On Sabbath, November 17, 2019, Laurelbrook’s Sabbath services began with a song service led by Denisse (sophomore) and Say Say (freshman)), accompanied on the piano by Leilani (senior). The opening song was “Be Thou My Vision”.
Yzzynne (freshman) welcomed everyone. Eiddelyn (sophomore) had prayer and read the scripture reading – Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Leilani read a mission story from Rwanda who made a hit with her music and left the church behind. But one day she heard an Adventist sermon broadcast from a church near her home and returned to the church.
Wilmer (freshman) and Eldric (junior) collected the Laurelbrook Missions Offering. Daphne (senior) and Kelly (sophomore) sang a vocal duet for special music, accompanied by Leilani on the piano.
Zipporah Akuma had the theme talk on “Our Aim in Life” and had the closing prayer. The congregation divided into three Sabbath School classes, a class in the main church sanctuary taught by Clifton Brandt, a student class “behind the glass” taught by Sergio Bellani, and a student class in the nearby boys’ dorm lobby taught by Ruan Swanepoel.
Some notes on the theme talk:
- Matthew 6:25-33 “25 ¶ Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
- We are at the edge of time. Satan is trying to divert minds from this fact.
- Matthew 6:33 says that we to “seek” or thoroughly search for God’s kingdom.
- Clothing or food God will be supply.
- Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
- John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
- Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
- How do we seek God?
- Psalm 37:4-5 “4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass.”
- We should seek God through prayer and confess the wrongs we have done.
- Psalm 139:23-24 “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
- James 1:4 “But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
- Lamentations 3:25-26 “25 The LORD [is] good unto them that wait for him, to the soul [that] seeketh him. 26 [It is] good that [a man] should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”
- Psalm 119:73 “JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.”
- God’s Kingdom and Word are eternal.
- Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
- Reading the Bible leads to greater success in school.
- Nehemiah 8:3 “And he read therein before the street that [was] before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people [were attentive] unto the book of the law.”
- Read His Word and ask God for help.
- Only what we do for Jesuss will last.
- Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain.”
Personnel Other Than Students:
Clifton Brandt – works with Laurelbrook’s water and sewer systems
Ruan Swanepoel – Laurelbrook farm manager
Sergio Ballani – Laurelbrook marketing director
Zipporah Akuma – works in Laurelbrook Nursing Home