Laurelbrook Academy SDA Church

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Ricardo Reid Explains What Abiding in Christ Means   

AUDIO

 

The church service in the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on March 24, 2018 began with Ricardo Reid welcoming everyone and making a few announcements. Lunch will be in the Zollinger residence. Our monthly fasting and prayer will be on the first Sunday of the month. Itzel and Jissel (sophomores) led the congregation in singing “Oh, How I Love Jesus” and “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”.

 

Jacqueline Miller played an introit. The congregation had a silent invocation.  The congregation then sang “Moment by Moment”. Ricardo Reid then had the Morning Prayer; the congregation sang “Hear Our Prayer”.

 

Sarah (senior) then called for the offering.  Eric (junior) and John Ellis then collected the morning offerings; the loose offering went to the local conference advance.  The congregation sang the doxology, and Sarah prayed for the offering. 

 

Citlali (senior) then told the children a story. Sarah (senior) then read John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”

Ricardo Reid discussed the topic “Abide in My Love”. The congregation sang “He Hideth My Soul”.   Ricardo Reid had the closing prayer.

Personnel Other Than Students:

 

Jacqueline Miller – semi-retired nurse living on the Laurelbrook campus

John Ellis - retired mechanic living nearby

Ricardo Reid – works in the Laurelbrook Nursing Home / local head church elder

 

 

Following are some notes on the sermon by Ricardo Reid:

 

1. God is trying to help us understand the essential vital godliness we need.  We are the branches grafted on to the vine – Jesus.
2. We can be active in God’s work but really not connected with Him.
3. John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”
4. John 15:2 “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
5. The Father is the vine dresser and expects the branches bear fruit.   God oversees our connection and relationship with God.
6. The branch not bearing fruit is taken away. Fruit bearing is our choice.
7. Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
8. Revelation 2:5 “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”
9. John 5:2 says that the trials we go through are the pruning God is doing.
10. God does not give up on unproductive branches like Samson, who lost his sight and chose to give up on Jesus.
11. Jesus used circumstances to save Samson. Physically he was hurting, but then he could receive the love of Jesus.
12. God wants to love us so we love Him in return.  Sometimes we can’t understand God’s love, but our continual surrender helps us to use His love.
13. John 15:3 “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
14. The Commandments are the principles of relationships between God and man and man and man.
15. Psalm 119:9 “BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word.”
16. Psalm 119:10 “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.”
17. Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
18. Jesus is sharing with His disciples a living example of the Ten Commandments. His very face reflected the love of God.
19. John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
20. Jesus wants us to stay connected with Him moment by moment.
21. A plant abides in the laws of nature and exhibits growth and beauty. It does what God has made it to do and points us to its Creator.
22. Being a Christian is like the relationship between a vine and its branches. The branches and the vine are co-dependent.
23. A Christian will then bring forth Christian fruit.
24. 1 Peter 1:3-4 “3 ¶ Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”
25. People liked to be in Jesus’ company, but His most enjoyable moments were spent in communion with God. Even little children were attracted to Him because He always exercised the greatest love and tact in dealing with people.
26. If you want people to change, love them.
27. When the Bible gets boring, check your connection with God.  It’s an amazing thing to be a Christian.
28. Jesus depended moment by moment on His connection with the Father.
29. In order to find the Bible sweet, you have to read it for yourself.  God tailors the Word to your need so you will bear fruit.
30. John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
31. If we choose to disconnect ourselves from God, He will let us.
32. John 15:7 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
33. Each moment with Christ can be an amazing moment and give us further reason to follow Him.
34. Psalm 19:7 “The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.”
35. When we are true Christians, people are convinced because of our lives – the way we love and treat people.
36. Jeremiah 29:11-13 “11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
37. John 15:7 says that when you trust God He will give you what you need.
38. John 15:8 “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
39. Your character and conduct show whether or not you are connected with Christ.
40. Just doing many good deeds will not save you – a connection with Christ will.
41. John 15:9 “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”
42. We show love to others – this shows whether we are connected to Christ and are disciples of His.