Love!

For Sunday, August 23, 2026:

Luke 6:35 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.”

We already love those who love us. Jesus is telling us to offer that love to everyone, even those who aren’t on your side. He wants being nice, kind and helpful to become our first response in any situation. In short, we should always do what Jesus did.

While we can’t earn our way into heaven, God will look kindly on those who obey his Son’s teaching. If you stop and think about it, heaven’s response will mirror your own behavior. If you’ve shown love to all, you’ll be welcomed with open arms. But if you’re known as a jerk here on earth, heaven may have second thoughts. Let’s not go there!

Love your friends, and show kindness to your enemies. But most of all, love the Lord!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

See You Later!

For Saturday, August 15, 2026:

John 16:17-18 NLT: Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does Jesus mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”

When the disciples say that they don’t understand, that’s an understatement! Jesus is about to do what has never been done before! He will be crucified and buried in a tomb. He will not be seen for three days, but will eventually walk away from it all. Everybody will see him again! Then Jesus will ascend into the sky as he returns to the Father, not to be seen for quite some time. But as our lifetimes come to an end, we’ll enter the Kingdom where we’ll see Jesus once again!

Believers will for sure see Jesus! At judgment, he’ll explain how our sins are forgiven. He’ll welcome us into the Kingdom with open arms!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Faith in Colossae!

For Wednesday, August 12, 2026:

Colossians 2:5b NLT, Paul writing to the church in Colossae: “I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.”

It would seem that Paul received a positive report regarding the Colossian church. No one is reporting problems. Everything seems to be running smoothly. As a group, they’re living the way they should, the way Jesus instructed.

But the best news of all was that their faith is unwavering. Some people’s faith plot looks like a roller coaster, up and down, up and down. But the Colossian church’s graph continued up and to the right. They celebrate their faithfulness daily, even increasing belief as time goes on.

Faith is the cornerstone of Christianity. Jesus will return, and on that day everything will happen just as Jesus told the faithful. The sheep will be separated from the goats. As we enter the next reality, we’ll arrive at judgment and be told that our sins are forgiven by the work Jesus did on the cross. And being without sin, we’ll learn that we have been chosen to reside in God’s eternal heavenly Kingdom. That’s Good News indeed!

We have faith because Jesus never told a lie. If everything else he said proved true, our destination in the life after this life must also be true. Jesus will be there to welcome us with open arms!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & 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

Gift Results!

For Tuesday, December 16, 2025:

Romans 5:16 NLT: “The result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.”

Adam and Eve’s sin led to condemnation. There was no intercessor. But with Jesus, our intercessor stepped in. Mankind has still sinned, but those sins are forgiven, and our slate has been wiped clean. God’s gift gives us a fresh start at living a proper life. Faith in the Son is the connection that plugs us in with the Father. Faith in the Son buys our ticket to eternity, a heavenly encounter with the Lord. Faith in the Son results in Assurance of Salvation!

When you believers get to the pearly gates, explain that you’re with that one guy right over there, the one seated just to the right of God. Jesus is there to welcome believers with open arms. He has prepared a place for each of us. In our hearts, we know that Jesus has been anticipating our arrival!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Switch Sides!

For Saturday, June 7, 2025:

Acts 2:41 NLT: “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.”

When good things occur that defy logic and common sense, I credit God. It could be the Holy Spirit or Angels, but ultimately, God is behind the scenario.

50 days ago, a similar crowd of Jews was shouting, “Crucify him!” Maybe they had time to think about what had transpired. Perhaps Peter’s speech, making a case for Christ, touched their hearts. Or did God simply open their minds to see the truth?

HOW it happened doesn’t matter nearly as much as WHAT happened. Remarkably, 3k people decided to switch sides. Previously, they were at odds with Jesus and his disciples. But now they’re friendly, seeking advice: “Brothers, what should we do?”

Repent and return to the Lord is the answer. Be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit. Abandon the self-serving Pharisees, and sign on with ‘The Way,’ the group following the teaching of Jesus. People of The Way love their neighbors and will welcome newcomers with open arms!

Friends, this is serious business. Making a decision to follow Jesus is life-changing. Nothing will be the same, and most likely will be better. With Jesus setting your agenda, new doors will open and new opportunities will arise. So get out of the driver’s seat, and give Jesus a turn! I predict that you’ll like the result!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Second Coming!

May 5, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 10:12 NLT, Jesus speaking: “I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than a non-welcoming town on judgment day.”

Jesus sent out 72 disciples to prepare cities for his arrival. If a town welcomed them, his instructions were to “Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’” If a town rejected the disciples, they were told to “wipe even the dust of that town from your feet to show that they are abandoned to their fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!”

Think about it – either way, Jesus is coming. The Kingdom of God is near! The question isn’t, is Jesus coming or not? He’s on his way! The question becomes, are you going to welcome him or reject him? This should be an easy decision. In the words of Jesus, “even wicked Sodom will be better off than a non-welcoming town on judgment day.”

When Jesus walked on earth alongside mankind, he spoke of his second coming. So he IS coming again, and the event has been on his agenda for a couple of thousand years – so far! Present-day believers are like the 72 Jesus sent out 2k years ago. We’re to tell everyone that the Kingdom of God is near, and that they need to make a decision – to welcome Jesus, or not. That’s called the Great Commission, a job assigned to all believers.

Jesus seems to delay his return, giving us more time to evangelize more people, all candidates for the Kingdom!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Welcome!

November 25, 2024 Monday Message:

Matthew 23:39 NLT, Jesus speaking: “For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Think of it like this. Jesus will return when the people here on earth like him, when we’re obedient and also welcoming. Jesus said that he and the Father are one, so he COULD go anywhere he wanted, being of the Holy Trinity. But ask yourself this question: Why would anyone want to go where they aren’t welcomed?

Welcoming the Father, Son or Holy Spirit isn’t just putting out the welcome mat. And it’s not mankind allowing God to come here. God doesn’t need our permission to do anything! But we are first to love the Lord, which means honoring the words in his Book and living our lives in harmony with Jesus’ example. It’s trusting the Holy Spirit for guidance as we live our lives.

Heaven should be able to plainly see that we are God’s people, and that the Lord is our God and Jesus is our Savior. Then Jesus can return, confident that he is welcome!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Heaven!

 For Wednesday, July 03, 2024:

1 Peter 3:22 Phillips: “Jesus has now entered Heaven and is at God’s right hand, with all angels, authorities and powers subservient to him.”

Q: You’ve told us all about this wonderful Savior. We want to meet him. Where is he now?

A: Jesus told us he’d be returning to our Father (and his Father) in heaven, and now occupies the place of honor alongside God. Everything Jesus predicted has come to fruition, so we would expect this also to be true.

And Jesus told us that he would go to heaven first, to prepare a place for each of the believers. Count on it! Then when we knock on heaven’s door, he’ll be there to welcome us with open arms!

Have the faith to trust the words of Jesus!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship