Who Is This Guy?

April 27, 2026, Monday Message:

Mark 11:27-28 NLT: “Jesus and the disciples were walking through the Temple area, when the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right to do them?”

Those posing the question didn’t really like Jesus. They were prejudiced against him. He was a threat to their authority and income. So they asked him kind of a trick question. If Jesus said he was on his own, he wouldn’t possess the authority to demand compliance. If he said he was sent by God, they would demand proof.

Jesus answers their question with one of his own, like the storybook troll asking you to solve a riddle before crossing a bridge. “I’ll answer your question if you can answer mine. What about John the Baptist? Who gave him authority?”

The priests and teachers didn’t know how to answer. They hadn’t obeyed John, so they couldn’t admit that his words were heaven-sent. On the other hand, they didn’t want to say John was merely human, because most people thought John was a prophet. So this collection of the greatest religious minds in all of Israel finally answered, “We don’t know.” Duh!

Consequently, Jesus refused to give them an answer. To him, the answer should have been obvious. Who would know all of God’s laws, the best way for us to live? Who could heal any malady, making people as good as new? Who could raise Lazarus from the dead? Everyone may not have known that Jesus is God’s Son, but they should have been able to discern that his actions were heaven-sent.

Jesus wants us all to answer that question, “Who do you believe he is?” Read and re-read the eyewitness accounts until you get it. Jesus is the heaven-sent Son of the Most High, who was sent here to rescue mankind. His mission was successful!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Temptations!

For Wednesday, April 15, 2026:

Luke 4:1b-2a NLT: “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days.”

This was a major event in Jesus’ life. He must have talked about it, retold the story many times. He had not yet called the 12, and yet they write about it.

It’s the classic battle between good and evil. Satan’s goal is to derail anything God is for. Truth and honesty are prime targets. Lust and greed are high on Satan’s list. He offers authority and influence, worthless because Jesus already has those traits. In the end, Jesus refuses each of Satan’s offers, countering with scripture: “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”

Satan should have just given up. Was God’s Son ever going to oppose his Father? I think not! And yet Satan has to try. It’s in his job description! Jesus refuses Satan’s offers, and that fits his job description. Our job as Christians is to do what Jesus did. Be nice, be kind, love our neighbors, and most of all love the Lord and all that he stands for!

Many temptations will confront us in this life, and our job is to reject Satan and side with Jesus. He was heaven-sent to deal with mankind’s sin issues. He carried away our sins, leaving believers unblemished, spotless in God’s eyes, and eligible for residence in God’s eternal heavenly Kingdom!

Keep your eyes on the prize!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Heaven-sent!

September 29, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 20:1-2 NLT: One day as Jesus was teaching the people and preaching the Good News in the Temple, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”

It was an odd situation. Jesus had turned the Temple upside down as he threw out the vendors and money-changers. Now he’s showing up daily to teach the Good News, the Gospel. He would commandeer a space, and huge crowds would gather, hanging on his every word! None of this was authorized by the Priests or Elders.

Picture this in your mind’s eye. Pretend you have a new method for understanding higher mathematics. You go to your local high school and find that the cafeteria is unused most of the day. So you set up shop and begin teaching your methods. Soon, the room is bursting at the seams, filled with curious students (who are NOT in their regular Math class!) The principal faces a quandary. You’re not authorized to teach and should be thrown out, but the students seem to love their new teacher, and have threatened to riot if their opportunity to learn is cancelled. What to do?

Jesus was called on the carpet by the Pharisees: “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”

Jesus responded to their question with one of his own. “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” The Temple leaders didn’t have a good answer, so the confrontation died.

If Jesus claimed to be God’s Son, he might have been killed on the spot. We now know that his earthly mission was to share the Good News, to heal those who needed healing and to be the one-time sacrifice for the sins of the world. Because of Jesus, believers have been forgiven. Because of Jesus, believers have been redeemed! His authority comes from Heaven!

Have a blessed week!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Obedience and Faith!

For Saturday, August 23, 2025:

John 13:2: “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.”

The Jesus we worship is both fully God and fully human. He was heaven-sent to redeem mankind, and this mission remained front-of-mind throughout his ministry. At the same time, he knew that mission would incur brutal treatment, suffering and eventually death (in the human sense.) Being fully God, he had control over everything. He could have pulled the plug on this mission at any time to save his skin. But that would have sabotaged the greater mission. He was willing to endure personal misery to bring heaven’s mission to fruition. We call this obedience.

