Speaker

Dwight K. Nelson

Dwight Nelson served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University from 1983 to 2023. During his time at Pioneer he spoke on the “New Perceptions” telecast, taught at the theological seminary and has written books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.

Offering

Part 4 of a 5 Part series
Saturday, October 05, 2013

More In This Series

08/31/2013
Part 1 of a 5 Part series
09/07/2013
Part 2 of a 5 Part series
09/28/2013
Part 3 of a 5 Part series
10/12/2013
Part 5 of a 5 Part series

“The Galilean: Good-bye Shame”

www.pmchurch.tv

□ The Black Angel

□ The Paralytic

 Mark 2:1-12

  •   Desire of Ages: “Yet it was not physical restoration he desired so much as relief from the burden of sin. If he could see Jesus, and receive the assurance of forgiveness and peace with Heaven, he would be content to live or die, according to God’s will. The cry of the dying man was, Oh that I might come into His presence! There was no time to lose; already his wasted flesh was showing signs of decay. He besought his friends to carry him on his bed to Jesus, and this they gladly undertook to do.” (267)
  •   Desire of Ages: The words “fell like music on the sufferer’s ear. . . . The burden of despair rolls from the sick man’s soul; the peace of forgiveness rests upon his spirit, and shines out upon his countenance. His physical pain is gone, and his whole being is transformed. The helpless paralytic is healed! the guilty sinner is pardoned! In simple faith he accepted the words of Jesus as the boon of new life. He urged no further request, but lay in blissful silence, too happy for words. The light of heaven irradiated his countenance, and the people looked with awe upon the scene.” (268)
  •   C. S. Lewis: “Now unless the speaker is God, this is really so preposterous as to be comic. We can all understand how a man forgives offences against himself. You tread on my toe and I forgive you, you steal my money and I forgive you. But what should we make of a man, himself unrobbed and untrodden on, who announced that he forgave you for treading on other men’s toes and stealing other men’s money? Asinine fatuity is the kindest description we should give of his conduct. Yet this is what Jesus did. He told people their sins were forgiven, and never waited to consult all the other people whom their sins had undoubtedly injured. He unhesitatingly behaved as if He was the party chiefly concerned, the person chiefly offended in all the offences. This makes sense only if He really was the God whose laws are broken and whose love is wounded in every sin.” (Mere Christianity 55)

□ The Shame

  •   Brene Brown: “Shame is the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are

    flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging.” It is the “fear of disconnection—it’s the fear that something we’ve done or failed to do, an ideal that we’ve not lived up to, or a goal that we’ve not accomplished makes us unworthy of connection.” (Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead 68)

  •   Brene Brown: “Shame thrives on secret keeping, and when it comes to secrets there’s some serious science behind the twelve-step program saying, ‘You’re only as sick as your secrets.’” (81)

□ The Forgiveness

  •   Lewis Smedes: “God invented forgiveness as the only way to keep his romance with the

    fallen human family alive.” (How Can It Be Alright When Everything Is All Wrong? 33)

  •   Dostoyevski’s The Brothers Karamazov: “There is one who can forgive everyone everything,

    because he shed his innocent blood for everyone and everything.” (Smedes 35)

  •   Luke 23:34—“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
  •   Desire of Ages: “That prayer of Christ for His enemies embraced the world. It took in every

    sinner that had lived or should live, from the beginning of the world to the end of time. Upon

    all rests the guilt of crucifying the Son of God. To all, forgiveness is freely offered.” (745)

  •   Steps to Christ: “When Satan comes to tell you that you are a great sinner, look up to your

    Redeemer, and . . . . tell the enemy that ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,’ and that you may be saved by His matchless love. . . . We have been great sinners, but Christ died that we might be forgiven.” (35, 36)

    He who forgives our sin heals our shame. 

Offering for June 7, 2025

Pioneer Operating Budget

Author Melvin Santos Speaking: For many years gardening was often a challenge to us. It seemed like the vegetable plants we planted and cared for preferred to die! We never harvested anything. It was very disappointing. Every year, we would try again but with the same results.

Finally, after watching enough YouTube channels on how to garden successfully, we learned that you need to have the right soil, watering system, and care. So we followed the recommendations. For the first time, we were able to grow tomatoes, kale, and zucchinis. We were amazed to see such a big harvest. Gardening became one of our favorite hobbies in the summer!

One of the things we learned was to plant several dozen varieties of vegetables. Not just one kind! We wanted to produce enough crops so we could share with our neighbors. We were able to do just that this past summer.

The apostle Paul used farming terminology to convey the principles of giving. “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6, NKJV). Likewise, remember that when we return our tithes and offerings, every time we give liberally, we are sowing bountifully so we can also reap bountifully. God will multiply the funds we give back to him. His miracles will abound! 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Adventist Seniors of Michiana Meeting June 8

Seniors 55 and up are invited to join the Adventist Seniors of Michiana meeting on Sunday, June 8, for a feast for the eyes as well as a good meal. Daniel Weber, Chair of the Department of Film and Communication at Andrews, will inspire and delight us with "Thousands of of Pictures, Thousands of Stories from around the world: Looking through the lens of a photographer”. Come with a dish to share at the potluck starting at 1:00 PM in the Village Church Fellowship Hall. Call Cheryl Doss at 269-277-0767 with any questions.

Iris Bloom Time

 The iris bloom time has started, the sign is out at 8875 Kephart Lane, Berrien Springs, come see and smell the many iris that will be blooming in the next few weeks. Share with your friends.

Something in Common Sabbath School

Something In Common Sabbath School presents The Five Love Languages DVD series.

  • June 7- Love Language Four: Acts of Service
  • June 14- Love Language Five: Physical Touch
  • June 21- Growing in Love

Everyone is welcome to join us in PMC Room 141 each Sabbath morning from 10:30 - 11:30 AM.

Lamson Hall Upgrades with Maranatha

From May 11–June 8, 2025, Maranatha Volunteers International will be working at Andrews University to update the Lamson Hall residential rooms and suite bathrooms. Please consider volunteering and letting your family and friends know of this opportunity. All individuals (including local) should sign up at the Maranatha website: https://maranatha.org/volunteer-opportunities/.