#RxF4Now

If 'Righteousness Exalts a Nation,' What's Going 2 Happen 2 the USA

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, October 29, 2016
Program: 
As We Begin
In This Holy Hour • R. Vader and J. Rouse
Praise
Jesus Saves • My God is So Great • Awesome • Awesome God
Prayer
Sabine Vatel
Tithes & Offerings
On a Proverb: Trust • Kenneth Logan
Children's Story
Bible Reading
Proverbs 14:34; 16:12; 20:28; 24:1 1-12 NIV
Worship in Music
Cantate Domino (Sing to the Lord) • Mark Hayes
Sermon
#RxF4Now—If 'Righteousness Exalts a Nation,' What's Going 2 Happen 2 the USA? • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card
Once to Every Man and Nation • 606
As We Depart
O God, Our Help in Ages Past • Jan Bender

#RxF4Now—If 'Righteousness Exalts a Nation,' What’s Going 2 Happen 2 the USA?

www.newperceptions.tv

 

  • Preamble
    • Elijah Mvundura: “Primal passions: fear, egoism, anger, and hatred, the kind that Mussolini and Hitler exploited and mobilized, are once again potent factors in the politics of Western democracies. Driving these passions is the same disillusionment with liberal democracy, the same gnawing sense of overwhelming crisis that things are falling apart and the center cannot hold. The parallels with Europe in the 1920s are ominously striking.” “. . . not only do we have a thoroughly interconnected and interdependent global economy—social media connects people globally, which allows them to speak with one voice. Now imagine a catastrophic global economic collapse against a background of social unrest, radical jihadist and anarchist violence, hordes of extremists inflaming passions and speeches, blogs or tweets of demagogues going viral; and new totalitarianisms become conceivable. As a matter of fact, democracy has been in retreat worldwide. This drift toward authoritarianism brings to mind Christ’s words, ‘If people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?’” (Liberty May/June 2016 p 6)
  • Premise #1—God is in —He .
    • Daniel 2:19-22
    • Portrayal of God #1—He is the ultimate .
      • Desire of Ages: “But like the stars in the vast circuit of their appointed path, God’s purposes know no haste and no delay.” (32)
    • Portrayal of God #2—He is the ultimate .
    • Portrayal of God #3—He is the ultimate .
    • Portrayal of God #4—He is the ultimate .
      • Review and Herald 8-5-1902: “Those who place themselves under God’s control, to be led and guided by Him, will catch the steady trend of events ordained by Him to take place.”
  • Premise #2—God’s purpose in Earth politics is always to display His as revealed in His   who carry out His .
    • Daniel 2:46, 47 
    • Daniel 3:28, 29
    • Daniel 4:37
    • Daniel 5:22
    • Daniel 6:26, 27
  • Premise #3—God expects political leaders—no matter their religious persuasion (or the lack thereof)—to abide by the principles of .
    • Proverbs 14:34—“[right-doing] exalts a nation, but   [wrong-doing] condemns any people.”
    • Proverbs 16:12—“Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through   [right-doing].”
    • Proverbs 20:28—“and faithfulness keep a king safe; through   his throne is made secure.”
    • Proverbs 24:11-12 The Message: “Rescue the perishing; don’t hesitate to step in and help. If you say, ‘Hey, that’s none of my business,’ will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know—someone not impressed with weak excuses.”
    • “The Lord has done more for the United States than for any other country upon which the sun shines. Here He provided an asylum for His people, where they could worship Him according to the dictates of conscience. Here Christianity has progressed in its purity.” (Maranatha 193)
    • “The Bible was held as the foundation of faith, the source of wisdom, and the charter of liberty. Its principles were diligently taught in the home, in the school, and in the church, and its fruits were manifest in thrift, intelligence, purity, and temperance. . . . It was demonstrated that the principles of the Bible are the surest safeguards of national greatness.” (Great Controversy 296)
    • “As nations forget God, in like proportion they become weak morally. . . . It is sin that is ruining nations today. . . . A disregard for God’s law has brought the sure result.” (Character Sketches from the Life of Daniel 45)
    • 5T 713

 

“Once to every man and nation
comes the moment to decide,
in the strife of truth with falsehood,
for the good or evil side.”
—James Russell Lowell

 

 

With This in Mind...

