Sabbath Again!

For Saturday, July 11, 2026:

Luke 6:9 NLT: Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?”

Saturday is the Jewish Holy Day, so everyone had gathered at the Synagogue. The group included a man with a deformed right hand. At this point, it’s pretty clear that the Pharisees were no fans of Jesus, so this was kind of a trick question. If Jesus healed the man, the Pharisees planned to accuse him of doing work on the Sabbath. After explaining the situation, Jesus healed the man.

Here’s Jesus’ explanation for what happened. While honoring the Sabbath is good, it does not supersede any of God’s other commands, in this case loving your neighbor. Being kind and helpful are always good things to do. Jesus was always doing the next right thing, and this is one more example of that. Our lives should always be modeled after Jesus!

Christians worship on Sunday, the third day after the crucifixion, when Jesus walked away from the tomb, conquering sin and death through the same event.

Q: Is it OK to mow the lawn on Sunday afternoon? A: If it’s just to cross one more thing off your honey-do list, the answer is no. But if it puts a smile on your spouse’s face because they like the yard neat and tidy, do it for them. Show pride in ownership and gratitude for the house and yard God gave you. Take good care of it. Joke with God about why the landscaping barely grows but grass doubles in volume each week! (God likes a good pun, I think!) Then take the kids to a pool, a splash pad, or just let them run through the sprinkler in the yard. Make the Sabbath a fun day for everyone!

God gave you the spouse, the children, the house, the yard and the Sabbath. Enjoy everything!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Married in Heaven?

Oct. 28, 2013 Monday Message:

We’re getting close to the end of the top 10 questions about Christianity/heaven. #9 asks, “Will I be married in heaven? Will I recognize my spouse?”

People seem to have strong feeling about this. I think it depends upon which answer they are seeking!

When the Sadducees were trying to trick Jesus, they asked, “If a guy has 6 or 7 wives and dies and goes to heaven, which one is he married to?” (Deep down they know that having only one wife is preferable.)

Jesus replied: “You are mistaken not knowing the scriptures or the power of God. For in the resurrection, for eternity, heaven, they neither marry or are given in marriage…” (Matt. 22:29) So while Jesus says that there are no NEW marriages in heaven, what he’s really saying is, “You guys just don’t get it – you don’t have a clue how heaven operates!”

As God shuts down heaven and earth to make the NEW Heaven and the NEW Earth, the old-earth model will become obsolete. Paul counsels the Corinthians: “The time that remains is very short. Do not become attached to the things (ways) of the world, for the world as we know it will soon pass away.” (1 Cor. 7:29b, 31)

Therefore ALL the human things, our ways of operating in the human systems, are not going to be part of heaven. We can’t pile up a bunch of things that won’t be needed where we’re going.

So while marriage isn’t necessarily obsolete in heaven, it appears that marriage will no longer occupy such a high place on our agenda, because earthly needs for marriage will not exist. Man will not need a helper. Woman will not need a protector. There’s no procreation; no new people are born in heaven.

Now, a marriage that’s working well is a beautiful thing. The relationship between the man and the woman is special – even extra-special – and you should be able to relate to your spouse in unique ways, better than with anyone else on earth.

And here’s the new deal – in the next life, ALL relationships will be perfect, just like marriage, only better. Everyone has the same agenda – to worship and serve the Lord. Everyone is honest and trustworthy. All of a sudden, everyone is on the same page, going in a good direction, and really, really happy about it. You’ll meet your spouse in heaven, you’ll know him or her, but the things of heaven will be just as captivating as a wonderful marriage relationship is here on earth.

We’ll ALL be infatuated – not so much with each other – but with being in the presence of God! After all, the church is the bride of Christ, and that’s the wedding we all want to celebrate!

Norton Lawellin

Join us as Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers Sunday at 10:30am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, Nov. 03, we learn that Jesus healed 10, but only one returned to say thanks. What’s with the other 9? (Luke 17:11-19)

See you at church!

NL