One Perfect Sacrifice!

For Friday, September 19, 2025:

Hebrews 10:14 NLT: “By that one offering (on the cross) Jesus forever made perfect those who are being made holy.”

Believers are being radically transformed! Many were living only for the world. God had no place in their lives. But once introduced to Jesus and God’s ways, they like what they see and desire to become a part of it.

The first church, The Way, lived out Jesus’ command to love God and to love one another. This “caring for your neighbor” was a new concept for a lot of people. Most were only looking out for #1! But they liked what they saw and wanted to give it a try. “They’ll know we are Christians by our love!” The church grew by leaps and bounds!

I always say that Christianity isn’t a DO religion; it’s a DONE religion. Jesus made the ultimate one-time sacrifice to redeem believers. Jesus did it all! Nothing else is required. Once Jesus has captured your spirit, nothing can snatch you out of his hand. This scripture says that Jesus’ one sacrifice is good forever, for eternity. Believers will be reengineered into what God wants us to be. We are being made Holy! It’s all good!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Offering!

For Tuesday, March 18, 2025:

Leviticus 22:18b, 19a, 20 NLT: The Lord instructed Moses, “If someone presents a gift as a burnt offering to the Lord, whether it is to fulfill a vow or is a voluntary offering, they will be accepted only if the offering is a male animal with no defects. Do not present an animal with defects, because the Lord will not accept it on your behalf.”

The Lord, being God, deserves nothing but the best. We should treat God better than anyone else. It means nothing to sacrifice an animal with one foot already in the grave. Therefore we offer the Lord our finest. He should get our first fruits, not our leftovers.

God admits that he can tend to be jealous. He doesn’t want mankind giving someone or something else credit for his goodness and generosity.

Nowadays we don’t sacrifice animals, but we are called to support our home church. A tithe, 10%, is a good starting place. But at the New Testament church, people would often give sacrificially. They would sell livestock or real estate and donate the proceeds to the church. Don’t lie about doing that. (See Acts ch. 5.) Loving our Lord, we should give joyfully, not begrudgingly.

It’s often said that loving Jesus is a “relationship.” Being a member of the Holy Family should put a smile on your face and joy in your heart!

Pastor Norton Lawellin
Jesus In the City Fellowship

Benevolence!

November 27, 2023 Monday Message:

Romans 15:26 NLT: “The believers in Macedonia and Achaia (Greece) have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem.”

Jerusalem was the center of religion at that time. Believers gathered for worship, and their church was known as “The Way.” It was good that they all believed, but the business model was unsustainable.

In Acts 2, 3,000 were added to their new members class that day. Imagine 3,000 people walking in to your church next Sunday! Where could you put them all? Could you feed them at the potluck? Many of these newbies were from out of town, visiting Jerusalem to celebrate Shavuot. They needed housing, food and friends. People of The Way were willing to share, but there was a limit to their resources.

I have raised a lot of money for worthy causes simply by letting people know the need, and then creating an opportunity for them to give. It’s not rocket science. People generally want to help. Paul had let the believers in Greece know about the shortfall in Jerusalem, and they too wanted to help. They passed an extra basket earmarked to sustain the church in Jerusalem.

Tomorrow is “Giving Tuesday” in the US, a day when people across the country are encouraged to think about their communities and to help those in need. It’s a welcome reminder of how followers of Jesus should think every day. Jesus said we should love our neighbors, and we can show our love by sharing from our abundance.

Be kind, be helpful, be generous!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Excellence

September 05, 2011 Monday Message:

Nowadays, when we think of an offering to God, our first thought is of the check we drop in the basket each week. That’s important, to be sure; but when we volunteer, serve in our churches, shelters, food-shelves, and go on short-term mission trips, those things too are offerings to God.

Our offerings to God are to be first-class stuff, the best we can bring. 500 years before Jesus, God felt insulted when his people brought defective animals for sacrifice. It’s the same today; God is disrespected if we give less than our best service. Malachi 1:6-14

Frankly, we’re to do our best all the time. Paul writes, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Colossians 3:23

Years ago I was taught, “Excellence honors God and inspires people.” It’s just as true today, especially in light of our assignment from Jesus, to “go and make disciples of all nations…” If we’re doing church with excellence, people are proud of it, get excited about it, and newcomers want to become a part of it. Therefore excellence ignites evangelism.

“Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus.” Colossians 3:17a

Blessings,

Norton Lawellin