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

Lies!

For Tuesday, April 7, 2026:

Matthew 28:11 NLT: “As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened.”

The tomb was discovered open, and the body of Jesus was missing. This is exactly what the Jews didn’t want to happen. That’s why guards were placed at the tomb. But what happened next is even more unbelievable.

The leading priests met with the elders and agreed to pay a large bribe, asking the guards to lie. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’’’ Religious leaders without truth have no platform on which to stand. Lying violates every commandment that they teach.

Verse 15 concludes this section: “So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.”

Question: Why would anyone stick with a religion predicated on a lie? This is one more example of religion getting seriously off-track. God rescued his people from Egypt and gave them the Promised Land. Then God’s Son came to Earth to rectify mankind’s sin problem. Forgiven, the people should reconcile with the Lord, not be fighting over the authenticity of the Son. God had everything worked out until mankind lied. It’s like the Garden of Eden all over again!

God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Love all three and love your neighbor, and the Lord will smile on you!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Trust in Jesus!

March 2, 2026, Monday Message:

John 14:1 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.“

Followers of Jesus were worried. First off, all the Hebrews were living under Roman rule, and while the Romans tolerated religion, they really didn’t like it. They believed in all their false gods, like a god for rain, for a bountiful harvest, for the sun and moon and stars. Some Romans even claimed that Caesar was God. Of course, he wasn’t.

Next problem, the followers of Jesus found themselves at odds with the Temple leaders. The Temple wanted to be in charge of Hebrew religion, and didn’t like this relative newcomer Jesus pulling worshipers out of the Temple, which also pulled their tithes out of the Temple. As with many things in life, if you’re trying to figure out what’s wrong, just follow the money! Also, when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, they considered it blasphemy. The Temple attitude was, “We’ve always done things this way, and we’re not about to change.”

Jesus wants to comfort the loyal believers, put them at ease, have them not worry. Rest assured knowing that Jesus and his Father are in charge. Since they’re the creators of everything, we know their power. We can securely leave everything in their hands. Trust God, and trust his Son.

So friends, don’t worry about the future, in this life or the next. Don’t let your heart be troubled. Don’t give defeat a second thought. Put a smile on your face, a Bible in your hand, Jesus in your heart and optimism in your head. With Jesus at the helm, everything will be A-OK. He said so himself! He promised!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Living in the Spirit!

For Thursday, February 19, 2026:

Romans 7:6b NLT: “Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.”

Have you ever played a new board game with the family, or started learning a new sport? Chances are you’d have to pull out the rule book every few minutes. Being unfamiliar with the activity, you don’t yet know all the regulations and scoring terms. But after a while, you know the rules by heart and can keep score in your head. For example, in tennis, when someone says, “15 – love,” you know that you have scored a point while your opponent remains at zero. You don’t have to look it up. The scoring and the terminology associated with it become second nature.

Once they have accepted Jesus, new Christians need to take a look at God’s laws. They need to learn how to live a Godly life. Some of their old behavior may not suit God, and they’ll want to adjust. At first, they’ll be checking the rule book, the Bible, but soon after, God’s laws will be second nature. God’s laws will be written on their hearts. And that’s when they’re living in the Spirit. As the Holy Spirit directs more and more of our lives, our old ways will no longer exist on our agenda, on our list of things to do. Doing life the wrong way will no longer be an option.

Your church should be filled with those for whom living God’s way is automatic. Everyone should be living in the Spirit. Your church should house believers who are kind, helpful and love their neighbors, just like Jesus said. Your best friends in the world should be a part of your church. Smile next time you see them!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Same God!

     For Sunday, February 1, 2026:

Hebrews 13:8 NLT: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

This scripture tells us that God and his Son Jesus are consistent. If God gave a command 2K years ago, it’s still in effect nowadays. We can have confidence in the prophecies given to us. Rules are rules, and laws are laws. What God wants us to do doesn’t change. Tell everyone about the Father’s love and forgiveness. Tell them about Jesus, that he paid the penalty for our sins. Tell the people that our Lord has offered us a second chance, a do-over – and a third chance, and a fourth chance… His desire is that everyone would repent and return.

