Know Jesus!

For Thursday, April 27, 2023:

1 John 3:5-6 NLT: “You know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in Christ will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.”

Jesus was born into a community with a huge religious awareness. The people believed in God and held the scriptures and prophesies as sacred. The religious leaders known as Pharisees rigidly honored God’s commandments. In fact their mission had become enforcing those rules, catching someone doing something wrong and calling them on their errant behavior, and that was wrong!

Pharisees should have known Leviticus 19:18: “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” The Pharisees were missing love, compassion and forgiveness. They were purporting to know all about God and religion, but had left out a key part of scripture. Their rigid enforcement of God’s commands had become a sin unto itself. It’s obvious the Pharisees didn’t truly know Jesus or understand who he is!

So friends, lighten up, show compassion, love your neighbor and make forgiveness your watch-word. When in doubt, do what Jesus would have done.

Pastor Norton Lawellinh

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Look & Listen!

March 28, 2022 Monday Message

Matthew 13:16 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.”

Jesus said that not everyone is permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom. But to those who listen, to those who seek to know the truth, more understanding will be given, and that person will accumulate an abundance of knowledge!

That’s why we should continue to attend church and hear messages from an inspired leader. That’s why we should continue to read and study our Bibles. Gather all the information you can about the Father, His Son and the Kingdom. The eyes and ears of the believer are opened, and that individual is filled with hope!

"Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” (Matt. 13:9)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Psalms 105 - God's Covenant

Aug. 14, 2017 Monday Message:

“The Lord our God remembers his covenant forever.” Psalms 105:8a NKJV

There are 43 places in the Bible where God says similar words: “You will be my people, and I will be your God.”

This is God’s covenant, first with the Hebrew people, and then with the followers of Jesus, who added, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Just so you understand, a covenant is an irrevocable perpetual promise. As humans in a sinful world, we sometimes neglect our half of the covenant. Fortunately, God never forgets his promise. God is like a rock, like an anchor. God is the same yesterday and today, and we can count on him remaining true to his covenant tomorrow as well.

If we look outside the church, we can see that many humans haven’t held up their end of the covenant. They don’t behave as God’s people should. This past weekend saw violent confrontations in Charlottesville, VA, over a civil war statue, a white supremacy protest, protesters against that protest, and ultimately the death of a young woman, Heather D. Heyer, 32. None of that is the way God wants people to live.

Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you.” Yes, Jesus is the answer our nation needs – love, tolerance, patience and understanding are better answers than prejudice, hatred and violence. The more people we tell about Jesus, the better chance that we can swing the pendulum in a more positive direction.

Perhaps you could bring someone with you to church next weekend. Our God could be their God too, and they could become one of his people.

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. The Pharisees complained that Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors. We’ll visit Matthew’s party this week, and see the assortment of people who came to hear the words of the teacher who loved everyone. See you at church!