God wants to see obedience in each one of us. Jesus’ mother Mary replied to the angel, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Total obedience! The concept is to 100% agree with the Lord. “Whatever God wants, I’m in!”

How did this scenario end? Jesus was raised from the tomb three days later, eventually returning to heaven and reuniting with the Father. Mankind’s sins had been forgiven according to God’s plan. You see, God’s plan always works out for the best! Pray that you and I could better learn obedience. And give us faith to persevere until it’s our turn to live in the Kingdom.

Obedience and faith – a good combination! Trust God – everything will be all right in the end!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Authorized Believers!

For Saturday, May 3, 2025:

Mark 16:20 NLT: “The disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.”

Following Jesus’ ascension back to the Father, his disciples didn’t just sit around. They got right to work. Where did they go? This scripture says, “Everywhere!” They went all over Jerusalem, all over the countryside, and eventually all over Israel. What did they do? They preached the Good News, the Gospel, the story of Jesus coming to earth to rescue mankind, to personally pay the price for the sins of the world. They were doing exactly what Jesus told them to do. They were evangelizing! (See Matthew 28.)

How did Jesus respond to the believer’s efforts? Jesus (and God) fully supported their mission with healings and other miraculous signs. (I will never leave you or forsake you.) These lent credibility to their testimonies. If the believers intended to heal a sick person and that person actually got well, non-believers would be convinced. Also the person healed would most certainly be convinced, and would tell others!

Jesus oftentimes authorized believers to perform the same seemingly impossible miracles he did. He made it look easy. He told his followers, “Just use my name!” Jesus sent out 72 in Luke 10, and the 12 disciples in Matthew 10, authorizing them to: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons.”

Right now, the evil Satan has the run of this world. But Satan is a created being who eventually will have to answer to God. God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit–can bring Satan down faster than the Timberwolves took down the Lakers! In the meantime, we no longer have to suffer abuse from Satan. Jesus gave all believers (how many? ALL believers!) authority over the devil by using Jesus’ name. Say it with me: “In the name of Jesus!”

The name of Jesus instills fear in the heart of the evil one!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Godly Authority!

For Saturday, September 25, 2021

Proverbs 29:2 NLT: “When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.”

Q: Who should lead the United Nations? Who should lead the United States? Who should lead our State and our City? For that matter, who should lead our church?

A: We should always choose a godly person as our leader, a man or woman who knows the Lord. We should choose someone who prays, someone who consults God prior to difficult decisions.

We all benefit when the godly are in charge, but the organization suffers when the wicked rule. With the wicked, lawlessness increases and freedoms diminish. The rule of the wicked is bad for everyone, both the righteous and the wicked.

With godly people leading us, we have hope!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Light to the World!

For Saturday, December 19, 2020

Luke 1:78-79 NLT: “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to visit us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Zechariah prophesies remarkable Good News: God's Son will break through heaven's barriers to walk on earth alongside mankind, and that gives us an abundance of hope!

Jesus will teach with the authority of heaven, speaking convincingly because he actually knows truth firsthand. Mankind's knowledge of God will increase exponentially during Jesus' three years of ministry! And knowing more about God brings us all closer to God!

Each year we celebrate the coming of Jesus – Merry Christmas!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Psalm 33

February 15, 2016 Monday Message:

“Sing to Him a new song...” Psalm 33:3a

Musicians love Psalm 33: “Sing joyfully to the LORD; Praise the LORD with the harp; Make music to Him on the 10-string lyre. Play skillfully and shout for joy!” The Hebrew word can be translated either “shout” or “sing,” so “Shout to the LORD” could be “Sing to the LORD.” But we shouldn’t stop there; let’s look at WHY we sing and shout all this praise.

#1 God is our creator, creator of the earth, creator of the universe… creator of ALL things, near and far. “For God spoke, and it came to be.” Psalm 33:9a

#2 God is the final authority in all matters. “The plans of the LORD stand firm forever.” Psalm 33:11a

#3 God loves us, cares for us, and provides for us. “Our Hope is in His unfailing love.” Psalm 33:18b

So Psalm 33 gives us at least three good reasons for WHY we should sing a new song to the LORD. It concludes with a prayer: “May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.” Psalm 33:22

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at 10 am every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, Pastor Michael Pilla continues teaching from Romans.