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

What does God do to protect His most precious possession on Earth? He bestows upon it this Impregnable Gift.
Saturday, February 01, 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?
01/18/2014
"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.

“How To Be More Like Jesus: The Impregnable Gift”

www.pmchurch.tv

□ Matthew 16:13-21

  •   #1—Who is the of the Church?
    •   Jesus blessed Simon with these words, “You are Peter [petros—a small ], and on this Rock [petra—a towering ledge] I will build My Church.”
    •   Peter himself was never confused over who was the Leader of the Church—Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
    •   Deuteronomy 32:4—“The LORD is the .”
    •   Psalm 18:2—“The LORD is my .”
    •   Psalm 95:1—“Let us shout aloud to the of our salvation.”
    •   1 Corinthians 10:4—“The spiritual [petra] that accompanied them was

      Christ.”

    •   Matthew 7:14—“The wise man built his house on the .”
    •   1 Corinthians 3:11—“No one can lay any other than Jesus

      Christ.”

  •   #2—Who is the of the Church?

     Matthew 16:18—“I will My Church.”

  •   #3—Who is the of the Church?
    •   Matthew 16:18—“I will build Church.”
    •   Acts 20:28—“Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own

      .”

  •   #4—Who is the of the Church?
    •   Matthew 16:8—“The gates of will not overcome the Church.”
    •   Actually what Jesus is describing here is not a defensive stance (where the church is

      trying to fend off the forces of hell)—rather He describes an stance

      (where hell is trying to fend off the forces of the church).

    •   Revelation 19:16—“And on His robe He has this name written: “KING OF KINGS

      AND LORD OF LORDS.”

  •   4 defining questions that declare the Church of Christ to be , a

    fortified position unable to be captured.

  • “Enfeebled and defective as it may appear, the church is the one object upon which God bestows in a special sense His regard” (Acts of the Apostles 12).
  • Richard John Neuhaus: “We must be sure it is the Church we are talking about: the Church in all its thus and so-ness, in all its contradictions and compromises, in its circus of superficiality and its moments of splendor.” (Freedom for Ministry: A Critical Affirmation of the Church and Its Mission 8)

□ John 6:14-18

  • Desire of Ages: “Those were hours of large blessing to the disciples, but they had
  • forgotten it all. They were in the midst of troubled waters. Their thoughts were stormy and unreasonable, and the Lord gave them something else to afflict their souls and occupy their minds. God does this when [we] create burdens and troubles for [ourselves]. The disciples had no need to make trouble. Already danger was fast approaching.” (380)
  • “Send the storm and save the Church.”
  • Desire of Ages: “Jesus had not forgotten them. The Watcher on the shore saw those fear-stricken men battling with the tempest. Not for a moment did He lose sight of His disciples. With deepest solicitude His eyes followed the storm-tossed boat with its precious burden; for these men were to be the light of the world. As a mother in tender love watches her child, so the compassionate Master watched His disciples. When their hearts were subdued, their unholy ambition quelled, and in they prayed for help, it was given them.” (381)

□ “I want to be more like Jesus, I’m following in His ways.”

  •   Then let us for His Church as He did.
  •   Then let us for His Church as He did.

  Then let us His Church as He did.

  • Ye Shall Receive Power: “Let all who believe the truth for this time put away their differences; put away envy and evil speaking and evil thinking. Press together, press together.” (188)
  • GROW Groups are a third millennial strategy to "press together."
  • One-step sign-up: www.pmchurch.org/growgroup

“UNTIED”  “UNITED” 

Offering for July 27, 2024

Michigan Advance Partners

One of the greatest and most significant challenges hindering the advancement of Adventist Education's mission is financial.

A growing percentage of our students require financial support, placing increasing financial pressure on our schools and churches. The Christian Education Scholarship Endowment Fund plays a crucial role in mitigating this challenge, but its current size is insufficient to address the collective problem. This endowment ensures that the funds placed within it remain intact in perpetuity.

In other words, the principle amount is never touched, but the annual earnings are used to provide scholarships for elementary, secondary, and college students. We are grateful that we can currently distribute approximately $100,000 per year to students, making a meaningful impact in the lives of students across this Conference.

If you are inclined and impressed to contribute to this fund, you can specify Michigan Advance Partners on your tithe envelope, donate online or give a loose offering today.

By Heather Thompson Day

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

AU Sabbath Vespers - Class of 2024

You are invited to join the Andrews University Summer 2024 graduates and their families as we close the Sabbath with music and appreciation at the Howard Performing Arts Center on August 3 at 8 PM.

Requesting Donations of Used Pathfinder Uniforms for Cuba

Cuba seeks help for their Pathfinder Clubs and is asking donations of used formal Pathfinder uniforms by 7/27. Donations can be made to PMC Pathfinder Director, Errol Prentice (email: errol.prentice@pmchurch.org; 269-277-4256). He will take them to Gillette and put them into the shipping container heading to Cuba.

Memorial Service for Linda Thompson

Please join us in celebrating the life of Linda Sherwin Thompson on Sunday, August 4, at 4 PM in the Pioneer Memorial Church sanctuary. Live-streaming will be available for those unable to attend in person.

Family Life Encounter: Summer Challenge

Join us for the Family Life Encounter: Summer Challenge, a Choose Your Own Adventure style activity and reading challenge designed to help strengthen our relationships with each other and God. Text "Challenge" to 269-281-2345 to download the challenge handout.

Download Handout for Challenge

Turn in your challenge handout at the Pioneer reception desk when it is completed to be entered into prize drawings! For more information, contact simplestirrings@yahoo.com.

Annual Backpacks for Berrien "Stuff-the-Bus"

It is time again for our annual Backpacks for Berrien "Stuff-the-bus." Help ensure students come to school this fall with the tools needed to learn. Get the supplies needed for success and deliver them to the bus, July 26 at Apple Valley parking lot from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. For a list of items needed check out our website: backpacks4berrien.org.

Pioneer Memorial Church Announces New Pastor for Administration

Pioneer Memorial Church is delighted to announce the selection of K. Hans Miranda Chavez as the new Pastor for Administration starting July 1, 2024.

Pastor Hans Miranda Chávez was born in Chiclayo, Peru, and moved to the U.S. at the age of six, where he grew up in Massachusetts. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2011 to 2015, he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2019. In 2023, Hans married Cassidy, who played an influential role in guiding him towards pastoral ministries. Now, Hans is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree, and his wife, Cassidy Miranda Chávez, is the Marketing and Communications Director at the Center for Youth Evangelism and volunteers with the Pioneer Media Ministry.

Hans and Cassidy are eager to serve the Pioneer Memorial Church community and be part of the church family in this new role. Let's extend our warmest welcome and support them in this new step!

Changes to ADRA Giving Options

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist have decided to simplify the number of donation options. Historically, a significant number of options have been available when giving to ADRA allowing donors to specify a specific project or program. Going forward all currently existing ADRA donations will be consolidated into 5 major categories.

ADRA Health Programs
Poor health is often at the heart of poverty and suffering. Giving to the ADRA Health fund helps build healthier lives for those we serve by improving access to safe water sources, providing hygiene and sanitation solutions, helping families access nourishing food, supporting pregnant women and mothers, and delivering reliable health support.

ADRA Education Programs
Education for all helps safeguard against chronic poverty, violence, abuse, exploitation, and even reduces vulnerability to natural disasters. The ADRA Education fund will help remove obstacles to learning by providing access to primary, secondary, and tertiary education, delivering school supplies, uniforms, and other resources, teaching adult literacy classes, and providing technical and vocational education.

ADRA Livelihood Programs
Livelihood training is a key contributor to breaking the cycle of poverty. The ADRA Livelihoods fund will help end generational poverty by empowering savings and loan groups in vulnerable communities, preparing communities for climate resiliency, training farmers to improve their methods, and empowering women to become business leaders in their communities.
ADRA Emergency Response and Preparedness
When disaster strikes, those whose lives are the most at risk are often furthest from help. Every year, ADRA responds to more than 100 emergencies around the world: earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, droughts, civil strife, and more. Contributions to the ADRA Emergency Response and Preparedness fund will help support a global network of offices and partners to quickly mobilize resources and bring relief to the hardest-hit areas.

ADRA General Fund
ADRA, the global humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church delivers relief and development assistance to individuals in more than 120 countries. Gifts to ADRA will provide families with emergency aid in times of crisis or natural disaster and longer-term, sustainable assistance to people battling chronic hunger, homelessness, and other life-threatening challenges, so they can live as God intended.

 

Pioneer Spiritual Life Survey

This quick survey will give our church leadership team a better understanding of how to lead our church. All responses are anonymous and every precaution will be taken with the data.

The survey can be found here as well


 

Something in Common Sabbath School

Healing The Mind by Timothy R. Jennings, MD Have you ever been hurt, lonely, depressed, frightened and hopeless? Or maybe you have found yourself feeling helpless, that gut wrenching helplessness when someone you care about is hurting, distressed and on the verge of giving up and you don’t know how to help them. Did you wish you had something to give them, something that would help? Healing the Mind is six of Dr. Jennings' most important lectures, recorded live during a 2-day seminar. The material is based on his book, "Could It Be This Simple”. The Six lecture topics are: 

  • June 22- The Mind: God's Design. What Went Wrong? 
  • June 29- God's Principle: The Law of Love and Liberty 
  • July 6- The Fix for Failing Families 
  • July 13- Demolishing Satan's Strongholds 
  • July 20- Depression: The Brain-Body Connection 
  • July 27- Forgiveness: Seven Common Myths (+ Q&A) 

Everyone is Welcome Sabbath mornings from 10:30-11:30 in PMC room 141.