Stay Connected!

For Thursday, April 30, 2026:

John 15:5 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

Jesus is restating the vine/branches example. But the last sentence adds a stern warning: “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

Believers have been endowed with incredible power. Jesus wants us to do the things he did, impossible as this seems. He sent disciples to disparate cities to spread the Good News that the Kingdom of God was now with them; that Jesus was the long-expected Messiah; and that there now is forgiveness through Jesus which leads to renewed hope for eternal life. Those sent were told to heal the sick including leprosy, raise the dead and cast out demons. Seems like a tall order, but those serving were on a first-name basis with Jesus. They were connected to the vine, as are we! Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he left instructions for us to do these same things.

Jesus said believers could ask a mountain to move in his name, and it would obey. Nothing frivolous, of course. But if you needed to move a mountain to block a stream and save 200K people in the downstream village from drowning, it’s possible, but only if your branch is still connected to the vine.

There are no Lone Rangers in Heaven. We can’t go off on our own and accomplish anything. But believers have been drafted to play on Team Jesus. That one vine can feed many little branches, and Jesus has invited you to be a part of the action! So get in the game, (already!)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Faith: Give and Receive!

For Wednesday, November 19, 2025:

Hebrews 11:33a NLT: “By faith these believers overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them.”

True believers know that with God, anything is possible – and oftentimes illogical! How could the Red Sea part, leaving a dry path for believers, and then come back together just in time to drown those pursuing them? Only God! And if God is changing Canaan into Israel, wouldn’t you expect some push-back from those already residing there? Nope! The Israelites simply marched around Jericho’s city-wall for a week, and then blew their shofars. Afraid, Jericho’s residents abandoned everything and ran for the hills! Only God!

Every hero in the Bible is an example of their faith in the Lord being a good decision, including those who trusted God’s promise of a Messiah. God doesn’t lie, and sure enough, Jesus arrived to walk among us. Mankind’s impatience almost got the best of us, but God’s timing is always the best. Jesus could teach, preach and heal when necessary. Those who watched him were amazed! They knew Jesus was heaven-sent, and they were awed even more by believers performing those same miracles: healing the sick, raising the dead, curing those with leprosy and casting out demons.

Remember, God loves us and Jesus loves us. God was a step ahead of today’s motivational speakers, counseling us to delegate to others rather than trying to do everything ourselves. Believers aren’t operating alone; they’ve signed on to the “Jesus Team!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Attend Your Local Church!

For Wednesday, October 8, 2025:

Hebrews 10:25 NLT: “Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

If ever there were a good time for attending church, this would be it. Of course, it goes without saying that corporate worship of the one true God is always good. But what are some of the benefits for us?

We can double-check that we’re still on the same page with other believers. We can double-check that our beliefs still conform to the truths found in the Bible. We can encourage and support one another. We can fellowship together, even when it’s not a worship moment. We can “belong” in our community of believers. Our church friends can be our best friends.

I remember when I started a business with a partner. A lot of remodeling was necessary to make the space suitable for our business, and we did the work ourselves. If I became overwhelmed and discouraged, I still kept working because I didn’t want to let him down. He did the same for me. Even after we both decided it was time to take a break, one of us would jump up and pound the last few nails or measure a board for the next cut. It seems that we didn’t even know how to properly take a break! The point is that we accomplished way more as a team than I would have by myself.

A pastor told me that he believes we are in the end times of the end times. Jesus told us to watch for certain signs, and we’re routinely seeing some of them. I always hesitate when discussing eschatology, because Jesus said that no one knows exactly when it will all happen – the Second Coming of Christ, death, judgment, and the afterlife. After today, we’re one day closer than we were yesterday. The Bible says that God may be moving slowly to give more people a chance to be redeemed. God’s desire is that none would perish, but that all would repent and return. God will set the wheels in motion at the perfect time.

Watch for it with your brothers and sisters as you meet together!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Teamwork!

For Saturday, February 22, 2025:

Exodus 23:22 NLT: “If you are careful to obey the angel I’ll send before you and follow all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you.”

This is God’s offer for you to join his team. Do you accept? God endowed mankind with free choice, so some may choose to reject the offer. That’s a bad decision with eternal ramifications. The Creator of the universe gets my allegiance, and should get yours too!

We know God wants you on his side, so the question becomes, do you desire for God to be on your side? This needs to be a two-way relationship. Say, “He will be my God, and I will be one of his people!”

