moment are the words, “as usual.” It was normal and customary to attend a religious gathering, to praise God and worship him on the Sabbath. It would have been far more unusual to NOT attend!

 I know a pastor whose son asked on Sunday morning, “Dad, do we have to go to church today?”

Dad: “That‘s about the dumbest question I’ve ever heard! We don’t HAVE to go to church; we WANT to go to church!”

 Church is where we meet our best friends, like-minded individuals. Church is our community, our fellowship. But most of all, we gather to praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, giving thanks for our creation and rescue from sin. We worship God as the head of everything. We’re thankful for the offer of life after this life, and for God honoring us with the offer of eternity in his Kingdom. We get to hear scripture from the Bible to inspire us to face another week!

 Church is a good, safe place to invite others. Bring your new friends. Help make disciples of all nations!

Pastor Norton Lawellin
Jesus In the City Fellowship
The Father’s House
Truth and Freedom Church

Teaching Truth!

For Sunday, April 19, 2026:

Luke 4:14-15 NLT: “Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.”

Jerusalem to Galilee is about 80 miles. In Jesus’ day, most people were on foot, so it was about a week-long hike. Depending upon the route, you might encounter mountains, have to cross a river or deal with unclean Samaritans. So many went to the Mediterranean and just proceeded North up the coast.

The region around the Sea of Galilee is where Jesus grew up, specifically the city of Nazareth. At the time, little is known about him other than that he’s Joseph the builder’s son. But immediately, he begins teaching in the Synagogues. The congregants are amazed by his knowledge and wisdom.

I like that my Bible calls this “teaching.” Personally, I’m better at teaching than preaching. I believe that if I teach the truth from the Bible, what someone should do becomes self-evident. I don’t like to harp at them. My 2¢.

This is Sunday morning, a good time to attend church. Hopefully, your church will teach truthful topics from the Bible. They should teach eternal salvation through the goodness of Jesus the Christ, fulfilling his Father’s plan for the rescue of mankind. It’s a good plan. We should leave with smiles on our faces!

Have a blessed day!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Serving Mankind!

March 9, 2026, Monday Message:

Matthew 4:24 NLT: “News about Jesus spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all.”

As he documents what occurred, Matthew seems amazed that news of Jesus’ healings spread into Syria. But if we look at a map nowadays, the news traveled only about 300 miles. The remarkable thing is that this happened without radio, TV, newspapers or internet! No journalists were reporting on Jesus’ activities. Back then, word-of-mouth was how information went out!

Being heaven-sent with the power of God Almighty, Jesus could fully heal the sick, the injured and the mentally impaired. We often underestimate the negative effects of demon-possession, but Jesus took care of that, too. People healed by Jesus were fully healed!

As this news spread, people began bundling up their sick and bringing them to Jesus. They would travel many miles, sometimes for weeks, to find Galilee, where the healings took place. Jesus wasn’t a slacker. He kept the line moving until everyone who needed healing was healed. Only then was it a time for rest.

As impressive as this all seems, healing wasn’t Jesus’ primary purpose in coming to Earth. It was a side-benefit of Jesus being God in the flesh. Mankind are the beneficiaries of Jesus’ goodness. Around Jesus, miracles were commonplace. We shouldn’t be surprised. Jesus preached for us to love our neighbors. Those who came needed help, he could provide the solution, and not helping wasn’t an option in Jesus’ playbook.

Later in his ministry, Jesus would take the sins of the world to the place of the dead, thereby healing not only the physically sick, but also all of mankind who were cursed with their sin problem. Jesus brought heaven’s healing to everyone willing to accept his help, everyone who desired to repent and return to the Father’s way.

Jesus’ offer of love and forgiveness is still open! Have you made your decision?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Nazareth!

For Tuesday, February 10, 2026:

Matthew 2:20 NLT: “Get up!” the angel said to Joseph. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”

There’s good news and bad news. The good news is that their persecutor Herod had died, so it now appeared safe for the Holy family to return to Israel. Then they received the bad news, that Herod’s son Archelaus would be the new ruler. Like father, like son. This was no improvement.

