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

Saturday, September 10, 2016
Program: 
As We Begin
Christ We Shall Praise Well • Johann Sebastian Bach | Cause Me to Hear Thy Lovingkindness • Melvin West
Praise & Prayer
Total Praise • Jesus at the Center • Great is Thy Faithfulness
Baptism
Qin Wang with Rodlie Ortiz
Tithes & Offerings
The Gift of Love • Janet Linker
Children's Story
Hope Trending: Watch Parties
Rodlie Ortiz
Worship in Music
My Eternal King • Jane Marshall
Sermon
#RxF4Now—Precious • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing • 250
Benediction
Lord, Bless Thy Word to Every Heart • Stanley Ledington
As We Depart
You Who Live in Unswerving Faith Are Blessed • Johannes Brahms

#RxF4Now—Precious

www.newperceptions.tv

  • The Humanity of Jesus
    • Matthew 1:20-23—“Immanuel”—“God us.”
    • Hebrews 2:9-18; 4:15; 5:8—
      • “But we do see , who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered , so that by the grace of God he might taste death for . In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he . Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same . So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” (2:9-11)
      • “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the —and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them in , in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was , he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (2:14-18)
      • “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our , but we have one who has been tempted in way, just as we are—yet he did not .” (4:15)
      • “Son though he was, he obedience from what he suffered.” (5:8)
  • The Faith of Jesus
    • “Jesus—how did you live when You were here?”
      • Hebrews 2:13—“‘I will put My in Him.’”
      • John 5:19, 30—“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do by Himself. . . . By Myself I can do .”
      • John 14:10—“The words I say to you I do not speak on My own authority. Rather, it is the Father, in Me, who is doing work.”
      • Desire of Ages: “So utterly was Christ emptied of self that He made no plans for Himself. He accepted God’s plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will. . . . As one with us, a sharer in our needs and weaknesses, He was wholly dependent upon God, and in the secret place of prayer He sought divine strength, that He might go forth braced for duty and trial.” (208, 362)
      • John 15:5—“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do .”
    • Revelation 14:12 NKJV—“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep [1] the commandments of God and [2] the faith .”
    • Galatians 2:20 KJV—“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me [John 15:5—“Abide in me and I in you”]: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the   the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
    • Carl Cosaert: “In Greek the phrase [rendered “faith in Jesus” by most modern translations] literally means ‘the faith of Jesus’ or ‘the faithfulness of Jesus.’. . . For Paul, the primary emphasis is not on our faith in Jesus, but Jesus’ faithfulness. Thus the issue is not our works versus our faith—that would almost make our faith meritorious, which it is not. Rather, faith is only the conduit by which we take hold of Christ. We are justified [saved], not on the basis of our faith, but on the basis of Christ’s faithfulness.” (Galatians: A Fiery Response to a Struggling Church 42)
    • A. T. Jones: “When [Jesus] stood where we are, He said, ‘I will put my trust in Him’ and that trust was never disappointed. In response to that trust the Father dwelt in Him and with Him and kept Him from sinning. . . . And thus the Lord Jesus has brought to every man in this world divine faith. That is the faith of the Lord Jesus. That is saving faith. Faith is not something that comes from ourselves with which we believe upon Him, but it is that something He believed—the faith He exercised, which He brings to us, and which becomes ours and works in us—the gift of God.” (1895 General Conference Bulletins February 21, 1895, quoted in Camron Schofield Heralding the Loud Cry 234-235)
    • If it is the faith and faithfulness of Jesus that will save you and me in the end—then that means God ends up providing essential for our salvation!
      • He offers us the unshakeable —of Jesus.
      • He offers us the perfect —of Jesus.
      • He offers us the spotless —of Jesus.
      • He offers us the sinless —of Jesus.
      • He offers us the intercessory —of Jesus.
      • He offers us the eternal —of Jesus.
      • He offers us the eternal —of Jesus.
    • Christ’s Object Lessons: “All that can satisfy the needs and longings of the human soul, for this world and for the world to come, is found in Christ. Our Redeemer is the pearl so precious that in comparison all things else may be accounted loss.” (115)

 

“The Pearl of Great Price”

We Mourn

 Lorraine Drew, a long-time member of Pioneer, passed away on May 14, 2025. A celebration of her life will be held on May 25, 2025, at 4:00 PM, in the Pioneer Sanctuary. Visitation will be held in the Narthex at 3:00 PM.

Widow and Widowers Bird Watching Brunch
11356 S Lake Chapin Rd, Berrien Springs, MI 49103

We are inviting all widows and widowers to join us for a nature walk at 9:00 AM, June 1, at the home of Dave and Terri Village. We will also be having a vegetarian potluck and a birdwatching presentation with boat rides to follow. We hope to see you there! 
 

Andrews Academy’s Graduation Weekend Events

Congratulations, Andrews Academy seniors! May the same Lord who got you here lead you into the uncharted adventure ahead! “I am with you always,” is His promise.  Everyone is invited to attend graduation weekend events.

