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Gone Fishin'

Part 1

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Speaker

Dwight K. Nelson

Dwight 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

Saturday, April 01, 2017
Program: 
As We Begin
Arise, My Soul, Arise • Dale Wood
Praise
Fishers of Men • Lord I Lift Your Name On High • He Leadeth Me • I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
Prayer
Ben Martin
Tithes & Offerings
His Love Adored • Kenneth Logan
Children's Story
Bible Reading
Matthew 4:18-22 NIV
Worship in Music
People Need the Lord • P. McHugh & G. Nelson
Sermon
“Gone Fishin'”—1 • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card
I Will Make You Fishers of Men
As We Depart
Work, For the Night Is Coming • Sharon Rogers

More In This Series

04/29/2017
Part 4
04/22/2017
Part 3
04/15/2017
Part 2
All Sermons
Print Download

“Gone Fishin’”—1
www.newperceptions.tv
 

  • The Mission
    • John 17:18 Message—“‘In the same way that You [Father] gave Me a   in the world, I give them a in the world.’”
    • 2 Corinthians 5:18 TEV—“Christ changed us from enemies into His friends and gave us the of making others His friends also.”
    • John 20:21 NIV—“‘As the Father has sent Me, I am you.’”
    • Matthew 28:19-20 CEV—“‘Go to the people of all and make them My disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.’”
    • Mark 1:17 NIV—“‘Come,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to for people.’”
      • We were born again to , because that is His metaphor for mission.
      • 3 John 4 NIV—“I have no greater   than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (“Nothing could make me .” Message)
  • The Story
    • Luke 5:1-5: “Push out into   water”—because that is where the fish are.
    • Luke 5:6-10: “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people with Me.”
      • Desire of Ages: “The deeper lesson which the miracle conveyed for the disciples is a lesson for us also—that He whose could gather the fishes from the sea could also impress human hearts, and draw them by the cords of His love, so that His servants might become ‘fishers of men.’” (249)
      • Desire of Ages: “The first thing to be learned by all who would become workers together with God is the lesson of self- .” (250)
      • Desire of Ages: “There is   to the usefulness of one who, by putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God.” (250-251)

 

“Don’t be afraid—from now on you will fish for people with Me.”

 

Offering for April 18, 2026

Pioneer Operating Budget

The Bible makes this interesting analogy: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17, NIV). Today, we are sitting in church because someone sharpened you and shared the gospel story. This is so true in the life of Riley. Anthony (the writer of this appeal) had driven for approximately an hour on a cold fall day to fulfill a stewardship weekend appointment he had with a small congregation. The service went well.

He preached on the topic, “It’s a matter of the heart.” After the hymn of consecration and the benediction, during the transition time before potluck, he chose to mingle and talk to people. He chose to start with brother Riley, who was sitting at the media booth. After introducing himself, he asked Riley if he was the one responsible for streaming. Anthony had brought with him a recorded instructional video on how to complete the newly designed tithe and offering envelope.

They didn’t get very far into that part of the conversation before Riley began to share with him how he started to attend the church. He identified three people who showed unwavering love and acceptance to him. He eventually got baptized.

Riley’s testimony reminds us of the words of Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with loving kindness” (KJV). Let’s remember the job we have as a local church to sharpen each other. As we give to help our local church programs, may we experience and show God’s unrelenting love.

—North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Young Adult Mission Trip in Peru!

Maranatha Volunteers International invites young adults, ages 18-28, to join Catalyst, a service experience for their age group. Build a church for the Calapuja Adventist Church, operate medical clinics, and lead VBS programs. Learn more at Maranatha.org/volunteer or call 916-774-7700. 

ZOOM IN! Summer Camp 2026

 ZOOM IN! to God’s Amazing World at The Crayon Box Summer Camp, running June 1–August 20, 2026. Children entering Kindergarten through age 12 will enjoy a summer filled with nature, science, creativity, teamwork, and play as they explore how God’s hand is at work all around them. Each themed week encourages campers to notice the small wonders, big ideas, and amazing details of God’s creation. Located on the beautiful campus of Andrews University, The Crayon Box offers a safe, joyful, faith-centered place for children to spend their summer vacation with on-campus adventures, campus field trips, and visits from zoo and wildlife educators. Enrollment is open now at andrews.edu/services/crayonbox/summercamp. Space is limited. Forms are due May 18, 2026.