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, November 09, 2013

More In This Series

11/02/2013
Part 1 of a 3 Part Series
11/16/2013
Part 3 of a 3 Part Series

“Don’t Cry Alone”

www.pmchurch.tv

  • □  John 11:35
    •   “ .”
    •   Brennan Manning: “When Jesus wept . . . , the ground of all being shook, the source of all life

      trembled, the heart of all love burst open, and the unfathomable depth of God’s immense,

      inexhaustible revealed itself.” (Lion and Lamb 128)

    •   William Blake, “On Another’s Sorrow”:

      Think not thou canst sigh a sigh, And thy Maker is not by:
      Think not thou canst weep a tear, And thy Maker is not near.

      O He gives to us His joy,
      That our grief He may destroy:
      Till our is fled and gone He doth sit by us and .

    •   Adam Clarke: “It is abolishing one of the finest traits in our Lord’s human character to say that he wept and mourned here because of sin and its consequences. . . . The soul of Christ was troubled, and he mingled his sacred tears with those of the afflicted relatives.”
    •   Clark Pinnock: “Scripture speaks of the of God. God’s heart can be close to breaking (Hos. 11). God knows his people’s condition and feels their pain (Exod. 3:7f). God and mourns over them. Even for Moab God says, ‘My heart ’ (Is. 15:5). The issue for Christians is not whether God could suffer but how God could . . . . He would be less than God if he lacked sympathy or refused to share in the suffering of creatures.” (Most Moved Mover 89)
    •   N. P. Wolterstorff: “. That is why he suffers. To love our suffering, sinful world is to suffer. God so suffered for the world that he gave up his only Son to suffer. The one who does not see God’s suffering does not see his love. God is . Suffering is down at the center of things, deep down where the meaning is. Suffering is the meaning of our world.

      The of God are the meaning of history.” (In Pinnock Most Moved Mover 90)

    •   Isaiah 63:9—“In all their affliction, He was .”
    •   Desire of Ages: “His tender, pitying heart is ever awakened to sympathy by suffering. He

      with those that weep.” (533)

  • □  An anonymous letter
  • □  Galatians 6:2
    •   “Carry each other’s , and in this way you will fulfill the law of .”
    •   It is not enough to know that God suffers with us—though He feels our pain, too often we cannot

      sense His .

    •   1 Corinthians 12:26—“And if one member suffers, the members suffer with it; or if one

      member is honored, the members rejoice with it.”

    •   “Jesus did not shun the weak, unfortunate, and helpless, but He helped such as needed help. He

      did not confine His visits and labors to a class more intelligent and less faulty, to the neglect of the unfortunate. He did not inquire whether it was agreeable for Him to be a companion of the poorest, the most needy. These are the ones whose company He , the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”(2T 75)

    •   GROW Groups
    •   Frederick Buechner: “Sometimes, by the grace of God, I have it in me to be to

      other people. And so, of course, have we all—the life-giving, life-saving, and healing power to be saints, to be , maybe at rare moments even to ourselves.” (The Longing for Home 28)

      To carry and to care just 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.