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 Pastor Wendt Discusses Soul Winning
Sabbath services at the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on March 12, 2011 began with a Sabbath School song service led by Breanna (sophomore) and Becky (elementary), accompanied by Donna Kanna on the piano. The opening song was “Were You There?” Sharon Oxentenko had the opening prayer, and read Hebrew 12:1-2 “1 ¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Eleida Feliciano read a mission report about two pastors in western India who were brothers. One day an Adventist Global Mission Pioneer team showed up at one brother’s doorstep. Bible studies led to 1000 people being baptized. But those who opposed the truth were not pleased. A mob gathered and dragged one brother off and locked him in a house. He prayed for hours as a mob yelled outside. A village leader quieted the mob. The Global Mission pioneers encouraged him to continue sharing his faith. Eventually 300 people joined the church, including some members of the mob.
Eleida then called for the Laurelbrook Missions Offering, which John (senior) and Justin (9th grader) picked up. Sharon Oxentenko then had a few superintendent’s remarks. Breanna played a piano solo for special music. The group then split up into several Sabbath School classes to study a lesson on addictions. David Brummell taught the lesson in the church sanctuary.
Following are notes on Sharon Oxentenko’s remarks:
1. Jesus is the Finisher of our faith.
2. God finishes what He begins.
3. Genesis 1:31 “And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” This includes Adam and Eve.
4. Genesis 12:1-2 “1 ¶ Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.”
5. Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan and chose him as their leader. But God’s plan was to send Jesus to redeem this earth.
6. Satan had been the highest created being, the most kind and lovely person you would ever want to meet. But he wanted to be a member of the Godhead planning this earth. This was a secret kept by the Godhead from eternal ages.
7. John 19:30 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” Christ was addressing the Father as He said these words, reminding God the Father that the plan they had laid was fulfilled.
8. At this point, heaven realized that salvation for mankind was done and finished. Satan’s character was also fully revealed.
9. Christ had self-denial, Satan didn’t. Christ had love for everyone, Satan had hate.
10. The last ties of sympathy were broken between Satan and the heavenly world.
11. Now we have power to preach the gospel through Jesus Christ because Satan’s true character has been revealed.
12. Revelation 10:7 “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”
13. Romans 16:25 “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,”
14. Romans 16:26 “But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith”
15. Colossians 1:26-27 “26 [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
16. Jesus wants to give His divine power to us that we may overcome Satan, too.
17. Revelation 16:17 “And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.”
18. Jesus walked this world and suffered without a place to lay His head.
19. When a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, he/she is tested and tried. This gives us courage.
20. God is working with each of us because He loves us. Are we pressing toward perfection of character? One day the recording angel was say that everything is finished.
21. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 “6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
22. Sharon was thinking about David Fries, who is passing away.
23. When you go through temptation and trial, remember that God is working with you.
.gif) At 10:50 David Moses had the announcements. A hike will be at 2:30; supper (and vespers afterward) will be at 6:30 at the Picnic Pavilion. Laura Mae Zollinger thanked everyone for their support in the religious liberty campaign. Gladys Ferguson thanked everyone for their prayers and cards during her recent surgeries. The church service began with an introit by Donna Kanna. Pastor David Wendt had the opening prayer. David Moses then announced the opening hymn - “Take the Name of Jesus With You”. David Moses then had the Morning Prayer and called for the offering, which was for Adventist World Radio. Roger Westfall and Bubba Herra collected the church offerings. After the congregation sang the doxology, Clayton Brandt prayed for the offering and led the congregation in a responsive reading on the Christian life from Matthew 5. Clarence Brown discussed with the children about Jesus starting His life as these children, ages three to nine, have.
Breanna sang “The Holy City” for special music, accompanied by Donna Kanna. Pastor Wendt talked about soul winning, using a couple of film clips to illustrate his points. The congregation sang “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go.” Clayton Brandt closed the service with prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Bubba Herra – Laurelbrook graduate, Laurelbrook church deacon
Clayton Brandt – local church elder, Laurelbrook maintenance man specializing in heavy equipment
David Brummell – Laurelbrook farm manager
David Moses – head church elder, teaches academy freshmen Bible, works with the institution’s grounds department
Donna Kanna – Laurelbrook music teacher who directs the band and gives private lessons both vocal and instrumental.
Eleida Feliciano - Laurelbrook Academy registrar Gladys Ferguson – retired staff nurse living with her husband Keith on campus
Laura Mae Zollinger – retired nursing instructor living with her husband Glenn on the edge of Laurelbrook’s campus
Pastor David Wendt – pastor of the Graysville, Pikeville, and Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist churches
Roger Westfall – Laurelbrook’s vice-president for personnel, works with the Laurelbrook Nursing Home housekeeping
Sharon Oxentenko – physical therapist for the Laurelbrook Nursing Home, wife of Ron Oxentenko, Laurelbrook’s president, Laurelbrook church’s Sabbath School superintendent
Following are notes from the sermon:
1. Many Christians are distracted by the cares of this life and forget that we are saved but others are not.
2. We can go through church life while all around us there are people drowning in sin and swept away by natural tragedies.
3. Matthew 28:18-20 “18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.”
4. Jesus is speaking to His disciples back then and also today.
5. Many times we think of the positions in the church and think that people in these positions are the soul winners. But the verse says that everyone is called to witness for Jesus.
6. We miss opportunities all over the place due to shyness or whatever. We all do this due to fear.
7. The Lord sends us opportunities if we accept them and use them. In our own backyard, it is not so easy.
8. If we don’t witness, others will, giving people the truth God has for us.
9. Reach out in love but talk about the salvation that comes through Jesus.
10. Think about what Jesus is feeling, perhaps worried because probation is soon to close and we are not witnessing.
11. If we believe Jesus is coming soon, wouldn’t we try to help some people find salvation?
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