Disciple!

For Friday, April 10, 2026:

Mark 16:15-16 NLT: Jesus told his disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.”

This scripture is very much like the ending of Matthew’s Gospel, which we title ‘The Great Commission,’ wherein Jesus tells us to make disciples of all nations. A commission is an assignment. If someone commissions a painting, you should get your little brushes out! If someone commissions a statue, start chipping granite! If you’re to make disciples, start chipping away at everyone you meet! Share the Gospel, the Good News. Let them know that you’re a Christian! Let everyone know that salvation, eternal life in the presence of the Lord, is possible if they say “yes” to Jesus! The Father wants everyone to have this opportunity.

Unfortunately, some people will make the wrong decision. It’s beyond me why anyone would choose misery over paradise. Pride, perhaps? A fear of letting a Savior be in charge? If you’re a believer, you already know the right choice, and have made a solid decision. Jesus loves you and would never lead you down the wrong path!

One more thing. Q: What is a disciple? A: A believer, a loyal follower of Jesus. Some who traveled with Jesus are Apostles, sometimes referred to as “the 12,” or “the 11” following the Judas incident. But there are many more disciples, people who committed to Jesus after the first 12 were already called. Also, the Bible makes slim mention of women, but there were plenty of them too!

If you’re a disciple, now is the time to assume disciple duties. Do your part toward making more disciples of all nations. That’s what Jesus said to do!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Lies!

For Tuesday, April 7, 2026:

Matthew 28:11 NLT: “As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened.”

The tomb was discovered open, and the body of Jesus was missing. This is exactly what the Jews didn’t want to happen. That’s why guards were placed at the tomb. But what happened next is even more unbelievable.

The leading priests met with the elders and agreed to pay a large bribe, asking the guards to lie. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’’’ Religious leaders without truth have no platform on which to stand. Lying violates every commandment that they teach.

Verse 15 concludes this section: “So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.”

Question: Why would anyone stick with a religion predicated on a lie? This is one more example of religion getting seriously off-track. God rescued his people from Egypt and gave them the Promised Land. Then God’s Son came to Earth to rectify mankind’s sin problem. Forgiven, the people should reconcile with the Lord, not be fighting over the authenticity of the Son. God had everything worked out until mankind lied. It’s like the Garden of Eden all over again!

God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Love all three and love your neighbor, and the Lord will smile on you!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Name of Jesus!

 March 16, 2026, Monday Message: 

John 14:13-14 NLT, Jesus speaking: “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”

 When something in the Bible needs extra emphasis, it’s often repeated, written twice. Today’s scripture is a good example. It’s two verses that literally say the same thing. Anything we ask in Jesus’ name is possible. As an extreme example, you could order a mountain into the sea in Jesus’ name, and it would happen. (Mark 11:23)

 Certain rules come into play here, and this is not an exhaustive list. No showing off using Jesus’ powers, and nothing frivolous. His promise is for locked-in believers as they go about the Lord’s work. If we encounter someone who needs healing, we should take care of it. Note that our cry for healing won’t override God’s previous decision to call someone home.

 Satan, the “prince of this world,” is still free to inflict his brand of misery. Don’t take this to mean that he is equal to God, but it does symbolize the influence Satan has over human affairs and sinful choices. Did you ever notice that when Jesus healed someone, he would oftentimes cast out demons, perhaps the root cause of their misery?

 In the same way as Satan is inferior to God Almighty, he is also inferior to Jesus (Godly part of the Trinity). Therefore, Satan’s little demons are inferior to believers when we use the name of Jesus! We can cast them out, send them away using the name of Jesus.

 Luke Ch. 8 describes a group of women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. They now traveled with Jesus and his other disciples. One woman was Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. That’s a lot of baggage! Those women put their personal resources behind Jesus’ ministry, demons be damned!

Pastor Norton Lawellin
The Father’s House
Jesus In the City Fellowship
Truth & Freedom Church

Happy Mother's Day!

For Sunday, May 11, 2025:

John 2:5 ESV: “Jesus’ mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’”

Mary, Jesus and his disciples were all invited to a wedding in Cana. Back then, a wedding was a multi-day celebration. The reception could last for a week! But this festivity was embarrassingly about to end prematurely. They had run out of wine. Because water wasn’t purified like it is nowadays, wine was the standard beverage served with meals, so without wine, the gala would come to an abrupt halt.

Mary commented to her son, “They have run out of wine,” to which Jesus replied, “What does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” Mary ignored his protest and told the servers, “Do whatever Jesus tells you!”

So Jesus stepped up and did the right thing. He honored his mother! Jesus had the servers bring big stone water jars to the Maitre’d. While being transported, the water changed into wine, and the Maitre’d asked why they had saved the best wine for last?

So examining Jesus’ behavior, even though it was not yet his time to go public with his ministry, it was a good decision to honor mom. Following his example, today we celebrate Mother’s Day in the US. It’s a good day to figuratively put mom up on a pedestal. My own mother has passed, so I can only remember her. But I honor my wife, the mother of my children. I honor my two daughters and my son’s wife, who are mothers to my grandchildren.

As Christians, we should honor all women, whether or not they are actually mothers. God saw that it was not good for man to be alone, so he gave us partners. Honoring women honors God’s decision! We should follow in Jesus’ footsteps and honor our mothers and all women – especially today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Family!

For Sunday, December 15, 2024:

Deuteronomy 5:18 NKJV, God’s words: “You shall not commit adultery.”

God joins one woman and one man. Together, they form a new family unit. “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (separate).” Mark 10:9

Historically, God saw that it was not good for man to be alone, so he created woman. It’s worked out well. A special bond between the couple makes life better for each. We can now have children to perpetuate the human race and give us “families.”

Women and men are remarkably similar and yet distinctly different. They are not interchangeable. God’s way is the best way to live our lives!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Resurrection Sunday!

For Resurrection Sunday, April 9, 2023:

Mark 16:6 NLT: “The angel (sitting in Jesus’ tomb) said, ‘Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!’”

Some call it Easter, but I prefer Resurrection Sunday. That clearly states what happened on that wonderful day. It was day three, and just as prophesied, Jesus rose from the dead! Jesus always spoke the truth, and this is no exception. He proved to us that there is life after this life, and through faith in Jesus, that life is available to all who believe, and that’s Good News!

I love what the angel said: “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Didn’t he tell you?” The resurrection is always stated in present tense: He IS risen, not he WAS risen. Jesus is still alive today!

Women would traditionally anoint a body with spices for burial, which is why the women were the first to learn of the resurrection. They told the disciples, and Simon Peter immediately took off running to see for himself. Jesus promised to meet everyone in Galilee.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Honor your Mother

May 4, 2015 Monday Message:

“Jesus said to the disciple whom He loved, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from then on, this disciple took her into his home.” John 19:27 NLT

This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. I believe that God sees Mothers as special people, and apparently Jesus feels that way too. From the cross, his concern wasn’t for himself, but rather for the provision and ongoing safety of his mother.

Last Sunday at church, a shall child approached an older woman, shouting, “Grandma!” She whispered to me, “We’re not really related. It’s just that everybody calls me ‘grandma.’” I think Jesus would have liked that. Some women are mothers to their children; and other women are mothers to us all. God is responsible for placing all these women in our midst.

Several years ago, I compiled a Mother’s Day prayer for use in a worship service. I think we’ll use it again this year. Feel free to use it yourself, or to share it. Let’s all honor the special women in our lives on this special day.

Mother’s Day Prayer:

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

We thank You for all mothers, to whom You have entrusted the care of human life from its very beginning in the womb, those with selfless motherly-love for the children in their lives.

LORD, be with all women, including those who may have no children of their own, yet unselfishly care for the children of others. Father, may they know the joy of fulfilling this motherly calling of women, whether in teaching, nursing, religious life, or any other work or relationship that shines the light of Jesus into the world.

May all mothers teach faith to their children, growing daily in the knowledge of Jesus. Grant women the wisdom to share this knowledge faithfully with all who depend upon them.

And through the Holy Spirit, comfort those who sorrow for children who have died; comfort parents whose children who are ill; comfort those with children estranged from their families, children who are in trouble or danger of any kind. Help grieving parents rely on Your tender mercy, LORD, and the knowledge that You love ALL your children.

And God, fill our women with your inspiration, strength, and heavenly blessing. May they receive Your Grace abundantly in this life, and share eternity in Your presence in the life to come.

We pray to You in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord and Risen Savior. AMEN.”

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, May 10, we’ll first honor the special women in our lives, and then open up Acts 20. See you at church!