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 2 of a 3 Part Series
Saturday, March 02, 2013

More In This Series

“Tattoos on the Heart:
A Case for Apocalyptic Compassion”—2

www.pmchurch.tv

□ Luke 5:27-32

  •   v 30 NLT: “But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus' disciples, ‘Why do you eat and drink with such scum?’”
  •   Two major points for third millennial followers:

 #1—The call of Christ is to .
o The church is not a for saints: it is rather a for sinners. o Luke 15:1, 2 NIV: “This fellow sinners, and eats with them.”
o Any church that calls Jesus “Lord” must sinners.

 #2—The call of Christ is to .
o Matthew 9:12, 13—“Go and learn what this means: ‘I, God, desire , not sacrifice.’”
o The line Luke left out declares that for the community of faith, more desirable to God than the of worship (“sacrifices”) is the of worship (“mercy”).
o James 2:13—“Mercy over judgment.”

 Glen Harold Stassen: “ . . . a thick, historically-embodied, realistic understanding of Jesus Christ as revealing God’s character and thus providing norms for guiding our lives . . . [will] not reduce Jesus to a thin principle or high ideal or only doctrinal affirmation without solid grounding in his actual history.” (A Thicker Jesus: Incarnational Discipleship in a Secular Age 16)

 1 John 2:6—“Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as .”

 1 Peter 2:21—“You should follow in .”

□ Seven ways the church must live out the radical example of our Lord Jesus:

  #1—We exist to call to the community of Christ.

 Luke 4:18, 19

  •   #2—We must become a for all sinners seeking refuge in the Savior.
    •   Safe-haven means protecting their .
    •   Safe-haven means offering them .
    •   Safe-haven means providing them a community or circle within which they can experience mercy, compassion and love unconditionally while they toward God, even if they struggle all their life.

  #3—We will not fear those who mistake our loving sinners with on their behavior.

 Luke 7:36-50

  #4—We must expect .

 Luke 7:33, 34

  •   #5—We will teach and defend Christ’s high calling to moral purity and holiness—“Go and sin no more”—by seeking to become .
  •   #6—We will celebrate not only the pardon of Christ at Calvary in forgiving all our sins, but also the power of Christ at Calvary for all our sins.
  •   #7—We will live and worship with continual , confessing that we too fall far short of God’s glory.
    •  Steps to Christ: “God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude; there are degrees of guilt in His estimation. . . . The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven; while pride, selfishness, and covetousness too often go unrebuked. But these are sins that are especially to God; for they are contrary to the benevolence of His character, to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe. He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ; but feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give.” (31)
    •   Paul: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst!” (1 Timothy 1:15)

      “Be like Jesus” 

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”. 

District Nine Family Camp - (Sub) Camp Au Sable

 Although registration for District Nine Family Camp is still open at www.midistrictnine.com, ALL rooms and RV sites have been reserved!  However, if you wish to tent there are spaces still available.  If you wish to bring your RV, there are spaces available ONLY in the Northwoods.

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.