Raised from the Dead!

For Sunday, January 4, 2026:

Romans 6:4b NLT: “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”

Believers are inextricably linked with Jesus the Christ, although His way is a path from which we should not want to escape. In fact, we should think of a link with Jesus as a gift. If we aren’t connected with Jesus, we’d have no chance at the glorious life after this life that awaits believers. If we are sincere believers, total forgiveness and salvation reserve our place in the hereafter.

And friends, isn’t that all we really want, to live in God’s eternal kingdom? Only good people will be there, those who are radically transformed by the redeeming nature of Christ Almighty. The forgiven will be our neighbors. We may be surprised at how nice everyone is! In Heaven, it will be like everyone is on their best behavior. If God – Father, Son or Holy Spirit – asks us to help out with something, we won’t hesitate. We would be honored to be invited to participate on the winning team!

Jesus rose from the dead in three days, fully restored and still eager to serve God the Father. Even though the sin of the world was heaped upon him as he died on the cross, he took that burden to the place of the dead and left it there. He was given a second chance to change the minds of those who watched him die three days ago, and now see him dancing a jig on the grave of sin. Someone brought back to life should turn heads!

Like Jesus, mankind was burdened with sin, but believers have born again, given a second chance to get things right. When you get to the pearly gates, confidently tell the gatekeeper that you’re with the guy seated just to the right of God. That’s His Son, Jesus! He’ll welcome you with open arms!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

OK with God!

For Saturday, October 14, 2023:

Romans 12:2 NLT: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”

Believers, having been radically transformed, should no longer concern themselves with the ways of the world. Instead, we should live as Christ lived. Our compass is God’s word from the Bible. When we come to Jesus we are said to be born again, given a fresh start. Our sins are forgiven by the work Jesus completed on the cross, and we don’t want to step into that sin ever again.

If something sounds good to me and it’s OK with God, then I’m “IN!” If it’s not OK with God, count me out. It’s that simple!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Save Your (Eternal) Life!

For Wednesday, April 19, 2023:

Matthew 16:25 NLT, Jesus speaking: “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we’re drawing a line between our old pagan life our new Christian life. Jesus says that if we insist on hanging on to our old ways, our eternal destiny is in jeopardy. But if we willingly give up the ways of the world to become a disciple of Jesus, we will be saved! He also implies that we can’t have it both ways!

I worked at a church with this mission statement: “To radically transform lives through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I like that. Our soul is radically transformed upon accepting Jesus. If we’re still carrying baggage from our old lives, we cannot drag it into our new way of living. Jesus says that just won’t work. We must separate ourselves from “the world.” That’s OK, because our new walk is so much better!

At my church, we sing a song with the words, “I never want to go back to my old life.” I explain: “I’ve tried it both ways, and THIS way – Jesus’ way – is better!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Radically Transformed!

For Thursday, September 2, 2021

Romans 12:2: “Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.”

A lot of popular culture is in rebellion against God. But as Christians, we’ve been adopted into the Holy Family; we’ve become ‘children of God.’ Christians must think better thoughts. We need to say ‘no’ to the world, and ‘yes’ to taking care of our new family’s business.

The original language speaks of this as a “metamorphosis,” like when a beautiful butterfly emerges. It’s a total change, a complete break from the world, a whole new way of thinking and living. God is very pleased with the change!

We can be filled with hope knowing that we’re living our Father’s way!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Radically Transformed

June 23, 2014 Monday Message:

“Do not conform to the world; rather, be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2a

Paul is the poster-boy for radical transformation. As a devoted Jew, his mission was to stomp out this new group, the Christians. But God had other plans.

Paul was struck blind as Jesus personally chastised him. This bold warrior had to be led by the hand into the city, where Ananias prayed and laid hands on him.

And here’s what happened next:

1. The scales fell and Paul’s eyes were opened.

2. Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit.

3. Paul was baptized.

He reversed directions, did a 180º, switched sides. We call this radical transformation. Paul soon became a church-planter, bringing Jesus to the Gentile world.

