Cooperation!

For Friday, July 7, 2023:

Romans 1:12 NLT: “When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.”

Paul was writing from Corinth, but his personal goal was to bring the Good News to Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire. There were some believers already in Rome, and Paul wanted to join up with them, wanted to include them in his mission of getting the Gospel in front of Roman leadership.

Evangelism always goes better when everyone cooperates. After all, we share a common goal. Jesus’ Great Commission called all believers to take the Good News to all nations, to all people.

Example: When a Billy Graham Crusade is scheduled, they start by including local churches, often up to a year in advance. We see Baptists working with Lutherans, United Methodists working with Presbyterians, with the operative word being cooperation. The goal is to make more believers, more Christians, and not to advance any one denomination.

Your denomination has a lot in common with other Christians. It is only our differences – oftentimes small – that divide us. I pray that we could agree to disagree on our differences but work together to bring salvation to more people.

I believe that’s what Jesus would want!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

God's Timing

May 11, 2020 Monday Message:

“Stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:49b NLT

Patience is a virtue, and God’s timing is always right, but it’s sometimes hard for me to just wait. Even when I want to do the right things for the right reasons, I still need to wait for God’s appointed time. It’s not always easy…

In our scripture today, the believers had been following the risen Jesus, taking in His every word. And then Jesus told them this: “Stay here in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Stay, wait and be patient. Stay in Jerusalem, do not pass “Go,” do not collect $200, just wait – the Holy Spirit will let you know “when.”

Part of this passage is about obedience to God. The believers in fact did just as Jesus had asked – they waited for God’s timing. But the other lesson in this scripture is about cooperation, teamwork and unity. The Jesus followers were of one mind – they stayed together, they waited together, they prayed together. And when the Holy Spirit showed up, they were ready to go!

So how did that work out? First, they were given both visual and audible signs that the Holy Spirit was filling each one of them. Then they immediately segued to a Crusade-like event, where God took down the language barriers. Simon-Peter preached the message and gave an altar call. The faithful had been uncertain about the future of Christianity after the crucifixion of their leader. But God was on their side, and 3,000 were added to the flock that day.  Turns out that God’s timing was perfect then, and still is today.

As our world deals with the coronavirus pandemic, I have no doubt that God will provide a solution when the time is right. We just need to wait for God’s timing. Like I said, it’s not always easy…

God’s blessings on you and your loved ones – stay safe!

Norton Lawellin, Worship Pastor

Jesus in the City Fellowship.

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