The Story of Martin Luther and the New Reformation

"I, a Poor, Stinking Bag of Dung"

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, October 14, 2017
Program: 
Praise
Bless His Holy Name • Blessed Be the Name of the Lord Medley • Breathe
Prayer
Sharon Terrell
Tithes & Offerings
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God • Max Reger
PMC Operating Expense • Sharon Terrell
Children’s Story
Dwight K. Nelson
Worship in Music
Fortress Variations • Jay Bocook
Sermon
"'I, a Poor, Stinking Bag of Dung': The Story of Martin Luther and the New Reformation" • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less • 522
As We Depart
Crown Him With Many Crowns • James Swearingen

More In This Series

"The Story of Martin Luther and the New Reformation:
'I, a Poor, Stinking Bag of Dung'"

www.newperceptions.tv

  • 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
    • Roland Bainton: "The man who thus called upon a saint was later to repudiate the cult of the saints. He who vowed to become a monk was later to renounce monasticism. A loyal son of the Catholic Church, he was later to shatter the structure of medieval Catholicism. A devoted servant of the pope, he was later to identify the popes with Antichrist. For this young man was Martin Luther" (Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther 15).
  • 4 Takeaways/Legacies for the New Reformation
    • #1—Only .
      • Luther: "I was a good monk, and I kept the rule of my order so strictly that I may say that if ever a monk got to heaven by his monkery it was I. All my brothers in the monastery who knew me will bear me out. If I had kept on any longer, I should have killed myself with vigils, prayers, reading and other work." (Bainton 34).
      • James Kittelson: "Anfechtung was what Luther later called this grinding sense of being utterly lost. By it he intended the idea of swarming attacks of doubt that could convince people that God's love was not for them. Later he considered this sense of being irredeemably evil to be the work of Satan, who sought to make a Christian's sins, doubts, and anxieties too much even for the grace of God. At such moments just the rustling of dried leaves in a forest sounded like the legions of hell coming to seize one's soul.” (Luther the Reformer: The Story of the Man and His Career 56)
      • Derek Wilson: "Certainly Luther went through periods of black depression when he retreated into himself and spoke to no one. He never fully shrugged off this particular demon and to the end of his days would retire into a room by himself when problems weighed heavily upon him." (59)
      • Luther: "I greatly longed to understand Paul's Epistle to the Romans and nothing stood in the way but that one expression, 'the justice of God,' because I took it to mean that justice whereby God is just and deals justly in punishing the unjust. My situation was that, although an impeccable monk, I stood before God as a sinner troubled in conscience, and I had no confidence that my merit would assuage him. Therefore I did not love a just and angry God, but rather hated and murmured against him." (Bainton 49)
      • Luther: "Then [one day] I grasped that the justice of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. The whole Scripture took on a new meaning, and   . . . now it became to me inexpressibly sweet in greater love. This passage of Paul ['the just shall live by faith'] became to me a gate to heaven." (Bainton 49-50)
      • H. M. S. Richards once declared: "I have only one doctrine: I am a great —but I have a great ." And when asked “What is the Adventist message?" he replied, " only."
    • #2—Only .
      • Luther: "The wounds of Jesus are safe enough for us.” (Kittelson 99)
      • Ellen White: "The lower you lie at the foot of the cross, the dearer and more exalted will be your conception of your Redeemer." (Review and Herald 10-16-1888)
      • Ellen White: "The theme that attracts the heart of the sinner is Christ and Him crucified. On the cross of Calvary Jesus stands revealed to the world in unparalleled love." (Maranatha 99)
    • #3—Only .
      • Derek Wilson: "Within decades of Luther's death... all Europe was awash with Bibles in contemporary languages.... This was the richest part of Martin Luther's legacy. He bequeathed to the peoples of the world a collection of religious writings and invested them with supreme authority (or, as he would have said, recognized the supreme authority they manifestly possessed)."(363)
      • Luther: "God's word cannot be without God’s people, and God’s people cannot be without God’s word. . . . For it is the word of God which builds the Church. . . . [W]here that is heard, where baptism, the sacrament of the altar [the Lord’s Supper], and the forgiveness of sins are administered there hold fast and conclude most certainly that there is the house of God and that there is the gate of heaven." (Wilson 364)
      • Ellen White: "But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority—not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain 'Thus saith the Lord' in its support." (The Great Controversy 595)
    • #4—Only .
      • Proverbs 4:18
      • Ellen White: "The Reformation did not, as many suppose, end with Luther. It is to be continued to the close of this world's history. Luther had a great work to do in reflecting to others the light which God had permitted to shine upon him; yet he did not receive all the light which was to be given to the world. From that time to this, new light has been continually shining upon the Scriptures, and new truths have been constantly unfolding." (The Great Controversy 148-149)
      • John 16:12-13

