Sin's Influence!

For Wednesday, April 22, 2026:

Romans 8:5 NLT: “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.”

Think about it. What dominates your mind? If your mind wanders and you find yourself daydreaming, what was your topic?

Satan wants to plant sinful thoughts in your mind because the result is so predictable. At first, a lot of sin can appear to be fun, releasing dopamine, the feel-good hormone, into our brains. Mankind seems to find excitement in taking a little risk, in doing something just a little bit naughty. But as Christians, that isn’t where we should be.

The lie is in thinking that sin is fun, but the truth is that in the long run, sin is devastating. (Satan is always telling us lies!) Sin destroys homes and families, can separate children from their parents, and is a bad example for the next generation. But even worse, it saddens your Father in heaven.

Let me make a broad theological assumption. I’m guessing that if you’ve prayed and asked Jesus to be Lord and Savior of your life, you weren’t intending to exclude Father God or the Holy Spirit. Being a Trinity, you can’t really have one without the others. Being a Christian is family business, the family of God.

So get out of the driver’s seat of your daily life, and let the Holy Spirit call the shots. The Holy Spirit is not influenced by Satan’s temptations, and your life will immediately improve. Tune your ears to only listen to the words of God!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Plot to kill!

For Tuesday, March 31, 2026:

Mark 11:18 NLT: “When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, (driving the corrupt from the Temple and overturning the money-changer’s tables,) they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.”

Palm Sunday saw the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, with people waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna, save us, save us now!”

Monday was the breaking point for Jesus. He’d had enough of the corruption and scams taking place in the Temple. He said, “My Father’s house should be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves,” as he overturned the money-changer’s tables.

So the next day, Tuesday, the leading priests and teachers of religious law started plotting how to kill Jesus. To them, he was nothing but trouble. Left a big mess in the Temple for someone else to clean up! But what complicated matters was that a lot of people thought Jesus was the best Bible teacher they’d ever seen! He seemed to have an inside track on explaining the Bible and God’s intentions. Of course, we now know that Jesus was God’s son, one-third of our Trinity God. The bad guys were trying to nail the Bible teacher with the most knowledge to a cross. Seems illogical, incongruous to me.

Nonetheless, the plot continued to develop. Those planning Jesus’ demise had no idea that they were fulfilling God’s agenda. Jesus had to die to take the sins of the world to the place of the dead. That way mankind’s sins could be forgiven, and the repentant could report to the Father. Everlasting life in God’s heavenly Kingdom could be the new reality for the faithful! Do your utmost to be among them!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

For Sunday, March 8, 2026:

John 14:8 NLT, Philip speaking: “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

Jesus has been telling the disciples about the life after this life. Philip, one of the 12, has questions about the Trinity, the 3-in-1 God. I understand. As I meet with people to answer their Bible questions, this is the #1 topic!

Understanding the awesome power of God Almighty helps us make sense of the Trinity. First, God is omnipotent, meaning all powerful. Mankind can imagine supernatural things, but God can actually do them. God had the power to create planets, our solar system, the whole universe and the space into which it could all be put; plants, animals and human beings, from scratch! He can create anything and do anything, so don’t be surprised when God does something out of the ordinary, something kind of unusual.

Our all-powerful God is also omnipresent. He can be in more than one place at the same time, simultaneously. Being omnipresent, God can decide to walk on planet Earth to rescue mankind, while remaining in Heaven. Sort of like cloning, but still of one mind. God can also do different things at the same time, multi-tasking, if you will. And if you pray to God, He’s never too busy to take the call. God doesn’t have voicemail or call waiting. Omnipresence makes him perpetually available.

Omniscience is another God trait. He possesses all knowledge. God is smart, much smarter than any of us! He knows what’s good for us, and even if it hurts, He’ll give us what’s best for us. Mankind is better off living under God’s plan.

So can Jesus show the Father to Philip? Jesus answered, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” I hope Philip gets it; I hope we ALL get it!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Jesus Direct!

For Friday, February 20, 2026:

Hebrews 13:15 NLT: “Let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.”

The key words in this scripture are, “through Jesus.” Jesus is our heaven connection. Before Jesus, Jewish priests fulfilled that function. The priests could present our petitions, good or bad, to the Lord. Mankind would seldom hear God’s response.

After Jesus, the process changed. Jesus is part of our Holy Trinity God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So if we offer prayers through Jesus, we’re already praying directly to God. No middle-man needed! God desires a direct relationship with each of us. (Note: This scripture was written to Hebrews, who would need adjust their beliefs post-Jesus.)

