All Sermons

2 B Friends

2 B Friends: Ready or Not–Here We GROW!

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

Part 1 of a 3 Part Series
Saturday, January 12, 2013

More In This Series

01/19/2013
2 B Friends: Get On Your Mark, Get Set, GROW!
Part 2 of a 3 Part Series
01/26/2013
2 B Friends: GROW Into All the World
Part 3 of a 3 Part Series
All Sermons
Print Download

“2 B Friends:
Ready or Not—Here We GROW!”

www.pmchurch.tv

  • □  The Research
    •   The British National Child Development Study (a longitudinal study tracking individuals born in the same week in 1958) reported in 2012 that of the men and roughly a of the women said they now have more than friends and relatives they get together with once a month or more.
    •   Regarding psychological health, these people ranked themselves significantly than the others with less friends.
    •   The researchers concluded: “Having fewer than friends at age 45 predicted significantly poorer psychological well-being at age 50.”
    •   The education men had, the more likely they were to have a larger social network—but the opposite was true for women.
    •   Being was associated with a smaller circle of friends.
  • □  The Reason
    •   John 15:12-17
      •   “[Jesus is] our best and most sympathizing friend.” (5T 201)
      •   vv 13, 14 The Voice: “‘[13] There is no greater way to love than to give your life for your friends. [14] You

        celebrate friendship if you obey this command.”

      •   I.e., when you read v 13 and v 14 together, Jesus isn’t so much describing His death the day

        as He is commanding our willingness to die for our friends day.

      •   Craig Keener: John 15:12 “is emphatic that believers must love one another in the same way that Jesus loved

        them (cf. 13:34), which means dying for their , as Jesus would die for them (15:13-14).”

        (The Gospel of John 1004)

    •   John 15:5

 Friends and fruit—what do they have in common? You must them both.

 Because friends and fruit are all about .

  Acts 2:38-47

  3000 brand new radical followers/disciples of Jesus Christ

  And how do they GROW? (Acts 2:42)

o They share .

o They share .

o They share .

o They share .

  Just as Jesus taught in John 15—first, you with Me and then you with each other, and thus you .

  The simple mission of the church in Acts: CONNECT.GROW.SERVE.GO.

□ The Result

  •   Five VIP points about GROW Groups:

 #1—They are about friendship, not .
 #2—They are about short-term, not .
 #3—They are about “interesting,” not “.”
 #4—They are about growing spiritually and .  #5—They are about growing together, not .

  •   Desire of Ages: “Love to man is the earthward manifestation of the love of God. It was to impart this love, to make us children of one family, that the King of glory became one with us. And when His parting words are fulfilled, ‘Love one another, as I have loved you’ (John 15:12); when we love the world as He has loved it, then for us His mission is accomplished. We are fitted for heaven; for we have heaven in our hearts.” (641)

    Friends and fruit are all about GROW 

(Flyer, TV, Google search, name of person who invited you, etc.)
New Children's Sabbath School Curriculum

Pioneer families with 0 to 3-year-olds are the first to enjoy the new Seventh-day Adventist Church Sabbath School Alive in Jesus Bible lessons. This curriculum will roll out in phases:

2025: Baby Steps (0-18 months) and Beginners (1, 2 & 3 year olds)
2026: Kindergarten (4-6 year old) and Primary (Grades 1-3)
2027: Junior (Grades 4-6) and Earliteen (Grades 7-8)
2028: Youth (Grades 9-12) and Young Adult

Here’s what’s new this year.
Baby Steps Lessons: Our Nursery division begins the first-ever Baby Steps lessons. Our program will continue a half-hour interactive Bible learning for infants and a half-hour of parent training and community building. Download free parent and teacher guides at babies.aliveinjesus.info.


 

Beginners Bible Lessons: Both Beginner rooms and the Kindergarten 3-Year division have begun the new Beginner lessons for 1, 2, and 3-year-olds. This new Adventist curriculum features beautifully illustrated lessons, inspiring stories, practical tips, craft ideas, and activities to support family worship and Bible learning at home. Parent spiritual nurture and community-building activities will also be incorporated.

