Radically Transformed

June 11, 2012 Monday Message:

Paul: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Cor. 5:17

Paul was the original church-planter for people outside of Israel. He found himself on a Holy Spirit-directed journey, and with Paul as your leader, it would be impossible for you to stray far from his walk. His calling as Gospel purveyor to the Gentiles was a reflection of his personal experiences.

Remember, Paul had been blinded by the light on the road to Damascus, struck down by a Holy Spirit slap, and then left with the voice of Jesus echoing in his head, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

But when God shows up in his life, Paul listens. Now instead of persecuting Christians, he was an advocate for Christians. Instead of exterminating churches, Paul was planting new ones and helping them grow. Paul had repented and returned; his position reversed; his attitude flipped around 180º. He was, indeed, radically transformed.

Paul looked for that same radical transformation in all the new churches and in all the new brothers and sisters, as a sign of their new born-again life. His epistles repeatedly tell of the old Paul dying, and Jesus being alive in the new Paul, and he looked for similar evidence of that in all the new Christians.

So as we go and make disciples of all nations, we don’t just want them to know “about” Jesus; we want them to be “radically transformed” by Jesus. Like Paul, we look for radical transformation as evidence of conversion.

Are you radically transformed?

Norton Lawellin

Remember that on July 29, Jesus in the City Sunday worship will move to the Oliver Ministry Center, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue. Note the new service time: 10:30am. Prayers covering this transition and move would be appreciated.

People of Hope are leading worship at New Hope Center, Metro Hope Ministries, this Friday, June 15, 7pm. Chuck Hirt will be speaking.

God's Trends - Up and to the Right

June 04, 2012 Monday Message:

David: “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.” Psalm 29:2a

If I gave each of you a yellow pad and asked you to describe a person of “good character,” most would write down similar answers. If you were trying to BECOME a person of “good character,” this list could be your goals.

Regrettably, humans don’t all-at-once stop making bad choices and become totally perfect. Our expectation on the journey to becoming a better person, to becoming a better Christian, is progress, not perfection.

Lately I’ve become a “trends” advocate. In life, we sometimes seem to take two steps forward and then one step backwards. But if we continually do just that – take TWO steps forward while only taking ONE step backward – our trend will keep moving up and to the right. Progress (not perfection.)

If you took your yellow pad and wrote down the characteristics of a good GOD, you might fill several pages. Your list would not be exhaustive, but you’d have a good grasp of the “character” of God. So when you can’t find your exact problem, your situation, in the Bible, you know what God recommends because you understand the “character” of God and are confident that His value system will not change.

In Psalm 29, David lists examples of God’s power, providence, provision and everlasting lovingkindness – God’s trends – which is why David finds YHWH worthy of all glory!

Norton Lawellin

We had a great time of worship last Sunday as Rick Anderson and Christian songwriter Janet Carlson shared their gifts. Thanks to both!

On July 29, Jesus in the City Sunday worship will move to the Oliver Ministry Center, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue. Note the new service time: 10:30am. Prayers covering this transition and move would be appreciated.

Memorial Day & Galatians

May 28, 2012 Memorial Day Monday Message:

As the Christian church started, the region known as Galatia hosted at least four distinct ethnic groups:

1. The indigenous Turks

2. Romans, still there after their conquering efforts

3. Jews, the merchants and bankers who facilitated the economy, and

4. The Gauls, middle-European transplants who stayed behind after their attempts to rule the region. Because of the number of Gauls and their colossal influence on the culture, we know the region as “Galatia.”

These four groups were quite distinct, bringing different customs, histories and traditions to the table. They didn’t always get along well; they didn’t agree on much. So it’s no surprise that when Paul planted start-up churches in the region and then moved on, the churches quickly fell into conflict and disagreement. Paul’s epistles to the Galatians represent his efforts to get them back on track.

Today, the US is a lot like Galatia – we’re all from different countries or different regions. We all want to hold on to our personal customs, histories and traditions. It’s no wonder that we don’t always play well with others. Recently it’s gotten worse instead of better. The left has moved farther to the left, while the right has moved farther to the right. We observe stalemates on needed legislation and witness government shutdowns precluding any progress. The taxation necessary to service our national debt crisis could take our country down – a country that was, ironically, founded by citizens protesting excessive taxation. Duh! How short is our memory?

Paul’s advice to the Galatians would be good advice for the US – Get back to the one true Gospel. And if anyone preaches a different message, let him be cursed. We know that things go better the closer we are to the Father. (See Galatians 1:7-9)

Those who gave their lives for our great country wanted to preserve our freedom to worship. As we honor these warriors today, let’s apply action to the principles for which they fought. Pray that the US would get back on track – and pray for revival in our nation.

Norton Lawellin

On July 29, Jesus in the City Sunday worship will move to the Oliver Ministry Center, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue. Prayers covering this transition and move would be appreciated.