Save Us NOW!

April 15, 2019 Monday Message

“Hosanna to the Son of David!” from Matt. 21:9

“Hosanna” is a Hebrew word meaning “to save, or save us.” There’s also an implied imperative, an urgency, so it becomes, “Save us NOW!”

The Israelites wanted to be saved from Roman domination. But the people of God also needed rescuing from repeatedly falling into sin, and that’s why Jesus was there!

God’s value system – His laws – had been largely ignored for some time, and Jesus came to rescue God’s people from their sin. For all the good that Jesus did when he walked with us – the healings, the teaching, the miracles – I believe that his PRIMARY purpose was the Great Exchange – where Jesus took the sin of the world upon himself, and clothed believers in garments of white.

We celebrate his completion of that mission next Sunday, Easter or Resurrection Sunday. See you at church!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets Palm Sunday, April 21, 2019 at 10:30AM, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406. Pastor Pilla celebrates Jesus’ resurrection.

Good News!

April 8, 2019 Monday Message

Followers of Jesus have been blessed with the Good News of eternal salvation in the presence of Father God. Jesus said that we are to share that Good News by making disciples of all nations. In other words, don’t keep the Good News to yourself — share it with everybody!

At the beginning of Christianity, the believers kept “The Way” alive, but mostly in the city of Jerusalem. It was their standard mode of operation. After all, Pharisees had been hoarding the Torah in the Temple for years.

Finally, the Apostle Paul followed Jesus’ instructions, taking the Gospel to several Gentile nations. He was making believers out of people who formerly had no interest in religion. And isn’t that what we’re all called to do?

Since this coming Sunday is Palm Sunday and the following one is Easter Sunday, this is the perfect time of year to bring someone with you to your place of worship. We’ll never get to make disciples of all nations if we don’t invite them.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets Palm Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 10:30AM, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406. This week Pastor Pilla teaches about Jesus’ Triumphant Entry.

Radical Transformation!

April 1, 2019 Monday Message

Last Sunday we investigated Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector in Jericho. Curious about this Nazarene, our vertically-challenged individual climbed a sycamore-fig tree to get a better view of Jesus, who wound up inviting himself over for dinner.

Zacchaeus had been looking for a way out of the evil tax-collection industry, and Jesus invited him to turn his life around. “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Luke 19:8

After putting his faith, hope and trust in Jesus, salvation was immediate. There was not trial period, no probationary period. When Zacchaeus repented and returned, Jesus handed him a ticket to heaven – eternity in the presence of God himself!

Jesus seems to be all about the radical transformation of lives. He oftentimes takes the worst of the worst and leads them back home. In His words, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Mark 2:17

There’s nothing better than to have your life radically transformed by Jesus.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 10:30AM, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406. This week Pastor Pilla returns and continues our study in Luke 19:11-27 “The 10 Minas.”