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, February 10, 2018
Program: 
Praise
Better Is One Day • Holy Is the Lord • Holy Ground/Holy, Holy, Holy • We Fall Down
Worship in Music
Alleluia • Ralph Manuel/K. LaBrie
Prayer
Sabine Vatel
GROW Groups
Children's Story
Scenes from Vivaldi's "Winter" • Antonio Vivaldi/T. Parrish
Praise
"Fruitful Trees, the Spirit's Sowing" • 414 (tune of 334)
Sermon
"Game of Hearts: Can You Feel the Love?" • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card
Tithes & Offerings
"Holy Spirit, Gracious Guest" • 589 (tune of 305)

"Game of Hearts: Can You Feel the Love?"
www.newperceptions.tv

  • The one-liner
    • Mark 10:21—"Jesus looked at him and him."
    • The testimony of Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
    • Philip Yancey: "The uncommitted share many of our core values, but if we do not live out those values in a compelling way, we will not awaken a thirst for their ultimate Source. Christians can do no better than follow the example set by Jesus, who specialized not in techniques and arguments but in spirit and example. He took skeptics seriously, listening to them and responding forthrightly and yet compassionately. The gospel of Mark adds a telling detail to a scene in which a potential wealthy convert rejects Jesus’ message and walks away: ‘Jesus looked at him and him.'" (Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News? 59)
    • An anonymous note
    • The Samaritan woman
    • Philip Yancey: ". . . turn again to the conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman who had found some solace in an alternative religion. What if Jesus had engaged in an argument with her about their differences over where to worship? Instead he summoned up a thirst already evident in her troubled life of five failed marriages. ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,’ he said, referring to the well water she was drawing for him, ‘but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’. . . We dare not disdain the choices others have made, for that would not show . Instead, we should tune in to the underlying thirst.” (Ibid)
    • Jerry Cook: "The minimal guarantee we must make to people is that they will be —always, under every circumstance, with no exception. The second guarantee is that they will be totally accepted, without reservation. The third thing we must guarantee is that no matter how miserably they fail or how blatantly they sin, unreserved forgiveness is theirs for the asking with no bitter taste left in anybody’s mouth.... A church that can make that commitment to every person is a church that’s learning to love and a church that will be a force for God" (Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness 11, 13).
    • Jesus: "'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven'" (Matthew 18:22).
    • Clearly, God does not intend to attach a statute of to how often we are to love, to accept and to forgive fellow sinners.
    • Remember—love, acceptance and forgiveness are not about granting license to sinners, but rather about showing to sinners like us.
  • The fruit
    • #1—The Fruit of the
      • Galatians 5:22-23
      • Jesus: "'I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much ; apart from me you can do nothing'" (John 15:5).
    • #2—The Fruit of
      • 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 Galatians 5:22-23 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love Love
Joy Rejoices
Long suffering Suffers long
Kindness Kind
Goodness Does not delight in evil
Faithfulness Always trusts
Gentleness Keeps no record of wrongs
Self-control Is not self-seeking
  • "Morning by morning [Jesus] communicated with his Father in heaven, receiving from him a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Lord awakened him from his slumbers in the early hours of the new day, that his soul and his lips might be anointed with grace [love] which he should impart to others" (Signs of the Times November 21, 1895).
  • The two prayers:
  • "Pour God’s love into me today, Holy Spirit."
  • "Pour God’s love out of me today, Holy Spirit."

"Just like Jesus"

Adventist Seniors of Michiana August 10 Meeting
Andrews Grove Pavilion

 Calling all seniors aged 55+ to the annual Adventist Seniors of Michiana Corn Roast to be held Sunday, August 10 at 1 PM in the Andrews Grove Pavilion. Bring a dish to share, enjoy the corn provided, and learn who will be our new officers for next year.  Early registration for the 2025-2026 membership year will be available. Despite inflation dues remain at $20 per person.  Call Cheryl Doss with any questions 269-277-0767.

Offering for August 2, 2025

Pioneer Operating Budget

Birthdays were always a special and happy occasion in our home. When it is one of the sibling’s birthdays, we give all our kids gifts to enjoy, not just the celebrant. But when it was our birthday, our children would draw pictures and color them expressing their creativity and love for us. They didn’t have the money to purchase gifts or nice Hallmark cards. Yet when they presented them to us, we cherished those handmade cards more than all the commercial cards produced by Hallmark. Why? Because they were our children’s expression of love from the heart.

It’s hard not to express this love without giving a gift. Likewise, every offering gift should be measured by the unfathomable Gift of heaven. The greatest offering one could make would then appear as nothing in comparison. “How vain the endeavor to measure with mathematical rules, time, money, and love against a love and sacrifice that is measureless and incomputable!" (Testimonies for the Church, Vol.4, p.119). If we can catch a glimpse of just how much God loves us, we would faint. All self-interest and selfish motives will disappear, we will be lost in awe and wonder. It would spur us to shower our Lord with more gifts and with praise and thanksgiving.

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Register Now for Andrews Academy

Andrews Academy is now enrolling students in grades 9 - 12 for the 2025/2026 school year. We invite you to join the AA family! You will be blessed by what Andrews Academy has to offer. Students consistently score above state and national levels on standardized testing, they are involved in many spiritual and service activities throughout the school year. Our Seventh-day Adventist school’s mission is to inspire our students to think deeply, live fully, serve unselfishly and to honor God completely. School begins August 18. Registration day is August 13. Financial assistance may be available. Call 269-471-3138 for more information or visit https://www.andrews.edu/aa/ and click on “apply today”. 

Help Us Welcome New Students

Many new faces will soon join us as they begin their academic journey at Andrews University. We are preparing to welcome them with our traditional Welcome Picnic on Sabbath, August 23. You can support Belong by signing up to be a table host, preparing food, becoming a general volunteer—or all of the above! Text the word “PICNIC” 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.

Something in Common Sabbath School

Better Decisions/ Fewer Regrets video series by Andy Stanley continues

  • July 19–The The Conscience Question
  • July 26–The Maturity Question
  • August 2–The Relationship Question

Everyone is welcome in PMC Boardroom off of the Fellowship Commons Room from 10:30-11:30 AM on Sabbath.

Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons

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