Pentecost!

For Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2026:

Acts 2:47b NLT: “Each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”

Today we celebrate Pentecost. Counting Easter as day 1, Pentecost is the 50^th day, hence the “pente” prefix. A great many people were visiting Jerusalem to celebrate Shavuot, thanking God for the harvest or anticipated harvest, among other things.

The believers were all together in one place, praying. In a visible way, the fire of the Holy Spirit descended on the group, preparing them for what was to come next. God made a sound like a mighty wind, which caused the curious to venture out to see what was happening. The Bible doesn’t say there was wind – just the sound!

With everyone now on the street, Peter got up on his soapbox and started preaching the Gospel, saying the same things that got Jesus crucified! Since the crucifixion was over 50 days in the past, I’ll venture a guess that a lot of the attendees had had time to rethink what had transpired. Peter walked them through all of Jesus’ miracles, his teaching, and his authority over life and death itself! He called Christ the heaven-sent Messiah, and this time the multitude was convinced. “Brothers, what should we dot”

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” There were healing pools nearby, so everyone headed in that direction, and the baptisms began! Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

It’s good for a church to recruit 3K new members, but assimilating that many could present a problem. But members of “The Way” didn’t mind and gave their all to welcome the newbies. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.

And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Zechariah's Prophecy!

For Friday, December 5, 2025:

Luke 1:67 NLT: “Then baby John’s father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy.”

As Zechariah’s voice returned, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke prophecy concerning his newborn. This is not something he just thought up. This is God – the Holy Spirit – speaking through Zechariah.

Let’s review the high points. “The Lord has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior. God fulfilled his promise, his covenant with his people. We will be saved from our enemies and all who hate us. We will be rescued from our enemies. We can serve God without fear. And baby John will be called the prophet of the Most High, because he will prepare the way for the Lord. He will tell God’s people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven, is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Wow! Those are pretty big tasks, especially for a newborn, but history proves prophecy. We know baby John as John the Baptist, who indeed prepared the people for the ministry of Jesus. Jesus quashed Satan and his demons. Jesus personally died to redeem us. His life was the penalty for the sins of the world, now paid in full. Therefore, our relationship with Father God improved exponentially.

After Jesus, everything was different. After Jesus, everything was better, a lot better!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Gift for the Faithful!

For Sunday, October 19, 2025:

Hebrews 10:39 NLT: “We are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.”

Living our lives for the Lord requires effort. It takes a lot of work. It might be easier to give up on the project, to turn our backs on God. Of course, that would be wrong. Today’s scripture tells us that our souls can either be saved or left behind. As Christians, our desire would be to spend eternity in Heaven, in the presence of the Lord!

Jesus and his Father have given believers a free gift. We can’t buy it or barter for it. The gift is called forgiveness, and with it comes our ticket to heaven. You see, God and sin cannot exist in the same place. That’s why Jesus blots out our sins. There is no record of a sin. It’s as if we had lived a perfect life.

Christians have Assurance of Salvation. The work of Jesus on the cross brings us to the next reality. When you enter, look for Jesus. Tell him, “Thank you!” He’ll be just to the right of God’s throne!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Faith!

For Thursday, October 16, 2025:

Hebrews 10:37-38a NLT: “In just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith.”

The “Coming One” refers to the second coming of Jesus the Messiah. He will arrive at the perfect time to fulfill God’s plans for the rescue of the faithful. The Bible speaks of the first Christians undergoing terrible suffering, public ridicule, beatings, losing all their possessions, and even jail. We have been blessed by living in the USA, where Christianity is the prevalent religion, and we are free to openly speak of Jesus. There’s no penalty for being a believer, but it may not always be that way. People on our planet are persecuted daily for their allegiance to Jesus.

We are saved (redeemed, granted eternal life) by grace through our faith, believing that Jesus is who He said he is, and that He will do what He said He can do. When Martin Luther was searching for Assurance of Salvation in the 1500s, he concluded that Habakkuk 2:4b was our key to eternal life: “The righteous will live by their faithfulness to God,” and that is quoted in today’s scripture. Our faith in Jesus opens the door to eternal life until He comes again to personally welcome us into the hereafter!

And that’s why we worship together, to share our faith with one another and to bolster our belief in the Messiah Jesus and the Father’s Forever Heavenly Kingdom. Remember, God always keeps his promises!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Triumphant Parade!

For Wednesday, September 17, 2025:

Luke 19:38 NLT, the crowd shouting as Jesus entered Jerusalem: “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

This scripture describes Jesus’ Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem. We celebrate this on Palm Sunday. Many believers anticipated Jesus’ return for Passover, and they were not disappointed!

