The Pugwash Factor:

How to Respond to the Supreme Court's Same-Sex Marriage Decision

Speaker

Dwight K. Nelson

Since 1983, Dwight Nelson has served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University. He preaches on the “New Perceptions” telecast, teaches at the theological seminary and has written some books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.

Offering

Saturday, October 03, 2015
Program: 
As We Begin
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence • French Traditional
Praise
Prayer
Rodlie Ortiz
"By the Word of Their Testimony"
John Gonzalez
Children's Story
Alone to God in the Height Be Glory • Johann C. Bach
Worship in Music
There Is a Redeemer • Melody Green / Holck
Sermon
“The Pugwash Factor: How to Respond to the Supreme Court's Same-Sex Marriage Decision” • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Cards, Tithes & Offerings
Hymn
Draw Me Nearer • 306
As We Depart
Bless the Lord, O My Soul • Charles Wood

More In This Series

08/29/2015
Learn 7 reasons why the mission in your life is to fulfill His mission of seeking to save the lost.

“The Pugwash Factor: How to Respond to the Supreme Court’s Same Sex Marriage Decision”

www.pmchurch.tv

  • The Supreme Court
    • “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. . . . It would misunderstand these [same sex] men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.” (http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf)
  • The Creator
    • Matthew 19:3-12
    • Seventh-day Adventist Church: “Marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus Christ to be both monogamous and heterosexual, a lifelong union of loving companionship between a man and a woman. In the culmination of His creative activity, God fashioned humankind as male and female in His own image; and He instituted marriage, a covenant-based union of the two genders physically, emotionally, and spiritually, spoken of in Scripture as ‘one flesh.’” (http://www.adventist.org/information/official-statements/statements/article/go/0/marriage/30/)
    • S.D.A. Theological Seminary: “. . . a marriage between a man and a woman is the Edenic model for all time. This unique heterosexual marital form involving the sexual union of a man and a woman constitutes the divine paradigm, the ‘Creation order,’ for humanity from the beginning. This paradigm means that marriage cannot consist of the sexual union between a man and another man or a woman and another woman. This Creation pattern of marriage between a man and a woman remains the norm throughout Scripture.” (“Biblical View on Homosexual Practice and Pastoral Care,” draft 6 p 2)
    • North American Division of S.D.A.: “The Seventh-day Adventist Church acknowledges the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Friday June 26, legalizing same-sex marriage across the United States. Even with the Supreme Court's decision, the Adventist Church maintains its fundamental belief that marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman. While the church respects the opinions of those who may differ, it will continue to teach and promote its biblically based belief of marriage between a man and a woman. The Seventh-day Adventist Church believes that all people, regardless of race, gender, and sexual orientation, are God’s children and should be treated with civility, compassion, and Christ-like love.” (http://www.nadadventist.org/article/1073743014/news/current-newspoints/newspoints-june-26-2015-supreme-court-on-same-sex-marriage)
  • The Church
    • Russell Moore: “We must embody a gospel marriage culture. We have done a poor job of that in the past. Too many of our marriages have been ravaged by divorce. Too often we’ve neglected church discipline in the cases of those who have unrepentantly destroyed their marriages. . . . We must hold our views and love those who hate us for them. We must not only speak Christian truths; we must speak with a Christian accent. We must say what Jesus has revealed, and we must say those things the way Jesus does—with mercy and with an invitation to live.” (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/06/26/why-the-church-should-neither-cave-nor-panic-about-the-decision-on-gay-marriage/)
    • Justin Lee: “I’ve talked to many single Christians who find the church a challenging place to be at times. But for single gay Christians, there are even bigger hurdles. . . . Single gay Christians face the difficulties of singleness alongside potential condemnation for their orientation. And while all single people face challenges in our culture, the challenges faced by people who are single by choice or because they haven’t yet found the right person are different from the challenges faced by those who eagerly desire companionship but believe God requires celibacy even if they should fall in love in the future.” (Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs-Christians Debate 239-240)
    • Seminary: “While being faithful to biblical teaching about homosexuality, we must also seek earnestly to understand and empathize with the struggles and challenges that face those who struggle with sexual immorality. . . . All persons, including practicing homosexuals, should be made to feel welcome to attend our churches while non-practicing gay persons should be welcomed into membership and church office. All should receive spiritual care from the church (Gal 6:1). We stand against any antipathy toward homosexuals as well as any cultural biases that fuel a lack of Christ-like love for them. . . . We strongly affirm that homosexual persons have a place in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.” (Ibid 16, 17)
    • Henri Nouwen: “God, help me to see others not as my enemies or as ungodly but rather as thirsty people. And give me the courage and compassion to offer your Living Water, which alone quenches deep thirst.”
(Flyer, TV, Google search, name of person who invited you, etc.)
Oasis Public School Ministry

