The January 24 Sabbath morning church services at the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church began with a Sabbath School song service by Jenifer (a junior) followed by scripture reading and prayer by Linda (a junior). Jose (a senior) welcomed everyone to Sabbath School. Christopher and Paola (freshmen) read a mission story about a pair of Iranian refugees in Sweden. The Penny Offering, which helps pay for Laurelbrook students to go on mission trips, was taken up by brothers Joe and Brad (freshman and junior). Elizabeth and Jose then had special music both in Spanish and in English (they are cousins from Honduras). Jose then closed the Sabbath School program with an appeal to be the men and women that God can rely on. The congregation then split up into their various adult and student Sabbath School classes.

Church began with an invocation by Larry Owens, Laurelbrook's pastor. Mr. Bob (Robert D. Zollinger) then welcomed everyone again and took care of the announcements, including the presentation of greetings from the Kimbe (Guyana) school and Carolyn Parnell, a former Laurelbrook staff member who is working at Kimbe. Mr. Bob and his wife, Maudie Westfall, and four Laurelbrook juniors just returned from a mission trip to the Kimbe school. The congregation then sang No. 12 ("Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee"), and Mr. Bob had the morning prayer. Staff member Clifton Brandt then presented the subject of the morning's offering - religious liberty - and had prayer for the offering after it was collected. He then read the scripture read - Acts 2:38-41 - and had special music. Larry Owens then preached a sermon on "Just a Common Old Man". The congregation then sang "Faith of Our Father", and Clifton Brandt had the benediction.

Following are notes from Pastor Owens' sermon:

1.

Matthew 9:35+ = Christ was successful because He talked to the people, healed them, had compassion on them, shepherded them, and visited them personally.

2.

In Matthew 9:38, Christ says we should pray for laborers to send into the harvest fields.

3.

Christ was successful because He allowed the Holy Spirit to fill His life with gifts the people needed.

4.

Ellen G. White says in Gospel Workers, p. 192 that this ministry can only happen when the Holy Spirit is in us.

5.

In Acts 2, it talks about the early Christian church and the disciplines they instilled in themselves with God's direction. Some of these disciplines were social, prayer, being steadfast and never wavering, take care of others' needs, staying in one accord, going house to house, and sacrificing.

6.

Do you feel like a common old man with a set routine, just one of the crowd?

7.

In Acts, we see a cripple healed by Peter in Jesus' name. The cripple was filled with power to follow Peter's command. He walked into the Temple and praised God for his healing. Peter didn't get the thanks, but God did. The man simply held on to them. In Acts 3, we see the disciples in jail. Now is the time to tell the truth.

8.

Solomon's Porch, where this miracle took place, was the scene of other incidents in Israel's history, all involving prayer of one kind or another and communion with God or gods.

9.

In Ezekiel 8:16-17, we see Solomon's Porch as the scene of men worshipping idols.

10.

In John 10:22+ in the same spot, Christ was asked plainly whether He was the Christ. Jesus told them they were not following Him the way they should be. They threatened to stone Him when He answered them (all these stories also deal with liberty).

11.

In 2 Chronicles 7:1+, we see Solomon holding the first feast of dedication. Trumpets blow, and God's people stand. It is going to happened again - there will be a time for us to stand.

11.

In Ellen White's book Early Writing, p. 269, we find a section on the shaking at the end of time. The first thing you notice about this description is that people are committed to God. Our only safety is to keep our eyes upward to God in prayer. Those who don't have communion with God will be shaken.

12.

You are not just common old man but can be filled with joy when the Spirit is working in you. It is time to go home where you will be appreciated as a Child of the King.