I’m always amazed at how the scenario begins. Jesus sends two disciples into town to borrow a donkey that heretofore had not been ridden. I’ve never had a donkey, but my uncle had horses, and I know full well the challenges present when riding an unbroken animal! Furthermore, the donkey is valuable. It could not only move people, but also transport farm supplies and haul grain to market. It’d be like if I asked to borrow your Ford F150, we didn’t even know each other, and you said, “Go ahead – here’s the keys!”

I love a parade! Last week we took my grandson (age 3) to the fire truck parade. People cheered and clapped, the trucks rang their big bells and sirens filled the air. Actually, candy filled the air, tossed from the fire trucks, much to the delight of our 3 year old! Jesus’ parade didn’t have candy, but there was plenty of shouting and clapping. People lined the route with palm branches and colorful garments, celebrating the wonderful miracles they had seen. They shouted, “Hosanna!,” which means “Save us – save us now!” You wouldn’t ask anyone to save you unless you believed they could do that! I rest my case!

The Pharisees didn’t like what they saw. “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

To which Jesus replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

We should all add our cheers to those from along the Jerusalem road: “Hosanna! Save us, save us now!” We believe Jesus already did that for us!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Focus!

For Tuesday, August 5, 2025:

Mark 13:13b NLT, Jesus teaching about the end times: “The one who endures to the end will be saved.”

First, we learn about Jesus and how he can forgive our sins, setting us up for eternal life in God’s Kingdom. The future looks rosy. But don’t get too comfortable. Satan isn’t on holiday, and his demons don’t have the day off!

Newcomers to Christianity are especially vulnerable. They’re like babies still on a milk diet. We have to look after babies so that they survive. And we have to look after baby Christians so they too can survive. The devil and his minions have thousands of distractions and temptations intended to get us off track. Jesus says we need to reject all of Hell’s enticements. Those who are faithful to the end are the ones who will be saved!

We’re better off with Religious Tunnel Vision. Keep your eyes focused on the prize, on Jesus and the Kingdom, and don’t be distracted by the circus going on all around you! (May God help those with ADHD!)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Messiah!

For Tuesday, June 24, 2025:

John 10:24b-25 NLT: Q: “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name.”

Who Jesus is and who sent him seems obvious to us. If he’s fulfilling the job description of the Messiah, that must be who he is. Call him God’s Son, God’s right-hand man or Moshiach – it’s all the same thing! If you examine the miracles, the healings, the kindness and teaching above expectations, Jesus is indeed God’s man for the mission!

You must have a teachable mind to recognize Jesus. People whose minds are closed to new ideas will keep asking for more evidence. They can never be sure. They ask for more and more proof when there’s already plenty!

Jesus says that we need to be like sheep. Sheep know the master’s voice and follow him. Jesus watches out for the sheep, granting them eternal life! They will never perish! If these sheep belong to Jesus and the Father, no one can snatch them from his hand. No one!

Jesus wraps up his comments with the bold statement, “The Father and I are one.”

In a few sentences, Jesus just summarized Christian doctrine. He was sent by the Father, and through his taking away of our sins, he grants believers eternal life. We are saved by grace through Jesus, the Messiah. Though we have experienced God in three different forms, there is in reality only one God. Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”

So stay close to Jesus, your ticket to the hereafter. Love God and love your neighbor, but don’t forget to include Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Eternal Address!

For Saturday, June 21, 2025:

John 10:11 NIV, Jesus speaking: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Jesus again uses an agricultural analogy to make his point. Most young men and some women had experience in sheep-tending. So let’s examine the commitment level of the various shepherds.

Hired hands are just that. “I’ll watch your sheep, but I expect a paycheck.” They’re only in it for the money. You don’t have enough money to get them to stay on through big problems.

The chief shepherd is a leader. He makes certain that the sheep have food and water. Pesky little varmints come by, and he runs them off.

The real test, though, comes when a bear or a lion approaches. These carnivores threaten not only the sheep but also the life of the shepherd. And this is where we separate the men from the boys. Hired shepherds may turn tail and run for safety. But if the shepherd is the owner of the sheep, he will fight to the finish to protect them. He would jeopardize his own life to protect the flock.

And that is what Jesus did. He laid down his own life to settle our sin debt, thereby buying believers eternal life in the Kingdom. Jesus was the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his flock.

You can have an eternal heavenly address because of what Jesus did!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Path Least Traveled!

For Friday, June 20, 2025:

Luke 13:24 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.”

The question put to Jesus was, “How many will be saved?” Is it a lot, or perhaps just a few? I don’t need an exact number. Perhaps we could get the answer as a percentage? Are 10% saved while 90% perish? Or is it the other way around? Since the gate is narrow, I surmise that not everyone who calls out, “Lord, Lord,” will be rescued.

