Died for Sinners!

December 8, 2025, Monday Message:

Romans 5:7-8 NLT: “Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

A parent should give up his/her life if their child is threatened. And we should willingly sacrifice ourselves if so directed by God. But there aren’t too many times our lives should be sacrificed for another.

As for Jesus giving up his life for the sins of the world, I can only say that we are not worthy. That’s what makes this gift so remarkable. God loves mankind since He created us, but our morals had (and have) fallen by the wayside. And in spite of that, God commanded his son to personally be the sacrifice redeeming us from our sin penalty.

In my opinion, the most incredible thing is the order in which this all occurred. Mankind didn’t confess, repent and suddenly get our lives in order so God could gift us! No! God’s Son Jesus paid the price “while we were still sinners.” God put the opportunity, the gift, in place, awaiting our acceptance. God’s gift of forgiveness and everlasting life were given to first-century believers, and those same gifts are available to 21^st century believers – to us, to our children, and to our grandchildren. Since the gift is already offered, our obligation is to accept what was offered. We need to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that his words are true, and that he can and will do for us what he said. Today is the accepted day to claim God’s salvation gift!

"There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NLT)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Humble!

For Sunday, August 17, 2025:

Luke 18:9 NLT: “Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else.”

Two men entered the Temple to pray. They could not have been more different, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee thought highly of himself, saying, “I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!”

Tax collectors are thought to be the worst of all sinners. This traitor had switched sides and was working for the Roman oppressors. This man clearly knew he was in the wrong. “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.”

The repentant sinner was justified that day, not the Pharisee.

Jesus concludes his lesson: “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” The Bible says, “Don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought!”

Oftentimes, taking a step down results in being lifted up!

Pastor Norton Lawellin
Jesus In the City Fellowship

Lost Coin!

For Sunday, July 13, 2025:

Luke 15:8 AMPC: “What woman, having ten [silver] drachmas [each one equal to a day’s wages], if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and look carefully and diligently until she finds it?”

Jesus is teaching the mixed crowd – tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees and teachers of religious law – the parable of the lost coin. In today’s dollars, about $200 had gone missing, and if any of us lost $200, we’d certainly look until we found it! Note the ratio, 1 out of 10 missing. We’d check every dresser drawer and go through our purses and pants pockets. Is it time to clean out the car? Check every nook and cranny. The search wouldn’t be over until the sum was located!

In real life, something far more valuable than a coin had gone missing. In this parable, the lost coin represents the soul of a lost sinner. Heaven is patiently waiting for that sinner to repent and return, and heaven will not abandon that soul until they have had adequate chances to reconcile with the Creator. God’s desire is that none would be lost, and that all would repent and return!

When the sum is retrieved, the woman invites her neighbors in to celebrate the victory. “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin!”

Jesus summarizes his teaching: “In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

You are extremely valuable to the Lord!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Leadership!

November 4, 2024 Monday Message:

1 Samuel 16:1 NLT: “Now the Lord said to Samuel, … ‘Find a man named Jesse, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.’”

The favored son turned out to be David, the shepherd-boy who eventually conquered Goliath and rose to prominence in Israel. God planned the whole thing!

David was not perfect. You see, God must choose our leaders from the mankind-pool, a flawed, sinful supply! But God will often choose someone who is redeemable, someone who will repent and return to the Lord. You can read about David repenting in Psalm 51.

Tomorrow is election day in the US, and my prayer is that God will have his hand on the election. Compare the candidates with how Jesus lived his life and with God’s commands in the Bible. Don’t vote on just a single issue. Rather consider the entire scenario, the big picture. Whoever is the best fit should get your vote. Ultimately, God will have his way.

Realize that corrupt, immoral leaders can be a judgment on an imperfect nation! Yikes!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship