Peter's Pentecost Speech!

For Thursday, June 5, 2025:

Acts 2:14, 16 NLT: “Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, ‘Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. What you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel.’”

God made the ‘roaring wind’ sound on the Day of Pentecost, drawing a large, curious crowd. God had tapped Peter on the shoulder to be the spokesperson for the believers. Never one to appear shy, Peter spoke in a loud voice, as if everyone had come just to hear him! He explained that, like so many things in the Bible, that day’s activities were a fulfillment of scripture. The Holy Spirit was in motion. The end result would be a mass ‘repent and return.’ Joel’s prophecy concludes, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The audience was Jews who were familiar with God, scriptures and religion in general, so Peter’s words came as no surprise. And by now, everyone in Israel had heard about Jesus. Peter connected the dots for them: “God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.” No surprises. No new information. Just an acknowledgement of what had been going on around them. Yes, Jesus was heaven-sent! Everyone should have concluded as much had they taken the time to think things through. “God released Jesus from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.” How’s that for a God-sized miracle?

Peter continues to make his case for Christ, saying many of the same things that led to Jesus’ crucifixion. But by this time, the Holy Spirit had opened minds. Foregone opinions were cast aside in favor of using brainpower and thinking things through. Peter’s message concludes, “Let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

His words touched their hearts, and the listeners asked, “Brothers, what should we do?”

Take a moment and put yourself in Peter’s shoes. If you had been the featured speaker that day, how would you answer their question? All believers are supposed to share the Good News, the Gospel about Jesus. Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all nations. If their hearts are touched and they’re ready to sign up, what should the next step be? We all need to know the best answer, the correct answer!

May the Lord’s blessings go with you today as you fulfill God’s purpose for your life!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Resurrection Inclusion!

For Wednesday, April 23, 2025:

Luke 24:15-16 NLT: “As the two men talked and discussed what had recently happened in Jerusalem, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him.”

We seldom perceive what we don’t expect to see. The risen Jesus seems to be particularly challenging to identify. In the garden, Mary Magdalene didn’t recognize him until he spoke. These two men walking to Emmas were believers and had watched Jesus teach many times, but failed to recognize him at first. I believe Jesus essentially looked as he had on the cross. After all, he told doubting Thomas, “Put your hand in my side,” so Jesus’ body had not been restored.

With no internet or TV 2k years ago, news was spread person-to-person, and by this time, everyone in Jerusalem had either witnessed or heard about Jesus’ crucifixion and death. That he died was certified by Roman soldiers. Jesus’ body was then placed in a tomb, so no one expected to see him walking around. They should have listened to the prophets who predicted Jesus’ conquering death. And yet, in human terms, it just didn’t make any sense!

Our acknowledgment of his other miracles reinforces our confidence in Jesus’ resurrection. If he turned water into wine and walked on water, life after death just might be possible. If he controlled the weather and fed 5k, life after this life could be real! If he brought Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus back to life, it makes sense that he could do the same for himself!

Life after this life isn’t just for Jesus. He wants to include all believers in that Holy Family. Those who put their faith, hope and trust in Jesus the Christ are promised to see heaven from the inside! We call it “Assurance of Salvation.” Jesus is preparing a place for us and will welcome us with open arms!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Deceivers!

For Tuesday, October 29, 2024:

2 John 7 NLT: “Many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

Believers know that Jesus was both fully God and fully man. He arrived in our world as a little baby, one who could have died when Herod was trying to exterminate all the Hebrew babies. That’s why his parents took refuge in Egypt. In fact his human body would eventually die as he took our sins to the place of the dead.

But the extraordinary wisdom, the healings and other miracles were straight from heaven. The resurrection was not Jesus dying; He was returning to his Father in heaven, saying, “Mission accomplished!”

There are credible writings, both sacred and secular, that clearly acknowledge the supernatural feats of this Jesus who walked alongside mankind. Yes, the stories about him are true, these things actually happened, and a denier is at least wrong, a deceiver and a candidate for antichrist-of-the-year.

Believers need to steer clear of deceivers. Truth can be reinforced by associating with other believers!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Rumors Bad – Truth Good!

For Wednesday, October 23, 2024:

1 John 3 NLT: “We know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.”

Two hurricanes, Helene and Milton, recently crossed Florida. Milton traveled East and dissipated over the Atlantic. But the first hurricane, Helene, surprisingly headed almost straight north, not stopping until it reached the Appalachian mountains over Asheville, North Carolina! Who would have thought that a mountainous city that far inland would be devastated by a storm from the Gulf of Mexico!

Long before the waters receded, rumors and conspiracy theories flew across news outlets and the internet. Most were proven to be false. But my point is that it took no time at all for the rumor mill to get started. Mankind is like that.

