From May 11–June 8, 2025, Maranatha Volunteers International will be working at Andrews University to update the Lamson Hall residential rooms and suite bathrooms. Please consider volunteering and letting your family and friends know of this opportunity. All individuals (including local) should sign up at the Maranatha website: https://maranatha.org/volunteer-opportunities/.
Charmed into Righteousness
The Fairest Judge
Speaker
Dwight K. NelsonDwight 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
More In This Series
“Charmed into Righteousness: The Fairest Judge”
- The Judge
- Steps to Christ: “Satan [has led humanity] to conceive of God as a being whose chief attribute is stern justice—one who is a severe , a harsh, exacting creditor. He pictured the Creator as a being who is watching with jealous eye to discern the errors and mistakes of men, that He may visit judgments upon them. It was to this dark shadow, by revealing to the world the infinite love of God, that Jesus came to live among men. The Son of God came from heaven to make manifest the Father.” (10-11)
- John 1:14, 18; 3:16; 14:5-10
- Kevin J. Vanhoozer: “The son’s humanity is the ultimate form of God’s self-presentation, Jesus is God’s definitive word and in his person and history corresponds to what it is that makes God .” (In John Peckham, The Love of God: A Canonical Model 61)
- John Peckham: “Depictions of divine compassion in the Old Testament and New Testament are strikingly similar to that manifested by Christ in the Gospels. Thus Leon Morris contends that ‘Christ’s action is action. Christ’s love is love.’” (The Love of God 64)
- The Judged
- The protagonist: “Mary had been looked upon as a great sinner, but Christ knew the circumstances that had shaped her life. He might have extinguished every spark of hope in her soul, but He did not. It was He who had lifted her from despair and ruin. Seven she had heard His rebuke of the demons that controlled her heart and mind. She had heard His strong cries to the Father in her behalf. She knew how offensive is sin to His unsullied purity, and in His strength she had overcome.” (Desire of Ages 568)
- “When to human eyes her case appeared , Christ saw in Mary capabilities for good. He saw the better traits of her character. The plan of redemption has invested humanity with great possibilities, and in Mary these possibilities were to be realized. Through His grace she became a partaker of the divine nature. The one who had fallen, and whose mind had been a habitation of demons, was brought very near to the Saviour in fellowship and ministry.” (Ibid)
- The antagonist: “When Judas joined the disciples, he was not insensible to the beauty of the character of Christ. He felt the influence of that divine power which was drawing souls to the Saviour. . . . In connecting this man with Himself, He placed him where he might, day by
- The protagonist: “Mary had been looked upon as a great sinner, but Christ knew the circumstances that had shaped her life. He might have extinguished every spark of hope in her soul, but He did not. It was He who had lifted her from despair and ruin. Seven she had heard His rebuke of the demons that controlled her heart and mind. She had heard His strong cries to the Father in her behalf. She knew how offensive is sin to His unsullied purity, and in His strength she had overcome.” (Desire of Ages 568)
day, be brought in contact with the outflowing of His own unselfish love. If he would open his to Christ, divine grace would banish the demon of selfishness, and even Judas might become a subject of the kingdom of God.” (Desire of Ages 294)
- “When he came into association with Jesus, he had some traits of character that might have been made a blessing to the church. If he had been willing to wear the yoke of Christ, he might have been among the chief of the apostles; but he hardened his heart when his defects were pointed out, and in pride and rebellion chose his own selfish ambitions, and thus unfitted himself for the work that God would have given him to do.” (Ibid)
- John 12:1-8
- “[Jesus’] heart was crying, How can I give thee up? The constraining power of that love was felt by Judas. When the Saviour’s hands were bathing those soiled feet, and wiping them with the towel, the heart of Judas thrilled through and through with the impulse then and there to confess his sin. But he would not humble himself. He hardened his heart against repentance; and the old impulses, for the moment put aside, again controlled him.” (Desire of Ages 645)
- “The Saviour did not reproach His betrayer. He knew that Judas did not repent; his confession was forced from his guilty soul by an awful sense of condemnation and a looking for of judgment, but he felt no deep, heartbreaking grief that he had betrayed the spotless Son of God, and denied the Holy One of Israel. Yet Jesus spoke no word of condemnation. He looked pityingly upon Judas, and said, For this hour came I into the world.” (Desire of Ages 722)
- The Judgment
- John 5:22—“‘The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the .”
- 2 Corinthians 5:10—“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of , so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
- 1 John 2:1-2
- He who is the Savior of the world and the Judge of the world is the Advocate of the world, the of the human race.
- Steps to Christ: “We shall have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (64)
“The Judge is on your side!”
Dr Roy Gane will present the major themes and concepts included in the second quarter's Sabbath School lessons: Allusions, Images, Symbols: How to Study Bible Prophecy. This overview, scheduled for March 22, 4:00-5:30pm. will meet in the PMC Commons. All are welcome. For further information, please contact Melchizedek Ponniah at melponniah@gmail.com or call 269-876-7476.
Adventist World Radio
In 1 Corinthians 9:22 Paul says, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (NIV). As one of those possible means to save some, the Adventist church in North America is using television. There are millions of people who watch Adventist media programs every year.
If the Apostle Paul would have been alive in the 21st century, he would be sharing a Christ-centered message of hope and wholeness through technology and media. Jesus told the Apostle Peter, “Feed my sheep.” Peter would also be using the internet and social media to feed His lambs.
We are living in a time when people are watching more TV than reading books or pamphlets. The average person watches TV for around 2 hours and 51 minutes while reading for no more than 16 minutes and 48 seconds during the average day. Ellen White said this in 1914, “the circulation of the printed page has come to be a mighty factor in the dissemination of the truths of the third angel's message.” (Review & Herald. November 5, 1914). If she was alive today, Mrs. White would point to TV as the mighty factor in preaching the three angels’ message.
Your offering today will help Adventist Television Ministries continue to reach millions of people around the world and help spread the gospel to those who are searching and those who are lost. Help us fulfill the great commission.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Are you looking forward to Spring? Seniors 55 years and up are invited to the ASM meeting at the Village Church Fellowship Hall March 9 at 1:00 PM Daylight Savings Time. Don’t forget the time change that day! After the potluck, Dr Lois Burn will present “Joy thru Gardening”. Come for a master class in staying healthy and happy as gardening task resume this spring. Call Cheryl Doss at 269-277-0767 with any questions.
Parents with students who will be five years old by Sept. 1, 2025, are invited to come meet our Kindergarten teacher, tour the classroom and school, enjoy refreshments, meet other Kindergarten parents, etc. Please call us at 269-471-3225 to let us know you are coming! March 10 6:00 PM. Kindergarten Visitor's Day is the next morning, March 11!
Do you want to complete your Master Guide Program? If so, please consider joining the Master Guide Club that meets weekly on campus to help you complete the requirements.
For more information or to join, please visit cye.org/toolbox