Children Included!

For Thursday, August 21, 2025:

Luke 18:15 NLT: “One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.”

Little children don’t know much yet, because they’re so young. Their existence is centered on trust and faith. They believe that mom, dad and other big people will protect them, keep them safe and only want what’s best for them.

Jesus wants all of us to have an attitude of trust like these children. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” God Almighty and his Son only want what’s best for us. God will protect us and keep us safe if we trust in him. Faith is a valuable commodity when dealing with the Lord!

On a more basic level, Jesus is teaching that we should bring children to church, and that our activities should include them. If children are taught the ways of the Lord, they will grow up with those beliefs and their souls will be redeemed. Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.”

Translating the ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek into today’s English is always challenging. If viewed as a command, it could read, “Cause the children to come to me. Make it so! See that it happens!”

Church is for families. It would be awesome if we could see your family at church this Sunday. It would be more awesome if your family invited another family!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Baby!

March 10, 2025, Monday Message:

Leviticus 12:7c NLT: “These are the instructions for a woman after the birth of a son or a daughter.”

Birthing can be messy. Moses’ people didn’t have doctors and hospitals like we do nowadays. The Bible doesn’t say, but I’ll bet they had midwives or doulas, people to assist with childbirth. Blood gets everywhere, and blood can carry diseases. Best to isolate the woman and her newborn until everything is cleaned up and healed. Also, the woman who gave birth is somewhat weakened and is susceptible to illness. And the baby is building natural immunity from the mother. Therefore isolation protects the mother and the baby until they have their feet on the ground.

The good news is that God anticipates, even expects childbirth! All God’s creations were told to go forth and multiply, and that never ended. Despite slavery, Egypt, Pharaoh and one heck of a desert trek, God still planned for his people to increase.

Celebrate newborns in your family and in your church community!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Psalms 118 - Forever!

Nov. 13, 2017 Monday Message:

“His love endures forever.” Psalms 118:1b NIV

God’s desire is that none would perish. God loves mankind, his creation, made in his image, and he’s not about to change his mind. It’s ‘forever!.’

You can insert a whole bunch of ‘what-if’s’ if you like – what if I did this bad thing, what if I did that bad thing? – but God will still love you forever. If you’re ready to repent and return, God stands ready to welcome you back.

He protects us even when we don’t realize it. “What can mere mortals do to me?” Ps. 118:6b

We also have Jesus on our side. “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Ps. 118:22a

Jesus taught us that when the prodigal son returned home, the Father ran down the road to meet him. The Father had been waiting for him, expecting him. The Father is expecting ALL of us!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Ps. 118:29

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla brings the message from God’s Word, with guest worship leader David Boeltl.