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

Saturday, January 28, 2017
Program: 
As We Begin
Praise to the Lord • Johann Walther | We Are Singing, for the Lord Is Our Light • Traditional South African Melody
Praise
Praise to the Lord (1) • Blessed Be Your Name • Made For Worship • I Will Exalt You
Prayer
Choral Call to Prayer—A Future With Hope • Mark Miller Choral | Response to Prayer—God Calls To Us • Mark Miller
Ben Martin
Tithes & Offerings
I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light • Wayne Wold
Children's Story
Bible Reading
John 15:1, 4-5 NIV
Worship in Music
I've Been in the Storm So Long • Traditional Spiritual / Jeffrey Ames
Sermon
“STORM: Finding Jesus in the Gathering Dark”—3 • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card
The Savior Is Waiting • 289
As We Depart
Praise to the Lord • Martin Shaw

“STORM: Finding Jesus in the Gathering Dark”—3

www.newperceptions.tv

 

  • Two sides to the coin
    • Jesus: “If you remain in Me [ are in Christ] and I remain in you [Christ is in ], then you will bear much fruit.”
    • Two sides to the Salvation Coin:
      • → Christ = forgiveness/justification
      • Christ →   = fruit/sanctification
      • Galatians 2:20—“I am crucified with Christ [ are in Christ]: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me [Christ is in ]: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
    • The “Christ is in us” side of the coin:
      • John 15:5—“‘Abide in Me and I .’”
      • Galatians 2:20—“Christ lives .”
      • Galatians 4:19—“My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed .”
      • Ephesians 3:17—“ . . . so that Christ may dwell in through faith . . .”
      • Colossians 1:27—“ . . . God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this [Gospel] mystery, which is Christ , the hope of glory.”
      • Revelation 3:20—“‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will and eat with that person, and they with me.’”
    • Jesus—“‘I am the Vine and you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much .”
      • For God—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit—bearing fruit is a huge deal—because it is the only way to that the branch is truly connected to the Vine.
      • Luke 13:6-9—“‘If it bears   next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
      • Galatians 5:22-23 NRSV—“The   of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
      • Job was bearing fruit that showed he had the faith of Jesus: “Though He slay me, yet will I   Him” (Job 13:15).
      • And what is “the faith of Jesus”? “I will put My   in Him” (Hebrews 2:13).
      • There will be a generation at the end of time that will demonstrate the faith of , because they have the faith of .
      • And the faith of Jesus is revealed in the fruit of the .
    • Desire of Ages 677: “‘Herein is My Father glorified,’ said Jesus, ‘that ye bear much fruit.’ God desires to manifest through you the holiness, the benevolence, the compassion, of His own . Yet the Saviour does not bid the disciples to bear fruit. He tells them to   in Him.”
    • Mike Mason—“Marriage, even under the very best of circumstances, is a crisis—one of the major crises of life—and it is a dangerous thing not to be aware of this. Whether it turns out to be a healthy, challenging, and constructive crisis or a disastrous nightmare depends largely upon how willing the partners are to be changed, how malleable they are. Yet ironically, it is some of the most hardened and crusty and unlikely people in the world who plunge themselves into the arms of marriage and thereby submit in almost total naiveté to the two most transforming powers know to the human heart: the love of another person and the gracious love of God. So be prepared for ! Be prepared for the most sweeping and revolutionary of a lifetime.’’ (The Mystery of Marriage: As Iron Sharpens Iron 60-61)
  • One example to follow
    • Matthew 4:4—“‘It is written: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every   that comes from the mouth of God.”’”
    • Psalm 40:8/Hebrews 10:7—“‘I desire to do Your will, my God; Your   is within My heart.’”
    • Psalm 119:11—“I have hidden Your   in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
    • Psalm 16:8-10—“I will keep my eyes always on the LORD. With Him at My right hand, I will not be shaken. . . . because You will   abandon Me to the realm of the dead, will You let Your faithful one see decay.”
    • Cameron Schofield: “If you don’t get anything else out of this study, I want you to listen carefully and get this. Take it home with you and do not forget it. How was it that Christ was able to give himself up into the hands of the Father? How was it that no matter how dark the malignity of sin was, how terrible the weight of guilt, how impossible it seemed that there was any way out, how did He conquer? He believed that God would keep His . By faith Christ was victorious! ‘And this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.’ 1 John 5:4. Is your faith the faith of Jesus?” (Heralding the Loud Cry 94)
    • Desire of Ages 677: “It is through the   that Christ abides in His followers. . . . The words of Christ [in the Gospels] are spirit and life. Receiving them, you receive the life of the Vine. You live ‘by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:4. The life of Christ in you produces the same   as in Him. Living in Christ, adhering to Christ, supported by Christ, drawing nourishment from Christ, you bear fruit after the similitude of Christ.”
    • If you want to abide in Christ and want Him to abide in you, everyday ask for the   of Jesus as you read the   of God.

 

“Abide in Me and I in you”

 

(Flyer, TV, Google search, name of person who invited you, etc.)
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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