Laurelbrook Academy SDA Church

Heissel (junior) Spoke On “Everything Is Not What You Think It Is”.

The Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church service on November 24, 2018 began with Rich Sutton and Rodney Herra welcoming everyone and making a few announcements.

Leilani (junior) played an introit. The congregation knelt as the elder entered. Heissel (junior) had the invocation and then sang “A Shelter in the Time of Storm”.  Heissel (junior) had the main prayer; the congregation responded with “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”.

Lindsey and Kelly-Ann (9^th graders) then called for the offering.  Sebastian Roy-Lavallee and Elieso (junior) then collected the morning offerings; the loose offering went to the world budget.  The congregation sang the doxology, and Kelly Ann (9^th grader) prayed for the offering. 

Rebecca Nowdesha told the children a story about a family who were protected by God from the ravages of an advancing army.

Clayton Brandt then read Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;”  Dafne, Jissel, Leilani, and Heissel (juniors) sang “O Lamb of God” for special music with an English translation shown on the screen.

Heissel (junior) discussed the topic “Everything Is Not What You Think It Is”. The congregation sang “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go”.   Clayton Brandt had the closing prayer.  The people on the platform left while Leilani played “Dismiss Us, Lord”.   Then the congregation was dismissed by the deacons.

Personnel Other Than Students:

Clayton Brandt - works with Laurelbrook’s heavy equipment as well as general maintenance

Rich Sutton – Laurelbrook president

Rodney Herra - former Laurelbrook staff member presently engaged in a car repair business with his son Bubba / local head elder

Following are some notes on the sermon by Heissel:

1. Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;”
2.  How can we be different from the world?
3. Not everyone can be a Very Important Person.
4. But for VIPs – and Christians – image is everything. But Christians need to focus on God with the right dress, modest habits, and an atmosphere surrounding them that reserved.
5. You are what you do well.  Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for [there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
6. Colossians 3:23-24  “23 And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
7. Money, position, and power are how the world judges people – but not the Christian.
8. You are what you are.  Luke 19:1-10 “1 ¶ And [Jesus] entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, [there was] a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that [way]. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw [it], they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore [him] fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
9. Christians are the “light of the world”.  John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
10. Matthew 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
11. When the Holy Spirit is in our hearts, the natural thing is to shine for God and show God’s love to others by our actions and words
12. God has a plan for each of us.  It might not been what we are thinking. A situation at the time may seem bad but really it might be something good for us.
13. The world cannot take away from you what is in your heart. The plan God has for you can only be taken away by you.
14. Matthew 5:14-16 “14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
15. Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
16. In summary, we are valuable to God despite what others think.  We can be a light in the world.  And God has a plan for each of us despite the seemingly endless lines of problems.
17. How many of you are willing to do what God asks of us?