Love Each Other!

For Sunday, May 17, 2026:

John 15:17 NLT, Jesus speaking: “This is my command: Love each other.”

Life was a bit more challenging 2K years ago. So caring for others was a radical departure from just caring for yourself. Jesus could have put any command in this space, but he chose “Love each other” as his theme.

While we were still sinners, Jesus gave his life for mankind’s sins. This is the primary thing for which he’s remembered, not just for wiping our record of sin clean, but for the love driving such an action.

So be nice. Be kind. Care for one another. Share with those who don’t have enough. Love those who don’t look like you or dress like you. Do the next right thing.

As we live our daily lives, quickly run each incident through your God filter. Is it good, is it right, is it fair, is it honest, is it helpful? Should we be doing this thing? Should we be doing more?

The Lord will tell you what to do if you ask!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Love God & Neighbor!

February 23, 2026, Monday Message:

Hebrews 13:16 NLT: “Don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.”

If something in the Bible is extra-important, the writer may repeat those words. They’ll change the text only slightly while restating the principal. The Bible says it twice for emphasis. We get to see it twice so the words sink in!

To facilitate doing good and sharing, Moses taught this message, and Abraham led his followers with these principals. Later, John the baptist previewed these lessons before Jesus, who taught this behavior throughout his entire ministry. These thoughts were some of Jesus’ last reminders as he transitioned to the life after this life.

In the Epistles, followers of Jesus are teaching these things to the Hebrew believers and the Roman converts. Paul dispensed these instructions as he planted churches throughout Asia Minor.

Today, we are the ambassadors bringing these words to the world. “Love God and love your neighbor.” Be nice, be kind, be helpful. Look for the next way to do the right thing. Instead of only looking out for #1, put “Loving the Lord” at the top of your agenda, followed by “compassion and caring” for those on the short end of life. Any prayers for ourselves should come after those items!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Please pray for peace in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Drug kingpin “El Mencho” and eight of his cohorts were killed in a Mexican military operation, and the Cartels are responding with violence. The airport is closed, school is cancelled and the town is basically on fire. Buildings and vehicles are being burned, including busses and the giant Costco store. Most roads are closed, and people are advised to shelter in place. The violence is spreading to neighboring towns in and around Jalisco, including Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, all US tourist destinations. Pray for everyone’s safety, for the violent killings to end and for the peace of the Lord to reign in the region.

Love like Jesus!

For Thursday, October 10, 2024:

1 John 4:19 NIV: “We love because he first loved us.”

Who are your friends? With whom do you like to spend your time? No one likes to hang out with mean people, those who are dour, those who have a bad attitude. We tend to like people who smile, who are positive and upbeat. And if that’s what we like, that’s also what we should become.

The best example of a good person is Jesus himself. Even when exhausted, he would stop to heal everyone who needed healing, relieving their misery. With compassion, he fed 5k men and their families who didn’t have the foresight to pack a lunch! He taught about God and the Kingdom, offering people a second chance at eternity, even the Samaritans! Jesus was a walking example of love!

The best example of Jesus’ love is that he loved us so much, he was willing to pay the penalty for our sins with his own life. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Follow the Leader!

For Tuesday, June 25, 2024:

1 Peter 3:1b-2 NLT: “Even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.”

This is “leading by example.” I’ve said many times that before Jesus, most people only looked out for themselves. But now everyone could visually witness the good will of “The Way.” Their love and kindness seemed like a better way to live. Caring about your brothers and sisters was a new idea, but people liked what they saw and wanted to become a part of it.

The early church grew by following a caring lifestyle. People wanted what these Christians had, and willingly signed up! Each day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved! The population of The Way greatly increased!

This wasn’t a hard sell. No one needed shouting evangelists or a revival tent meeting. Simply seeing others live their lives following the model of Jesus was enough to convince new believers! They will know we are Christians by our love!

All the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. Can you get onboard with that philosophy?

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

"Mine!"

For Thursday, February 8, 2024:

Mark 10:37 NLT, James and John asking Jesus: “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

In spite of all Jesus’ teaching about loving your neighbor and caring for the least of these, the human nature, the old way rises to the surface! Instead of helping others qualify for the kingdom, James and John are foremost concerned with their own positions in the life after this life.

