Consider the Cost

Jan. 06, 2014 Monday Message:

“A scribe approached Jesus and said, ‘Rabbi, I will follow you wherever you go.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’” (Matt. 8:19-20)

Remember that TV game show where they ask the contestants, “Is that your final answer? – Are you sure?”

Jesus wants people to follow him, to be his disciples, both when he walked the earth and nowadays. He personally recruited the apostles, as well as many of the other disciples who walked with him. On the road to Damascus, Jesus recruited Paul. Today, he calls you and me to participate in His ministry, the church.

But if you’re thinking of joining the throng, Jesus has one more question: ‘Have you considered the cost?’ - ’Is that your final answer?’ If you’re being called to an itinerant ministry, great, but there’s not even a place to lay your head! Yikes! Talk about under-resourced!

Jesus taught that no one should begin building a tower without the means to finish the job. Only a fool would put all his assets into completing half a job. Consider the cost BEFORE you start.

Ministry can be rough – not everything will run smoothly. You will have setbacks and you will hit roadblocks, dead-ends and resistance. Many in the world do not love Jesus like you do. Satan will fight you every step of the way. Can you keep going to the end? Can you finish? Have you considered the cost? Is that your final answer?

Jesus wants us to run the race in such a way as to win the prize. (1 Cor. 9:24)

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. Last week we were frozen out, but the weather should be more favorable this Sunday, Jan. 12, and we’ll resume our in-depth study of Luke 18:18-30. Bring your Bibles!

Jesus Walked with Us!

Dec. 30, 2013 Monday Message:

“The Word (God) became human (Jesus) and lived among us.” (John 1:14a)

When God created our universe, our planet and our ancestors, that was the beginning, the “zero” point, the beginning of year 1. In spite of God loving us unconditionally, mankind soon got off-track. But because of God’s great love for us, He put a plan in motion to redeem us, His beloved creations.

So God himself became came to earth to live among us as “Jesus the Messiah,” and that was the “zero” point, the beginning of year 1 for the humanity of God. The entire world knows that year, and the entire world marks its calendar from that single starting point. Welcome to year 2014.

Before and after this “zero” point are BC, the time “Before Christ,” and AD for Anno Domini, Latin for “In the Year of Our Lord.” The terms BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) are sometimes used by non-believers who wish to avoid the Christian reference. But they’re still counting time from Jesus’ birth, the “zero” point.

Jesus fulfilled his mission, becoming the sacrifice for the sins of the world, and making it possible for all who believe to spend eternity in heaven, in the presence of God. Jesus was resurrected from death, ascended into heaven, and will come again. And that will surely be another “zero” point, a point in time that everyone will remember.

Come quickly Lord Jesus!

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, Jan. 5, we’ll resume our in-depth study of Luke, Ch. 18:18-30. Bring your Bibles!

A Son is Given!

Dec. 23, 2013 Monday Message:

“For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given.” (Isaiah 9:6a)

Prophecies foretell by divine inspiration. God used Isaiah as his voice to disclose future events.

Prophecies are not just for filling up chapters in the Bible; they are real guidance intended for specific people. How fortunate we are that this information is for “us!” Unto US a Child is born; unto US a Son is given.”

Isaiah uses the Hebrew literary tool of repetition to stress the importance of this message. God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – had existed from the beginning of time. But the humanity of God had a starting point – the baby in a manger! Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus coming to be with us, to rescue us.

Jesus was a perfect human, like Adam before he sinned, and therefore the perfect sacrifice for all our sins. Jesus is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace.

Jesus brings hope to a lost planet. Welcome to our world!

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, Dec. 29, baby Jesus grows up – Pastor Daisy explains! Luke 2:21-38

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