But there’s even more good news! Rather than Jerusalem, the family could settle in Nazareth, only a four to seven day hike away, far enough to remain safe, but close enough to attend religious festivals at the Temple. Jesus would be known as a Nazarene.

Jesus could safely start his ministry around Nazareth. And just to the Northeast is Tiberias on Lake Gennesaret, also known as the Sea of Galilee. Jesus blessed many believers around that lake, including the twelve. Nazareth was his home base, his safe haven, while Jerusalem would ultimately be his demise.

We thank God for allowing Jesus to safely begin his ministry in Nazareth, and for allowing him to complete his mission in Jerusalem. That’s where he took the sins of the world to the place of the dead, allowing mankind to reunite with the Father! That’s where believers stand today, forgiven by the work of Jesus on the cross, and servants of the Lord Most High!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Miracle Babies!

For Saturday, November 22, 2025:

Luke 1:26 NLT: “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary.”

God was about to deliver a son to Zechariah and Elizabeth, a most unlikely situation. He openly admits that he’s quite old, and she’s well past childbearing years. Only God! As Gabriel instructed, they’ll name him John. We know him as John-the-Baptist.

In a separate, seemingly unrelated event, Gabriel is sent to visit Mary in Nazareth. Yes, our Mary! She was married to Joseph, but marriage was different back then. The husband would leave to arrange a place to live and find a job or start a business. The wife would begin gathering (or making) domestic things the new family would need: clothing, cooking supplies, household items. When everything was in order, the husband would return for his wife, and the two would begin their new life together. Mary and Joseph were still in that “prep” stage; they had not yet come together.

As usual, the angel says, “Be not afraid! You are favored by God!” He further explains, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Mary asks, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God!”

Then Gabriel drops this bombshell, which ties the events together: “Your cousin Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. The word of God will never fail!”

Remember, Mary’s husband wasn’t living with her yet. So she decided to stay with her relative for a time. They could help each other through their pregnancies and share dreams for their new babies, both under God’s watchful eye!

Some of the most eventful times in Christian history are about to unfold. Christmas is coming!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Bethlehem!

For Sunday, December 22, 2024:

Luke 2:4 NLT: “Because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.”

Augustus, the Roman emperor, ordered a census. Each person was to return to their ancestral home town, and since Joseph was a descendant of King David, the holy family was off to Bethlehem. Augustus had no idea he was causing prophesy to be fulfilled. He was working for the Lord even when he didn’t have a clue!

I’m guessing there was a convention in town, since all the motels had their “No Vacancy” signs on. Joseph, Mary and eventually baby Jesus took refuge in a stable, certainly a humble beginning. In the manger, Jesus was called Immanuel or God with us!

Angels appeared to the shepherds, told them where the Messiah had been born, and a bright star pointed the way. The shepherds dropped what they were doing and went straight to the stable to worship! What would you do if angels appeared?

After baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the family returned to Nazareth, fulfilling the prophesy about the Messiah being known as a Nazarene.

Prophesies fulfilled verify the truth of Jesus’ identity: Son of the living God!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Nazarene!

For Thursday, December 29, 2022:

Matthew 2:23 NLT: “Joseph’s family went and lived in Galilee, in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’”

Evil King Herod had died, so God’s angel ended the Holy family’s exile in Egypt. It was time to come home! The bad news is that Herod’s son Archelaus was now the ruler, and Joseph assumed “like father, like son!” So obediently Joseph and family returned to Israel, but did not settle in the major city of Jerusalem. A smaller town called Nazareth in the province of Galilee was thought to be safer.

At that time, people told jokes about the people of Nazareth, who were falsely thought to be not as smart or capable as others. That stereotypical prejudice caused Nathanael to ask, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Philip replied, “Come and see for yourself!” God chose to have his Son, the Savior of the world, center his life and a lot of his preaching around the Sea of Galilee!

Jesus lived in Nazareth; he died in Jerusalem.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship