Holy Saturday!

For Holy Saturday, April 4, 2026:

Matthew 27:64 NLT, asking Pilate: “We (the leading priests and Pharisees,) request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”

The leading priests seemed unconcerned with spiritual authenticity, unconcerned with truth. To them, Jesus was a threat to their power and money. People had left the Synagogue to follow Jesus, and their tithes had gone to Jesus rather than the Temple. Because Jesus was a perceived threat, the leading priests and Pharisees plotted to kill him, which goes against everything they stood for. Now they were worried that Jesus’ prophecy would come true, that he would rise in three days. Men were sent to guard the tomb so that no one could steal the body and falsely claim that Jesus was alive.

The Great Exchange: Remember that while on the cross, the sins of the world were heaped upon Jesus, and His innocence was imparted to believers. That’s a massive amount of forgiveness, but that was the Father’s plan to bring believers home. That was Jesus’ mission, to rescue mankind from Satan’s territory. You could say that Jesus was on a mission trip to planet Earth!

One more thing: Many of us learned the Apostles’ Creed growing up. There’s a mistranslation that has always bothered me. The creed states, “Jesus was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell.” Friends, Jesus did not go to hell. He went to Sheol, a place for the dead. It is not heaven, and it is not hell. It may involve judgment, since Moses wrote, “The anger of Yahweh is a flame which burns in the ‘depths’ of Sheol.” But believers are already forgiven by the work Jesus did on the cross.

I suspect that not much happened on Holy Saturday, since that day is the Sabbath for Jews. It’s the Lord’s day, not a day for customary work. Jesus will be back to work tomorrow, walking away from his grave. Christians worship on Sunday, the day we realized that Jesus had conquered sin and death at the same time! In the meantime, "Shabbat Shalom!"

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

The Way!

For Friday, March 6, 2026:

John 14:6 NLT: Jesus told Thomas and the others, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Since Thomas is known as “Doubting Thomas,” he needs to hear everything twice. He seems to not “get it” the first time and needs further explanation. Jesus is preparing the disciples for why he’s leaving and what will happen following that. Jesus has already spoken of a life after this life, and Thomas, as you’d expect, asks for further clarification. Jesus is quite direct, leaving no room for any doubt in his answer.

How can we get to see heaven from the inside? Jesus lays out the plan: “I am the way.” I am the way to the hereafter, to eternal life in God’s heavenly Kingdom. I am the only one who can open heaven’s door for someone. There is no other way. Trust me. Count on me. I’ll get it done for you. God loves you!

Remember, “I am truth.” You don’t need to cross-check the accuracy of what I am telling you. In the few years we’ve been together, you’ve never heard anything but truth come from my mouth. What I’m telling you now is 100% accurate. Being the Son of God, I’m incapable of lying. Telling lies isn’t in my job description. Accept that what I’m telling you is authentic.

"I am the life,” the life after this life. I hold the keys to the next reality. There are only two choices – heaven or hell. Hell is awful, painful, and ends with you going down for the third time in a lake of fire. Heaven, on the other hand, is paradise. It’s eternal life in the presence of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I’m letting each person decide for themselves. We all get to choose, so choose wisely!

Friends, if you don’t remember any other scriptures, highlight this passage in your mind. This isn’t just miscellaneous scripture in the Bible. These statements of truth are directly from the mouth of Jesus. If “Jesus said...”, there’s absolutely no need to check the veracity of his statements. If “Jesus said...”, we should do as he taught ASAP!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Tall, Tall Trees!

For Wednesday, February 11, 2026:

Luke 3:9 NLT, John the Baptist speaking: “Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”

John’s audience is Hebrew people, Jewish people, people who think they are planted in God’s orchard because they were born into it. Not necessarily! John is about to set the record straight!

Listen to this: God will not import worthless trees into his Kingdom! Every tree expecting to be with the Lord must bear good fruit. It must be furthering God’s agenda, not standing idly by. By now you probably know that this analogy is about people, not trees.

Here’s another one. If you’re hot, you’re with the Lord. Let’s get to work! If you’re cold, you’re the enemy. At least I know where we stand, and I can fight for what’s right! But lukewarm??? Wishy-washy? God says lukewarm is worthless to both of us.

God is not going to just stand around waiting. There will come a day of decision, a day of judgment when he will pick up his ax, chop down the worthless trees and cast them into the fire, to be absent from his presence forever.

Friends, this is serious. Believers all need to have Jesus in their hearts, a Bible in their hands and the Gospel on their lips. Let the world know that you’re playing for the Lord’s team. Let the world know that you’re not wishy-washy!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Re-boot!

For Wednesday, January 7, 2025:

Hebrews 12:26-27 NLT: “When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: ‘Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also. This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.’”

God chose to love mankind, but it hasn’t always been easy. We have repeatedly let Him down. If this relationship continues, God would be forced to work forgiveness into His vocabulary.

Q: Do you ever play a computer game, lose, and a button pops up on the screen: “Try again!” We are engaged in a much more important game of life with God, and when we fail, God graciously puts a button on our home screen: “Try again!” We don’t deserve a second, third, or fourth chance, but God would rather see us succeed!

There will come a time in God’s mind when it’s best to wipe the slate clean and start over. (This will be the end of second chances.) The Bible speaks of a New Heaven and a New Earth, everything put back the way God intended when the universe was created. Born again, but this time better, all cleaned up. Those hell-bent on living their own way, sinning and disobeying God, will get their wish. They’ll get to spend time with Satan. (God doesn’t send people to hell. They themselves choose to not go along with God.) Those who have repented and returned to the Lord will get another chance at the good life, free of sin, free of temptation. Jesus will have prepared a home for the faithful.

The things that cannot be shaken are God’s word and truth, which are pretty much the same thing. God’s truth endures from generation to generation. It’ll be easier to hear God’s word after he clears out all the rubbish competing for our attention!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Never-ending Faith!

For Sunday, November 23, 2025:

Hebrews 11:38 AMP: “(people of whom the world was not worthy), wandered in deserts and mountains and [lived in] caves and holes in the ground.”

Hebrews has been teaching us about faith, the never-ending belief in God and his Son. Some will rise to greatness and point others to the Lord. Others will be persecuted by nonbelievers, beaten, whipped and sometimes killed. For them, it would be easy to lose faith, but that would be a bad decision.

No matter our lot in this life, our best reward is waiting for us in the next life. Keep your eye on the prize. The only two choices are (#1) spending eternity in God’s presence, or (#2) treading forever in the deep lake of fire. The right choice instantly becomes obvious.

Whatever happens to us in this life is only temporary. We will have whatever blessings God has planned for us, but we never want to lose faith in the blessings God has for believers in the next life.

Stick with God, and he’ll stick with you!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

End Times Loyalty!

October 20, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 21:19 NLT, Jesus speaking: “By standing firm, you will win your souls.”

The end times will not be pretty. Countries will succumb to the armies of evil nations. Longtime companions will betray you. Some believers may even be murdered. Jesus suggests running to the hills – and standing firm, not abandoning our faith in God’s Son.

The world is confused and evil in this picture Jesus painted. But while the world is in disarray, Jesus will be our rock. Since the beginning, there has been good vs bad, right vs wrong and God’s way vs Satan’s way. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have always been on the side of fairness, righteousness and love.

Satan, on the other hand, has no real agenda other than to oppose God. He has no Kingdom, no heaven, no paradise. The only thing a follower of Satan can hope to receive is a toasting in the fires of hell.

Deciding to become a believer is a simple decision. Almost anyone can understand the benefits and join the good guys. So stand firm in your convictions. Jesus promises that your reward will be the eternal salvation of your soul!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Rich Man and Lazarus!

July 28, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 16:22-23 NLT, Jesus telling the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.”

Just so you know, this is not the same Lazarus, brother of Martha and Mary, who was a close friend of Jesus. Jesus just used this name for a character in a story he was telling.

This poor Lazarus lived alongside the dogs just outside the main gate to a rich man’s mansion. There he begged as the wealthy came and went, transacting their business. As Jesus tells it, Lazarus was sickly and had sores all over himself. Lack of resources had finally taken its toll on his body. Lazarus died, and angels carried him to heaven. The rich man also died and was delivered to the place of the dead, Hades. Here’s where the story gets interesting!

From his place of torment, the rich man caught a glimpse of Lazarus sitting beside Abraham. He pleaded, “Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.”

Well brother rich man, you made your bed, and now you have to lie in it! “No can do! During your lifetime, you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.” The first will be last, and the last will be first! “Besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.”

Q: Is it possible that part of hell’s punishment is being able to visualize just how great heaven is? Are people in hell confronted daily with their bad decision, having turned their backs on Jesus? They had a chance, but turned down a golden opportunity. The Bible doesn’t say for sure, but Jesus seems to imply that scenario. He also teaches that accepting salvation is a forever decision. Once we reach the next reality, there’s no changing our minds. The chasm is too wide, and no one can cross over in either direction. Repent and return only works in this life!

Today is the accepted day to commit or re-commit our souls to the service of God’s Son. We never know when tomorrow will come, and we must be prepared to embark on the best journey of our lives. Jesus will meet you with open arms!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

No Ghosts!

For Thursday, April 24, 2025:

Luke 24:36 NLT: “Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among the disciples. ‘Peace be with you,’ he said.”

The disciples and those gathered with them thought they were seeing a ghost! In a way, they were right, a ghost supposedly being a dead person appearing to the living. But Jesus had not returned to haunt or frighten the faithful. His appearance was proving God’s scriptures to be correct!

Jesus told them, “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.” Ghosts are pictured as wispy aberrations, whereas Jesus stood before them with a complete body. “Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me.”

After the crucifixion, Jesus was called to teach one more Godly principle: that death is not the end. It can be the beginning of an exceptional eternal afterlife in the presence of the Father. We call it Heaven or God’s Kingdom.

Growing up, we all sang, “Jesus loves me.” God loves mankind so much that he wants us to spend eternity with him. God could have chosen anything, but he settled on mankind to be his companions. Believers will have been spared the pain and suffering of hell!

Thank you to God and his Son!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Ask, Seek, Knock!

