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

God-given Instinct!

For Friday, November 29, 2024:

1 Thessalonians 5:21b-22 NLT: “Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.”

As a person becomes a loyal believer, a follower of Jesus and the New Covenant, we can easily separate life into two categories: things we should do, and things we shouldn’t do. With the New Covenant, Jesus taught that these laws are written on our hearts. Therefore we don’t need long lists of rules, lists of commandments, because we should instinctively know right from wrong.

And if we know what to do, we also know what NOT to do! God gave us intelligence and a gift of discernment. He gave us brains and expects us to use them! We need to slow down and lose our knee-jerk reactions to life’s problems. Take a minute and ask yourself if your reaction is good, right, fair and honest. Ask yourself, “Should I be doing this?”

Many bad decisions are put in motion when we don’t take the time to stop and think things through, to use the minds our Creator put in our heads!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth!

For Wednesday, April 10, 2024:

Colossians 2:3 NLT: “In Christ himself lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

You can read the entire Bible cover-to-cover and you won’t find any scripture where God was wrong. God’s people can do wrong, and sometimes God has to rethink his plan because of mankind’s mistakes. But from God comes all wisdom and knowledge! Truth is God’s opinion on everything!

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. So Jesus had the same value system as his Father. It’s said that he lived a perfect life. No other person has been able to accomplish that! In proving who Jesus was, his perfect life rose to the evidential surface. He was never wrong, and obedient to his Father even onto the end when it cost him his life.

Paul wrote, “You will only find all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Jesus. He has them all.” It’s not wrong to seek wisdom and knowledge, but we must seek it through the life of Jesus and his teaching.

Slow down your pace of living just a bit. Take time to ask, “What would Jesus do?” Whatever he would do is the right thing!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Homeboy!

For Saturday January 13, 2024:

Mark 6:2 NLT: “The next Sabbath Jesus began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, ‘Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?’”

We know that Jesus is the best source of knowledge about God and heaven. After all, God is his father and the Kingdom is his permanent address.

In Nazareth, everyone was amazed when Jesus taught in the Synagogue. But the question came up as to how Jesus had acquired all that knowledge. The townspeople knew him as the son of Mary and Joseph. They knew his brothers and sisters. Their entire family was a part of community life in Nazareth, and to them, Jesus was just “one of the guys!” Having grown up together, they had no reason to consider him “special.” Many of his friends refused to believe, and Jesus was amazed at their unbelief.

As young adults, they worked alongside one another as a “tekton,” or builder. Jesus is traditionally thought of as a carpenter, but tekton/builder says stonemason may have been his skill. Instead of having a little wood-shop, putting up larger walls and buildings may be more accurate!

Jesus summed it all up: “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown.” That’s as true today as it was 2,000 years ago. I’m sure the residents of Tupelo, Mississippi thought Elvis was an “OK” singer. He grew up there. But they had no idea what would take place when he visited Sun Studios in Memphis!

Sometimes you have to get out of your hometown!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Wisdom!

For Tuesday, August 22, 2023:

Psalm 111:10 NLT: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!”

We all know that “fear” means being afraid. But there are alternate definitions for this word. Merriam-Webster’s says fear is also “profound reverence and awe, especially toward God,” and that’s what the Bible is meaning here.

I heard something at church that really applies. We should all carry this definition in our hearts. “Truth is God’s opinion on everything!” So when you’re not sure what to do, check your Bible. Get God’s opinion on the matter. God’s opinion will be the truth!

God will not change his mind. God, his Son and their value system are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. So when we seek God’s truth on a matter, lock that answer in. It’s a forever answer.

Wisdom seems to be a rare commodity nowadays, but God dispenses it freely to believers! Be one of the believers!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Sustainable Wisdom!

For Saturday, August 5, 2023:

Psalm 111:10 NLT: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!”

Believers are shown more and more wisdom, and those who are wise get closer to the Lord!

