For Saturday, July 26, 2025:

Hebrews 6:2 NLT: “You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.”

Or do you? The first time I was asked to preach was at an Interdenominational church. Leaders from different backgrounds had agreed to set aside minor theological differences and focus on the Good News. In the congregation was a retired AG preacher, two Baptist clergy and a Catholic-turned-Lutheran pastor. I was facing all those years of ministry experience! Yikes! But it was also a recovery church. So the bulk of the congregation was people from treatment facilities, only recently introduced to Jesus. Two weeks ago some of them were sleeping under bridges! How can you possibly prepare a message that fits this diverse gathering?

That’s why I believe every pulpit message should at least summarize the basics of redemption. Testimonies and living examples are better than babbling scripture at those who don’t yet ‘get’ it. There should be an opportunity to accept Jesus into our hearts, for those who have not yet done so. Stress the truth of the Bible. Gospels are eyewitness accounts of those who lived with and walked with and took their meals alongside Jesus. Jesus’ resurrection and ascension are real, as are all of his healings and miracles. And remember, the power he left with believers is now ours to utilize. We would be shirking our duty if we didn’t put his commands into action!

So get out there and heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons. The priesthood of all believers has your name on it!

Pastor Norton Lawellin
Jesus In the City Fellowship

Resurrected!

June 30, 2025, Monday Message:

John 11:4 NLT: “When Jesus heard about it he said, ‘Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.’”

In fact Lazarus DID die, but was raised back to life by Jesus. I’ve always been intrigued by that next reality. The line between life and death isn’t as rigid as we think. In the grocery store check-out line, you can read headline after headline about people who started that journey, but were somehow called back. Those stories fuel tabloids.

Their stories are always similar. The person travels down the transition tunnel, bright light at the end, and is finally overcome by a peaceful feeling that everything will be OK. Quite a contrast to all the crying and sadness at funerals!

Jesus sent advance teams of disciples to every town he planned to visit, telling them to heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead! So raising the dead might not have been commonplace, but it was certainly possible, through the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Using Lazarus, Jesus was about to show everyone that death is not the end. Death is the same soul that we know and love, still alive but in a different reality.

If God calls you back to life, it’s because you’re not yet finished. He has more for you to do. As someone who was brought back to life, Lazarus could give firsthand testimony about God’s love and Jesus’ power! No one had ever witnessed the miracle of being raised from the dead through any other religion. But now Lazarus, Mary, Martha and everyone present that day could give eyewitness testimony to the truth!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

A Sign from God!

For Friday, May 23, 2025:

Luke 11:30 NLT, Jesus speaking: “What happened to Jonah was a sign to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man [Jesus] will be a sign to you people that he was sent by God.”

Here’s the short version of the sign of Jonah. God was fed up with the wickedly disobedient people of Nineveh. So God called Jonah to go there and tell the people to repent and return – or else! Jonah, fearing what those citizens would do to him, caught a boat headed in the opposite direction. God wasn’t having any of his rebellion. God made the seas rough and all the sailors feared for their lives. Jonah knew he was the source of their bad luck, and to save the others he was eventually thrown overboard, only to be swallowed up by a big fish. Three days later, the fish spit Jonah up on the beach of – (you guessed it) – Nineveh! Those people fasted and repented and earned their way back into God’s favor. That incredible journey was Jonah’s sign that he was sent by God. Lesson: If God wants you in Nineveh, you’ll soon find yourself in Nineveh, regardless of what you choose to do!

Jesus knew his future was to rise from the grave three days after the crucifixion. The Jews had never seen anything like that before. That would be Jesus’ sign that he truly was heaven-sent. Rising from the dead would be the miraculous sign that changed fence-sitters into believers. It still does today.

If you examine the evidence and listen to the eyewitness testimonies, you too will be convinced that Jesus is the Son of God. And if you believe with all your heart, you can tell others. That’s what Jesus told us to do!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Kingdom of God!

May 19, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 11:20 NLT, Jesus speaking: “If I am casting out demons by the power (the hand) of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.”

John-the-Baptist’s mission was to prepare the population for Jesus’ arrival. He told people to repent and return, because the Kingdom of God was coming soon. In other words, get your lives in order because God’s about to show up!

And here he is, Jesus, the anointed one, the Christ, heaven-sent, performing miracle after miracle in the name of the Father. Yes friends, with the arrival of Jesus, God’s Kingdom had arrived on earth! Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” With the power of God, he could cast out demons and cure any ailment! Jesus wields the power of our Creator!

For my 2¢, I wish the Bible and our churches made a much bigger song and dance of the arrival of God’s Kingdom. That is what was predicted, that is what everyone was waiting for, and now, here it is! (Perhaps some believed the Kingdom arrived 30 years earlier!)

Old Testament scriptures predicted a Messiah would come to rescue mankind. Now here he is! Those present needed to focus in on what was happening right before their eyes. We need to learn from those eyewitnesses. The Kingdom of God had arrived! Jesus said so!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Ascension!

