Jesus' Team!

For Tuesday, October 1, 2024:

1 John 4:6 NLT: “We belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.”

The Lord separates the sheep from the goats, and the sheep know their Shepherd’s voice and follow him. Goats of the world don’t (yet) know the Shepherd’s voice. They don’t listen to him and won’t follow him – unless God has opened their ears! My church calls them “not yet believers,” but still “potential believers.”

Jesus: “Anyone who has ears to hear should listen and understand.” The irony is that those who really need to hear the Gospel may have closed their minds to any new way of living. Believers can shout Good News at the top of their lungs, but unless the Holy Spirit has opened the ears and the minds of unbelievers, they will never hear or understand the redeeming message.

Jesus: “Whoever is not with me is against me.” It’s generally easy to tell who is on Jesus’ side. Those who adopt his lifestyle and value system are most likely “in.” But we still need to be cautious. Satan will lurk like a snake in the grass, unseen until he strikes out at the most inconvenient time!

So seek refuge in Father God’s lap in his big chair. Just as light and darkness cannot coexist, good and evil cannot coexist. Therefore the closer you are to God, the more you’ll be protected from evil!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Closer to God!

For Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Ephesians 2:13b NLT: “Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.”

Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus using thoughts and words from the way he was trained. As you may recall, Paul was at one time a zealous Jew. A rabbi once told me that surprisingly, the Hebrew language doesn’t have a lot of words about sinners. Everything is more often described as it relates to God. So a sinner is said to be ‘far from God.’ When one repents and returns, they are said to be ‘closer to God.’

Now that Paul has been shown the truth about Jesus the Messiah, he’s encouraging the members of the church in Ephesus, those who are now closer to God, those who have been blessed with eternal hope!

Paul’s message could have been written to a lot of us. At one point in our lives, we were far from God. But now, as believers, we are closer to God.

Believers share in that eternal hope - heaven awaits!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Thy Kingdom Come!

For Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Matthew 6:10 KJ21: “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.”

Jesus gave us these words in what has come to be known as The Lord’s Prayer. He’s teaching us how to pray.

John the Baptist counseled people: “Repent and return to the Lord, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” And it was! Jesus soon began his ministry, and we had the Kingdom of God living among us. Of course Jesus promised that he would return, so the Kingdom in all its glory will be among us once again, and that gives us hope!

The bad news is that a lot of the earth is full of sin and corruption. The good news is that there’s none of that in heaven. So we pray that a little bit of heaven would come to earth. If we want to be farther from sin, we need to get closer to God. Pray that the Glory of the Lord, the shekhinah, would fall into your part of the world!

On the “New Earth,” God will dwell among us!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Close to God!

For Sunday, August 8, 2021

Isaiah 33:21 NLT: “The Lord will be our Mighty One. He will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross, that no enemy ship can sail upon.”

Evil exists far away from God, and tries to chip in at the edges. But evil cannot exist in the presence of the Lord. Therefore if you’re trying to avoid evil, trying to avoid temptation, trying to avoid sin – the best solution isn’t to grit your teeth and try to fight it off. The much simpler and far more effective solution is to just get closer to God.

Like the Father who waited for his prodigal son to come home, God wants each of us to come home, and that gives us hope. Every time someone repents and returns, heaven celebrates!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Closer to God!

For Saturday, July 17, 2021

James 4:8a NLT: “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”

In the Bible, the Hebrews were God’s ‘chosen people.’ But sometimes, when consumed with themselves, God became an afterthought rather than the center of their lives. Understand that God still loved them, but God’s attention seems proportional to their devotion to Him. If they don’t spend any time with God, He won’t spend much time on them.

But when the Hebrews honored God, He would guide and protect them. It’s the same for each of us nowadays. If each day you strive to get closer to God, He will pour out more and more love upon you. Knowing that God makes time for those who seek Him gives us a lot of hope!

The closer you are to God, the more God can do for you!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Closer to God!