Oasis Public School Ministry provides a safe community for real talk, good food, fun activities, and building relationships between students, leaders, and God. This ministry is open to all public middle and high school students and meets Tuesdays 6:30-8:00 PM in the 5th grade Sabbath school room. Bring a friend and check it out! For more information, contact Diane at simplestirrings@yahoo.com.

Something in Common Sabbath School

Something In Common presents video series How to Get What You Really Want with Andy Stanley. 

What do you want? Seriously . . . what do you want? Did you know you’ll never get what you really want until you discover what you really value? In this 4-part study, Andy Stanley reveals how to get what you really want.

  • March 16-Careful What You Want For
  • March 23-Don't Be Deceived
  • March 30-Last Things First
  • April 6- Thinkin' It Through

All are welcome each Sabbath morning from 10:30-11:30 in PMC Room 141.
 

Sunday Music Series - Carla Trynchuk & Elena Braslavsky

Violinist Carla Trynchuk and pianist Elena Braslavsky will be performing a recital including works by Bach, Schumann and Szymanowski. Trynchuk, faculty at Andrews University, has performed internationally as soloist and recitalist in more than 15 countries.  Braslavsky, formerly a faculty member at The Juilliard School and the Mannes School of Music, currently serves on the piano faculty of the Mozarteum University of Salzburg.  Trynchuk and Braslavsky were classmates together at The Juilliard School.

Howard Center Presents: Wintley Phipps

Wintley Phipps is a pastor, world-renowned vocal artist & song-writer, motivational speaker, and education activist. He is the founder, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Dream Academy, Inc., a national after-school program that aims to break the cycle of intergenerational incarceration by giving children the skills and vision necessary to lead productive and fulfilling lives. Phipps music ministry features a deep bass-baritone voice, usually singing inspirational gospel music.

Clear Reception

Join us for Bible study and reading "Mere Christianity" an adaption of BBC radio broadcasts by C.S. Lewis during WWII. We plan to build simple radio sets like the ones people listened to Mr. Lewis on. We will meet the first and third Tuesday of each month from 7:00-9:30, in the lobby of the Simulator Building at Andrews University Airpark. Register by clicking on the 'Grow Groups" link at the bottom of Pioneer Memorial Church's web page, then select the option of "Join a Community Group".

Best Weigh: Nutrition and Weight loss Program

So have you ever struggled to eat right and lose weight? If the answer is yes, I have some really good news for you because on March 19, at 6:30 PM, at the Berrien Springs Community Library our Health and Wellness Ministry is having the Best Weigh event. It’s a state-of-the-art program designed to help you lose weight and feel great, but here’s the catch: we only have 17 spots left. So, if you want to be a part, or know someone that needs to be a part of this, you can text HEALTH to 269-281-2345 to reserve your spot. This program will be led by two physicians, Dr. Kelln and Dr. Dacre. Hope to see you there.

Faces Around the Cross: Mission to Lebanon

"Faces Around the Cross" is the theme of the week of spiritual emphasis that the PMC Youth Missions team will be conducting at Middle East University and the local elementary and secondary schools, whose students are primarily non-SDA students from various faith communities in Lebanon and the Middle East and North Africa. This year's Friendship Team plans to depart for Lebanon on March 13. Glenn Russell serves as leader with the team a dozen Andrews students, alumni, and PMC members. During these troublesome times, the Friendship Team will seek to bring the healing message of the cross and the incredible love of Jesus to this challenging mission field. Your prayers and support are essential. Donations can be made through PMC Youth Missions - Lebanon.

BELONG Ministries Adopt-a-Student

 Winter is coming and for many of our students these are the hardest months to get through without their families. You can help create a home away from home by joining our Belong Ministries Adopt-a-Student program. You'll build meaningful connections by hosting the student for a home cooked meal, surprising them with their favorite treats, and reminding them that they've been prayed for. The time commitment is at your discretion.

Sign up to Adopt-a-Student

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