It’s far too easy to just take God for granted and fail to appreciate the genius in the design of our planet and of mankind. The sustainability is a miracle, the earth regenerating itself with the seasons. Every spring, more green leaves; every summer, new crops. Female and male coming together to procreate. God’s intelligent design allows these ideals to be perpetuated from generation to generation.

So take a moment to meditate on God’s gifts that allow our lives to continue. Thank him! Take in some of the wisdom he has shown you! Share God’s wisdom with others, that they too may become wise and grow closer to the Lord.

You’re at the game, so get off the bench and play for God’s team!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Freedom to Choose!

For Thursday, July 13, 2023:

Romans 1:22 NLT: “Claiming to be wise, they (those who reject God) instead became utter fools.”

Mankind was made to worship. And if someone rejects the one true God, that person will likely find something else to worship. Then they’ll tell everyone about their new god, their new hero, hoping to be perceived as cutting-edge, wise and innovative. But those who already love the Lord know a fool when they see one!

A person’s rejection of God’s general revelation does not make him smarter or better. In fact, once a person rejects the truth of God in Jesus, he will fall for any foolish thing, and trust far more feeble and fanciful systems than what he rejected from God.

It must sadden God when his presence is made so obvious to mankind, yet some search further. For this God doesn’t dish out vengeance, but he will allow us to suffer the full consequences of choosing the wrong path, the damage to which our sinful course leads.

God created us with the freedom to choose correctly!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Wisdom!

For Wednesday, December 7, 2022:

2 Timothy 3:15 NLT: “You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.”

I hope each of you was schooled in the holy Scriptures from childhood. I feel very fortunate that my parents attended church regularly, and that we had Bibles in the house. Everyone who lives in the US is also fortunate, since Christianity is still the prominent religion. When we choose to follow Jesus, we’ll see a lot of our friends doing the same thing.

Holy Scripture keeps proving itself true. Everything predicted in the Bible has come true, or will in the near future. Therefore, trusting the Bible shows our wisdom. We won’t be let down if we quote the Bible!

That wisdom will also point us to trusting Christ Jesus. Those who put their faith, hope and trust in Jesus will have their sins washed away, and will receive the gift of salvation, eternity in the presence of God Almighty! Accepting Jesus as your Savior shows your wisdom to the world!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Honor vs Shame!

 

For Thursday, December 1, 2022:

Proverbs 3:35 NLT: “The wise inherit honor, but fools are put to shame!”

Believers are adopted into the Holy Family. We become “Children of God.” If we are to inherit honor, where would that come from? Obviously, from our Father! By the way, he’s also the one sending fools to the lake of fire!

In the US, there’s a saying that “your karma will come back to you.” It’s borrowed from the Hindu people in India. They believe in re-incarnation, and that your actions in this life will determine your position in the next. Christians don’t believe in re-incarnation, but we believe the scenario will play out in this life. You will be treated as you treat others. If you treat others with kindness, they will most likely show you kindness in return.

The ultimate reward comes as we transition from this life to the next. If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died paying the penalty for your sins – if you count him as Lord and Savior of your life – then you know that Jesus promised to prepare a place for you in his Father’s house. That is indeed ‘honor!’

May all believers get to see heaven from the inside!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Trust in the Lord!

For Tuesday, November 29, 2022:

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

If you could ask God for one thing, what would it be? Solomon could have asked for great wealth, great power or a harem – but he already had those things. His request was for wisdom. If you are wise, everything else falls into place. Being wise includes trusting in the Lord with all your heart, and consulting with him about which paths to pursue. It had worked well for Solomon, and he wanted to share this principle of life with his son.

Many of us are afraid to let God direct our paths. We would much rather direct ourselves. But if being a child of God is our goal, we need to get out of the driver’s seat. The one who knows our destination should be the one doing the driving!

With the Bible, with leading of the Holy Spirit, through the counsel of others and with God-given common sense, the Lord will direct our paths. Trusting in the Lord, we will walk along our way of life and come to see that we have been on the path God intended all along!

God’s way is the best way!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship