Pentecost - 50 Days

May 21, 2012 Monday Message: 

My Jewish friends have been preparing to celebrate Shavuot or Shavuous, remembering God giving the 10 Commandments on Mt. Sinai 50 days after the Exodus. We Christians call the day “Whit Sunday” (Anglican) or more commonly, “Pentecost,” (Greek) which means “50 days.” This is a huge day of celebration in the Christian church. It’s the day the Holy Spirit made his presence known in the start-up church. 

 On the Christian calendar, if we start counting from Easter morning, the resurrected Jesus walked the earth for 40 days, and then ascended into heaven; and 10 days after that, the Holy Spirit came to the believers in the upper room. Therefore, 50 days — Pentecost. 

The believers were meeting in private, because their leader, Jesus, had just been crucified, and they were very afraid — afraid that they might be next. All of a sudden there was a sound like a huge wind, but nothing was blowing. Little flames of Holy Spirit fire fell from above and landed on the believers, but nothing burned. Now, with the power of the Holy Spirit, their hearts were on fire for Jesus. They had been radically transformed by the Holy Spirit – they were no longer afraid! 

 So Peter went out into the streets and began preaching to the same people who three days earlier had shouted, “Crucify Him!” Peter first visited the prophecies about the coming Messiah, and then showed how Jesus fulfilled ALL these prophecies. Foreign Jews who had sojourned to Jerusalem for Shavuot heard the speech in their native tongues. They were amazed, and they were convinced. 3000 were baptized and added to the group of believers that day. 

That’s what happened on the first Christian Day of Pentecost — may it happen again in your church. Acts 2 

Norton Lawellin 

Jesus in the City has been blessed with a new venue for Sunday worship – details forthcoming. Thanks for your prayers during this time of transition.

Worship Wars

May 14, 2012 Monday Message: 

“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.” Psalms 47:1 TNIV 

What’s with all the clapping in churches nowadays? When I attended church as a child, we wore suits and ties and sat in straight rows on wooden benches. We sang or read with the leader in a quiet and dignified manner. To its credit, that worship style invokes a certain “reverence” for the Lord, pointing to the seriousness of what’s taking place. 

But 3000 years ago, believers worshiped with a lot more enthusiasm. God’s people let their hair down and danced in the streets. There was excitement about being able to serve the Lord. The sons of Korah, presumably leaders of worship, instructed the choir director to have everyone clap their hands and shout for joy. David told his congregation to make a joyful noise and sing a new song! 

There are many styles of worship, but there is only one Gospel, one story of Good News. So first, get the message right; and then, worship with all your might, regardless of how that might look for you, your friends or your congregation. That’s what they did in the Bible. 

Norton Lawellin 

At Jesus in the City Fellowship, Minneapolis, we’ll soon begin a series on Galatians. So for this Friday’s 7pm Chapel at New Hope Center, I’ll walk us through an intro to Galatians, laying a little foundation for the upcoming series. Jesus in the City desperately needs a new venue for Sunday worship, as well as a permanent home. We’re blessed to have solutions in our sights, and your prayers will help us connect with God’s agenda.

Instructor - Me?

May 07, 2012 Monday Message: “How can I understand unless someone instructs me?” Acts 8:31a

Have you ever been enlightened by a great sermon, and thought, “I’ve read that scripture a hundred times before, but I never got THAT message out of it. I learned so much today!"

Growing up as a brother or sister in the Holy Family isn’t a do-it-yourself project. You need Christian friends, your church family and the Holy Spirit – “instructors.” 

The Spirit intervenes in many ways. When you become a Christian, the Holy Spirit opens your mind to the things of God. Scripture that used to be confusing will all-of-a-sudden make sense. You’re eager to learn, and you find yourself looking forward to sermons that used to bore you to death. 

The Spirit also works through prophets, pastors and teachers, giving them special insight into God’s Word, and spiritual gifts of leadership, teaching and communication. The Bible says that seekers can’t understand unless instructed; these are some of the instructors.

The other key instructor is YOU - the “instructed” become the “instructors.” Your story or testimony might be exactly what someone else needs to hear. Jesus commissioned each of us to “make disciples of all nations.” That’s right, this commission isn’t just for pastors; it’s for ALL believers! So we all need to be intentional about evangelism, and equip ourselves with Biblical answers for the inevitable questions.

If we’re unwilling to instruct, the seekers may never understand. They’re depending on you and me. That’s what the Bible says.

Norton Lawellin 

May 2012 is the beginning of a new spiritual walk for me as Worship Pastor at Jesus in the City Fellowship, Minneapolis, answering a call to lift up Jesus-the-Christ to the inner-city. We work closely with Metro Hope Ministries/New Hope Center, Cityview Church and other urban Christians. I’ll be among those leading worship, and participate in pulpit supply for the church and for New Hope Center. We ask for your prayers. http://www.jesusinthecityfellowship.org/