We can put our faith, hope and trust in the God of Abraham. He’s the same God yesterday, today and tomorrow. Our God is powerful enough to create an entire universe, but still quite interested in each of our lives. He wants us to talk to him today. He wants to favor us with his blessings today – right now, so connect with him frequently. Share not only your hurts and sorrows with him, but your good news and blessings as well. Get to the heart of the matter. You can’t just do small talk when conversing with God. Smile when you meet with the Lord!

God and his Son desire a relationship with you. Make a point of including him in your life!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Worship with David!

For Sunday, January 18, 2026:

Psalm 122:1 NLT: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’”

Do we have to go to church? No, we WANT to go to church, we GET to go to church, we’re ALLOWED to attend. David said that visiting God’s house made him glad, put a smile on his face! This king David is the same one who kept his sheep safe. He stood up for God when facing Goliath. You could say that David was a fan of the Lord all his life.

David was a worshiper and a worship leader. He authored songs for corporate worship. He led the congregation in singing those songs. They’re timeless, because our God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Musicians frequently echo David’s words when composing new songs for us to sing.

Today is Sunday, worship day for Christians. It’s the day Jesus conquered both sin and death. It’s the day he walked away from the tomb. He had left the sins of the world in the place of the dead, and became a living example of eternal life. Jesus’ believers get to share in his forgiveness and resurrection. When it’s our turn to enter the next reality, Jesus will welcome us with open arms!

When we arrive in the life after this life, there won’t be any doubt about attending worship! Look for a lot of smiles. We’ll all be glad!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

End Times Progress!

For Saturday, January 17, 2026:

Matthew 24:7-8 NLT: Jesus speaking: “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”

Jesus is teaching about the beginning of the end times. His description doesn’t sound like a pleasant time for anyone. Jesus is drawing a parallel to the pain of childbirth. But when childbirth ends, we get to hold a beautiful little baby, a miracle that puts a smile on everyone’s face! All’s well that ends well!

The Bible tells us that some people will give up during this time of tribulation. Don’t you be like them! One of the Bible’s most loyal believers was Job. We should imitate him, copy his behavior. Job loved the Lord and had a good life. Then things started going south, but Job still loved the Lord. He finally hit rock bottom: starvation and diseases. Job’s wife said he should curse God and then die! But Job didn’t do that. He never lost faith. He never lost hope! God eventually proved himself worthy of Job’s ongoing faith. Job’s good fortune was restored to the best it had ever been! God is good!

As we live our lives, expect some bad stuff. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” The truly good life will be the life after this life. Jesus has prepared a place for the faithful in the next life, God’s forever Heavenly Kingdom!

Hold up the new baby, and put a smile on your face!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Welcome Seekers!

For Sunday, December 28, 2025:

Hebrews 12:22 NLT: “You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering.”

Seekers are those who have heard about Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but haven’t yet made their decision. But they’re curious. They’re interested. And it’s up to those of us already convinced to “make disciples of all nations.” That’s our assignment from Jesus.

If a church is working right, it should paint an attractive picture for seekers. They should see believers living in harmony with one another. If we’re following God’s plan, he has done away with flaming fire, darkness and gloom. Picture thousands of angels, all with smiles on their faces. God sits at the head-table, accompanied by a flock of believers, all with their names written in the Book of Life! Good times!

We may not have physical angels in our churches, but those present should look like they’re part of the heavenly throng – happy, smiling and conflict free, interested and welcoming, eager to share the Good News, the Gospel.

As believers, we should make it a point to welcome seekers into our midst. Shake their hand, refill their beverage, and invite them back. Do your best to answer their questions, and if you’re not sure, introduce them to someone who does know the answers. Introduce them to your pastor. Say, “See you next Sunday!”

Or say, “See you next time!” Wednesdays work just as well!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

John Leapt!