Still today, the Holy Spirit radically transforms new believers, who receive the blessing of having their lives flipped upside-down. And when someone is radically transformed, they clearly show evidence of their changed life. Everyone knew that Paul had been radically transformed, and they’ll know if you have been radically transformed too.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday, at 10:30am, in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week Pastor Van Dickerson continues the “Freedom in Christ” series.

Radically Transformed

December 31, 2012 Monday Message:

“It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” from Gal. 2:20 NLT

Paul had a checkered past, with ups and downs, good and bad things in his life. You and I probably have checkered pasts too.

We cannot change the past, but we can change the future. I was recently selected to lead an organization with a history of problems. The members wanted things fixed. I told them that I could not change what happened in the past, but that our goal would be to do things with excellence starting NOW. We’re going to change how we operate.

Paul, through his spiritual awakening on the road to Damascus, found his life radically transformed. He accepted his new mission and went to work, determined to do things God’s way from now on. He didn’t always score 100% on this test, but showed remarkable progress. As humans in a sinful world, we also may never get a perfect score, but if we look at trends, over time, we'll find we’re getting closer and closer to God’s model.

As we begin a new year, this would be a good time for self-examination. How is life working for you? Can you recognize the old you in the rear-view mirror, see the line drawn when you began to follow Jesus, and picture the new you on the other side? Has your life been radically transformed?

Like Paul, we cannot change our checkered pasts, but we can pursue the future with God-honoring excellence.

Happy New Year!

Norton Lawellin

Sunday, Jan. 6, 10:30am Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers in the North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, Minneapolis. Rev. Daisy Rader will continue our exploration of Luke 2 along with a little testimony, and men from the New Hope center will be joining us as part of their church tour. See you there!

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Radically Transformed

June 11, 2012 Monday Message:

Paul: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Cor. 5:17

Paul was the original church-planter for people outside of Israel. He found himself on a Holy Spirit-directed journey, and with Paul as your leader, it would be impossible for you to stray far from his walk. His calling as Gospel purveyor to the Gentiles was a reflection of his personal experiences.

Remember, Paul had been blinded by the light on the road to Damascus, struck down by a Holy Spirit slap, and then left with the voice of Jesus echoing in his head, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

But when God shows up in his life, Paul listens. Now instead of persecuting Christians, he was an advocate for Christians. Instead of exterminating churches, Paul was planting new ones and helping them grow. Paul had repented and returned; his position reversed; his attitude flipped around 180º. He was, indeed, radically transformed.

Paul looked for that same radical transformation in all the new churches and in all the new brothers and sisters, as a sign of their new born-again life. His epistles repeatedly tell of the old Paul dying, and Jesus being alive in the new Paul, and he looked for similar evidence of that in all the new Christians.

So as we go and make disciples of all nations, we don’t just want them to know “about” Jesus; we want them to be “radically transformed” by Jesus. Like Paul, we look for radical transformation as evidence of conversion.

Are you radically transformed?

Norton Lawellin

Remember that on July 29, Jesus in the City Sunday worship will move to the Oliver Ministry Center, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue. Note the new service time: 10:30am. Prayers covering this transition and move would be appreciated.

People of Hope are leading worship at New Hope Center, Metro Hope Ministries, this Friday, June 15, 7pm. Chuck Hirt will be speaking.

A Message with Power!

July 04, 2011 Monday Message:

Paul: “Our Gospel came to you not as mere words, but as a message with power behind it - the effectual power, in fact, of the Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5a (Phillips)

The Good News in the Bible is much greater than any collection of words. What sets words in scripture apart from words in newspapers, magazines, and nowadays the internet, is that God’s words come with power - the power for healing, the power for miracles, the power to change minds, change hearts, and change lives. The Gospel comes with the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit can change the heart of one who hears God’s message of truth, and give each of us exactly what we need – comfort for the distressed, instruction for those who seek, and conviction for those weary of fence-sitting.

Paul actually writes that the Gospel “be-comes” to you; you “grow” into it. God’s Word seems to get better all the time, its power increases, and your understanding of the teaching increases. The power of the Holy Spirit within you increases, your confidence to carry the message increases, and your assurance of salvation shines on your face. Everyone can clearly see that you are radically changed in a positive way!

So grab your Bible, call on the Holy Spirit, and “…let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Romans 12:2a (NLT)

Norton Lawellin