Interestingly, when Jesus died on the cross and took mankind’s sins to the place of the dead, the thick, heavy curtain isolating the Holy of Holies from public areas was torn in half, top to bottom, so God had to do the tearing himself, and mankind was no longer separated from God. Again, this was God’s doing. He decreed that it should be this way.

So we can praise God directly for his goodness, exalt his omniscience and offer confessions and repentance. In return, God can offer us forgiveness and a “mulligan,” a do-over, a second chance. With Jesus, we don’t just have a religion; we have a relationship!

What a friend we have in Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

God's Plan!

For Tuesday, September 16, 2025:

Mark 14:28 NLT: Jesus told the disciples, “After I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”

At that point, the disciples weren’t convinced that Jesus was going to die. After all, he could heal the sick and cure any disease. He could walk on water and calm a storm. He would cast out demons and declare them to be the root of mankind’s problems. Surely he would save himself!

They hadn’t reckoned with Jesus’ obedience and commitment to God’s plan to redeem mankind. And, being one of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it’s actually his own plan! As Jesus died on the cross, he took the sins of the world to the place of the dead. Loyal followers of Jesus, the believers, would then appear spotless on the day of judgment. Remember, God’s desire is that none would perish!

Jesus knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he would be raised from the dead. He’s so certain of this that he’s setting appointments. “I’ll catch up with you guys in Galilee!”

Our lesson here is that obedience to is God always best. Even when things look grim, stick with God. Jesus would be beaten and nailed to a cross until he died. He was still doing God’s tasks as he delivered the world’s sins to the place of the dead. God faithfully brought him back to life, and 40 days later Jesus ascended right up into God’s Kingdom, heaven! Most people never saw that coming, but Jesus had been faithful!

If we trust in God, everything works out for the best!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Holy Spirit!

March 31, 2025, Monday Message:

John 14:16-17a NLT, Jesus speaking: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate (Comforter, Encourager or Counselor), who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”

Believers already know about our Father in Heaven. And we now read the words of Jesus, who walked on the earth alongside mankind. Jesus said he’s returning to the Father, but that doesn’t mean we’ve been abandoned.

Think about this: The Son of God said he’s going to ask his Father to send an advocate for mankind, so that advocate is someone different, a third member of the Holy Trinity. We call him the Holy Spirit. He is our unseen defender against Satan and his demons. He gives us strength and assistance when we’re trying to complete the missions assigned to us by Jesus. He can facilitate solutions that answer our prayers. He’s our lawyer in the court of judgment and a trusted advisor for everything else. The Holy Spirit, like the Father and the Son, can only deal in truth, and remember that truth is God’s opinion on everything!

Jesus said that he would never leave or forsake believers and that he would never leave us without spiritual guidance. Hence, the Holy Spirit, and the Trinity is complete!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Immanuel!

For Tuesday, December 19, 2023:

Mark 2:6-7 NLT: “Some of the scribes, the teachers of religious law, who were sitting there thought to themselves, ‘What is Jesus saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!’”

Jesus had just healed a paralyzed man saying, “Your sins are forgiven!” The scribes called this “blasphemy,” reasoning that only God can forgive sins. Turns out that it wasn’t blasphemy; it was truth and they were right! Jesus said, “I and the Father are one,” on the same page, of one mind with the exact same value system. By the way, the Holy Spirit completes the Trinity, one God known to us in three different forms. (That’s an entirely different discussion!) But Jesus forgiving sin is akin to him acknowledging that he is indeed Immanuel, God with us.

Since sinning is disrespecting God, those who have sinned need to square things up with their Creator. Equally important is setting things right with the person against whom you sinned. But the paralyzed man had time to do neither. Jesus slipped him a “Get out of jail free” card, wiped his record of sin clean and gave him a fresh start. That’s called grace – undeserved favor. God dispenses grace because his heart’s desire is that no one would perish; that all would repent and return as children of God!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Trinity!

For Sunday, May 7, 2023:

John 14:8-9a NLT: “Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!”

Christians believe in one God who makes himself known to us in three different persons: God-the-Father on the throne in heaven; Jesus, known as the Son of God, who walked on earth alongside mankind; and the Holy Spirit, our advocate and comforter, with us until Jesus returns. But like I said, really only one God! Let me explain.