  • Class Night May 22, 7:00 PM at Andrews Academy
  • Consecration May 23, 8:00 PM at Village SDA Church
  • Baccalaureate May 24, 11:45 AM at Pioneer Memorial Church
  • Commencement May 25, 11:00 AM at Pioneer Memorial Church

Pioneer Business Session

Dear Valued Pioneer member, please plan to attend the upcoming Business Session to be held on May 27, at 7:00 PM. The topics to be discussed and voted upon include the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year budget which has been inserted in your bulletin.

Something in Common Sabbath School

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

  • May 17- Love Language One: Words of Affirmation
  • May 24- Love Language Two: Quality Time
  • May 31- Love Language Three: Receiving Gifts
  • 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.

Offering for May 17, 2025

Pioneer Operating Budget

Author Melvin Santos Speaking: When our kids were old enough to work, it warmed our hearts when we saw them buying gifts for each other for special occasions such as birthdays and Christmas, or no occasion at all. They received great joy in seeing their siblings’ reactions when opening the gifts.

God too, loves a cheerful giver. I learned in my study of giving that our motives for giving are important. Giving results from two motives -- either from unselfish love, or for personal reward.

The gifts exchanged between couples may serve as an example of unselfish devotion. On the other hand, many gifts are not gifts at all, but a means to an end. They may be given to promote, to influence, or to bribe. Some give out of pressure or obligation.

God measures the gift by the motive of the giver. But “the offering from the heart that loves, God delights to honor…. If we have given our hearts to Jesus, we also shall bring our gifts to Him. Our gold and silver, our most precious earthly possessions, our highest mental and spiritual endowments, will be freely devoted to Him who loved us, and gave Himself for us.” (Desire of Ages, p.65) 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Mission and Strategy Statements Town Hall Meetings

The Elders have finished! After many months of prayerful and concerted work, the draft of Pioneer's potential new mission and strategy statements are ready for your review.  

Please join us at any of the identical Town Hall/Q & A sessions listed below to hear Pastor Shane and our elders present the drafts for your feedback.  Our goal is to take your input, modify the drafts as needed, sent them back to the church board for final review, and begin implementation in the Fall.  

Please join us for any of these important and impactful meetings that will help guide Pioneer's witness for years to come!

  • May 13, Tuesday, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
  • May 18, Sunday, 9:00 - 11:00 AM
  • May 22, Thursday, 7:00 - 9:00 PM (Zoom only)
House of Prayer Series Led By Pastor Dwight Nelson

“How to Pray for Rome NOW: Following Jesus in Today’s Headlines” 

House of Prayer Spring Series, 7 PM, Pioneer Earliteen Loft, May 2025 

  • May 7 “The Sea Beast and Jesus” (Revelation 13) 
  • May 14 “The Little Horn and Jesus” (Daniel 7 & 2 Thessalonians 2) 
  • May 21 “The Purple and Scarlet Woman and Jesus” (Revelation 17) 
  • May 28 “The Babylonian Queen and Jesus” (Revelation 18) 

“Prophecy is fast fulfilling. More, much more, should be said about these tremendously important subjects. The day is at hand when the destiny of every soul will be fixed forever. This day of the Lord hastens on apace. . . . Great pains should be taken to keep this subject before the people. The solemn fact is to be kept not only before the people of the world, but before our own churches also, that the day of the Lord will come suddenly, unexpectedly. The fearful warning of the prophecy is addressed to every soul. Let no one feel that he is secure from the danger of being surprised. Let no one's interpretation of prophecy rob you of the conviction of the knowledge of events which show that this great event is near at hand.” (Fundamentals of Christian Education 335)

Mission and Strategy Statements Town Hall Meetings
Pioneer Youth Chapel

The Elders have finished! After many months of prayerful and concerted work, the draft of Pioneer's potential new mission and strategy statements are ready for your review.  

Please join us at any of the identical Town Hall/Q & A sessions listed below to hear Pastor Shane and our elders present the drafts for your feedback.  Our goal is to take your input, modify the drafts as needed, sent them back to the church board for final review, and begin implementation in the Fall.  

Please join us for any of these important and impactful meetings that will help guide Pioneer's witness for years to come!

May 13, Tuesday, 7:00-9:00 PM

May 18, Sunday, 9:00-11:00 AM

May 22, Thursday, 7:00-9:00 PM (Zoom only)

Holding Onto Jesus

Sunday, May 25, 3-5 PM Pioneer Youth Chapel What do we do when our life is shaken by illness, a great loss, or some other devastation? How do we find God when it feels like He isn’t there? Women of all ages are invited to hear Emily Gibbs share her testimony, and explore ways that we can have resilience in the midst of difficult experiences. Register by texting TRIALS to 269-281-2345. Questions? Email women@pmchurch.org.

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