God is patient. He’s giving us a lot of time to firm up our decision. God wants more and more of the faithful to cement their decisions for Jesus. But friends, time is running out! There will come a day when God says, “No more time!” Our grace period has ended. It’s a real line in the sand. Those who have committed themselves to Jesus will be “IN!” Those who reject Christ will be “OUT!” Unfortunately, fence-sitters will also be out. If you’re not perceived as being “with” Jesus, you may find yourself on the outside. “I never knew you!”

Those who humble themselves before Jesus go to the front of the line. Those who think too highly of themselves will bring up the rear. The first will be last, and the last will be first. It’s exciting to watch your pecking order shift as judgment day draws closer!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Baa - Baa!

For Thursday, June 19, 2025:

John 10:9 AMP, Jesus speaking: “I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security).”

Since we all live on planet Earth, we’re pretty familiar with the earthly realm. But the Kingdom of God extends into a spiritual realm, about which we know little. Jesus has already been there, and now he’s getting believers up to speed on what it takes to see heaven from the inside.

Notice that Jesus begins many of his testimonies with, “Verily, verily I say unto you,” which is translated, “I assure you,” or, “Very truly I tell you,” or, “I tell you the truth.” Pharisees were present, so I assume they also presented their incorrect version of the hereafter. Jesus is setting the record straight. “Listen up; what I’m telling you is truth!”

Jesus’ entire address uses an agricultural analogy. 2K years ago, it could be assumed that most young people had at one time or another tended a few sheep. That example doesn’t work quite as well in 2025!

Jesus taking away our sin problem opened the door to heaven for mankind. Those walking with Jesus will not only be saved, but will experience eternal life. Believers will have spiritual security, assurance of salvation. That’s what Jesus said, and his words are always true!

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Second Chances!

For Tuesday, June 17, 2025:

Luke 13:8-9 NIV, Gardener speaking: “Leave the fig tree alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then I’ll cut it down.”

The gardener is giving the fig tree one last chance. Following Jesus gives mankind second, third and fourth chances. God doesn’t throw us away the first time we sin. We’re given an opportunity to repent and return, to correct a situation and make things right with our fellows. Like I said yesterday, it doesn’t seem to matter as much what you did as a sinner, as what you INTEND to do as a repentant believer!

As he died, Jesus took the sins of the world to the place of the dead. Our sin problem is thereby solved. We all need to look to the future. What has changed? What do we intend to do differently? Actions speak louder than words, so hopefully people will acknowledge your newly changed behavior rather than dwelling on the past. Paul is an extreme example of this. If you only considered his past, his persecution of Christianity, Paul would never be elected leader of a Christian fellowship. But on the road to Damascus, Paul did a 180! He became the leading itinerant evangelist of the New Testament!

By sending Jesus to walk alongside mankind, God is giving us another chance. His desire is that ALL would repent and return. If there’s no fruit, the fig tree will be cut down and thrown into the fire. If mankind doesn’t accept the Son – God’s gift of salvation – we too will be thrown into the fire.

Friends, this is serious business, and Jesus doesn’t mince words. Today is the accepted day to choose your eternal destination. There are only two choices: God’s way or the wrong way! God’s way grants us everlasting happiness. The other way gives us eternal misery.

Choose wisely!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Acts 2 Church!

For Sunday, June 8, 2025:

Acts 2:42 NLT: “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.”

Christians always seemed to be at odds with the world, so they stuck together. Caesar claimed to be god, and he didn’t like the competition. Pharisees didn’t appreciate this new splinter-group draining their power and resources. Jesus never succumbed to the world, so being on the “outs” seemed normal to the disciples. Therefore, the Christians hung out with each other, forming their own community within Jerusalem. They prayed together, worshiped together and took meals together. Remembering Jesus, they celebrated the Lord’s Supper.

Q: How many people are coming to dinner? A: 3,000 more than yesterday! It’s a good thing that supper wasn’t in the church basement! Many of these new believers were from out-of-town. They didn’t have jobs in Jerusalem or places to live. This proved to be a test of Jesus’ new command, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Property and possessions were sold, with the proceeds donated to those in need. The church thrived!

Never forget that the Holy Spirit moved within this group. That’s what made it work! The apostles performed many signs and wonders, healings and miracles. The Holy Spirit had fueled the “Repent and Return Revival,” kicking off the entire Pentecost scenario!

"And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” In other words, adding 3k believers that first day was just the beginning. Today, there are 2.4B people worldwide who identify with Christianity, about one-third of the world. That number is increasing, but we still have work to do.

Count yourself blessed if your church mirrors the Acts 2 church. Your new members may not look like you or speak your language. That’s OK. Worship together, take meals together and love one another. Be kind, be helpful, be generous and do the next right thing. That’s what Jesus would do!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

PS: Jesus called the Samaritan “good,” even though he was a Samaritan!

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