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 July 12, 2025

World Budget – Digital Strategy for Mission

We thank God for the growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church since Global Mission began some three decades ago. We’ve reached many new people groups and entered new countries. We’ve planted thousands of new churches. We’ve seen literally millions of people find hope and salvation in Jesus.

Of course, many mission challenges remain. But that’s nothing new! When the good news about Jesus spread from Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago, it happened because the disciples came together and prayed together. Then the Holy Spirit gave power to those gathered in the upper room and they responded to God by saying, “I will go.”

Today, the Adventist church is supporting hundreds of missionaries around the world, who face many obstacles to preach the gospel. How do we even begin to reach people who don’t believe in God and have never seen a Bible? How do you begin to reach people who are rich and increased with goods and feel they have need of nothing? Or preach to people who live in refugee camps in very poor conditions?

In the face of such huge mission challenges, some see walls, but we see opportunities. Many see a lack of funds, but we see the Source of all funds. Many see our weakness, but we see His strength. God is inviting you to participate with Him in His mission of salvation here on earth.

Who is willing to support our global outreach with your special offering? Better yet, who will say, “I will go?” 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

VBS at Niles Westside Church

Keepers of the Kingdom - Standing Strong in Today's Battle for Truth. July 14-18, from 9 - 11:45 AM at Niles Westside Adventist Church (1105 Grant St, Niles) for kids in Pre-K (age 4) - 6th grade. Please register early online at www.nileswestside.org. Email nileswestsidevbs@gmail.com or call 269-683-5998 with questions.