Services in the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on June 8, 2019 began with a song service led by Gustavo (senior) and Eldric (junior), accompanied by Jacqueline Miller on the piano. The opening song was “Jesus Paid It All”. Dorka Ellis welcomed everyone. Scott Sterling had prayer and read the scripture reading – John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
Daryll Ellis then read a mission story about a man who was convicted to study the Bible on his own. But parts were obscure, and he wished someone would help him. While the family was away watching fireworks, he earnestly prayed for help. His bank called him to sign some new documents, and he saw someone who had worked with him. That person was a Seventh-day Adventist. He went to some Adventist meetings and eventually was baptized. His mother was baptized with him.
He then called for the Laurelbrook Missions Offering, which was collected by Holden and Asher (juniors). Heissel and Daphne (seniors) and Eldric and Gustavo (juniors) had special music with Leilani (junior) providing narration.
Dorka Ellis had the theme talk. Daryll Ellis then had the closing prayer and announced the classes. Students met behind the glass for their Sabbath School class. Rich Sutton taught the student Sabbath School class. Jim Brenneman taught the Sabbath School class in the church sanctuary.
Following are some notes on the theme talk:
- Sin made Jesus’ sacrifice so painful.
- Ezekiel 28:5, 17 “By thy great wisdom [and] by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches…Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”
- Price was the cause of Adam and Eve’s fall.
- James 3:13-17 “13 ¶ Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
- The wisdom of God is pure, but sin separates us from this wisdom.
- 1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
- The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, of our separation from God’s pure wisdom.
- When we sin, we affect Jesus.
- Sorrow leads to confession of our sins.
- Psalm 51:10-15 “10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit. 13 [Then] will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 ¶ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.”
- John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
- 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- Matthew 27:27-31 “27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band [of soldiers]. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put [it] upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify [him].” Replace “they” with “I”.
- Jesus paid the price for us. We are able to be free today.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Daryll Ellis – works for the stone company near Laurelbrook / Laurelbrook graduate / Laurelbrook deacon
Dorka Ellis – wife of Daryll Ellis
Jacqueline Miller – semi-retired nurse living on the Laurelbrook campus
Jim Brenneman – teaches academy junior English and American History / works with the Laurelbrook newsletter and yearbook
Rich Sutton – former Laurelbrook president
Scott Sterling – Laurelbrook IT