For Friday, November 24, 2025:

Luke 1:41 NLT: “At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

When we last talked about Mary, she wasn’t sure what was transpiring. She was about to become pregnant, although she had never been with a man. But she was obedient: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

Miracles occur when the Holy Spirit is present. Those who understood what was happening were the babies! Elizabeth was carrying John the Baptist, while Mary’s womb was hosting Jesus, Son of the Most High! When Mary entered Elizabeth’s house, John the Baptist leapt for joy! Even as an unborn baby, he was excited by the presence of his Savior!

This isn’t a big theological point. It’s not a redeeming ordinance. It’s just fun trivia, and I’m glad Luke included the event for all our enjoyment. Remembering the interaction of these two babies puts a smile on our faces!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Job Search Ended!

For Sunday, July 20, 2025:

Luke 16:11 NLT: “If you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?”

In the parable of the shrewd manager, Jesus was setting a high bar for his followers. You may recall that the shrewd manager was making gifts of his master’s wealth, thinking that when he got fired he could call in favors from those he had gifted. Jesus acknowledged the man’s skill in providing for himself, but could never condone the thievery it required.

Jesus has appointed each believer to be the manager of their personal evangelical efforts. You’ve been ‘hired’ whether or not you realize it. New believers quickly transition into seasoned recruiters and teachers. It’s all intentional, God’s plan for growth and expansion. Christian leadership didn’t just fall off of the turnip truck! (Which means it’s no accident!)

Many believers have a not-so-nice past, a time before they met Jesus. This isn’t unusual since Jesus is in the rescue business, and many good Christians really needed divine intervention to separate them from their past iniquities.

Consider the Apostle Paul, who was known for persecuting Christians. It took a personal visit from the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus to convert Paul. But he also had to sojourn to Jerusalem to convince Christian leadership that they were all on the same team. It was a tough sell. That time could have been invested in evangelism rather than in cleaning up Paul’s mess. Nonetheless, given his situation, it was necessary.

So from now on, you are the hired manager and Jesus is your master. Let’s all get to work! Be good stewards of the time, talent and resources he has bestowed upon you. Be more honest than the shrewd manager in the parable. See if you can make Jesus smile today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Jesus Loves Me!

For Saturday, July 16, 2022:

1 John 4:19 NIV: “We love because he (Jesus) first loved us.”

After the resurrection, the early church was known as “The Way.” Many people were intrigued with their new way of living, following the example of Jesus. Members of “The Way” smiled! They were helpful to one another. They shared. They were always glad to see each other.

Many found this philosophy attractive and wanted to become a part of it. The Way was adding to their fellowship daily. People wanted to live out what Jesus taught!

That’s still what we are to do nowadays, love God and love our neighbors. It’s not always easy and none of us is perfect, but our goal is to model our lives after the one who loved us so much that he gave his life for us. When in doubt, just do what Jesus did!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Happiness!

Sept. 14, 2020 Monday Message: 

Genesis 1:31a NLT: “God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!”

Successfully completing a monumental task can be quite rewarding. Did you ever think about how hard God worked to create our world? In a week, He created the earth with its sun and moon, its mountains and oceans, the plants, animals and finally mankind made in his image; also the other planets in our solar system, the Milky Way galaxy, and the entire universe far beyond our eyes. 

Taking a day of rest, God saw that it was all very good. At this point, I picture God having a smile on his face, pleased with the outcome! God was having a good day! Are you having a good day?

The quote, “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be,” is often attributed to President Abraham Lincoln. While I can’t prove that, what really matters is the truth within the statement. Your happiness is up to you! If you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, full of a bad attitude, you’ll probably have a bad day – a self-fulfilling prophecy. But if you wake up with a smile, full of the joy of the Lord, nothing can ruin your day! Make an intentional decision to be happier than you are right now! If you truly desire happiness, nothing can impede you! 

God is smiling, and so should you!

God’s blessings on everyone as we begin a new week! 

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 

3249 30^th Ave. S., 

Minneapolis, MN 55406