"If God is for us, who can stand against us?”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Teams!

For Friday, December 6, 2024:

2 Thessalonians 1:12 NLT: “The name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you (believers) live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and our Lord, Jesus Christ.”

It’s like choosing up sides for a game, except our eternal destination is no game! It’s serious business!

God desires each of us on his team. Those who make a decision to follow the Son are on God’s side, while those rejecting the Son are on the other team. God honors those on his team, and believers being on the Lord’s side honors God. It’s an unbalanced symbiotic relationship, in which the believers benefit greatly. In the end, there are only two teams, God’s team and the wrong one.

Honor God today by choosing to be on his team. He’ll honor you by choosing you for his eternal Kingdom!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Marriage!

For Wednesday, April 24, 2024:

Colossians 3:18-19 NLT: “18: Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. 19: Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.”

In my experience, these two verses take the #1 spot for creating angst in the reader. Usually the problem is lifting one verse out of context without considering the other. But just like a marriage requires two people, these two verses describing a Christian marriage are designed to fit together.

Let’s get one thing straight: Submission doesn’t imply slavery. Submission means you are part of a group, part of a team. Both husband and wife have agreed to play on the family team. So if the family is a team, the husband is the “designated leader” of the team, but only because the wife grants him that position. The wife has her place alongside the “leader,” and the children have their place in relation to the leader and the wife.

The wife enjoys being on the team because she is loved by her husband who treats her well, who respects her. The Christian husband puts his wife up on a pedestal, and seeing her there brings him joy! The two love one another “as is fitting in the Lord.”

God invented this partnership, so we know that it works!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Cast 'em Out!

For Tuesday, January 16, 2024:

Mark 6:7 NLT: “Jesus called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits.”

Those called by Jesus will be put to work! And because they love the Lord, they go to work willingly. Jesus is a walking example of Good News, and we are called to share that Good News with the world! The Good News, by the way, is Jesus’ invitation to salvation, to spending eternity in the presence of God!

Jesus didn’t send his disciples individually. They always went in pairs, in teams, both for safety and as additional witnesses. Therefore always include a friend when sharing the Good News with others. And Jesus didn’t leave his evangelists vulnerable. He equipped them with the strength to overcome the powers of darkness. Evil spirits don’t stand a chance against the power of our Lord!

Believers are commissioned by Jesus to show the way to eternal life, the way to salvation. Those who accept the Holy Spirit’s invitation are welcomed into the fold. Those who reject the invitation have made their decision, and are left to their own fate. We are told to shake their dust from our feet, signifying that we tried our best but were rejected by these people.

The disciples cast out many demons and healed many sick people. We should do likewise. Oftentimes a demon is blocking the message of Good News, and we can help clear the way!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Fishing for People!

For Thursday, January 5, 2023:

Matthew 4:19 NLT: “Jesus called out to Simon and Andrew, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’”

In a church, the lead Pastor can’t do everything! He builds a team with other Pastors, youth workers, musicians/singers and office support. Probably more! The point is that with servant leadership, a team can accomplish way more than any one of them could individually. And that’s why Jesus is assembling his team. Simon and Andrew will now be fishing for people!

Next, James and John, sons of Zebedee, were added to the team. In both cases, Jesus said, “Follow me,” and they immediately dropped what they were doing and joined the Lord in his mission. They left the fish, the nets, the boat and even their father. Family is important, but God is more important!

Before returning to the Father, Jesus commissioned the believers to make disciples of all nations. You and I are to fish for people! Jesus said so!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Friend of God!

For Tuesday, September 20, 2022::

Psalm 25:14 GNT: “The Lord is the friend of those who obey him and he affirms his covenant with them.”

Imagine that God is assembling a neighborhood team to play baseball or soccer or something like that. He’d first choose those with whom he already enjoyed friendship. After all, you’d never ask unknown outsiders to join your team! You’d choose only those you already know and trust.

There may be special plays or secret signals unique to God’s team, and the Lord gladly shares this information with those who love and obey him. When you agreed to join the team, God agreed to equip you for that mission. That agreement to work together is called a Covenant. We had an older Covenant under the Law given through Moses, and a New Covenant given to us by Jesus!

The New Covenant is God’s free gift to us, available to all who believe. We can make new friends and share that Good News with all who have ears to hear! That’s what Jesus said to do!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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