Decision/Assurance!

For Saturday, April 18, 2026:

Romans 8:3 NLT: “The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.”

God’s preferred outcome is that every sinner would repent, return to Him and join Him in the hereafter. Mankind has been given free choice to accept God’s offer or not. The correct choice is obvious, so only a few will intentionally decide incorrectly. The biggest hangup in the US is procrastination by fence-sitters. If someone hasn’t decided to accept forgiveness through God’s Son, it’s counted as a ‘no’ vote. When I did work for Billy Graham, we had a daily radio show called “Decision Today,” the premise being that “today” is always the best day, the preferred day, to make your decision for Christ. Tomorrow may be too late!

Other parts of the world are littered with false gods. Friends, there is only one God, the Creator of everything. The false gods may appear good on the surface. They encourage everyone to do good things and to be kind. Think of a balance scale, where a person is trying to pile up enough good on one side to outweigh the bad on the other. When do we have enough good? I don’t know, and neither do they! In the false religions, no one is ever guaranteed heaven (or paradise.)

Christianity is different. Jesus personally paid the penalty for our sins, past, present and future. Therefore believers, having a clean slate, are eligible to spend eternity in the Lord’s presence. Jesus promised to go ahead to prepare a place for believers, and we are blessed with Assurance of Salvation, something no other religion has!

Now sing a chorus of Blessed Assurance, thank Jesus for covering your sins, put a smile on your face and have a great day!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Disciple!

For Friday, April 10, 2026:

Mark 16:15-16 NLT: Jesus told his disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.”

This scripture is very much like the ending of Matthew’s Gospel, which we title ‘The Great Commission,’ wherein Jesus tells us to make disciples of all nations. A commission is an assignment. If someone commissions a painting, you should get your little brushes out! If someone commissions a statue, start chipping granite! If you’re to make disciples, start chipping away at everyone you meet! Share the Gospel, the Good News. Let them know that you’re a Christian! Let everyone know that salvation, eternal life in the presence of the Lord, is possible if they say “yes” to Jesus! The Father wants everyone to have this opportunity.

Unfortunately, some people will make the wrong decision. It’s beyond me why anyone would choose misery over paradise. Pride, perhaps? A fear of letting a Savior be in charge? If you’re a believer, you already know the right choice, and have made a solid decision. Jesus loves you and would never lead you down the wrong path!

One more thing. Q: What is a disciple? A: A believer, a loyal follower of Jesus. Some who traveled with Jesus are Apostles, sometimes referred to as “the 12,” or “the 11” following the Judas incident. But there are many more disciples, people who committed to Jesus after the first 12 were already called. Also, the Bible makes slim mention of women, but there were plenty of them too!

If you’re a disciple, now is the time to assume disciple duties. Do your part toward making more disciples of all nations. That’s what Jesus said to do!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Father's House!

Dear followers of Monday Message/Daily Message of Hope: I’ve been out of the US for about a week, with spotty, irregular phone/internet service. Messages were sent each day, but many were not delivered or were delivered late/on the wrong days. Experience tells me that those with Apple phones fared better than those with Androids. This should self-correct as I’m back on US soil. Thank you for your patience, and for opting “IN” to receive the daily messages. Please tell a friend, or send me their cell number for a once-a-day ping based on God’s truth. If you wish to be removed from the list, let me know as well.

Blessings, Pastor Norton

For Tuesday, March 3, 2026:

John 14:2 NLT, Jesus speaking: “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?“

Before returning to the Father, Jesus poses a rhetorical question. His question answers a lot of our questions!

Nowadays, believers accept the fact that there’s a life after this life. Death is not the end. Believers look forward to an eternity in paradise in God’s heavenly Kingdom. But 2K years ago, people weren’t sure. The Sadducees didn’t believe in an afterlife. Pharisees thought it might be possible, but couldn’t say for certain.

The important point here is that Jesus knew that there was life after this life. Jesus! He put his name on the line, attesting to what he knew to be true. After all, he had been present at creation. He knew he was on a mission trip to earth, sent at the Father’s direction. And when his work here was finished, he intended to go back home. After all, he had promised to prepare a place there so that the loyal believers could join him in paradise. Jesus needed to leave first.

In the next reality, we’ll spend a great deal of time praising God. He chose to rescue us while we were still sinners and include us in the “saved” group. Extinguishing our light forever would have been the painful alternative, and God didn’t want that. After all, we’re made in His image!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Book of Life!

For Thursday, May 8, 2025:

Luke 10:20 NLT, Jesus, speaking to the 72: “Don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

None of the 72 had ever cast out a demon on their own. But now, using the name of Jesus, it worked every time! They were amazed!

Of course that’s all good, but Jesus had something much more important to share. Because their sins are now forgiven, their names are written in the Book of Life. That’s a registry of all who will spend eternity in the presence of God Almighty. And that means that they’ve all been rescued from Satan’s eternity, the lake of fire. That’s a gift worthy of celebration!

More people knowing Jesus as God’s Son, the Messiah, means that they too will be rescued. That’s why we’re all on an evangelical mission, so we can read their names in the Book of Life alongside ours!

Having more believers pleases God. His desire is that all would repent and return. Let’s put a smile on his face!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Assurance of Salvation!

For Friday, October 18, 2024:

1 John 5:13 NLT: “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.”

Many of the world’s religions teach about a life after this life. Let’s call it Paradise. People live their lives trying to be good and to follow the teachings of their religion, hoping to gain more Paradise Points. But anger, violence and disobedience can subtract Paradise Points. Your qualification for the hereafter can increase or decrease, but their Higher Power never allows anyone to see the scoreboard. A person could live their entire life not knowing if they “made it” or not.