There’s a toddler in our family about to enter the “terrible twos!” He loves to get his hands on things that aren’t his, like his mom’s cell phone or the TV remote. She tells him, “Give it back – that’s mommy’s phone.”

He responds, “Mine!” Like I said, he’s almost two!

Of course a great many things are NOT his, even though he declares, “Mine!” As his years increase, he’ll be taught to share and to care for others. Looking out for #1 will take a back seat.

James and John need to grow out of their “terrible twos.” In my opinion, they should never have asked such a favor of Jesus. It rises against everything Jesus had been teaching. But Jesus is kind, loving and forgiving, and doesn’t make a big deal out of it, saying, “That’s not my favor to grant.”

Jesus could have chewed them out, embarrassing them in front of their cohorts. He chose to not handle it that way! He took the high road!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Confidence in God!

For Friday, September 29, 2023:

Psalm 55:16 NIV: “As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me.”

David was declaring his confidence in the Lord. Although his life consisted of one crisis after another, God would time-after-time rescue him. Others would see God rescue David from impossible situations, so then they would want to learn about David’s God.

This is how the original church, The Way, grew by leaps and bounds. People saw kindness and love, people caring for one another. They liked what they saw and wanted to learn about it and become a part of that community.

If your home church is not attracting others, you can be a part of the solution. We should live our lives following the example of Jesus, and that love, caring and kindness will draw others in. They will want what we have!

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Citizens of Heaven!

For Sunday, September 24, 2023:

Philippians 2:5 NLT: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Just becoming a Christian isn’t the end of change in our lives. We need to also be intentional about living like Jesus lived. Paul writes about love, fellowship, compassion and tender hearts. He counsels the church in Philippi to agree wholeheartedly with one another and to work together with one mind and purpose. Get on the same page, y’all! Being selfish is off limits, and don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought. Caring for others should be high on your agenda.

Last Friday I live-streamed a message for Jesus In the City Fellowship, where I challenged viewers to picture heaven in their mind’s eye, asking, “What does it look like,” and, “What are the people doing?” Turns out they were all nice, helpful and loving their neighbors. They had smiles on their faces and a good attitude in their hearts. And Paul is counseling believers everywhere to live like citizens of heaven.

My best advice is to live like Jesus lived! Blessings as we worship today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Valentine's Day!

For Tuesday, February 14, 2023:

John 13:34 NIV, Jesus speaking: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Today we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day in much of the world. It’s a Christian Feast-day with cultural and romantic overtones. Let’s have a look.

Valentine was a common name in early Roman Christianity. Several legends persist surrounding the day’s origin, including a 3^rd Century Priest who was martyred, but the truth is that our knowledge of Valentine’s Day’s beginning is vague at best. Valentine isn’t in the Bible, but we celebrate it as a day of love, and love most certainly is in the Bible.

The Bible speaks of eros, the romantic love between a husband and wife; phileo, friendship for your brothers and sisters; and agape, a parent’s love for their children including God’s love for believers. As the church was beginning, observers would witness the caring, love and friendship of “the Way,” liked what they saw and wanted to become a part of the action. No one had previously seen that kind of helpfulness and it all looked good! The church grew by leaps and bounds!

Like the song says, “They will know we are Christians by our love! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Kindness!

For Saturday, November 5, 2022:

Mark 1:32-34a NLT: “That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. The whole town gathered at the door to watch. So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons.”

It had been the Sabbath. Jesus had been teaching in the Synagogue when a demon-possessed man disrupted the proceedings. So Jesus cast out the demon, thereby healing the man. They then returned to Simon and Andrew’s home, finding Simon’s mother-in-law in bed with a fever. Jesus immediately brought her to her feet, totally healed! Jesus had been working like this all day, and word spread quickly!

After sunset it was no longer the Sabbath, so the sick could be brought to Jesus for healing. Jesus continued working well into the night, healing all who came. This behavior is typical for Jesus – I call it the “God Trend.”

Jesus is trending towards love, compassion, caring and extreme kindness. He works tirelessly to be helpful, to enable people to receive what only he can deliver. That trend continues for Jesus’ entire life. That trend continues even now that Jesus has returned to the Father.

Jesus is the best model for how we should live our lives!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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