Truth vs Wrong Teachers!

For Wednesday, May 28, 2025:

Luke 11:52 NLT, Jesus speaking: “What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”

We are advised in James 3:1: “Not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.” The problem here was that the teachers of religion in Jesus’ day were leading people down the wrong path. If the leader doesn’t know the way to the Kingdom, it follows that those they counsel would be led astray. That explains why religious teachers would be examined more closely. Not only are they headed in the wrong direction, they’re dragging others down with them!

We have been given a textbook to use in our religion class – the Bible! We can’t go wrong teaching from the Bible, but we must also understand the times and the context. My favorite example is when Job’s wife told him he might as well curse God and then die! The Bible is truth! But at that point, Mrs. Job was fed up with God’s lack of protection, and she said horrible things. Knowing the context, I believe the Bible, but none of us should act on her advice. That would involve giving up on God, and Job’s challenge was to NOT give up on God. By the way, Job succeeded!

Jesus sees sorrow in the future of a bad religious teacher, while a good teacher, one who furthers the Kingdom, will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

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

Heavenly Rewards

Sept. 30, 2013 Monday Message:

Everyone wants to know what heaven will be like. When we die, our earthly “stuff” stays on earth, so the #5 most asked Bible/Christianity question is, “Am I going to get new ‘stuff?’”

It’s a different economy up there, one that’s kind of confusing. Remember, the first will be last and the last will be first, so you really don’t want to pray for more. It should be more like, “Go ahead, you can have my stuff – I don’t really need it. I’m good.”

When God says to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” you’ll see your reward. But it won’t be “stuff.” You won’t need “stuff,” because you’ll be in the presence of God. The rewards in heaven are for faithfulness. Jesus didn’t say, “Well done, good and famous, talented or popular servant.” Over and over he praises faithfulness in all things. And there will be people who fancy themselves pretty awesome servants – cool! – But the first will be last, and the last will be first – whoa, didn’t see that coming! The Bible says that we should not think too highly of ourselves.

We get crowns in heaven – God places them on our heads – and we need to say, “Right back to You, Lord. All the glory belongs to YOU!” If we think that we did so well that we can keep the crown, we just failed the test! Those who are truly faithful with the opportunities God has given them, both in this life and the next, will be given more.

Jesus has you covered for this heavenly reward business. He’s been watching, and is carrying our heavenly rewards with him. “I am coming soon. And when I come, I will reward everyone for what they have done.” Rev. 22:12

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday at 10:30am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, Oct. 06, our Prodigal Son returns home via Dan Pilla, Luke 15. Join us!

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We have Hope!

June 17, 2013 Monday Message:

My wife’s uncle, Al Hirsch, went to be with the Lord last week. Our family traveled to console his family in their loss.

Al was a solid Christian when I first met him, and that was about 45 years ago! He lived out his faith every day.

When I was much younger, I thought Al and his family were hopelessly square, not hip, un-cool, probably because of their outspoken Christianity. Nice people, but kinda square. But as my own walk with Jesus increased, I grew in awareness that Al and his family were the ones who really had it all together all along. We grew closer.
 

In his later years, Al filled his days as a “greeter” at Sam’s Club – but it was more than just that. Al had keys for the store, and servant Al would arrive early to turn on the heat and lights, making sure everything was ready for the rest of the staff. His wife Irene told me that Al made quite a difference in that store. Every customer who came through the door knew Al. And whenever an employee had a religious or moral question, or just needed to talk things over with a friend, Al was always available. He was trusted by all.

Al went to be with the Lord. In heaven there is no cancer; there is no pain, and no one suffers. As Al went from this reality into the next, Jesus greeted him with open arms, saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Al has Jesus; we have hope.

Norton Lawellin

Father’s Day and the New Hope Tour are behind us, but Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday. This coming week, June 23, Dan Pilla teaches from Luke 11:1-13 about prayer. We gather at 10:30am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. See you there!

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