Restoration!

April 20, 2026, Monday Message:

John 14:23 NLT, Jesus speaking: “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.”

As his ministry wraps up, Jesus wants to reassure the believers of what’s coming next. First off, there IS life after this life. Death is not the end! Jesus said so, so we know it’s true!

As Christians, we talk of dying and going to heaven, but my Bible says that’s kind of temporary. At the end of this age, God will create the New Heaven and the New Earth. By then, mankind will have really messed up the planet, and God will be the restorer, putting things back to the way they were designed. I’m thinking “Garden of Eden” specs, but only God knows what needs to be done.

The fully restored New Earth isn’t for all mankind. It’s a sanctuary for believers only. Everyone who lives here will have the same God. There will be no false gods. Mankind will all be on the same page, so to speak. There are no more wars. Everyone will love their neighbor. We will know shalom, the peace of God that surpasses our current understanding.

Jesus says, “We will come and make our home with them.” In other words, we’re not going somewhere to live with God. God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is going to walk the earth alongside us! God has it all planned, and it will be marvelous, beyond all expectations!

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

1-on-1 with Jesus!

 For Friday, February 6, 2026:

Luke 3:8 NLT, John the Baptist speaking: Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.”

 How you live and what you do will be signs that you have discarded your sinful ways and repented and returned to the Lord. God has stretched out the hand of forgiveness. All we have to do is grab on and decide that God’s way is the better way.

 People tend to make excuses for not doing the right things. In those days before Jesus, the excuses ranged from, “I was born Hebrew,” to “I’m in the Synagogue every Sabbath.” Those are good things, but they won’t open heaven’s gates. Salvation is a contract between you and God. It’s dependent on your heartfelt belief, your faith in the Father and his Son. We are saved by grace through faith.

 When evangelizing, people tell me, “When I was young, I went to Sunday School; My mom was a Baptist; My wife attends a church; and We’re pledging members.” All good things, but they won’t get you into heaven. Assurance of Salvation is a 1-on-1 deal with Jesus, putting your faith, hope and trust in God’s Son.

 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” The way to heavenly eternity, and everything he speaks is truth about the life after this life. “No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin
Jesus In the City Fellowship
The Father’s House
Truth and Freedom Church

Way, Truth, Life!

For Friday, September 26, 2025:

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.”

Everything Jesus ever said was true. Everything he prophesied came to be. Why would this statement be any different? Jesus is a walking example of truth!

I’ve had people tell me that choice of religion doesn’t matter. They’re wrong! Many religions seem similar, encouraging their congregants to lead good lives, be helpful and kind, to be the ‘right’ kind of people. They think that most everybody will wind up in heaven, but that’s not what Jesus said.

Good behavior alone won’t get people into heaven. The hereafter isn’t something that people can earn or buy. Life-after-this-life is grace, a free gift, given to those who call Jesus “Lord.” Think of it as the inclusion of family members. Jesus is God’s Son, and believers are his disciples. Christians show love and kindness out of gratitude for what Jesus did for us, not to earn heaven-points! You can’t work your way into heaven!

This fact differentiates Christianity from all the false religions of the world. Many hate us because of our preaching that Jesus is the only way. Jesus also prophesied that the world would hate us because of this, and again, he’s right!

Jesus is the only ‘way’ to afterlife in God’s Kingdom. ‘Truth’ is his middle name. And ‘life’ refers to eternal life, only possible with the Son. “No one can come to the Father except through me.”

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

Baa - Baa!

For Thursday, June 19, 2025:

John 10:9 AMP, Jesus speaking: “I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security).”

Since we all live on planet Earth, we’re pretty familiar with the earthly realm. But the Kingdom of God extends into a spiritual realm, about which we know little. Jesus has already been there, and now he’s getting believers up to speed on what it takes to see heaven from the inside.

Notice that Jesus begins many of his testimonies with, “Verily, verily I say unto you,” which is translated, “I assure you,” or, “Very truly I tell you,” or, “I tell you the truth.” Pharisees were present, so I assume they also presented their incorrect version of the hereafter. Jesus is setting the record straight. “Listen up; what I’m telling you is truth!”

Jesus’ entire address uses an agricultural analogy. 2K years ago, it could be assumed that most young people had at one time or another tended a few sheep. That example doesn’t work quite as well in 2025!

Jesus taking away our sin problem opened the door to heaven for mankind. Those walking with Jesus will not only be saved, but will experience eternal life. Believers will have spiritual security, assurance of salvation. That’s what Jesus said, and his words are always true!

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Decision!

For Saturday, June 14, 2025:

Luke 12:57 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right?”

God gave mankind brains. He gave us the ability to reason, to reach a conclusion about something after rigorous examination. Jesus wants us to put those skills to work. Examine everything, make your own decisions and form your own conclusions. No longer is, “We’ve always done it this way,” a valid response.

Jesus, known as the Prince of Peace, doesn’t want us to go along just to get along. The religious leaders of his day had missed the boat on a number of theological points, and Jesus came to shake things up, to set the record straight and to get religion back on track. This would prove controversial enough for those with religious authority to plot his demise.

Therefore, identifying with Jesus’ teaching will result in division, not unification. Adult children may disagree with their parents. Best friends may disagree about whether abandoning the status quo religion in favor of following Jesus is the right thing to do. It is!

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” He is the one way to heaven, and the only way to the Father. He can get us to the life after this life. But most importantly, he is truth. Think it through for yourselves. “Truth” is the prize on our scavenger hunt!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Death – Not the End!

For Saturday, May 31, 2025:

Luke 12:4 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.”

We all need a reminder from time to time that death is not the end. If we are truly believers, we should be confident that our earthly demise is simply the start of our journey into the next reality. Jesus will personally welcome us into the life after this life where he has prepared a place for us. Believers get to spend eternity in God’s presence, a land where joy never ends.

When Paul’s life was threatened, he debated allowing himself to be killed vs fleeing to stay alive. He could make a case for either decision. If alive, he could continue evangelizing, sharing Jesus’ truth with more and more people. Then they too would be saved. But if he died, he’d fall into Jesus’ arms in the heavenly realm. Life’s burdens would end. Tough choice!

Ultimately, Paul opted for life. I believe that was the right decision. Remember, God always chooses life. We are to live as long as God wants us to live, doing the work he has given us to do. God will decide when it’s time to call us home.

Jesus preaches: “Fear not! After you’ve been killed, nothing else can hurt you!” Implied in this statement is that following our death, everything will be OK. In fact it will be far better than most people expect!

When someone dies, people often say, “They’re in a better place now.” There’s a lot of truth in that statement!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Believe!

For Wednesday, April 30, 2025:

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

Black vs white. One way or the other. There’s no such thing as going part-way to heaven. The Bible says that God will separate the sheep from the goats, and the resurrected Jesus adds clarity to the life after this life.

The baptized who believe in Jesus, Son of God, will live in God’s presence in the hereafter. Those who refuse to believe are abandoned by the Lord. Satan will claim them, and they will have hell to pay forever and ever.

We call this clarity “Assurance of Salvation.” The Son offers forgiveness of sins, and only those without sin will enter the Kingdom. Unbelievers are still carrying their sins, ineligible for heavenly residence. The rules are pretty simple; don’t overcomplicate redemption!

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life,” and he meant it!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

I Am the Way!

For Thursday, March 27, 2025:

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

In our Bibles, we can read the complete account of Jesus rescuing mankind by sacrificing himself for our sins. But the followers of Jesus were living inside that story, hearing everything for the first time. Theology that we take for granted was new to them. Consequently, there was some doubt and a lot of questions!

The biggest question concerned their spiritual mentor dying and going somewhere else. Heaven? Q: Jesus had raised others from the dead, so why wouldn’t he rescue himself? A: What was happening was all part of God’s vast eternal plan to rescue mankind. Jesus would take the sins of the world to the place of the dead. Mankind would therefore be left without sin, eligible to spend the hereafter in the Lord’s presence. You see, God loves us and God is good. His desire is that everyone would repent and return.