For Wednesday, July 14, 2021

2 Peter 1:2 TLB: “Do you want more and more of God’s kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better.”

Consider the prodigal son. When he strayed from the Father, his life became a mess; worse than you might expect, and deteriorating more quickly than you’d think. When he repented and returned, his life instantly became markedly improved. As you recall, the son went from feeding pigs to receiving the family crest at a banquet in his honor. What a contrast!

When the son returned to the Father, everything got way better. His life had been turned upside down, which now was actually to set the son right-side-up, putting his relationship with the Father back the way it was intended. And once again the son had hope!

The closer you are to God, the better life goes!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Closer to God!

For Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Isaiah 49:16a NLT, God speaking: “See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.”

God will never forget you, forsake you or abandon you. After all, He created you! And in his words, “Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?” Knowing that, we should be filled with eternal hope!

God is for you; God is on your side – today! At this hour! At this minute! No need to wait until tomorrow – God loves you this second! It’s unconditional love. His loyalty won’t increase if you’re better, nor will it decrease if you come up short. Just repose in God’s lap; rest in His arms.

The closer you are to God, the better life goes!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Closer to God!

For Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Ephesians 2:13 NLT: “Now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.”

In Hebrew jargon, a sinner is said to be “far from God.” The sinner is then counseled to repent and return, to come “closer to God.” Paul is applying this principle to the Gentile world, which includes most of us. We’re moved closer to God by faith, our belief in the sacrificial work Jesus did on the cross. 

Realize that Jesus on the cross was an act of redeeming love. Jesus-the-mediator was reconciling God and mankind, taking the sin of the world to the place of the dead, and making all who would believe acceptable before God Almighty!

The work Jesus did guarantees believers hope for the life after this life! 

Blessings to all this week!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Jesus Changed Everything!

March 25, 2019 Monday Message

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28

Before Jesus, believers were told to keep their distance from God. Moses was told by God-in-the-burning bush, “Do not come any closer.  And take your sandals off your feet – this is Holy ground.” Only authorized Priests could do certain things at the Temple, and only the Highest Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, only once a year, attempting to atone for the sins of all the people.

Jesus changed everything! Instead of advising people to keep their distance, Jesus said, “Come to me!” Jesus is the dividing line on this earth, between God separating himself from sinful mankind, and Jesus welcoming us home with open arms.

For all the good things Jesus did when he walked with us on earth, I believe his PRIMARY mission was the rescue of mankind. Jesus took the sins of the world upon himself, and he was the atonement for everything wrong in the world. That’s why Christians don’t have to do stuff to earn their way into eternity. The work was finished on the cross by Jesus. That’s why we say Christianity isn’t a “have to DO religion”; it’s an “already DONE religion!”

There’s nothing Jesus would rather do than to make our lives better – both our life here on earth, and our life in the next reality.

“Then the savior came, and He took the blame – changed everything!” from “Love Came Down,” Lenny LeBlanc & Lindell Cooley

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 10:30AM, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406. This week, Jesus meets Zacchaeus – find out the whole story! See you at church!

Psalms 107 - God's Deep Love

Aug. 28, 2017 Monday Message:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalms 107:1 NIV

It seems that the closer we are to God, the better life goes. And the farther we are from God, the more difficulties fall into our lives.

Psalm 107 goes into great detail about the plight of the Hebrew people and the predicaments in which they found themselves when they drifted farther from God. But each story also tells how God rescued them in their time of great need. “They cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” v6 “Give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love.” v8a

Jesus offered us similar assurance when he echoed the words of God: “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Deut. 31:6b, Matt. 28:20b

Once we’re adopted into the Holy Family, we have assurance of salvation – forever! God isn’t just a fair-weather friend. In fact, God already knows that your life will experience ups and downs. The Good News is that he’s not going anywhere, and neither is his Son. He is our God and we are his people, no matter what!

“If you are really wise, you’ll think this over — it’s time you appreciated God’s deep love.” Ps. 107:43 MSG

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM, with guest Worship Leader David Boeltl.

Psalms 91 - Closer to God

May 1, 2017 Monday Message:

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalms 91:1 NIV

Psalm 91 is about our relationship with God. It’s encouraging us to live our lives close to God. In the Hebrew tradition, a sinner is said to be “far from God.” But when that person repents and returns, they’re becoming “closer to God” – and the closer the better!

A good analogy is how a mother bird gathers her chicks under her wings for warmth and protection. God will bestow goodness on those under his wings, those who call him Lord.

The Psalm continues with a list of things you no longer need to fear if you’ve been adopted into the Holy Family.

Then God himself speaks the last 3 verses: “Because (the believer) loves me, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalms 91:14-16

Closer to God is always better!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers Sunday, May 7, 2017, at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. David Boeltl leads worship and Pastor Retha brings the message.

Psalm 6

July 06, 2015 Monday Message:

“Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.” Psalm 6:2a NLT

Ancient Jews would describe someone’s spiritual health in terms of their relationship with God. If someone was sinning, they were said to be “far from God.” If they changed their ways, they returned, turned back towards God (teshuva.) If they were now living a Holy life, they were described as “closer to God.”

We use similar analogies nowadays. “I was in darkness, but turned and came into the light.” “I was blind, but now I see.”

Life’s problems: sickness, misfortune, financial issues, failed relationships – all received prayer. But the prayer usually wasn’t about the specific problem; the prayer was for complete restoration by God. “How long, O Lord, until you restore me?” Psalm 6:3b

David speaks like all of us as he inserts a little extra drama into this prayer. “I am worn out from sobbing… I flood my bed with weeping… My vision is blurred by grief.”

But the net result is trust and confidence. “The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord will answer my prayer.” Psalm 6:9

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Proverbs 3:5a

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, July 12, Paul presents his testimony to the Sanhedrin, the Jewish High Council. See you at church!

Closer to God

July 14, 2014 Monday Message:

“God has made his people strong, honoring his faithful ones – the people of Israel who are close to him.” Psalms 148:14 NLT

My church’s ministry is in the inner-city, and violence, gangs, drugs and prostitution often surround the people to whom we minister. I have a couple of cliché sayings I like to use to encourage them.

“If you’re IN HERE, you’re NOT out THERE!” In other words, if you’re at the church, the treatment center, the self-help group, the small group, the Bible study – you’re NOT out on the streets where trouble’s waiting. And,

“If you’re doing THIS, you’re not doing THAT!” If you fill your time by serving others and helping out at church, your agenda will be so full of good stuff that you won’t have time to pursue things that could get you into trouble.

Stay close to God. Sin separates us from God and takes us farther from God, but TODAY is the accepted day to repent, return, and get right with God. God and sin cannot share the same space, so when you move closer to God, you automatically move farther from sin.

If you repent and call Jesus your savior, you are adopted into the Holy family, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities therein. Now you’re close to Him, just like the Israelites in Psalm 148. It's good to stay close to God.

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday, at 10:30am, in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, I’ll wrap up Acts 4. Peter and John get out of jail, but there’s a lot more to the story – don’t miss it!

Come unto Me

October 08, 2012 Monday Message:

“Come near to God, and he will come near to you.” James 4:8a

Before Jesus, mankind was wise to remain some distance from God, separate. Moses came down from Mt. Sinai sunburned! The earliest commands were about maintaining separation and distance. Only the highest priest, the kohen godol, could enter the Holy of Holies once per year.

But Jesus changed everything. He walked with mankind on earth. He developed a community of close friends. Many were notorious sinners, tax collectors, and harlots – Jesus rescued them all. He explained that he had not come for the righteous, but rather to rescue those who needed redemption. The veil was forever torn!

It was not the mission of Jesus to remain separate. God would not have sent a redeemer if we didn’t need rescuing. Jesus said to cause children to come to him, and to also come ourselves. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest! … and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 Phillips

Today, take one step closer to the Lord.

Norton Lawellin

Last Sunday, Jesus in the City Fellowship experienced an outstanding Sunday of worship, communion and fellowship with Familia de Fe that will be remembered for some time!

JICF worships this Sunday in the North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, 10:30am. Pastor Michael Pilla continues our journey in Luke. See you at church!

NL