Laurelbrook Academy SDA Church

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Rich Sutton Preached on "What are you waiting for?"

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The Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church service on October 20, 2018 began with Clifton Brandt welcoming everyone and making a few announcements. There will be a baptism at 2:00 p.m. at the lake.

Leilani (junior) played an introit. The congregation had a silent invocation and then sang “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian”.  Rich Sutton had the main prayer; the congregation responded with “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”.

 

Scott Sterling then called for the offering.  Sebastian Roy-Lavallee and Jakob (junior) then collected the morning offerings; the loose offering went to the local church budget.  The Bradford family brass ensemble played while the offering was being collected. The congregation sang the doxology, and Scott Sterling prayed for the offering. 

 

Elena (sophomore) read the children a story about Naaman’s leprosy problem and Naaman’s encounter with the prophet Elisha. Naaman was healed only when he totally followed the prophet’s instructions.

Scott Sterling then read Acts 22:15-16 “15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” The Bradford family instrumental ensemble then played “Fairest Lord Jesus” for special music.

Rich Sutton discussed the topic “What Are You Waiting For?” During the sermon, the 14 students (seven boys and seven girls) who will be baptized recited the baptismal vows. After the sermon, he had an altar call. The congregation sang “Baptize Us Anew”.   Rich Sutton had the closing prayer.

Personnel Other Than Students:

Clifton Brandt – works with Laurelbrook’s water, sewer, and boiler systems

Rich Sutton – Laurelbrook president

Scott Sterling – Laurelbrook IT person

Sebastian Roy-Lavallee – Laurelbrook men’s work coordinator

 

Following are some notes on the sermon by Rich Sutton:

 

1. Nathan Polk from Weimar College had the Fall Week of Prayer.  22 young people came forward during the altar call. 14 were to be baptized this afternoon (baptismal vows were recited during the sermon).
2. Baptism doesn’t mean that you will never sin again.  When you sin, get up and connect with the Lord.
3. Acts 22:12-16 “12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt [there], 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
4. Paul’s purpose in Damascus was to do away with the Christians there. Paul was baptized because he needed to know Jesus.
5. Paul was now going another way, but he remembered that in his former life he had persecuted the Christians. He didn’t linger on the memories.
6. Acts 22:17-20 “17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; 18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: 20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.”
7. After baptism, sinners run away from sin instead of following sinners as examples.
8. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 “50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 ¶ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? 56 The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law. 57 But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
9. During baptism, doing down into the water represents death. A brand new person comes out of the water.
10. 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.”  Remember these texts during your life experiences.
11. Mark 10:27 “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
12. We are God’s limit.
13. Matthew 10:22 “And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
14. Ellen White says in the Desire of Ages that we can do good things only when God gives us the power to do so. Our lives can be a series of uninterrupted victories through God although some of those victories may be only seen as such in the light of eternity.