Happy Father's Day!

For Sunday, June 16, 2024:

Ephesians 6:4 HCSB: “Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Today is Father’s Day in the US. The father, together with his wife and children, should strive to make their ‘home’ what it should be. It’s been said that home is, “When you go there, they have to let you in!”

Yesterday we talked about the prodigal father, who foolishly let his son become the prodigal son. When that son returned home with his tail between his legs, the father would have had every right to be mad, to show anger, to start in with extreme discipline. But there will be plenty of time later to discuss what went wrong. For now, the father showed forgiveness and unconditional love! He put the family ring back on the son’s finger and gave him a fine robe to wear. The father threw a memorable party celebrating the son’s return! This is how to welcome someone home who was lost but now is found!

  In the same way, our Father God welcomes home backsliders. There is a celebration in heaven whenever a soul repents and returns. God, of course, is the author of unconditional love!

Being a father is a unique job description. No other person can fill those shoes! Do your best!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Reconciliation!

December 4, 2023 Monday Message:

Romans 16:26 NLT, Paul concluding his letter to the Roman church: “Now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message (the Gospel) is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him.”

We know that the Messiah came through the Jews, but redemption is truly for all people. ALL! The Messiah, the Rescuer, our Savior came to help you and to help me, and that’s Good News! Don’t ever think you don’t deserve being rescued, because God has forgiven you, loves you unconditionally, and has qualified you to take up residence in the heavenly hereafter, and God is always right! His Son Jesus went ahead to prepare your place in eternity!

Forgiveness and reconciliation follow confession, whereby we acknowledge our own sin. That not only works with God; it works with humans too. Pretend that someone offended you, and you’re still holding a grudge. The relationship will remain in that damaged state until one of you makes a move. But if that person comes to you and says, “I’m really sorry; please forgive me,” of course you’ll forgive them. That’s what Jesus said to do. And now the ball is rolling toward rebuilding the relationship, reconciliation.

God’s desire is that everyone would repent and return. He doesn’t want to lose a single soul. Believers are the ones who say “yes” to Jesus. They’ll get to see heaven from the inside!

Have a blessed week as you serve!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

God's Unending Love!

For Saturday, September 23, 2023:

Romans 8:38a NLT: “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.”

Before Adam and Eve sinned, there was no religion in the world. There was only God the Creator. But the couple had been promised by the devil himself that they too could be like God. Regrettably, they took the bait. Suddenly there was unworthy competition for heaven’s throne, and sin had entered the world. Now God needed to make his laws and his value system known, so now we have religion.

Like any proud parent, God was disappointed when his children let him down, but the incident did not extinguish his love for us. God went so far as to send his own Son to pay the price for the sins of the world, so that we could join him in the hereafter. That’s how much God loves us! Paul goes on to say, “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” His list is extensive but not exhaustive. In fact, nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Paul concludes v39: “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Unconditional Love!

For Friday, May 26, 2023:

1 John 4:10 GNT: “This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven.”

Jesus talked about “love” so much that John continues expositing the subject(s). In the English language, we’re limited by having only one “love” word. “I love my job; I love my friends at church; I love my new car; I love my wife” – same word, but completely different meanings. But in the original language, there are different words for each kind of love.

Yesterday we talked about brotherly love, but today’s scripture shifts to unconditional love, what the Bible calls “agápē” love, where someone is loved no matter what! A parent loves their children unconditionally. We may not approve of their behavior from time to time, but they can always come back home. It’s been said that home is where when you go there, they always let you in!

Believers are adopted into God’s Holy Family. And since we’re Children of God, our Heavenly Father loves us without reservation. In spite of our propensity to sin, God is loving and forgiving and welcomes us with open arms.

How much does our Father love us? “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Children of God!

For Tuesday, April 18, 2023:

1 John 2:28 NLT: “And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.”

Believers are born-again children of God, given a new chance at life filled with the Holy Spirit. A Father-child relationship is the perfect example of a believer’s new relationship with the Lord.

A good child wants to please the Father. Obedience – following God’s commands – is important, as is diligence in helping with the family business. Jesus assigned us the task of making disciples of all nations. How’s that going?

A relationship is always a 2-way street. For his part, the Father loves his children unconditionally. A good Father is full of correction, forgiveness and second chances.

As we enter the next reality, believers want to proudly announce, “I did my very best for the kingdom!”

The Bible says that God will respond, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Agape Love!

For Saturday, February 11, 2023:

Matthew 7:9 NIV, Jesus speaking: “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?”

It’s been said that home is where when you go there, they have to let you in. No matter what! That’s unconditional love, which the New Testament calls agape love, not to be confused with sexual love or brotherly love. Agape is the highest form of love, the love of God for mankind and our love for our Lord. It’s similar to the love a parent has for their children. We love our children unconditionally, in spite of their faults.

Jesus teaches us to think of God as our Father in heaven, and he’s saying here that if we pray for bread, God will not give us a stone. If we pray for a fish, God won’t give us a snake. Parents forgive their offspring’s shortcomings and always want them to have the best. God is good – all the time!

"To all who believed Jesus and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” Not from a physical birth or plan, but reborn according to God’s grace, adopted into the Holy family, beneficiaries of agape love - forever!

We’re all family now!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Redeemer!

For Tuesday, May 3, 2022:

Romans 3:20 NLT: “No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.”

We try to obey God’s law, to avoid sin, but sooner or later we make a mistake. Regrettably, we get something wrong. But we’re not alone! The Bible says that ALL have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory!

That’s why we needed a Redeemer, a Savior. God loves us unconditionally, forgivingly, like a parent loves a child. So he sent his Son Jesus to pay the price for our sins, to give mankind a fresh start. We put our faith, hope and trust in him!

It was God who wanted to make sure he’d see us again!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Closer to God!

For Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Isaiah 49:16a NLT, God speaking: “See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.”

God will never forget you, forsake you or abandon you. After all, He created you! And in his words, “Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?” Knowing that, we should be filled with eternal hope!

God is for you; God is on your side – today! At this hour! At this minute! No need to wait until tomorrow – God loves you this second! It’s unconditional love. His loyalty won’t increase if you’re better, nor will it decrease if you come up short. Just repose in God’s lap; rest in His arms.

The closer you are to God, the better life goes!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Prodigal Father

June 15, 2020 Monday Message:

Jesus speaking, concluding the parable of the Prodigal Son: “He returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 NLT

The ultimate “repent and return” story has to be the Prodigal Son. This foolish son disrespected his father by asking for his share of the inheritance while the father was still alive. Then he abandoned the family business, went to the big city and squandered a fortune on wine, women and song.

When the money ran out, he was forced to accept employment tending pigs, unclean, un-kosher animals. He had reached his ‘bottom,’ realizing that the staff back home lived far better than he. Perhaps if he confessed his errant ways, his father would allow him to return as one of the servants.

The son returned home to do just that - and surprise! – the father saw him while he was still a long way off! Apparently the father had been watching for him, waiting for him, hoping against all odds that the son would come to his senses and return. The father never gave up on this rebellious, wayward kid. He wrapped him in a fine robe, put the family crest back on his finger, and invited everyone. “Let’s have a bar-b-cue and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found!”

This parable is about “repent and return,” but it’s every bit as much about the unconditional agape love the father has for each of his children. There is no sin so great that it cannot be forgiven, and God is in the ‘second-chance’ business. He wants to include everyone!

I’ll be teaching Jesus calming the storm, Luke 8:22-25 on our Facebook Live Stream Wednesday 7pm. See you there!

God’s blessings on you - stay safe!

Norton Lawellin, Worship Pastor

Jesus in the City Fellowship.

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406