Faith = Good Idea!

For Wednesday, October 22, 2025:

Hebrews 11:1 TLB: “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.”

What is faith? Good question! Habakkuk 2:4b says that the righteous will live (eternally) by faith. So faith in Holy things assures us of residence in the forever Heavenly Kingdom.

Faith includes believing that God-the-Father loves us, and that he sent his Son to redeem us. The faithful believe that Jesus is indeed the Son of God and that all His promises (prophecies) are true. We believe through faith that Jesus can and will do what He said He will do. We believe that God-the-Father, Jesus-his-Son and the Holy Spirit are one God. Believers have no doubt that all of God’s promises will come to fruition. He is, after all, God!

Faithful believers know that Jesus preceded the bulk of mankind into the life after this life, to prepare our forever residence. The believer-filled church is the bride of Christ, and we will be honored to attend the wedding banquet in Heaven’s Great Hall!

Jesus is offering us a gift we cannot repay, residence in an unseen reality for an unending length of time. Our faith tells us that it will be the best thing ever! Sounds good to me! Does it sound good to you?

Pastor Norton Lawellin
Jesus In the City Fellowship
 

Banquet Invitation!

For Thursday, July 3, 2025:

Luke 14:18a NLT: “But those invited to the banquet all began making excuses.”

Jesus told this parable of a man who threw a huge banquet for everyone he knew – friends, relatives, business acquaintances. This event was important to the man, but to his friends, apparently not so much. They began concocting excuses explaining why they couldn’t attend. “I just bought a new field and have to inspect it.” “I’m buying new oxen and have to check them out.” “I just got married! Duh!” That may be the only reasonable explanation for missing the banquet!

The disappointed man told his helper, “Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” These are people who could really use a good meal! When they were seated, empty chairs still remained. “Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.” The man would not be denied his celebratory banquet! He concludes, “None of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.” The first will be last.

Jesus’ parable points to the heavenly banquet in the Kingdom of God. Believers in the church are the bride of Christ, and there will be a great wedding feast when everything comes together in God’s time. When you’re invited to that banquet, don’t be wishy-washy! Immediately is the best time to confirm your reservation!

God gives plenty of second chances, but not this time. When we see who’s hosting the event, our answer should be an instantaneous, ‘YES!’

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Wedding - You're Invited!

For Tuesday, September 12, 2023:

Romans 8:16 NLT: “All creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.”

Peggy Lee won a Grammy for her late 1960’s song asking the rhetorical question, “Is that all there is?” In fact, there’s a whole lot more in store for believers! Jesus said so!

Believers from the church (the bride of Christ) will be gathered up in one magnificent event for the wedding feast in heaven. God told us through his Word that we could be included in this great celebration if we stick with his Son Jesus! Then we get to live out eternity in the presence of God along with all the saints. It’s a free gift for believers. God is good!

Make sure that you’re ready for that special day! The rest of creation is looking forward to it!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Heaven or Hell?

For Sunday, August 20, 2023:

Romans 5:21 NLT: “So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

That was then, but this is now. In the past, mankind’s sin resulted in eternal separation from God. But now, God’s grace and forgiveness through his Son Jesus is our ticket to a much better eternity.

The Bible contrasts the two destinations as “eternal life” and “eternal death.” We simply know it as heaven and hell, and we get to choose one. Choose wisely. It’s a decision with forever ramifications.

I often explain all mankind living forever in the life after this life. The question is, where will you be spending your time? You can be with God and his Son, a member of the bride of Christ (the church.) Or you can be bobbing in a lake of fire, about to go down for the third time.

Your choice!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

God's Love!

For Sunday, September 25, 2022::

Galatians 3:28 NIV: “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

All humans were created in God’s image. He loves each and every one of us, and his desire is that none would perish. You could be Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, black or white or any other color. You could be short or tall, have a lot of money or be dirt-poor, it makes no difference. God shows no prejudice when it comes to our inclusion in his Kingdom. Those who are friends of Jesus are friends of God – no exceptions!

Paul writes that our devotion to Jesus is like donning a new set of clothes. Here’s an example: You may do manual labor all week, but pretend that your daughter is getting married. You clean up. If you’re a man, you put on a tuxedo. If you don’t own one, you rent one for the occasion. If you’re a woman, you get a fancy dress for this special event. In other words, we put on special clothes for a special celebration. It’s like that. You’ve been given an invitation to heaven, so it’s time to put on the special “Jesus” clothes!

After all, the church is the bride of Christ, so we ARE going to a wedding!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Psalm 45

May 23, 2016 Monday Message:

“My heart is moved by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king.” Psalms 45:1a HCSB

C. S. Lewis said it best: some of the psalms have dual meanings. He also wrote that Psalm 45 is a good example of this.

Most of Psalm 45 speaks to the king and queen of Israel. But that was then, and this is now. 2,000 years ago, heaven came to earth as the “Son of Man,” Jesus the Christ, our Messiah. So we no longer worship an earthly king. Our King is now the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world; these words are intended for our King of kings.

The queen is a person the king marries, and the Bible calls the church “the bride of Christ.” So the portion of this message addressed to the queen is really for all believers, everyone in the church.

It continues the theme that after Jesus walked the earth, we live in a new era, with a new deal, under a new covenant with God.

We tend to see the worldly church around us, the church of mankind with all its problems and faults. We see everything “wrong.” But Jesus sees the church as beautiful – after all, it’s his bride! Jesus sees everything that’s right with the church.

I’m helping a Christian friend complete a CD project, and the title song is, “It’s a Brand New Day!” After Jesus, everything changed – for the better, I might add!

“The people will praise you forever and ever.” Psalm 45:17b From the Hebrew, this literally means as far as the eye can see. For us it means Praise the LORD always and forever.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets 2 more Sundays at 10 am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. Then, (Hallelujah!) June 12 will be the first service in our new location, the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406. This week, Pastor Michael Pilla continues our study in Romans.