“Everything can end in a second” — these were the words of a well-known Russian singer Dmitry Malikov about Vladimir Turchinsky’s sudden death. Last week in Russia two famous people died: athlete and showman Vladimir Turchinsky and economist and politician Egor Gaidar. This was the beginning of Yuri Baburin’s sermon at the Sunday meeting of the church “Philadelphia”.

When famous people die one starts thinking what was their cause on the earth. Even those who did something great are soon forgotten. Sometimes later they are called criminals. People’s opinion is changeable. God’s opinion never changes. It does not matter who we are in this life; first of all we are God’s children. We are not lost in a crowd. Thanks to God we find our true self. Jesus is the treasure we can live for. Paul writes: “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:7, 8).

Senior pastor Pavel Zhelnovakov reminded the believers that God surveys our life. Sometimes He watches very intently into a certain nation, city or heart. In Genesis 18:20, 21 we read that after such an examination Sodom and Gomorrha were destroyed for their lust. Prophet Zephaniah wrote: “At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, 'The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.” God look at the heart and we should not resist Him and ignore His calling.

Then the church had a holy communion.