Raised from the Dead!

For Sunday, January 4, 2026:

Romans 6:4b NLT: “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”

Believers are inextricably linked with Jesus the Christ, although His way is a path from which we should not want to escape. In fact, we should think of a link with Jesus as a gift. If we aren’t connected with Jesus, we’d have no chance at the glorious life after this life that awaits believers. If we are sincere believers, total forgiveness and salvation reserve our place in the hereafter.

And friends, isn’t that all we really want, to live in God’s eternal kingdom? Only good people will be there, those who are radically transformed by the redeeming nature of Christ Almighty. The forgiven will be our neighbors. We may be surprised at how nice everyone is! In Heaven, it will be like everyone is on their best behavior. If God – Father, Son or Holy Spirit – asks us to help out with something, we won’t hesitate. We would be honored to be invited to participate on the winning team!

Jesus rose from the dead in three days, fully restored and still eager to serve God the Father. Even though the sin of the world was heaped upon him as he died on the cross, he took that burden to the place of the dead and left it there. He was given a second chance to change the minds of those who watched him die three days ago, and now see him dancing a jig on the grave of sin. Someone brought back to life should turn heads!

Like Jesus, mankind was burdened with sin, but believers have born again, given a second chance to get things right. When you get to the pearly gates, confidently tell the gatekeeper that you’re with the guy seated just to the right of God. That’s His Son, Jesus! He’ll welcome you with open arms!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Grief becomes Joy!

May 8, 2023 Monday Message:

John 16:20 NLT, Jesus speaking: “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.”

There are only two groups; those who are with Jesus and those who are with the world (the sheep and the goats.) Omniscient Jesus knows what is coming: the betrayal, the torture and ultimately crucifixion. As Jesus dies on the cross, the world – including Pharisees, religious leaders and a lot of the general public – think they have done a good thing. At first glance, it appears they are wrong!

On the other hand, grieving believers will be sad. They had made a commitment to the “Jesus” version of religion, and now their leader, their mentor would be absent.

I think it’s fair to say that at that time, no one other than Jesus really understood God’s plan for the redemption of mankind. A curious juxtaposition of joy and sadness was on the way. Surprisingly, the execution of our Savior did nothing to slow his followers. When Jesus rose from the dead, Christianity grew by leaps and bounds. In fact on the day of Pentecost, 3,000 were added to their number! Knowing that Jesus took the sins of the world to the place of the dead, the believer’s sadness had turned to joy! Believers were redeemed!

But now those who opposed Jesus were beginning to second-guess their decisions and beliefs. Those who thought they were doing the right thing became sad when they examined the facts. And those who mourned Jesus were overjoyed that he rose from the dead! God is good!

Grief turned to joy, just like Jesus said!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship