Repent!

June 16, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 13:2-3 NIV, Jesus speaking: “Do you think that these (murdered) Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Don’t miss the point of Jesus’ teaching. The Bible says that ALL have sinned, so on Judgment Day we’re all in the same boat. It’s up to that judge to separate the sheep from the goats.

Goats may have just continued sinning. Or if their sinning ceased, they never repented. They were never sorry. Goats never squared things up with their fellows or with their maker.

Sheep, on the other hand, have an advocate, a counselor at their side. The Holy Spirit will point out their humble ways and their apologetic attitude. Repentant believers have their past sins wiped away. Jesus took care of that. And with a clean slate, sheep can be welcomed into the Kingdom!

So in a way, it doesn’t seem to matter as much what you did as a sinner, as what you INTEND to do as a repentant believer. Jesus wants us to draw a line in the sand. We all have a past, the before-Jesus time, but believers have a future, the after-Jesus time, and that’s what Heaven is keeping its eye on.

If we applied God’s rules to our criminal justice system, we wouldn’t punish offenders so much for what they did, but for what they intend to do. Of course, we have no way of seeing into the future, so that’s not really practical. But the reason we incarcerate criminals is that we expect their deviant behavior to repeat itself. They need Jesus.

Getting back on the straight and narrow won’t work without Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Father's Day!

For Sunday, June 15, 2025:

Luke 15:20 NLT, Jesus speaking: “He (the Prodigal Son) returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

It’s not easy being a dad. The role of family patriarch requires love, forgiveness and patience. To say that this prodigal son was at odds with his father would be a huge understatement. He demanded his inheritance while good ol’ dad was still alive, which is like saying, “I wish you were dead!” When papa finally gave in, the son took off for the wine, women and song of the big city, hoping never to see his family again.

It didn’t work out so well. He was soon broke, and the country was experiencing a famine. No money and no food. This Jewish boy found himself accepting employment caring for pigs, unclean, non-kosher animals. He was so hungry that pig food started to look appetizing. The only solution would be to return home with his tail between his legs, saying, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.”

Surprisingly, the father had been watching out the window, praying that the prodigal would come to his senses. This is where love, forgiveness and a bucketload of patience were required. The son was learning about repentance, while the father was practicing forgiveness. They were both working on reconciliation. It’s said that blood is thicker than water, and this son and his father both desired to rebuild their relationship. It wouldn’t have worked if both weren’t willing!

In many countries, today is Fathers’ Day, where we honor the patriarchs from all our families. Patriarchs put up with the prodigals. They never stop loving their wayward sons and daughters, praying that they all will repent and return.

Jesus said to think of God as our “Father” in heaven. We honor him with our worship. God watches out the window, hoping that each of his children will repent and return. He’s a patient God, offering forgiveness to all who will come home.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Decision!

For Saturday, June 14, 2025:

Luke 12:57 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right?”

God gave mankind brains. He gave us the ability to reason, to reach a conclusion about something after rigorous examination. Jesus wants us to put those skills to work. Examine everything, make your own decisions and form your own conclusions. No longer is, “We’ve always done it this way,” a valid response.

Jesus, known as the Prince of Peace, doesn’t want us to go along just to get along. The religious leaders of his day had missed the boat on a number of theological points, and Jesus came to shake things up, to set the record straight and to get religion back on track. This would prove controversial enough for those with religious authority to plot his demise.

Therefore, identifying with Jesus’ teaching will result in division, not unification. Adult children may disagree with their parents. Best friends may disagree about whether abandoning the status quo religion in favor of following Jesus is the right thing to do. It is!

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” He is the one way to heaven, and the only way to the Father. He can get us to the life after this life. But most importantly, he is truth. Think it through for yourselves. “Truth” is the prize on our scavenger hunt!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship