There will not be any fellowship dinner this Sabbath.
The Galilean
The Galilean: Part 2
Speaker
Dwight K. NelsonSince 1983, Dwight Nelson has served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University. He preaches on the “New Perceptions” telecast, teaches at the theological seminary and has written some books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.
Offering
More In This Series
“The Galilean”—2
□ His Vulnerability
- John 6:66, 67
- William Shakespeare, Julius Caeser: “Et tu, Brute?”
- Oswald Chambers: “Jesus Christ’s life was an absolute failure from every standpoint but God’s.” (My Utmost for His Highest 218)
- Ellen White: “As the world’s Redeemer, Christ was constantly confronted with failure.” (Desire of Ages 678)
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Isaiah: “He said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.’ But I said,
‘I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the
LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God." (Isaiah 49:3-4)
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Anne Lamott: “My fear of failure has been lifelong and deep. If you are what you do—and I think
my parents may have accidentally given me this idea—and you do poorly, what then? It’s over; you’re wiped out. All those prophecies you heard in the dark have come true, and people can see the real you, see what a schmendrick you are, what a fraud.” (Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith 142)
“The review in the newspaper the next day was not very good. But by then I’d figured out the gift of failure, which is that it breaks through all that held breath and isometric tension about needing to look good: it’s the gift of feeling floppier. One of the things I’ve been most afraid of had finally happened, with a whole lot of people watching, and it had indeed been a nightmare. But sitting with all that vulnerability, I discovered I could ride it.” (Ibid 143)
□ My Vulnerability
- What if the Galilean’s kind of vulnerability became ours?
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#1—You and I would be a lot more vulnerable with God.
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Ellen White: “Never can the cost of our redemption be realized until the redeemed shall stand with the Redeemer before the throne of God. Then as the glories of the eternal home burst upon our enraptured
senses we shall remember that Jesus left all this for us, that He not only became an exile from the heavenly courts, but for us took the risk of failure and eternal loss.” (Desire of Ages 131) - Philip Yancey: “Unless I level with God—about bitterness over an unanswered prayer, grief over loss, guilt over an unforgiving spirit, a baffling sense of God’s absence—that relationship, too, will go nowhere. I may continue going to church, singing hymns and praise choruses, even addressing God politely in formal prayers, but I will never break through the intimacy barrier. ‘We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us,’ wrote C. S. Lewis. To put it another way, we must trust God with what God already knows.” (Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? 42)
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Ellen White: “Never can the cost of our redemption be realized until the redeemed shall stand with the Redeemer before the throne of God. Then as the glories of the eternal home burst upon our enraptured
- #2—You and I would be a lot more vulnerable with faith.
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#3—You and I would be a lot more vulnerable with each other.
- Brene Brown: “We love seeing raw truth and openness in other people, but we’re afraid to let them see it in us.” (Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead 41)
- “Vulnerability is based on mutuality and requires boundaries and trust. It’s not oversharing, it’s not purging, it’s not indiscriminate disclosure, and it’s not celebrity-style social media information dumps. Vulnerability is about sharing our feelings and our experiences with people who have earned the right to hear them. Being vulnerable and open is mutual and an integral part of the trust-building process.” (Ibid 44, 45)
- GROW Groups
□ His Vulnerability
- Naked
- “Be ye therefore vulnerable as your Savior in heaven is vulnerable.”
“Lord, to whom else shall we go?”
Michigan Radio Ministries
Over 3 billion people in the world listen to radio weekly, and that number continues to trend upward despite digital media growth. Radio remains the top media format in the United States, where over 200 million people listen to radio weekly! Two of those 200 million are Ryan and Sidney.
Ryan walked into his mom’s home one Saturday evening and was captivated by a program playing on her radio, which was tuned to Strong Tower Radio, 90.7 FM, WBHL. The radio evangelist captured his attention by connecting Bible prophecy with current economic and societal problems. Wanting more, Ryan began regularly listening to Strong Tower Radio for the next several years. He compared what he heard on the broadcast with what the Bible says, and everything matched!
