God's Kingdom!

For Tuesday, August 12, 2025:

Luke 17:20 NLT: “The Pharisees asked Jesus, ‘When will the Kingdom of God come?’”

There was always a little hostility as the Pharisees questioned Jesus. It was on their agenda to have Jesus killed. It just hadn’t happened yet! They needed a bullet-proof reason to justify Jesus’ murder, hence the trick questions. So they challenged him to either “put up” and produce the Kingdom of God, or to “shut up” and stop claiming he was the Messiah!

Jesus gave them the correct answer, but it wasn’t what they were expecting. “The kingdom of God is not observable. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you! It’s within your grasp!” Jesus knew that the Pharisees’ hostility and preconceived doubt would render them unable to see or receive the kingdom of God. In fact, the Kingdom of God was among them because the King of kings was among them!

So as we believers live out our lives, I want us all to look for signs of the Kingdom, people loving God and loving their neighbors. These aren’t all big things. As I walked into a convenience store yesterday, a man was coming out, and he insisted on holding the door open for me. I told him, “That’s OK, you go first.” He would not! He insisted on being nice and would not take “no” for an answer. That forced me to walk “in” the “out” door, which is strictly against my nature!

This morning, my youngest daughter sent a picture of two baby birds that hatched in her porch fern. These puffballs had their beaks open to the sky, waiting for mom and dad to insert some nutrition! Just born, how do they know to open their beaks? How do the parents know to gather food? Who told them to reproduce? How do they fly? Only God!

From now on, find your own examples of God stuff, and then give thanks. The Kingdom is a marvelous place to live if you’re on the Jesus Team!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Believe!

April 11, 2023 Monday Message:

Luke 24:38-39 NLT: “’Why are you frightened?’ Jesus asked. ‘Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.’”

Two men had been walking toward Emmaus. Jesus joined them, teaching about all the prophesies fulfilled by his death and resurrection, but they did not recognize him. As they sat for dinner, it all came into focus. This indeed was Jesus himself! But once they recognized him, he vanished!

Excited, the two men assembled their friends to tell them about the incident, and suddenly Jesus appeared in their midst! Everyone was frightened. They thought they were seeing a ghost, but Jesus reassured them and told them to use their heads! Check it out: “Look at my hands. Look at my feet. Touch me to prove that my body is real.”

Everything that recently happened was fulfilling scripture. Jesus dying for the sins of the world was part of God’s plan for including us in eternity! The two men were eyewitnesses, sharing what they observed with the world! Their testimony is our proof! Jesus wondered, if you’re seeing this with your own two eyes, “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?” Friends, we need to make a decision for Christ based on what we’ve observed!

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Who IS This Guy?

Feb. 3, 2020 Monday Message:

“Who do you say I am?” Matt. 16:15; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20

Simon Peter answered the question for all of us. “You are Christ, Son of the Living God.”

If we’re a member of a church following Jesus, we should want to know who he is, know who we’re following. Jesus explains this to the group of Jews questioning him: “Though you do not know my Father, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Before Abraham was born, I am!” - the same words God used to identify himself to Moses! (John 8:49-58)

Near the end of his time on earth, the High Priest Caiaphas asked Jesus, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

And once again Jesus answered, “I am! And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Jesus resurrected not only himself but also his friend Lazarus and the Centurion’s servant. Control over life and death is clearly a power reserved for the Holy One.

And when Jesus healed a paralytic in Luke 5:20, he said: “Friend, your sins are forgiven,” a pardon that could only be granted by God himself.

Doubting Thomas needed convincing evidence about Jesus’ resurrection, and was told to put his finger into the nail holes and thrust his hand into Jesus’ side. Clearly he ‘got it’ when he said, “My Lord and my God.”

Who do you say that He is?

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll look at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and some early miracles. (Luke 4:31-41) See you at church!