Similarly, following Jesus’ ascension, it took no time at all for untruths to start flooding the scene, and Jesus was no longer here to set things straight. “Some said Jesus wasn’t real, that he never actually existed, that he was all in our imaginations. Opposers tried to disprove the miracles, claiming sorcery or optical illusions. It was further claimed that Jesus couldn’t be the Son of God. After all, he was crucified. If he was truly God’s Son, God would have plucked him right out of harm’s way!”

Friends, re-read today’s scripture. The writer is stating truth, what’s obvious to Christian Believers, that Jesus–Son of God–actually walked among us and updated our knowledge of the Father. And because we believe in Jesus, we also live in fellowship with God Almighty. There is only one true God, and Jesus is the only way to eternal life in the presence of that God. Throw out the rumors and falsehoods. Believe this scripture, and then go teach others the Good News! Teach the truth!

Truth is God’s opinion on everything!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Eyes and Ears!

 For Sunday, March 19, 2023:

John 11:4-5 NLT: “Jesus told them, (disciples of John-the-Baptist,) ‘Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.’”

The question had been, “Who is Jesus? Is he the Messiah? Is he the one for whom they had been waiting?” John-the-Baptist sent some disciples to ask the questions since he was imprisoned.

Jesus simply tells them to use their eyes and ears. Observe what’s been happening around Jesus. Never before seen miracles, that’s what!

In my mind, I picture everything calm as Jesus approaches. Then he preaches the Good News and miraculously heals those who need healing. As his itinerant ministry moves down the road, I picture commotion and excitement in the aftermath! Everyone is amazed by what just happened, and they can’t stop talking about the heaven-sent miracles! Jesus coming to town was indeed Good News! And for me, these eyewitness accounts clearly point to the Son of the Most High!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Love!

For Saturday, August 6, 2022:

James 2:14 NLT: “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?”

If someone claims to be a Christian but behaves like a pagan, James is questioning the legitimacy of their faith. He goes on to say, “Faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”

Caring for your fellows was a new concept at the time. Most people cared for themselves and maybe a few family members, but loving one another was a new behavior introduced by Jesus. Like the song says, “They will know we are Christians by our love,” and Jesus insisted on it.

People lined up for healing miracles, and Jesus worked into the night until all were served. He didn’t just feed 50 – he fed all 5,000!

Loving his brothers and sisters was a way of life for Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Miracles!

For Thursday, July 7, 2022:

Mark 3:7-8 NLT: “Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him.”

If you worked in a newsroom, you’d say, “Jesus is news! Almost anything he touches could be the lead story on tonight’s news.”

Of course the crowd followed Jesus to witness miracles. Jesus had just restored a man with a deformed hand. He did it on the Sabbath, explaining, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” Jesus knew the correct application of the law, and he corrected the Pharisees.

His greatest miracle was the final act of his life, taking the sins of the world to the place of the dead. Believers, those with faith in the Son, suddenly gained a reservation in the hereafter, a guarantee to spend eternity in the Lord’s presence!

Large crowds should still come to hear about the miracles of Jesus. We talk about it every week!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

House of Prayer!

For Tuesday, April 12, 2022:

Matthew 21:13 NIV: Jesus told the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”

To say Jesus was upset would be an understatement. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He drove out all those doing business in the Temple. The human side of Jesus rose to the surface! This is one time you could say that Jesus just lost it!

Having solved that problem, Jesus went back to what he usually did, healing the lame and blind and teaching about the Kingdom. Children sang, “Praise God for the Son of David!” Everyone celebrated the many miracles, everyone that is except the religious leaders who were angry, furious and indignant.

You see, Jesus was filling the people with hope, something the religious leaders couldn’t deliver. No one likes their power usurped, and these guys were no exception. Think about it - anyone aligned with Jesus was no longer following the Temple leaders!

But isn’t following Jesus the way things should have been all along?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

You are the Messiah!

For Thursday, April 7, 2022

Matthew 16:15-16 NLT: Jesus: “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter: “You are the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Simon Peter and his brother Andrew were Jesus’ first disciples. They abandoned their jobs and the family business to pursue truth and hope. Having traveled with Jesus for quite a while, they had seen all the miracles, all the healings. They bring us powerful eyewitness accounts of everything that happened.

Simon Peter, and probably all the disciples, carefully considered the evidence, everything they had seen first-hand. I’ll bet they discussed this amongst themselves. So when Jesus asked his question, Simon had already settled the matter in his heart: “You are the Messiah…” Each of us needs to have this matter settled in our own hearts.

Simon’s eyewitness testimony is for us nowadays, so that we too can believe. Jesus said, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” Our eternal destination rests on that faith!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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