For Friday, May 2, 2025:

Mark 16:19 NLT: “When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with the believers, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”

We’ve been looking at the 40 days between the resurrection and Jesus’ ascension. Today’s scripture talks about the last of those days. Jesus spoke, taught and preached during his final 40 days on earth. His presence confirmed that he was very much alive. Paul writes that the risen Jesus “appeared to more than 500 brothers at once, most of whom are still living.” He’s implying eyewitnesses. Just ask around. Plenty of people have seen Jesus walking and talking during the days following the crucifixion.

Jesus is doing these things himself to let believers know that salvation is possible. Death is not the end. There is life after this life. He will prepare a place for believers in his Father’s house, God’s Kingdom. Satan may be after your soul, but those aligned with Jesus will be spared Satan’s torture. Jesus is our key to eternal life in God’s presence. Eternity is a very long time!

After his final words, Jesus was taken up into heaven. I dream about what that will be like, gaining entrance to the Kingdom. In my mind, I say, “I’m with that guy over there, the one just to the right of God. He’s my Redeemer!”

Jesus came to rescue all who would believe!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Eyewitnesses!

For Tuesday, April 29, 2025:

Mark 16:9 longer ending, NLT: “After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons.”

Did you ever notice that Jesus often casts out demons as he restores a person? Their healing will proceed better and faster if demons aren’t standing in the way. Demons are the devil’s workers, sent to disrupt our lives and divert our attention from the Lord. Indwelt by seven demons, Mary Magdalene must have been a mess! But with the demons out of the way, she became a loyal disciple of Jesus.

So after the crucifixion, it makes perfect sense that Mary Magdalene would be among the first group visiting the tomb, to prepare the body for long-term burial. We know how the story unfolds. When the women arrived, they found the stone rolled away and Jesus’ body missing. In fact, he had been resurrected, risen from the dead. Jesus had told everyone that things would play out this way, but never having seen this before, the disciples didn’t understand.

Mary lingered behind in the garden outside Jesus’ tomb. She assumed the man there was the gardener until he spoke, “Mary.” She answered, “Rabboni,” which means teacher. Mary ran straightaway back to where they had all been staying, and told the men what had happened, that Jesus was alive. As a group they didn’t believe her, but the ever-curious Simon Peter had to see for himself. John joined in and eventually won the footrace to the tomb. They saw for themselves what the women had experienced – stone rolled away and body missing! The risen Jesus would later visit the disciples who would come to believe.

What happened that day was so unusual that at first even the disciples didn’t believe the eyewitnesses. They eventually believed, especially after Jesus visited them! As the disciples evangelized, it was a difficult story for unbelievers to swallow, but it’s a major plank in our theology platform. It must be taught convincingly. Our eyewitnesses are from 2,000 years ago!

The world thinks death is the end. Believers know it’s the beginning of eternal life in God’s Kingdom!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Alive!

April 21, 2025, Monday Message:

John 20:21 NLT: “Jesus said, “Peace be with you. (Shalom!) As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

Jesus had been crucified, died and was buried. His part of the mission was accomplished, but all the work was not completed. He would leave behind his believers to finish up. The resurrected Jesus commissions his followers: “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” This commission is as much for today’s faithful as it was for his disciples back then.

Our assignment is to tell the world to repent and return to the Lord, for the Kingdom is at hand. This is our opportunity to love our neighbors while honoring the Lord. Put a smile on your face and become a joyful optimist. And as we go, we are to heal the sick, raise the dead when appropriate, cast out demons and share the Good News. Sounds like a big job, but Jesus will equip us for the mission, just as he always does!

Jesus came out of the grave and was seen by hundreds of people, proving that there is life after this life. We have a bright future since he took our sins to the place of the dead. After ministering for 40 days, Jesus would ascend into heaven, returning to the Father. Through all this, we can clearly see that he is alive. People had never seen anything like this before. They had to get used to the idea and believe. We too need to get used to the idea and believe!

He is alive!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Heaven-Sent!

For Friday, April 11, 2025:

John 16:7 NIV, Jesus speaking: “It is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate [Counselor, Comforter, Encourager] won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.”

I’m always amazed at the quantity of teaching that took place between Palm Sunday and Good Friday. There’s a boat load of knowledge believers must have so that they can remain locked in after Jesus returns to the Father. He said, “I am returning to the one who sent me,” so we have no doubt as to Jesus’ origin.

"The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.” If we critically examine Jesus’ time on earth, it’s quite obvious that he’s heaven-sent. We should absolutely believe a truth-telling miracle worker. It must have been frustrating for Jesus when eyewitnesses refused to commit, refused to buck the status quo. They were afraid of what others might think, including Synagogue leaders and Pharisees. Confessed sin can be blotted out by Jesus’ work on the cross, but an additional sin is not entrusting Jesus with this task.

