Everyone Welcome

Sabbath School and Church

Church In Person or On-Line

Everyone is welcome to attend the worship hour. It starts at 10:45 a.m.  

We broadcast Church live on youtube.com. Church will start at 10:45 AM.  Go to youtube.com and search for "greeley sda".  Click on the circle with the church picture.  You may need to choose the "Videos" tab.

OR click on the "Sermons" link in the menu selections above to access the services. (On a phone or tablet the menu selections will be in a button that looks like three bars at the top of the screen.)

Weekly Church Meetings

Wednesday - 1:30 p.m.  Midweek study 

Sabbath 4:00 - p.m.  End Time Events with Shawn Korgan

Food for Thought

For the Love of Money - “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10 NIV

Our son and family and younger daughter and family were home for a few days this summer for some fun family time together. When our daughter took her two little boys into Sabbath School, she gave them each some money for the offering.  When Jackson looked at the money in his hand, he said quietly to no one in particular, “I sure wish I could keep this money.” We might smile at the wishes of a five-year old, but no doubt many adults have the same thought.

We know for certain some Bible characters did. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, saw the gifts Naaman offered to Elisha for his healing and – just like our little grandson – said to himself, “I sure wish I could have those gifts.” Gehazi lied to Naaman as to why the gifts were needed and took the clothing and money for himself. When confronted by Elisha for his wrong act, Elisha told him Naaman’s leprosy would cling to him and his descendants forever. A quick judgment for the sin of coveting. (2 Kings 5:19-27)

Another Bible character who suffered from the sin of covetousness was Achan. When Jericho was destroyed and the Children of Israel had been told to keep nothing for themselves, Achan – again like our grandson – said, “I sure wish I could keep some things.” And he did. When finally confronted by Joshua, he said, “I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” Joshua 7:20,21  Again there was quick judgment from God. Achan and his entire family were stoned and burned. (Joshua 7:24-26)  Mrs. White says, “Among church members ‘in good and regular standing’ there are, alas! many Achans. . . .For a goodly Babylonish garment, multitudes sacrifice the approval of conscience and their hope of heaven.” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 497)

Perhaps just like our grandson we all struggle a little with keeping versus giving. We are told in Malachi 3 that when we withhold our tithes and offerings, we are really robbing God. We are told that by his ( Achan’s) sin of covetousness “he robbed God.” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p.496)  God actually asks us to test Him by returning tithe and giving offerings and He says He will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing we won’t have room enough for it. Malachi 3:8-11  Jerry and I can definitely testify this to be true.

“For God so loved that He gave . . .” (John 3:16) True love always prompts giving.

Sharon Oster

The Coming “Storm” - “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” Mark 13:37

It is now hurricane season and having lived in hurricane territory for five years, I probably pay closer attention to hurricane news than the average person. Other than Hurricane Andrew, the only predicted hurricane to come to our area while living in Slidell, LA, was Hurricane Erin. (There was a girl in our church school by that name, and she took a lot of teasing!) Jerry was away from home attending a continuing education class so our daughter Amy and I were alone to prepare for the hurricane.

We did the usual things: brought in everything from outside that might blow around; stood in long lines at the grocery store to purchase essential items; and cranked down the hurricane shutters on the windows of our home. We went to bed that night waiting for the predicted storm, but nothing happened. We woke up the next morning to blue skies and sunshine. The TV news told us the hurricane had turned slightly in the night and slammed into the panhandle of Florida.

There is another storm predicted to come – the storm of final events. The evening news tells me this “storm” is right on track and now is the time to prepare.

I had been reading the first chapter in the Great Controversy book about the destruction of Jerusalem. Mrs. White says, “Jesus, looking down to the last generation, saw the world involved in a deception similar to that which caused the destruction of Jerusalem . . . their rejection of the law of God.” (GC, p. 22) Jesus had given the Christians in Jerusalem a sign. He had said “when you see Jerusalem encompassed with armies” then they were to flee. They had the promised sign, they were then given an unexpected opportunity to leave, and those who obeyed did not perish.

Mrs. White says the judgments upon Jerusalem are just a “faint shadow” of what is to come. “In the fate of the chosen city, we may behold the doom of a world that has rejected God’s mercy and trampled upon His law.” (GC, p. 36) It is so important that we maintain our relationship with Jesus so we are not deceived. “ But in that day, as in the time of Jerusalem’s destruction, God’s people will be delivered . . . Watch ye therefore.” (GC, pp. 37-38)

Sharon Oster

Food for Thought - The Power of a Smile - “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.” Proverbs 15:13 (NIV)

When we lived in St. Louis, my neurologist that I saw for multiple sclerosis told me that if I wanted to keep walking with this disease, I needed to walk every day. I have tried to follow his advice. Right now it just seems easier to walk around the mall which I try to do nearly every day. As I walk, I pass cleaning ladies with their carts of cleaning supplies. Most of the ladies ignore me or maybe look my way and give me a quick nod. But there is one lady who is completely different. She approaches me with a big smile. Then she stops and with her limited English tries talking with me. She always wants to know how I am doing. Unfortunately, with her limited English and my total lack of Spanish, our conversation is not long. I recently read, however, that a smile translates into any language. I’ve also heard a smile is worth a thousand words or your smile speaks louder than words. If that is true, then we actually say a lot to each other! Her smile takes me on my way on around the mall.

David tells us the righteous should be happy and joyful. (Psalm 68:3) Solomon says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22), and in Ecclesiastes 3:12 he says there is “nothing better than to be happy.”

There is a story in Acts about the apostles being arrested and put in jail for teaching the people about Jesus. During the night an angel opened the prison doors and set them free. In the morning they were back in the temple preaching again. When the priests learned of this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. Gamaliel said simply that if what they were saying was of human origin, it would fail. If it was from God, they wouldn’t be able to stop it. His speech calmed the priests. They had the apostles flogged and ordered them not to speak about Jesus anymore.

Then the Bible says the apostles left rejoicing! They were happy, smiling, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to suffer for Jesus. How those smiles must have impressed the people! And, of course, the Bible says they never stopped proclaiming the good news about Jesus. (Acts 5:17-42)

Mrs. White says, “Those professed Christians who are constantly complaining, and who seem to think cheerfulness and happiness a sin have not genuine religion . . . these are not in Christ.” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 251) We are told we should “scatter smiles along the pathway of life.” (Messages to Young People, p. 145) Let’s remember the healing power of a smile – for others and ourselves as well.

Sharon Oster