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The Chosen

Snakes in the Cradle

Resources

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

Strange symbols represent the medical profession--two snakes entwined around a pole. Strange unless you understand the Biblical story of the snake on the pole and the ultimate antigen it created for divine healing. This message provides an essential corrective to the inherent risk run in The Chosen sermon series.
Saturday, December 01, 2007

More In This Series

09/01/2007
Why You Are the Most Unique Person on Earth
Was your conception unplanned, your birth an "accident"? Are you handicapped? Too young to contribute, or too old to make a difference any more? Ah, but if you only knew what it took for you to get here, and what it means that you've been chosen! That discovery marks the first step toward determining your destiny - your special place and role on earth.
09/08/2007
Why We Are the Most Unique People on Earth
Sometimes God chooses in ways that seem so politically incorrect. But choose He did, back then; and choose He does, today! "It is a fearful thing to be chosen," especially so if all we want is to be accepted.
09/15/2007
Not a Big Head, but a Big Heart
Chosen? Maybe. But on what basis? And for what purpose? The answers make a huge difference in what it means to be chosen.
09/29/2007
Children of the Waldenses
What happens when one generation of the chosen visits the site where a previous generation gave their all for Christ? Pastor Dwight interviews some of the students he accompanied on the tour and were impacted.
10/06/2007
Blood on the Doorpost
Forgetting can be lethal. Remembering keeps a chosen movement, or person, alive and advancing. And for the divinely chosen, there is much to remember.
10/13/2007
How to Stone the Prophet
Within the wider community of God's chosen, a select few were always chosen as His mouthpiece to the many. As it happened in the Biblical era, so it happened in our own. The chosen community of old most often ignored God's chosen one among them. What's our response to His chosen one among us? And why does it matter?
10/27/2007
How to Eat, Drink and Be Merry Without Getting Stoned
Think that addiction is only about alcoholism and drug use? Or that Christians are immune? Consider the bad news about addiction and the good news for the addicted.
11/03/2007
How Much of Naked is Acceptable?
Is a little cleavage a spiritual issue? What about a little ornamental jewelry? Is it time to revise some old standards, or to reaffirm them? If the Bible is our guide and "the chosen" our identity?
11/10/2007
How to Live Without Sex (for Awhile)
This is not your grandmother's traditional sermon on sex. The three realms of fake intimacy discussed could be the greatest threat facing our nation, our church and personal faith. A non-simplistic and workable four-fold "Life and Sex Strategy" provides a map to wholesome exercise of God's gift within His prescribed restraints.
11/24/2007
An American Thanksgiving in Canaan
The God you gratefully remember is the God you will faithfully obey. Discover the secret to sustained gratitude.
12/08/2007
Crossing Over
The story of a leader who never crossed over, and how mercy still had the last word. Vital lessons for leaders in nations, work places, social groups, families, etcetera.
All Sermons
Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons

 There will not be any fellowship dinner this Sabbath.

Spring Semester GROW Groups

Spring semester GROW Groups will begin the 1st week of February. If you would like to lead a group please text LEAD to 269-281-2345 or click the link below to submit the attached form on or before December 15. https://pmchurch.org/ministries/growgroups/register

Dr. Woodrow Whidden, 10/15/1944 - 11/11/2025

Woodrow Whidden died peacefully at home beside his loving wife, Peggy, on Tuesday, November 11.  He lived a full life devoted to his family, the ministry, teaching and academic writing. Pioneer has been his home church since 1990 when he began teaching at Andrews. Your love, generosity and comforting presence in the days since Woody's passing have meant so much to our family. Everyone is invited to a public memorial service here at PMC on Friday, December 5, at 1 PM. Love and Thanks from The Whidden Family 

Offering for November 22, 2025

Michigan Advance Partners

I remember the moment when my wife and I said, “I do” on our wedding day. We made a covenant promise and pledge before God that we would love and be faithful and true to each other. We expressed this covenant of love with words, actions, and gifts to each other! The day we all accepted the Lord, we too made a covenant of love with Him. We honor Him when we take time to worship Him and share His love with others by acts of kindness. But another way we develop our relationship with God and honor and glorify Him is when we return our gifts of time, talents, and our tithes and offerings to Him. "The Lord made a special covenant with men, that if they would regularly set apart the portion designated for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom, the Lord would bless them abundantly, so there would not be room to receive His gifts" (Counsels on Stewardship, p.77).

God has given us this opportunity to enter into a partnership with the Ruler of the universe who is not only interested in the orderly operation of the great galaxies of heaven but also interested in every detail of our lives. Have you set aside your gifts for Him today? Let’s support the ministries around our conference that help people learn more about our God of love.

—North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Happy Health Cooking Demonstration

The Happy, Healthy Holiday 2025 Cooking demonstration will be on Sunday, Nov. 23 from 3:00 to 5:30 PM in the Youth Chapel, with samples for everyone downstairs. They are featuring vegan foods suitable for festive events. This event is being co-hosted by Pioneer Health and Wellness, Healthy Together Friends, and RMES Home and School. To register text "FOOD" to 269-281-2345. Questions: please contact Evelyn Kissinger at evelynkissinger@gmail.com.

Pioneer Women's Ministries 2025 Advent Devotionals

Pioneer Women’s Ministries’ Advent devotionals will highlight a few of the promises of Jesus. To receive the “Red Letter Promises” daily devotionals by email for the first 25 days of December, text the word “ADVENT” to 269-281-2345. You can also receive a short daily text message preview of each day's devotional by providing your cell phone number when you register. We pray you will sense the nearness of Jesus during this holy season through these devotionals.

Sabbath School Volunteers Needed

Give our Pioneer kids a gift this holiday season - your time, teaching or supporting Sabbath Schools, 10:30-11:30 AM each Sabbath. Text CHILDREN to 269-281-2345 or email childrenss@pmchurch.org to learn more.

13th Annual Voice Vespers

Come worship with the AU Dept. of Music voice students for their annual voice vespers: "For Unto Us A Child Is Born". Focusing on songs celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Seeking Voices for Sabbath Video Series!

Adventist Learning Community is producing a short series exploring Sabbath keeping and its impact on everyday life. We're looking for individuals to interview who joined the Adventist Church within the last 15 to 20 years and are comfortable on camera. If you're open to sharing your experience and how Sabbath has shaped your life, please contact Luke Bowers at lbowersweb@gmail.com, we'd love to hear from you!

Adventist-Muslim Relations Group

 Join us to pray for active missionaries and explore how to build bridges between Adventists and Muslims. We meet at 6:30 PM on the first and third Monday each month in the Leadership Lab of the Campus Center at Andrews University.

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