Speaker

Dwight K. Nelson

Since 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

"The Implausible Prayer" begins with the latest astronomy headline and ends with a knock at your door. See how this one implausible prayer can help you be more like Jesus.
Saturday, January 18, 2014

More In This Series

01/11/2014
Living life the way Jesus did. It seems like an impossible dream. But could the secret to living a more Christ-like life be easier than you think?
02/01/2014
What does God do to protect His most precious possession on Earth? He bestows upon it this Impregnable Gift.

“How To Be More Like Jesus: The Implausible Prayer”

www.pmchurch.tv

  • □  The Prayer
    •   Ephesians 3:14-19
    •   The Creator and King, who rules over a galaxies and a stars

      across billion light years (and has all the stars—Psalm 147:4), wants

      to in .

    •   The implausible prayer: “That Christ may in your by faith.”
    •   “May your become His .”

       John 14:23

       Jesus: “We [the Father and I] will come to you and make Our with you.”

    •   Desire of Ages: “The contemplation of the of God will stir the heart and arouse the

      powers of the soul as nothing else can.” (478)

  • □  The Product
    •   Frederick Buechner: “In my books, and sometimes even in real life, I have it in me at my best to

      be a saint to other people, and by saint I mean life-giver, someone who is able to bear to others something of the Holy Spirit. . . . 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)

      •   When Christ dwells within us, He spreads Himself us.
      •   Stuart Devenish: “Every Christian generation has produced two kinds of Christians: the

        common, ordinary garden variety, and those who have discovered the deeper life. . . . [a life that] reflects a deep experience of Christ-likeness” (quoted in Beyond Well-Being: Spirituality and Human Flourishing 58).

      •   The grand goal of the everlasting gospel!
      •   “Be like Jesus, this my song, in the home and in the throng . . .”
    •   NB: This is a collective invitation.
      •   “That Christ may dwell in your hearts [plural] by faith.”
      •   The GROW Group experience: “. . . together with all the Lord’s holy people” (v 18)
      •   F. F. Bruce: “. . . it is Paul who gives distinctive expression to the idea of all believers,

        whatever their race or social status, united in a life as fellow-members of the body. . . . [T]he prime function of the indwelling Spirit in the believing community, as in the individual believer, is for Paul the reproduction of the Christ-likeness in his people, until the whole body corporate attains ‘the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ’ (Ephesians 4:13).” (Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free 210, 211)

      •   Join a GROW Group now @ http://www.pmchurch.org/article/563/grow-groups/signup
    •   John Gilbert—“If Jesus Came to Your House”

      I want to be more like Jesus
      I’m following in His ways

      I’m trying to love as He did
      In all that I do and say

      At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice
      But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers:

      REFRAIN
      “Love one another as Jesus loves you

      Try to show kindness in all that you do Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought

      For these are the things Jesus taught.”

I’m trying to love my neighbor
I’m learning to serve my friends

I watch for the day of gladness When Jesus will come again

I try to remember the lessons He taught
Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts saying:

—adapted from Janice Kapp Perry 

Fruit Delivery Next week

If you ordered fruits during the Pathfinder Fruit Fundraiser and requested shipment to PMC, the orders are anticipated to arrive on Tuesday, December 5th. The fruits may be picked up between 6 PM and 8 PM in the PMC Commons.

Fellowship Dinner

There will be a fellowship dinner, following the second worship service in the commons on the lower level. Visitors are always welcome.

Offering for December 2, 2023

Pioneer Operating Budget

December starts off the Christmas season in earnest for many people, even if merchants have been pushing the need to buy gifts for weeks already. What makes the Christmas season special for you? Is it the music, the decorations, special foods, family gatherings, or the gifts—what you might receive, as well as what you might give?

Gift-giving can be problematic. What if someone gives you a gift, but you don’t have one to give in return or vice versa?! Which matters more: the amount of money you spend on the gift or giving a “perfect gift” to a particular person? Let’s reverse that; what if someone gives you a gift and it’s not something you’ve ever wanted or will ever use? Should you put on a happy face and say something like, “How can I ever thank you enough for this gift?”

Each Sabbath we collect an offering as you give your gifts to God. We don’t limit this to the Christmas season because Christmas happens every time we come to church. We come to worship the greatest gift of all time—the gift of God coming to this earth in the form of Jesus Christ.

Our gifts, whether they are wrapped in beautiful Christmas paper or given as cash or checks or through online giving with a credit card, show our thankfulness to God.

So, “Merry Christmas!” And let’s take this opportunity to give our gifts to God.

—North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Soup for Students

Pioneer Young Adult Ministries is hosting Soup for Students. All Collegiate-aged individuals are welcomed to attend and enjoy soup and a touch of home while studying for finals.  Volunteers can contact Prescott Khair (prescott.khair@pmchurch.org)

You Visited Me

Jesus said, "When I was in prison, you visited Me."  If you have a heart for reaching out to a lonely person in need of encouragement while incarcerated, have I got a person for you!  Please contact Sue Wein (whitewsu@andrews.edu).  I will give you the details and help you in connecting with her.

Bring a Toy, Spread some joy.

In just a few weeks, on December 9, we will be having our annual Children’s Celebration of Christmas. This is the worship service every year where we bring a new unwrapped toy for a child up to age 16. These gifts will go to families in our community who are not able to purchase gifts. This is yet another way that Pioneer can be Love on the Move!

4th Annual "First Advent" Reflections

It is time to join the 4th Annual "First Advent Reflections". This Christmas season the Pioneer Women’s Ministries Team is delighted to invite you to reflect on Handel's "Messiah".

A daily email and a text will be sent to the ladies who sign-up. To register text the word "Hallelujah" to 269-281-2345

Wind Symphony Christmas Concert: Christmas Through the Ages

Bring in the sounds of the season with the Wind Symphony’s Christmas concert, “Christmas Through the Ages” on Saturday, December 2nd at 8:00 PM at the Howard Performing Arts Center. The program will feature familiar holiday tunes that will have you tapping your toes and singing along! Selections include a lively version of Carol of the Bells by Sean O’Loughlin, a fun arrangement of a famous John Philip Sousa march, Christmas and Sousa Forever by Julie Giroux, the ever popular Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson, as well as a few other surprises. We look forward to having you join us as we begin to celebrate the Christmas season.

Love on the Move - GH4K

Would you like to show "Love on the Move" to foster, adoptive, kinship families in our community? This is your invitation to join God's Hands 4 Kids in doing just that. Could you make a pan of lasagna for GH4K's Connect Support Group Christmas Celebration on December 8 delivering ready to serve. For details and to sign up go to our website GH4K.org There will be more opportunities to give shared there. Godshands4kids@gmail.com

Belong Ministry Thanksgiving Baskets

Did you know that 30% of our students are facing hunger on our campus? Belong Ministries is partnering with CFE and other campus ministries to begin bridging the gap of hunger on campus. You can be a part of this initiative by providing a Thanksgiving basket full of microwavable foods and treats. If interested in donating a Thanksgiving basket we'll provide a list, please sign up by scanning the QR code

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