Christianity is different. We have a Savior, Jesus. He took the sin of the world to the place of the dead, leaving forgiven believers forever qualified to take up residence in God’s heaven. Christians have “Assurance of Salvation,” not from anything we did but from what Jesus did in removing the record of our sin from the Book of life. We then try to do good out of gratitude for what Jesus did for us, not to earn Heaven Points.

By the way, heaven isn’t our final destination. In God’s time, he will restore the New Heaven and the New Earth, put back to original specifications the way it was all designed before sin entered the world. Yes, believers will find themselves living in a perfect world! That’s what the Bible says!

Now as a reminder, go sing a chorus of “Blessed Assurance!” (This is my story...)

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

Faith & Trust!

For Friday, May 31, 2024:

1 Peter 1:9 NLT: “The reward for trusting him (Jesus Christ) will be the salvation of your souls.”

"You love Jesus even though you have never seen him. We can’t see him now, but we trust him; and we rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.” This is what we call, “faith.”

Though we have never seen Jesus, we believe the legendary stories and the testimonies of eyewitnesses. We believe the truth contained in our Bibles. Satan will attempt to divert your attention from our savior, but persevere. Never falter. It’s worth it! Our reward will be the salvation of our souls!

As I’ve said before, there are only two destinations for us in the life after this life – the lake of fire or paradise. Jesus said he was going to paradise, so I’m sticking with Jesus!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Crucifixion

For Thursday, March 28, 2024:

Mark 15:31 NLT: “The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. ‘He saved others,’ they scoffed, ‘but he can’t save himself!’”

A passerby named Simon was forced to carry Jesus’ cross up the hill to Golgotha, the place of the scull. Soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross, and then cast lots to divide his clothes. A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.”

Succumbing to “mob mentality,” everyone passing by – the priests, teachers of religious law, friends and enemies alike – chose to hurl insults at Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself!” It’s easier to kick someone when they’re down.

Two criminals were crucified alongside Jesus, and they too mocked him. But as death drew closer, one changed his tune. He pleaded, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Today you will be with me in paradise!”

That’s a major plank in our theological platform. Believers, when your soul, your eternal essence no longer requires a body, you will be present with the Lord. Jesus said so!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

God's Plan!

For Wednesday, May 17, 2023:

Matthew 17:22-23 NLT: “After the disciples gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.’ And the disciples were filled with grief.”

Here the Son of God is speaking prophetically, telling about the future, and the disciples don’t like what they’re being told. As with any new movement of which you are a part, the hope was that it would grow by leaps and bounds, and that all of Israel would acknowledge Jesus as the promised Messiah. Perhaps he could be king! Perhaps he could end Roman occupation. Jesus was their hope, and no one wanted anything to happen to him.

No one, that is, except the Temple leaders who regarded him as a threat to their power, and the Roman government who took any start-up group to be potentially disruptive.

But Jesus was predicting God’s plan for rescuing mankind. Jesus was to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world, and once forgiven, it becomes possible for all who believe to spend eternity in God’s presence. This includes all of us who believe!

We look forward to heaven! Jesus called it paradise!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Do Not Love the World!

 For Sunday, March 26, 2023:

1 John 2:17 NLT: “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

We need to define ‘world’ to fully understand this scripture. It doesn’t refer to the planet earth or the body of people who presently reside here. John is referring to the community of sinful humanity that is united in rebellion against God.

Do you ever have days when it feels like the whole world is against you? If you’re doing your best to live life the right way – God’s way – and those around you persist in sin, life can be challenging.

Paul compared our lives to an athletic contest. We are not to concern ourselves with the difficulty of the contest. Instead we are told to keep our eyes on the prize. In this case, the prize is heaven, spending eternity with the Lord. It’s a good reward, the best news ever!

When you compare paradise to the lake of fire, your choice should be clear!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

God is God!

December 6, 2021 Monday Message

Isaiah 45:23b NLT, God speaking: “Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.”

Here on earth, some people don’t believe in God. Some are on the fence; they just can’t decide what to believe. But when we die and arrive at the next reality, the life after this life, everyone will know who God is. The believers will be in paradise, where Jesus has prepared a place for them in the presence of the Lord. The unbelievers will just catch a faint glimpse of heaven while living in hell and perpetually regretting their decision to not accept God. But at that point, everyone will know that there is an absolute Creator God!

God wants each of us to have a relationship with him and with his Son Jesus. God is allowing Jesus to take away the sin of mankind and write our names in the Book of Life. God’s desire is that everyone would repent and return to him. He really doesn’t want to lose any of us.

So the ball is in your court, so to speak. Today is the accepted day to make your decision or to renew your decision to become a part of the Holy Family, to become one of the children of God. God has made the invitation and Jesus stands ready to welcome you with open arms! Come join the family!

Let there be no doubt as to whom God is.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Hope of the World!

For Wednesday, June 23, 2021

John 10:10b GNT, Jesus speaking: “I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.”

Jesus leaving heaven and coming to earth is like when we’re called to go on a mission trip – sort of. I could list a lot of the good things Jesus accomplished while he was walking among us, but the summary is that what he did was always good, and after Jesus touched a situation it was always better than it had been before. People were offered hope! They believed! When faced with the impossible – illness, disease, birth defects – Jesus offered hope!

That same hope is offered to us today. If you’re walking with Jesus, the next life is way better than this life! He offers us paradise in the presence of the Father, and it’s a free gift!

Jesus is the hope of the world!

Blessings to all today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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