"We are all beggars."

(Flyer, TV, Google search, name of person who invited you, etc.)
Howard Center Presents "Welcome Christmas: Peace on Earth"

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.

Christmas Banquet for Seniors Sunday, December 10

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.

Berrien Springs Garden Club Sawyer Home & Garden Center

Join the Berrien Springs Garden Club for a free tour of the spectacular Sawyer Home & Garden Center including their Farm Market! Sample new jams, have a hot chocolate, and take home a fresh holiday wreath! Sunday Dec. 3, 2023 3-5 PM 5865 Sawyer Rd Sawyer MI 49125 Meet us there, or carpool from Berrien Springs at 2:15 PM. Email mariannegardens@gmail.com by Nov 30th if you need a ride.

Clothing Donation Drive

The Social Sciences and Social Justice club is a department club on campus that is currently running a clothing drive this semester where we are collecting clothes from students, staff, and faculty on campus to create a pop-up thrift store in December for
a fundraiser. This fundraiser's profit will be going towards Phoenicia Finesse, a project in Lebanon that helps fund reusable napkins for women in need, as well as educating them on menstrual cycles. We currently have a drop-off box in the Campus Center as well as in the PMC lobby, so any donations are appreciated! The pop-up will be on December 3rd from 3-6 PM, so if you would like to donate, please come by!

Something in Common presents the Love and Respect video series with Dr. Emerson Eggerich

The Series continues each Sabbath through December 16. Come join us in PMC Room 141 each Sabbath morning from 10:30-11:30. Everyone is welcome on Sabbath mornings from 10:30-11:30 AM in Room 141

Renovate 2.0 Update #9

Have you tried the new elevator yet? It is complete and the glass door is installed. Many seniors and others with a need for transportation between floors are now able to reach the sanctuary and the lower level. What a blessing! Will you help us reach the goal of having it fully paid for by December of this year? We are over ¾ of the way there. See our temperature gauge in the lobby to see the weekly progress on the last quarter. We can make this happen! Please help pray for the completion of our Fundraising goal. As of 9/23/23, there is $770,105 that has been raised with $229,895 to reach our goal!

Horn Archaeological Museum Volunteer Positions

The Siegfried H. Horn Archaeological Museum is looking for volunteers to help open the museum to the community from 3-5 PM on Sabbath afternoons. If you are interested in Biblical history and how archaeology supports the Scripture, and you would like to share that with others, join our museum docent team. Please call the Assistant Curator at 269-471-6180 or email horncurator@andrews.edu for more information and ask for an application form.

Pray-ers Needed

Each Sabbath morning at both 1st and 2nd services, people gather in "The Prayer Room" to pray for the church service, the participants, the congregants (both in-house and online), and for the prayer requests submitted each week on the Connect Cards (anonymously; requestor names are not included). We participate in the congregational prayer and listen to the sermon on a monitor provided in The Prayer Room. We are in need of more volunteers for both services. You can set your own schedule - once a month, one month a quarter, two months a year, whatever works best for you! If you have a heart to pray for others or are simply looking for more information, please contact Deb Montcalm at greengables75@yahoo.com.

Wednesday Morning Prayer Meeting

Join our Wednesday gathering on Zoom as we share and pray together.

Register to Join

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