A new year brings new opportunities! It’s a chance to renew our commitment to spending time with God and helping our children grow in their relationship with Him. Reading and discussing Sabbath School lessons in family worship at home will deepen everyone’s faith.    
Children’s Sabbath School family guides are available at the Welcome Center in Pioneer’s lower entry hall during the first month of each quarter. They are also freely available online for families and teachers, along with engaging songs (Nursery and Beginners Alive in Jesus), videos (for Kinder and Primary GraceLink), and podcasts (for Junior PowerPoints). From a device, you can enjoy lessons anywhere and anytime.

We pray that 2025 will bring a closer walk with God for each member of our church family. May Sabbath School lesson study be a blessing to your home, strengthen faith and family bonds, and welcome friends to join you on this adventure!

Children's Sabbath School Superintendent Team

Howard Center Presents: The King's Singers

England’s premier choral ensemble has long had an unsurpassed tradition of vocal music with roots in both religious and secular singing.  Setting the gold standard in acapella singing on the world’s greatest stages for over fifty years, the King’s Singers are renowned for their unrivalled technique, musicianship and versatility, which stem from both the group’s rich heritage and its drive to bring an extraordinary range of new and unique works, collaborations and recordings to life. They consistently delight audiences around the world with their incomparable musicianship, wit, and charm. Join us for the King's Singers concert at the Howard Performing Arts Center on Monday, February 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM.  Tickets are available at our website: howard.andrews.edu, or by calling our box office at 269-471-3560.

Sabbath School Lesson Overview

The Sabbath School Lesson Overview scheduled for January 18 has been cancel to allow for particiation in the Religious Liberty program the same afternoon.

Howard Center Presents: SELAH

 Selah, a contemporary Christian vocal trio, became known for transforming old Christian hymns into songs with a more modern style complete with powerful vocals and beautiful harmonies. Having sold over 4 million records, won 11 Gospel Music Association Dove awards and has over 900 million streams across all digital music platforms, they are now working on their 22nd album in 27 years of performing. Join us on February 2, 2025 at the Howard Performing Arts Center for an inspiring Christian concert. Tickets are available at our website: howard.andrews.edu, or by calling our box office at 269-471-3560.

Offering for January 11, 2025

Religious Liberty

It is often said that religious liberty is in the DNA of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. From the very start of the Advent movement, we stood for an idea that was radical for its time—that religious freedom was for everyone, regardless of who they were or what they believed.

What shaped this belief? It was our conviction that God doesn’t want forced obedience. As Ellen White wrote, “God desires from all His creatures the service of love—service that springs from an appreciation of His character.” Patriarchs and Prophets, pg. 33, 34

And so, in the very first issue of Liberty magazine, which rolled off the presses in 1906, the editor described this unique Adventist understanding of religious liberty. He wrote: “We believe no power but the power of love can rightfully compel the human conscience.” Today, almost 120 years later, the culture around us has changed dramatically. But our commitment to religious liberty as a reflection of God’s character hasn’t changed.

As students of prophecy, we know that a time will come when our freedom to worship will be taken away. But until then, God calls us to be His ambassadors of liberty—to faithfully reflect His character and His love within our communities and our nation. Today, let’s continue in the footsteps of our early Adventist pioneers in generously supporting the religious liberty ministries of our church. 

—North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Spanish Sabbath School Class

 Sabbath School is the perfect setting to rediscover the power of Bible study and prayer. In one of the most diverse campuses in the nation, we aspire to allow all our church members, students, and guests to study and learn in their language. To further this, we are establishing the Spanish Sabbath School Class so all our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters can join us in learning together in our weekly Sabbath School. With that, please grab your Spanish sabbath school lesson and join in the balcony each Sabbath!

Care for Cuba

A group of students from Andrews University are preparing to embark on a life-changing mission in March of 2025. They will engage in evangelism, health care, and community outreach in Cuba. This mission trip has been going on for 11 years, and the impact has been tremendous, thanks to your help. Would you support this mission once again by donating right here in your church or give at www.careforcuba.org/donate? Thank you for your prayers as they prepare to send off students to serve and share Jesus!