Pioneer Women's Ministries invites you to share in the joy of the season by registering for this year's Advent devotionals, "Why Did Jesus Come? Going beyond John 3:16." Join us as we dig deeper into God's amazing love, care, and deep desire to spend eternity with us. Devotionals will be sent daily December 1-25, 2024. You can receive a brief synopsis of each day's devotional by text and the full devotional by email by texting the word ADVENT to 269.281.2345. We look forward to sharing this blessed season with you.
Gone Fishin'
Part 3
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
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Program:
As We Begin
Praise to the Lord • Johann Walther | Worship Suite (Isaiah 12): Praise the Lord • Kenneth Logan
Praise
I Will Lift up Your Name • Sweet Sweet Spirit • Still
Prayer
Robert Machado
GO Projects Report
Rodlie Ortiz
Baby Dedication
Eleana Chen Meng presented by Adam & Beverly Brown with José Bourget
Tithes & Offerings
Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy • Traditional American Melody
Children's Story
Gabriel Palacios
Bible Reading
Matthew 13:47-50 NIV
Worship in Music
With a Voice of Singing • Martin Shaw
Sermon
"Gone Fishin'"—3 • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card
I Will Make You Fishers of Men
Benediction
I Will Trust
As We Depart
Fantasie • Johann Sebastian Bach
"Gone Fishin'"—3
www.newperceptions.tv
- A fishing story
- Matthew 13:47-51
- The Big Fisherman to the little fishermen: “You must learn this lesson: you do the —I do the .”
- Three points
- Point #1—When the Gospel Net is let down it catches all of fish.
- Point #2—The fish (people) get separated at the the world.
- Point #3—The ones who do the sorting at the end of the world (in the Great Judgement) are the , not the .
- “Don’t be afraid—from now on you will fish for .” (Luke 5:10)
- Three anxiety relievers
- Anxiety Reliever #1—I don’t have to decide who gets “netted” for .
- Anxiety Reliever #2—I don’t have to decide who gets “netted” for .
- Anxiety Reliever #3—Because I don’t have to do the —all I need to do is the .
Jim Cymbala: “Christians often hesitate to reach out to those who are . They want God to clean the fish before they catch them. If someone’s gold ring is attached to an unusual body part, if the person doesn’t smell the best, or if the skin color is not the same, Christians tend to hesitate. But think for a moment about God reaching out to us. If ever there was a “reach,” that was it: the holy, pure Deity extending himself to us who were soiled, evil-hearted, unholy. God could have said, ‘You’re so different from me, so distasteful, I would really rather not get too close to you.’ But he didn’t say that. It was our very that drew his hand of love.” (Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire: What Happens When God’s Spirit Invades the Hearts of His People 141)
- Ellen White: “[Christ] has not committed to us the work of judging character and motive. He knows our nature too well to entrust this work to us. Should we try to uproot from the church those whom we suppose to be spurious Christians, we should be sure to make mistakes. Often we regard as hopeless subjects the very ones whom Christ is drawing to Himself.” (Christ’s Object Lessons 71)
- How to fish for people
- Ask God at the beginning of every day to lead you to someone who needs what can offer.
- Ask God to help you make an to someone.
- “The Big Day” (September)
- “Unlocking Revelation (October)
- “God’s Boot Camp” (October)
- Ask God every morning to be at work in the lives of people you know who need Jesus.
- A story: “This is the smell of the world I died for.”
We do the fishing—He does the sorting
2024 Advent Devotionals
Fellowship Dinner
Following the second worship service, there will not be a fellowship dinner this Sabbath.
Offering for November 23, 2024
Michigan Advance Partners
“Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”(Exodus 40:34) Years ago, members of Metropolitan Church in Plymouth, Michigan, decided to build a “tabernacle” to praise His holy name!
Unfortunate things happen on this side of eternity – sometimes to earthly tabernacles. Regrettably, water dripping from a leaking roof drenched the carpeting in various parts of the church building. This prompted the church to initiate a fundraising campaign for the repairs and updating of the church interior. Simultaneously, an indoor pipe burst, producing serious flooding to the entire interior, which caused the immediate need for major repair of the entire church interior.
Given the serious water damage, the Church Board requested financial assistance from the Michigan Conference MAP Department. It was inspiring to witness firsthand the benefits of the monthly, sacrificial giving to MAP by the members of the Michigan Conference. The church was granted $8,536.50, which was used to defray part of the large expense of roof repair. Michigan Advance Partnership is integral to sustaining our churches in Michigan. True to its name, it does act as a Partner when one of the churches requires assistance. Funds used to assist the churches are generated through generous donations by members of all Michigan churches during a special appeal made every last Sabbath of every month. Therefore, when you contribute – you are MAP.
The Book of Exodus records; “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do, and the people were restrained from bringing more . . . “(Ex. 36:5-7) Thank you for your faithful support of MAP and all of our sister churches.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Women and Friends Outdoors Group— Walk With Us!
Would you enjoy meeting sister outdoors-people? Group membership is for women but members are welcome to bring along friends or family members on the hikes. We welcome people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. No experience needed. During the winter we will hike once a month.
The Crayon Box Annual Christmas Concert
All are invited to our annual program, "Joy to the World," as our children (ages 0–12) celebrate everything that makes this joyful holiday season: Thanksgiving, Winter, Christmas and New Year's! Following the concert, a donation will be collected for our center. "Joy to the World" will be held in the Howard Performing Arts Center.
"Reminiscence" Voice Recital
Come and enjoy music performed by Raleigh Pettey, baritone, and Jonathan Clough, pianist—an evening celebrating God's gift of music through singing.
Grow Groups Ministry Meeting
On Sabbath, November 23, at 3:30 PM in the PMC Commons, there will be an organizing and planning meeting for Grow Group leaders and for those who are interested in small group ministry.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
We invite you to take part in the Feed the Need, Pioneer’s annual Thanksgiving food collection coordinated by the Evergreen Pathfinder club. The club dropped bags in the community last weekend. They will return to pick them up on November 17.
You can also bring your donation of non-perishable food to church on Sabbath November 23. As part of "A Feast of Hymns" Pathfinders will collect the food bags during the Procession of Thanksgiving.
If you know of a family in the area who needs food this upcoming holiday season call Pioneer at 269.471.6565 to submit their name to receive a food bag/box.
10th Annual 'We Sing' Voice Vespers: A Tribute to Hale & Wilder
Join the AU Department of Music voice students for their annual 'We Sing' Voice Vespers. This year marks the 10th year and features a tribute to the iconic singing duo 'Hale & Wilder'. Robert Hale and Dean Wilder sang over 4,000 sacred concerts. The voice
students and special guests will present selections from their repertoire. Marcelo Martins joins as a guest accompanist.
Dinosaur Encounter
Dinosaur Encounter is coming to Berrien Springs High School on December 7, 2024. Reserve your tickets at dinoencounter.com/pmc