For Thursday, April 3, 2025:

John 14:22 NLT, Jesus took a question: “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”

If you have no idea where you’re going, how will you know when you’ve arrived? And if you don’t know what you’re looking for, how will you know when you’ve found it? Those seeking the Lord will find him. Those not seeking the Lord can’t identify him. Like I said, they don’t know what they’re looking for!

As Christians, it’s our job to enlighten the unbeliever. We’re to light the fire of insatiable curiosity in the hearts of potential seekers. They need to know about sin in the world, and their inherent need to be forgiven. They need to know that death is not the end; that there’s life after this life. They need to know about the misery of hell and the joyfulness of heaven.

We get to choose between spending eternity in God’s presence or Satan’s presence. Christians have already made that choice. Those entrusted with the Good News should counsel others to make that same wise decision.

No one really wants to spend eternity bobbing in a lake of fire!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Faith, Lots of It!

For Thursday, July 18, 2024:

Ephesians 2:1 AMPC: “And you [Jesus made you alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins, in which you once walked.”

When mankind was living in sin, the Bible describes us as “spiritually dead.” Jesus brought forgiveness of those sins, leaving us “spiritually alive.” Thankfully, the “dead or alive” analogy also applies to the life after this life.

There are really only two destinations: #1. The place Jesus prepares for you in the presence of the Father, or #2. With Satan in the lake of fire. As Christians, we have something no other religion can offer: Assurance of Salvation! If we place our faith, hope and trust in Jesus, the Son of God, we can count on him taking our hand and ushering us into the next reality.

 Our eternal destination depends on our faith. We need to truly believe the testimony of the eyewitnesses who walked alongside Jesus. There are both sacred and secular witnesses who attest to the miracles, the healings and Jesus’ divine connections. Investigate everything, and draw your own conclusion.

You’ll find that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life; there is no other way!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Hereafter...

For Sunday, June 30, 2024:

Mark 16:16 NLT: “Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.”

A typical Bible has 66 books and about 900 pages. For all that scriptural writing, it boils down to this one decision: Believe that Jesus was the Son of God who rose from the dead, or not. The results of your conclusion are eternally impactful!

Those who believe will spend their life-after-this-life in the place Jesus prepared. We will live in paradise, in the presence of the Lord. Unbelievers will find themselves in a perpetual lake of fire. Huge contrast!

Examine the facts. Listen to the opinions of eyewitnesses. Read your Bibles! All that is written supports this one verse, this one critical decision.

God’s desire is that none would perish and that all would repent and return. Forgiveness and redemption have already been provided!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Judgement!

For Thursday, May 16, 2024:

Matthew 23:33 NLT, Jesus speaking to teachers of religion and Pharisees: “Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?”

Hell represents perpetual misery. I’ve heard people about to do something wrong jokingly say: One more thing won’t matter. I’m already headed for hell!

Of course it DOES matter. That would be the perfect time to turn one’s life around and pray for mercy and forgiveness. You can’t do anything so bad that Jesus won’t offer forgiveness, pull you out of the fire and allow you a second-chance reboot!

Jesus poses a good question: “How will you escape the judgment of hell?” Choosing heaven or hell is an irreversible monumental decision. Once you’re committed to an eternal path, there’s no going back, no do-overs. If you’ve been dancing with the devil, you’re no longer welcome in heaven! But if your dance card is filled with Jesus, there won’t be room for Satan!

Choose wisely while there’s still time. Claim Jesus as savior of your soul. That’s the only way to stay out of the lake of fire!

If you have a better plan, I’d like to hear it!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Hosanna!

February 12, 2024 Monday Message:

Mark 11:9b NKJV: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Jesus was about to enter the Holy City of Jerusalem. It’s called the Triumphal Entry. We celebrate it as Palm Sunday. The story unfolds like this:

Two disciples were sent to borrow a donkey for Jesus to ride through the city, explaining, “The Lord has need of it.” Now if someone told me to go into my neighborhood and borrow a Buick that had never been driven – the keys will be in it – and explain that the Lord has need of it, I’m sure I’d be arrested on the spot! And that’s what this was like, commandeering someone’s means of transportation. But it all happened just as the Bible reports. All signs point to the super-natural nature of the event that’s about to transpire.

As Jesus rode the streets of Jerusalem, people lined the route with palm fronds and the cloaks they’d been wearing. They cheered and shouted, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna!” The crowd was acknowledging that Jesus wasn’t just a regular human being. He was heaven-sent, fulfilling the Lord’s mission here on earth. How else could you explain everything that happened when Jesus was present?

And now that the crowd knows who Jesus is, they shout “Hosanna,” which means, Save us. Now!” They would not ask Jesus to save them unless they believed that it was possible for him to do so!. And there’s an urgency to “Hosanna.” “Save us – save us NOW!” These people want to repent and return. They believe there’s a heaven and a hell, and it’s forgiveness by the Father that can punch their heavenly ticket. They sure don’t want to see hell!

So go ahead – shout and cheer and cast your own branches on the road. Call out “Hosanna” as Jesus rides by!

Have a blessed week!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship