The Secret of the Seed

The Secret of the Seed: Unleashing the Divine Potential in You - 4

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 4 Part Series
Saturday, April 27, 2013

More In This Series

“The Secret of the Seed:
Unleashing the Divine Potential in You”—Conclusion

www.pmchurch.tv

  • □  2 Corinthians 9:6-11
    •   The 4th Secret: Plant , and you will reap —plant , and you will reap .
    •   Give what your tells you to give, because God loves a giver.

       Exodus 36:3-7

    •   Out of His full and abundant resources God is able to bless you in things, at times, with that you need, to fill you with that is good.
      •   Philippians 4:19—“And my God will meet your needs according to the

        riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”

      •   Malalchi 3:10—“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in

        My house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’”

      •   Ephesians 3:20—“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
      •   Jesus: “With man this is impossible, but with God things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
      •   Elijah and the widow of Zarepheth
      •   Jesus and the 5000
      •   Give what you have, and God will make sure it never runs out!
  • □  The Life Cycle of Success

  Phase #1—R the G.

 He’s the of it all, because He’s the of it all.  Haggai 2:8—“The silver and the gold are Mine, says the LORD.”
 Psalm 24:1—“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it.”

  •   Phase #2—R the G.
    •   Jesus: “Freely you have ; freely .” (Matthew 10:8)
    •   The parable of the rich fool
    •   Jesus: “Be toward God.” (Luke 12:21)
    •   Ed Gungor: “Giving touches a nerve in us that nothing else does. We look a lot like God when we do it [John 3:16]. When you give, you defy the fear that you won’t have enough. You insult greed, the impulse to acquire or possess more than one needs or deserves. If you really believe that God owns it all and that he is your source and provider, giving will be a simple matter. . . . The arena of giving is the only place where exactly what’s going on in your heart is revealed. According to Jesus, giving keeps your heart in motion toward God and away from material things. . . . Your heart will follow the direction of your giving.” (Religiously Transmitted Diseases)
  •   Phase #3—R the G.
    •   Desire of Ages: “All who consecrate soul, body, and spirit to God will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical and mental power. The inexhaustible supplies of are at their command.” (827)
    •   You can never out-give God!

  “Everything that God could do was done to save a perishing world. ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ God has made it impossible for it to be said that He could have done more than He has done for the fallen race. When He gave His Son, He gave Himself. In one great gift He poured out the whole treasure of heaven. He has revealed a love that defies all computation, a love that should fill our hearts and lives with gratitude.” (Review and Herald January 14, 1902)

  “God is a lovely cheerful giver.”

□ 2 Corinthians 9:15

“Thanks be to God
for His indescribable gift!” 

Howard Center Presents... Phil Keaggy

One of the most admired guitarists in music today, Phil Keaggy continues to delight audiences all over the US, performing primarily acoustic shows and occasional concerts with a band. Aware that God gave him a calling to deliver the Gospel through his music, Phil has been grateful to do just that for the last 40 years, and will hopefully continue to do so. Please go to https://howard.andrews.edu to purchase your tickets or you can drop by the Howard Performing Arts Center on the campus of Andrews University, in person, to purchase your tickets.

Howard Center Presents... Cerus Quartet

Cerus Quartet is dedicated to showcasing the dynamic and versatile sound of the saxophone quartet. They champion both new music and timeless repertoire. With a repertoire spanning contemporary compositions and transcriptions of classical masterworks, the quartet seeks to establish the saxophone quartet as a leading voice in 21st century classical music. Among many other awards, the quartet has recently received the Gold Medal in the 2025 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. Please go to https://howard.andrews.edu to purchase your tickets; or you can drop by the Howard Performing Arts Center on the campus of Andrews University, in person, to purchase your tickets.

Offering for August 23, 2025

Michigan Advance Partners

Some think that asking for offerings needs to be a polished “sales pitch” to convince people to give or give more. There are two types of givers. One group says, “they give until it hurts!” and the other group says, “every time they give, it hurts!”

The apostle Paul says we should give “not out of necessity or grudgingly. For God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV). The Bible is clear about not making people feel guilty or obligated to give. Otherwise, they will give with an attitude that is not pleasing to God.

So how does one become a cheerful giver? The Bible tells us that our offerings must be given willingly and freely. This springs from the principle of love for Christ. As our love for God grows with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will want to share His love with other people so they, too, can learn of God’s love. This should prompt us to be giving a “love” offering or a “free will” offering that is not “urged” or “begged.”

When we do this, God will fill our hearts until they’re completely free of earthliness and blend with the divine. He removes selfish motives. Let’s give cheerfully, gladly, willingly, while being thankful that we advance God's kingdom in the world. 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Something in Common Sabbath School

Overcoming Emotions that Destroy - a DVD series with Chip Ingram 

We all struggle with angry feelings, brought on by tension, pressure, and the blocked goals and frustrations of day-to-day life. The broken and stressed relationships that result from these feelings can overwhelm us. But there is hope. With the right help, you too can overcome those emotions that destroy. Everyone is welcome to join us each Sabbath through October 11.  We meet in PMC Board Room.

Calling All Families: Sabbath Delight Challenge

Pioneer Children and Family Discipleship is excited to embark on a special journey of intentionally experiencing the delight of the Sabbath during the 2025-2026 school year. Please sign up for occasional notices about Pioneer-sponsored Sabbath Delight events as well as ideas for things you and your family can do to cultivate a deeper appreciation for Sabbath. We will also look forward to hearing from you about what you and your family are doing each week to call the Sabbath a delight. All are welcome. To sign up for the challenge, please text SABBATH to 269-281-2345.

Looking for a Prayer Group to Join?

Join us for the Midweek House of Prayer, held online every Wednesday morning from 7:00 to 8:00 AM. We are currently studying the Gospel of Mark. Come and see how your contributions can benefit everyone in the group! The Zoom link is https://andrews.zoom.us/j/9889172131.

Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons

 There will not be a fellowship dinner during the months of July and August, 2025.