God in all his forms is omnipresent, able to be in many places at the same time. So it should come as no surprise that Jesus on earth could pray to his Father in heaven, or that Jesus could return to heaven to sit at the right hand of God while the Holy Spirit continues earthly work.

Our God is omniscient having all knowledge. After all, he designed many universes, knowing just where each planet should go, how far apart they should be and in which direction they should spin! God placed planet earth 93M miles from the sun, assuring mankind a perfect climate in which to thrive.

God is also omnipotent, all-powerful, which means he can accomplish any task to which he sets his divine mind.

I must confess that as I write or speak, I find myself often using the (technically) incorrect term. Usually it’s when Jesus says something, and I’ll write, “God said…” It happens because there’s really only one God, and in my mind, I consider the different forms simply as only one God. If I (or you) get it wrong, I don’t think it’s any big deal, and God is smart enough to figure out what was intended!

Jesus simplified it as he gave us a boat-load of knowledge: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Best Decision!

For Thursday, November 10, 2022:

John 14:23 NLT: “Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.’”

Jesus personally showed each of us how to live our lives. I remember a lot of bracelets, pins and stickers with the letters, “WWJD,” which stood for, “What would Jesus do?” When faced with a difficult question, just ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?,” and then do that.

The Father will be pleased with all who obey Jesus, so pleased that he will restore a New Heaven and a New Earth where everything will be perfect. On the New Earth, things will always go God’s way. Mankind had ‘free choice,’ and those on the New Earth will have chosen Jesus! Jesus told the disciples, “We will come and make our home with each of them.” “We” is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Obedience to Jesus is the best decision you’ll ever make!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Father, Son, Holy Spirit!

For Wednesday, November 9, 2022:

 John 14:6-7 NLT: “Jesus told Thomas, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!’”

Jesus is the way, the only way to eternal salvation. Every word he spoke was true, intended to teach those around him about sin, repentance, the Kingdom and salvation through him. Jesus is life. He bought us eternal life in the presence of the Father.

Some translations read, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” In practice of Christianity, there is really only one God, who is known to us in three different forms. But it’s still just one God. We pray to our Father in heaven in the name of Jesus who walked on earth alongside us. The Holy Spirit is moving among us now, until Jesus returns. The Bible says that Jesus was present at creation, and the Spirit moved over the waters of creation, but in the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. I get the three mixed up all the time, but I believe that God’s smart enough to sort it out.

Praying is always better than not praying.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Trinity God

June 29, 2020 Monday Message:

It’s summertime and we’ve all sheltered-in-place far too long, so let’s have a little fun for a few weeks with Norton’s Bible Trivia! Here we go!

Question: If the ‘Our Father’ God, His Son Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Spirit were all in the same room, how many people are in that room?  

Answer: One. God can appear to us in three distinct forms, but they are all the one true God. There IS only one God. 

God is omnipresent, meaning he can be everywhere-at-once.  He could be on the throne in heaven (which is a metaphor, by the way…) while Jesus walks with us on the earth at the same time.  The Holy Spirit can be with us now while Father God reigns over the universe from heaven, with Jesus at his right hand. They’re all the same God - One God.

Sometimes when I’m speaking or writing, I might start out talking about ‘Jesus’ and conclude by saying ‘God did this for us.’ No, I’m not confused. It’s just that in my mind, there really is only one God. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one,” are of one mind, share the same goals and values.

We’re supposed to ask the Holy Spirit to help us pray to Our Father in Heaven in Jesus’ name. But if we mix-up the names, God can figure it out. He’s really smart!

Norton Lawellin, Worship Pastor

Jesus in the City Fellowship.

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Trinity

Feb. 24, 2020 Monday Message:

“Israel, remember this! The Lord (Yahweh)—and the Lord alone—is our God.” Deut. 6:4

While the word “Trinity” isn’t in the Bible, facts throughout the Bible point to the Trinity principle:

a) There is only one God.

b) The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.

c) While the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are ONE God, they are forever distinct. This is one of the mysteries of our faith. “God things” aren’t always explainable in human terms, but we have faith in the Bible and we believe.

We have one God who has made himself known to us in three persons, three different forms. So while we have a “Trinity” understanding of God, Christians are unflinchingly Monotheistic. God speaking: “Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.” Isaiah 43:10

Jesus himself claimed the “Trinity” concept for us when he instructed his followers to, “Go and make disciples of all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matt. 28:19

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, March 1, 2020, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Jesus cures leprosy and paralysis, Luke 5:12-26 “Healings!” See you at church!