Ryan shared what he was learning with his girlfriend Sidney, who started listening to Strong Tower Radio to find out more. This led to Bible studies with pastor Jacob, and both Ryan and Sidney were baptized in December 2020. They married one year later and are active members of the Cedar Lake Seventh-day Adventist church! Praise God as He reaches more souls seeking Jesus through the radio broadcast!
The Michigan Conference has selected Strong Tower Radio to receive this year’s Michigan Radio Ministry offering. Your generous giving today will help Strong Tower Radio continue to reach thousands of listeners with the everlasting gospel tomorrow! By God’s grace, your decision will change the world.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
All Pioneer volunteers in ministry are requested to attend Safety Training on Sabbath, October 19, 3:00-6:00 pm in the Youth Chapel. This will include team drills for emergency preparedness. Thank you for planning to participate.
The wedding of eternity is happening soon! Are you ready? Ladies are invited to a fascinating seminar by Dr. Jo Ann Davidson, sponsored by Pioneer Women’s Ministry. We will take a fresh look at the parable of the Ten Virgins and what it means to us today. Haystack supper will be provided, with vegan and gluten free options. Space is limited so register soon! Text the word “WOMEN” to 269.281.2345 to register. Questions can be emailed to women@pmchurch.org.
We invite you to join us in an upcoming blood drive! Your donation can make a difference in the lives of those in need. The Center for Faith Engagement is partnering with Versiti to provide an opportunity for you to give the gift of life to others. We hope to see you there!
Andrews University Wind Symphony presents a concert of music that honors our past as we celebrate 150 years. We begin with an exciting piece that embodies the spirit of our pioneers, followed by two pieces composed by our very own Dr. Max Keller, Assistant Professor of Music, Theory and Composition Area Coordinator, and Chair of the Department of Music and Dr. Kenneth Logan, Organ Instructor and Minister of Music at Pioneer Memorial Church. Sharing his arrangement of Advent hymn tunes, Dr. Keller’s work weaves in The Morning Trumpet and Oh When Shall We See Jesus. Dr. Logan’s original composition, We, From Battle Creek highlights in four movements important places in Battle Creek SDA history. The second half of the program begins with a march commemorating 150 years of Michigan history, and ends with the Travis Cross arrangement of Be Thou My Vision, a collaboration with singers from the Battle Creek Tabernacle and Pioneer Memorial Church. We hope you will join us for a wonderful evening on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 8:00 PM at the Howard Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available at howard.andrews.edu.
Please join Pioneer Memorial Church, the Center for Faith Engagement and many other groups on Sunday, October 27, 2024 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm at Johnson Gym to help assemble care packages for men and women who are behind bars.
We don't often get the opportunity to respond to Jesus' invitation to serve those in prison. Families are welcome; Please fill out a separate registration for each person participating and select ALL the time slots for which you'll be present.
We also need a good crew to help with the clean-up at the end. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a water bottle. Bring a happy spirit and a heart ready to serve. "I was in prison and you visited me [with your care package]." -Matthew 25:36
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!
Healthy, Happy Holiday Meals plus International Dishes for Special Gatherings presented by leading nutritionist Evelyn Kissinger on Sunday, November 3 from 4:00 to 6:30 PM here at PMC. Discover some healthy, delicious ideas, all plant-based, for Special
Gatherings. Those who register will receive food samples. Please register by texting VEGAN to 269-821-2345. And invite a friend to register and come with you.
Adventist Seniors, 55 years old and up, are invited to come for fellowship and inspiration at the October meeting featuring Dr. Ann Hamel. Dr. Hamel’s talk about her supporting work with missionaries is entitled “Caring for the Body of Christ.” Bring a dish, a friend and join the potluck at 1 pm October 13 in the Village Church Fellowship Hall. For further information call Cheryl Doss 269-277-0767.