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 July 12, 2025

World Budget – Digital Strategy for Mission

We thank God for the growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church since Global Mission began some three decades ago. We’ve reached many new people groups and entered new countries. We’ve planted thousands of new churches. We’ve seen literally millions of people find hope and salvation in Jesus.

Of course, many mission challenges remain. But that’s nothing new! When the good news about Jesus spread from Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago, it happened because the disciples came together and prayed together. Then the Holy Spirit gave power to those gathered in the upper room and they responded to God by saying, “I will go.”

Today, the Adventist church is supporting hundreds of missionaries around the world, who face many obstacles to preach the gospel. How do we even begin to reach people who don’t believe in God and have never seen a Bible? How do you begin to reach people who are rich and increased with goods and feel they have need of nothing? Or preach to people who live in refugee camps in very poor conditions?

In the face of such huge mission challenges, some see walls, but we see opportunities. Many see a lack of funds, but we see the Source of all funds. Many see our weakness, but we see His strength. God is inviting you to participate with Him in His mission of salvation here on earth.

Who is willing to support our global outreach with your special offering? Better yet, who will say, “I will go?” 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries