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.
The Bondage Breaker
The Bondage Breaker: Global Addiction, Global Deliverance
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 Bondage Breaker:
Global Addiction, Global Deliverance”
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□ Genesis 3 and Matthew 4
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Gerald G. May, MD: “I am not being flippant when I say that all of us suffer from
addiction. Nor am I reducing the meaning of addiction. I mean in all truth that the psychological, neurological, and spiritual dynamics of full-fledged addiction are actively at work within every human being. The same processes that are responsible for addiction to alcohol and narcotics are also responsible for addiction to ideas, work, relationships, power, moods, fantasies, and an endless variety of other things. We are all in every sense of the word.” (Addiction & Grace 3, 4)
- What do food, drink and sex have in common? They are all human .
- In Genesis 3:1-6 six times in six verses the words “eat” “ate” and “food” are embedded to highlight the enemy’s strategic attack on .
- The heart of is unbridled, unregulated, uncontrolled .
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American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: “Nearly 12 million people suffer from sexual addiction in the United States. Due to the accessibility of sexual material available on the Internet, cable television and videos, these numbers are increasing.” (www.aamft.org/imis15/content/consumer_updates/sexual_addiction.aspx)
- The Internet porn industry now rakes in over billion a year.
- Online porn makes over $3000 .
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According to the Polaris Project 27 million people are in “modern-day slavery” across
the world—with 800,000 people trafficked across international borders every year— and million children “exploited by the global commercial sex trade, every year.” (www.cicatelli.org/titlex )
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Gerald G. May, MD: “I am not being flippant when I say that all of us suffer from
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□ Four Anti-Addiction Actions You Can Take:
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#1—A the P (of temptation).
- “In order that Satan might not us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” (2 Corinthians 2:11)
- Therefore “avoid [even] the of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
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#2—A through P (your dependence on God).
- Rick Warren: “Think of it this way: You have a small battery inside of you. It has a limited amount of energy. When it depletes, you shut down. At the same time, God offers you access to his unlimited power plant. All you need to do is plug in—and the power cord is .” (The Daniel Plan 52)
- “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the , and he will flee from you. Come near to and He will come near to you.” (James 4:7, 8)
- “ upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you; and you will glorify Me.” (Psalm 50:15)
- “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you .” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
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#3—A the P (of God’s promises).
“He has given us His very great and precious , so that throughthem you may participate in the divine nature, having the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:4)
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#1—A the P (of temptation).
- “I have hidden Your in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)
- Desire of Ages: “When assailed by temptation, look not to circumstances or to the weakness of self, but to the power of the . All its strength is yours.” (123)
#4—A to a P (for accountability).
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“Therefore confess your to each other and pray for each other so that you
may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James
5:16)
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“Carry each other’s , and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
(Galatians 6:2)
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“Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that
feels its nothingness and relies wholly on the merits of the Saviour. By prayer, by the study of His word, by faith in His abiding presence, the weakest of human beings may live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold them by a hand that will never let go.” (Ministry of Healing 182)
Because He won, you can.
There will be a fellowship dinner, following the second worship service in the commons on the lower level. Visitors are always welcome.
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
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)
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.
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!
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
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
The award-winning Andrews University Singers and Chorale conducted by Stephen Zork collaborate with the Andrews University Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marc Élysée in the 25th annual presentation of Welcome Christmas. The theme of the concert is “Peace on Earth” and comprised of a festive garland of heartwarming and endearing sacred and secular symphonic choral works and carols. The variety of musical offerings encompass Giacomo Puccini’s “Gloria” to Harry Simeon’s choral setting of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”. Join us for this special concert featuring special guest soloists and presenters.
The Christmas Banquet for Seniors comes this year on Sunday, the 10th of December, at 1:00 PM at the Village Church Fellowship Hall. This year, Village Church is responsible for decorating the tables, the meal, and the program. (Next year it will be PMC's turn.) The cost of the meal is $20 for everyone. However, PMC and Village Church will pay for all attending Senior members of their respective churches. All other Senior members will need to pay at the door. If you have not yet signed up for the Christmas Banquet, please call either the Village SDA Church at 269-471-7795 OR Pioneer Memorial Church at 269-471-3133 OR Cleon White at 269-471-5553 by December 5.