At some point, we all worry about the future because we want answers and a sense of control. Yet the future is beyond our control, which can lead to anxiety and a loss of peace. Occasional anxiety is normal, but persistent fear of the unknown can disrupt daily life. Because anxiety develops through complex neuropsychological processes, patience and compassion for self and others are essential. If you find yourself being anxious, keep in mind this gentle invitation for the Omniscient One, “Be anxious for nothing…let your requests be made known to God…” (Phil. 4:6–7). He promises peace.

AU Music Festival Finale Concert

Please join us this Sabbath afternoon, at 4:00 PM in the HPAC for the finale concert of the 2026 AU Music Festival! This year's group includes over 100 band and keyboard students from around the USA and Canada who will present the culmination of their hard work this afternoon under the direction of Byron Graves, Denisse Santos, Chi Yong Yun, and Kenneth Logan.

Howard Center Presents...The Collingsworth Family

The Collingsworth Family April 8, 2026, 7:00 PM. The Collingsworth Family is a southern gospel group started by Phil and Kim Collingsworth and features their family as the group. Their ministry and music tours have reached all over the United States as well as internationally. Excitement, family-emphasis, and musical excellence are what you can expect when you come to The Collingsworth Family concert. Phil and Kim’s entire purpose is to give the talent God has loaned them back to their Creator as a sacrifice of praise. Tickets for this concert are available at iTickets.com

Howard Center Presents...K-Anthony

K-Anthony March 29, 2026, 7:00 PM. Kevin Anthony Fowler is a Jamaican-Canadian contemporary Christian singer and songwriter. In 2024, K-Anthony celebrated his most recent Juno Award – Canada’s equivalent of a Grammy – for Gospel Contemporary album of the year. Influenced by the island music, you can hear his love of Reggae, R&B and the sounds of his teenage years of bands such as Boys II Men. K-Anthony’s career is buoyed by faith, resilience, and the deep-rooted values of his upbringing. The underlying theme of K-Anthony’s music is his love for God and hope for the future in his return. 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.

Sunday Music Series...Andrews University Composers

Andrews University Composers 4:00 PM Sunday, March 8, 2026 Free Admission Feel the buzz, thrill and chancy emotions of contemporary music. This program showcases the contemporary works of budding artists from Andrews University, as well as music composed by faculty members. 

Second Quarter Sabbath School Lessons Review

Second quarter Sabbath School lessons overview including major themes will be presented by Dr Andrew Tompkins on March 28, 4:00-5:30 PM in the PMC Commons. Although targeted to the Sabbath School teachers, everyone is invited. For additional information, contact Melchizedek Ponniah at 269-876-7476 or melponniah@gmail.com.

Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons

 A fellowship dinner will follow the second worship service in the Commons. Visitors are welcome!

Offering for March 7, 2026

Pioneer Operating Budget

Have you ever experienced being abandoned? Do you sometimes feel forsaken? Dr. Jen Theule, a psychologist of the Canadian Psychological Association, when writing about child attachment describes it as an emotional relationship between two people in which one is dependent on the other to fulfil their needs and provide nurture and protection.1 In the case of children, they depend on their parents or significant caregiver (such as a teacher) to provide for their needs over time. When this is not forthcoming, the child experiences several emotional disconnects, which can cause an adverse impact on how they operate in relationships in later years. However, when the process of attachment is successful, children grow up feeling secure. When it is not successful, they grow up experiencing various types of insecurities.

The Scripture assures us in many places that our Creator will never abandon us. One such scripture is Isaiah 49:15, which says, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you” (ESV). God will never forsake us, and we can trust His word. So, as we return our tithes and offerings today, let us give with a willing heart to our local church budget, so that our children and youth can be nurtured for the glory of God.

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Adventist Seniors of Michiana (ASM) Meeting

Our next ASM Potluck and Program will take place on Sunday, March 8, beginning 1:00 PM at the Village SDA Church Family Center, and moving at 2:00 to the Sanctuary, where Douglas Macomber will play an organ concert of some of the 18 Great Organ Chorales by J. S. Bach that show Bach's deep faith in God and his commitment to his Lutheran faith. All Seniors ages 55+ are invited to join us, and bring a dish to pass.

Moms of Littles Bible Study

Join us for a Moms Bible Study where little ones are welcome! We'll gather together in God's Word, pray together and encourage one another in this season of motherhood. Moms of Littles meet every Wednesdays at 10 AM in the Youth Room. Location: Youth Room at the Village Seventh-day Adventist Church in Berrien Springs. Contact call or text Erin Saraun 269-246-1059 for more information.

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