Doubting Thomas asked, “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

To which Jesus answered, “I am the way,” the way to the Father, the way to heaven and to life after this life. Just stick with Jesus. “I am the truth.” Every word Jesus ever spoke was true, so we have every expectation that this also is true. “I am the life.” Most people look upon death as a sad thing, as the end of our time on earth. But Christians, those who trust Jesus, see death as a transition to eternity in God’s presence, and that’s a good thing!

I’m looking forward to the place Jesus is preparing for me. What about you?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Freedom!

For Saturday, July 06, 2024:

Galatians 5:1 NLT: “Freedom is what we have—Christ has set us free! Stand, then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again.”

Earlier this week in the US, we celebrated Independence Day, when the colonies declared themselves separated from the edicts of King George. Our leaders met and decided that we should no longer be slaves. We deserve “free will,” the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Freedom is worth fighting for, and fight we did, victorious at the conclusion. The Holy Spirit had moved the minds of our founding fathers to endorse a new, unique system of government! Playing games with semantics, you can call us a Republic or a Democracy or a Democratic Republic. But it all boils down to “Freedom!”

250 years ago, most countries had kings, monarchs, or dictators. This new United States was the exception, espousing freedom. People live all over the world, but we are the ones blessed by being set down in a nation of freedom. God chose us to be here. Comparing the US with living in other countries, our freedom is clearly a gift from above. Therefore it is our duty to uphold that freedom and support the living God who so blessed us.

Have you ever asked a first-order question, like, “Why am I here?” We exist to live as God intended, to write God’s principles of freedom into forever-textbooks. After the US was established, many other countries used the United States’ model to author their own constitutions. Freedom is catching on, albeit slowly.

God wants to spread freedom much faster than dictators want to give it up!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Life "IN" Christ!

September 4, 2023 Monday Message:

Romans 8:2 Phillips: “The new spiritual principle of life ‘in’ Christ lifts me out of the old vicious circle of sin and death.”

God has a better life planned for you. If Christ lives in ua and we are living our lives ‘in Christ,’ we have been lifted above the problems of sin and death. Sin is forgiven, and death puts believers alongside Jesus, who sits at the Father’s right hand. Believers have been given the gift of a heavenly destination.

No decision in this life is more important than asking Jesus to be our Savior. With that one decision we secure our eternal destiny!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Without Sin!

For Tuesday, November 22, 2022:

Colossians 2:14 NLT: “God canceled the record of the charges against us, and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”

This is Thanksgiving week in the US, and many people are thankful for health and abundance. But the thing for which to be the most thankful is that God canceled our record of sin. On the cross, Jesus took the sins of the world to the place of the dead, adopting believers as “Children of God.” Without sin, we can look forward to eternity in the presence of Father God.

Life on this earth is relatively short. In the US, people’s lifetimes average 73.7 years. Eternity is a much longer time. Eternity is forever. Forever is a good length of time to spend with God Almighty! Forever would be a painful length of time to spend in the lake of fire.

Because of the work Jesus did on the cross, Christians have “Assurance of Salvation.” With Jesus, our sins are forgiven. Jesus said he would go ahead and prepare a place for believers, those who put their faith, hope and trust in him. Believers get to see heaven from the inside!

Remember to thank God for the wonderful gift of salvation!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Father, Son, Holy Spirit!

For Wednesday, November 9, 2022:

 John 14:6-7 NLT: “Jesus told Thomas, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!’”

Jesus is the way, the only way to eternal salvation. Every word he spoke was true, intended to teach those around him about sin, repentance, the Kingdom and salvation through him. Jesus is life. He bought us eternal life in the presence of the Father.

Some translations read, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” In practice of Christianity, there is really only one God, who is known to us in three different forms. But it’s still just one God. We pray to our Father in heaven in the name of Jesus who walked on earth alongside us. The Holy Spirit is moving among us now, until Jesus returns. The Bible says that Jesus was present at creation, and the Spirit moved over the waters of creation, but in the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. I get the three mixed up all the time, but I believe that God’s smart enough to sort it out.

Praying is always better than not praying.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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