Tax Collectors and Sinners!

For Friday, July 11, 2025:

Luke 15:1 NLT: “Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.”

Tax collectors were considered the worst of the sinners, so much so that the Bible often speaks of “tax collectors and sinners,” giving them their own distinct category. Sinners had simply done something wrong, but tax collectors were working for the opposition, the bad guys! They were working FOR Rome, against the Hebrew people. Tax collectors were also known for taxing a little bit extra to line their own pockets. They were skimming, taking more from their Hebrew brothers than Rome required. Needless to say, tax collectors had abandoned their heritage in favor of the almighty dollar. (OK, denarius.)

Tax collectors knew they weren’t welcome in Synagogues, but many were still interested in God and religion, the way they had been raised. So when Jesus taught, they would stop and listen. Their presence angered the Pharisees. Even though Jesus wasn’t “their guy,” they wanted to maintain a certain majesty at religious gatherings, and including tax collectors wasn’t on the Pharisee agenda.

Jesus had previously stated, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Therefore, tax collectors and sinners needed to hear what the Pharisees should have already known! (Mark 2:17)

This raises some tough questions. Does your Sunday church cater to those who already believe, or to the notorious sinners in your community? Look around; see who’s there. Hopefully you’ll see some from each group! Those hosting the meeting need to be welcoming to those just checking things out. We can gently make a case that following Jesus is the better way to live. Let everyone know that being a Christian can be exciting and fun. Tell your face! Love your neighbor, even if they don’t yet have Christian ethics. That’s what Jesus did!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Philadelphia - Love for One's Fellows!

For Thursday, May 25, 2023:

1 John 4:7-8 NLT: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

As Acts 2 ends, we learn that this new group of believers, ‘The Way,’ devoted themselves to fellowship. They shared possessions, took meals together and worshiped God together. This love for others, a principle first taught by Jesus, was being put into motion by the believers. Others liked what they saw and wanted to become a member too. They were baptized and brought into the fellowship.

To be clear, this love is not the unconditional love, like how God loves us. It’s reciprocal, treating others the way we’d like to be treated. This is not romantic or erotic love, but instead what the Bible calls ‘Brotherly Love.’ That includes ‘Sisterly Love’ too!

Christians should be nice people, friendly, helpful to one another and ready to serve. If group of believers, a church, isn’t welcoming and loving, something’s a little off.

Looking after our fellows should be as important as looking after ourselves.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Psalms 146 - Inclusive

June 18, 2018 Monday Message:

“The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. Psalms 146:9 NIV

While still a toddler, our Lord and savior was forced to seek political asylum in a foreign land. As you may recall, Herod was killing all the young Jewish males, so Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus packed up, headed for Egypt, and were political refugees for a time.

Fortunately Egypt welcomed them, and eventually things settled down in Israel, so the family was able to return to their homeland.

Understand that lines drawn on a map defining individual countries were drawn by men, and NOT by God. God made only one earth, and our assignment, straight from the mouth of Jesus, is to make disciples of ALL nations. To do that, we need to figure out how to get along with everybody. Now let’s get to work!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, June 24, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Pilla continues our walk through Hebrews.