Seeking God With All Our Hearts

BOCF Sabbath Report | May 30, 2025

“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13

This Sabbath was filled with meaningful worship, heartfelt fellowship, Bible study, and a powerful reminder of the importance of understanding one another through the love of Christ. As our church family gathered at Vaughns Chapel, we were encouraged to seek God wholeheartedly and to extend that same grace and understanding to those around us.

Attendance

Adults: 15
Children: 4

Worship Through Song

Our worship service lifted hearts heavenward through these special songs:

🎵 I’ll Fly Away
🎵 Gratitude
🎵 Lord, I Need You
🎵 Fire and Ice

Each song reminded us of God’s faithfulness, our dependence upon Him, and the hope we have in Christ regardless of life’s circumstances.

Bible Study

Host: Skip Martin

The Harmony of the Gospels

Scripture Focus: Luke 6:17 and related passages

Our study explored how the Gospel accounts complement one another, revealing a fuller picture of Christ’s ministry and mission. Through thoughtful discussion, we reflected on the unity found within Scripture and how God uses different perspectives to reveal deeper truths.

Message From God’s Word

Speaker: Everett Mounts II

Seek to Understand Before Being Understood

One of the most impactful lessons shared this Sabbath was the importance of seeking understanding before seeking to be understood.

Everett challenged us to look inward rather than outward when conflicts, disagreements, or misunderstandings arise. Too often, relationships suffer because individuals focus on proving their own point instead of listening with compassion and seeking to understand the heart of another person.

Within the church, many divisions and hurts can begin with simple misunderstandings. When assumptions replace conversation and pride replaces humility, unity can suffer. As followers of Christ, we are called to approach one another with patience, grace, and a willingness to listen.

The message reminded us that true Christian love seeks understanding first. It asks:

What might this person be experiencing?
Have I truly listened before responding?
Am I seeking peace or simply trying to be right?

This principle extends beyond church walls into our homes, friendships, workplaces, and everyday interactions. Healthy relationships are built when we take time to understand others rather than immediately demanding to be understood ourselves.

As a church family, we were encouraged to reflect on how we can strengthen our connections with one another through humility, empathy, and Christ-centered communication. Unity grows when we listen, love, and seek understanding through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Children’s Class Spotlight

Seeking Jesus With All Your Heart

The children focused on Jeremiah 29:13:

“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”

Using an exciting explorer theme filled with flowers, butterflies, and adventure, the children learned that finding Jesus is the greatest journey they will ever take. Through lessons, activities, and memory work, they discovered that God promises to reveal Himself to those who sincerely seek Him.

The colorful classroom served as a wonderful reminder that seeking God is not only important for adults but is a lifelong adventure that begins in childhood. The children were also challenged with a game ” Apple Pie Face Plant” where they had to fish apple slices out of a plate of whipped cream, hands behind their backs this was to emphasize seeking God with the same enthusiasm as the game.

Special thanks to our children’s ministry leaders for investing in the spiritual growth of our young people.

Announcements, Prayer Requests & Praises

Praises

🙏 Gratitude for the many blessings God continues to pour out upon our church family.

🙏 Thankfulness for opportunities to study God’s Word together and encourage one another in faith.

Prayer Requests

❤️ Sarah B. — Car Situation prayers for answers, and continued reliability.

❤️ Darrel (Wednesday) — Prayer for healing and concerns involving the brain stem. c2, c4, c5 spinal bone degeneration.

❤️ Families facing health challenges and recovery needs.

❤️ Travelers, including Michael, for safety and protection.

❤️ Insurance-related concerns and financial needs.

❤️ Continued prayer for church unity, wisdom, and spiritual growth.

❤️ Unspoken requests known only to God.

❤️ A young person preparing to leave for Navy service — Please pray for God’s protection, guidance, strength, and peace as they begin this new chapter. May the Lord watch over them during training and throughout their service, and may they feel His presence wherever they go.

Closing Reflection

This Sabbath’s message and children’s lesson beautifully complemented one another.

The children learned that we find God when we seek Him with all our hearts. The adults were reminded that living for God also means learning to understand one another with those same hearts surrendered to Him.

As we move through the coming week, may we seek God first, listen carefully, extend grace freely, and strive for unity within our church family and our daily relationships.

May we become people who seek to understand before seeking to be understood, reflecting the character of Christ in every conversation and every relationship.

Happy Sabbath from the BOCF family! 💜