There will be judgment when we die and enter the next reality. The judge will find believers not guilty, their penalty having already been paid by the Son. Unbelievers, those of the world, will fall in with the prince of this world, Satan, who has already been judged.

Thank you, Jesus, for thoroughly teaching us prior to your departure. We’ll be eternally grateful!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Glory to the Father!

For Sunday, March 30, 2025:

John 14:13 NLT, Jesus speaking: “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.”

Jesus performed quite a number of miracles while he was here on earth. Many of them involved healing. He could take a person born lame and have them dancing a jig in no time! For that person, the miracle was life-changing, but it also fulfilled another purpose!

Jesus made no secret that he was the Son of the Most High and that any power he had originated with God himself. God, who created heaven and earth, should be exalted every day, but especially when we are eyewitnesses to his goodness. Healings showcase God’s love for mankind, and his desire to be a part of our lives.

Picture Jesus bragging, “Let me show you what my dad can do!” He never took credit himself. Jesus’ power to improve lives always came from above. That power has not ended. So we pray to Father God, “...in Jesus’ name – Amen!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Jesus – Son of God!

For Thursday, October 3, 2024:

1 John 4:15-16 NLT: “All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.”

John knew and understood much about God, Jesus and the Kingdom. He was a 3+ year disciple, living with and taking meals alongside Jesus. God filled in the blanks with the Revelation visions that took place on the island of Patmos. We would do well to listen to John!

Paul’s credential is the same, but he arrived in a much different way. Paul was leading small armies opposing Jesus and the new Christian movement, when he was struck blind on the road to Damascus. Jesus himself did the teaching: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Jesus turned Paul’s values around 180º! The first thing Paul did when he regained his sight was to be baptized! He was “IN!”

Our faith is trusting Jesus and the eyewitness testimony of those who knew him. In today’s scripture, John says that if we declare that Jesus is the Son of God, we too can be “IN!” It’s that simple! Hopefully we can love God as much as he loves us!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

For Friday, August 16, 2024:

1 John 1:1 NLT: “We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.”

Our “faith” can be defined as fully trusting eyewitness testimony of people who lived 2,000 years ago. A man named John authored this epistle, this letter, sent from one group of believers to another group who perhaps needed a little encouragement. In a court of law, eyewitness testimony is most convincing. “We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands.” They’re testifying, “Jesus is the Messiah, the one for whom we’ve been waiting. HIs actions have exceeded our expectations. Trust us – we’ve seen this with our own two eyes!”

"For by grace you have been saved through faith.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Rejection?

For Saturday, August 3, 2024:

2 Peter 2:21 NLT: “It would be better if they (false teachers) had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.”

If sin wasn’t fun, nobody would sin! Think about it: Satan can’t tempt you to try something icky! No one would do it! But sin’s pleasurable endorphin rush is short-lived, leaving much bigger problems in its wake! So when Jesus counsels us to not sin, it’s not to deny our pleasure; it’s protection from an aftermath of misery!

Can a believer change his/her mind? Are we able to jump in and out of God’s holy family? Sounds ridiculous, right? John says that believers become “children of God.” And we can’t be adopted as a son or daughter of God, and then say, “I quit!” It doesn’t work that way. My take is that if someone can know about God and the saving grace of his Son Jesus and quit, they were never really convinced in the first place.

I guess it comes down to faith. Due to our arrival date on the forever timeline, our faith is having confidence in the testimonies of those who were eyewitnesses 2,000 years ago.

Do you believe? Do you have faith? Is your confidence in the eyewitnesses so strong that it can never be taken away?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth!

For Thursday, July 25, 2024:

2 Peter 1:16-17 NLT: “We were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, ‘This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.’”

If you’re testifying about an event, about something you saw with your own two eyes, a doubter’s first response might be, “You’re just making that up!” In this epistle, Peter wants to reassure the reader as to the truth of the eyewitness testimonies. “This is my dearly beloved son…” appears in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, three-times verified for all to see! It’s Biblical truth!

I was once called upon to answer questions about church, religion, Jesus and the Bible. I agreed, but it didn’t go well. When I’d explain a Christian principle and back up my explanation with Bible scripture, the questioner oftentimes balked: “I’ve never believed that part of the Bible.” If someone doesn’t accept the Bible as truth, they’ve pulled the rug out from under my feet! They’re not trusting our textbook! My mission shifted from answering questions to teaching a high view of the Bible, where we believe every word in the Bible is God-inspired and true.

Humans sin, and although sin is accurately depicted in the Bible, we obviously shouldn’t do those things. We shouldn’t sin. But the Bible is truth, and truth is including both the good and the bad, so that we have foreknowledge of what could go wrong!

Following Jesus through the Gospels, we’ll see perpetual kindness, love, healing, and unflinching loyalty to the Father. Those are good things to imitate. He is, after all, God!

"I and the Father are one!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship