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, January 06, 2018
Program: 
Praise
Days of Elijah • Open the Eyes of My Heart • Power of Your Love
Prayer
José Bourget
Adopt a Student / GROW Groups
José Bourget
Children's Story
Prelude • Edvard Grieg / B. McBrien
Dwight K. Nelson
Worship in Music
What Wondrous Love Is This?
Kenneth Logan, piano
Sermon
"Bring Your Heart to Life"
Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card, Tithes & Offerings
Holy Spirit, Gracious Guest • 589

"Bring Your Heart to Life"
www.newperceptions.tv

  • The Dream
  • The Promise
    • Romans 5:5—God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
    • Christian Wiman: "In any true love—a mother's for her child, a husband's for his wife, a friend's for a friend—there is an excess energy that always wants to be in motion. Moreover, it seems to move not simply from one person to another but through them, toward something else. . . . This is why we can be so baffled and overwhelmed by such love (and I don't mean merely when we fall in love; in fact, I'm talking more of other, more durable relationships): it wants to be more than it is; it cries out inside of us to make it more than it is. And what it is crying out for, finally, is its essence and origin: God. Love, which awakens our souls and to which we cling like the splendid mortal creatures that we are, asks us to let it go, to let it be more than it is if it is only us. To manage this highest form of loving does not mean that we will be showered with earthly delights or somehow be spared awful human suffering. But for as long as we can live in this sacred space of receiving and releasing, and can learn to speak and be love's fluency, then the greater love that is God brings a continuous and enlarging air into our existence." (My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer 23-24)
    • Spence Reece: "All I know now / is the more he loved me the more I loved the world." (23)
    • Philip Yancey:  "When she enters a room Susan assumes that, bidden or not, God is already present. 'We love because he first loved us,' she says, quoting John, 'and I picture God pouring his pitcher into me so that I can pour out to others, and then be replenished with God's love. I enter with a smile, feeling privileged to share the sacred ground on which someone clings to life. If I forget that God goes ahead of me, and think instead that I am bringing God into the room, I can have an air of smugness. I feel pressure to say the right thing, try to impress the patient and staff—in short, I take myself too seriously. I need the constant reminder that God precedes me in that room, and that the person in the bed has a story I can learn from." (Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News? 66-67)
    • "What is a saint? I like Reynolds Price's definition: someone who, however flawed, 'leads us by example, almost never by words, to imagine the hardest thing of all: the seamless love of God for all creation, including ourselves.'" (Yancey 71)
    • Duncan Hamilton: "Amid the myriad moral dilemmas in Weihsien, [Eric] Liddell's forbearance was remarkable. No one could ever recall a single act of envy, pettiness, hubris, or self-aggrandizement from him. He bad-mouthed nobody. He didn't bicker. He lived daily by the most unselfish credo, which was to help others practically and emotionally. Liddell became the camp's conscience without ever being pious, sanctimonious, or judgmental. He forced his religion on no one. He didn't expect others to share his beliefs, let alone live up to them. . . . 'You came away from his meetings as if you'd been given a dose of goodness,' said a member of the camp congregation. 'Everyone regarded him as a friend,' said another, giving voice to that unanimous verdict." (For the Glory: The Untold and Inspiring Story of Eric Liddell, Hero of Chariots of Fire 8-9)
  • The Strategy
    • #1—Ask to be filled (in the morning).
      • Ellen White: "Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless love." (Steps to Christ 94)
      • Romans 5:8—"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us."
      • Picture the cross in your mind, kneel there, ask to be filled with God's love.
      • www.steps-to-personal-revival.info
    • #2—Ask to be unfilled (through the day).
      • Next Steps on your Connect Card

"Ask to be filled—and then unfilled"

 

(Flyer, TV, Google search, name of person who invited you, etc.)
This New Year I would like to pour out the love God pours in by:
DHAMAKA: SASA Cultural Night

Join SASA for an unforgettable South Asian Cultural Night at Andrews University! Experience the vibrant traditions, music, and artistry of South Asia through an evening filled with energetic dance performances, soulful singing, and a stunning fashion show showcasing traditional attire from various South Asian countries. Time and Location April 12, 2025 8:30 PM Buller Hall Auditorium Tickets Club members: $5 Non-members/Community: $7 Pick up tickets and purchase at door for entry

Water Wonderful World Book Signing

Join author Joseth Howell for an exciting evening of conversation and signing of her book, Water Wonderful World, on Tuesday, April 15 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the James White Library Gallery. The event will also feature a special kids' segment and prizes.

Paradise Promised: A Choir Concert by Andrews University Singers &Chorale

This Saturday night April 5 at 8:30 PM in the Howard Performing Arts Center, the choirs of the Andrews University Department of Music present “Paradise Promised” featuring the Andrews University Singers and Chorale in collaboration with musicians from the Andrews University Symphony Orchestra. Through masterfully composed repertoire, nature and mankind express praise and gratitude for God’s creation and provision for His plan of salvation. Included in the program is “Tree of Peace” by Gwyneth Walker, “Gloria Dios” by Ariel Ramirez, “A New Jerusalem Arise” by Kyle Pederson, “Sinner, Don’t Let the Harvest Pass You By” by Richard Shaffer, and “Christ lag in Todesbanden” (Christ lay in death’s bonds) by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach’s moving piece by rejoices in Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb assuring our salvation!  A special feature of the concert is the performance of “We Must Tell”, a world premier by University Chorale member and composer, Jaelah Simons. Admission: $7 / $5 For more information visit https://howard.andrews.edu/events/

Offering for April 5, 2025

Pioneer Operating Budget

Researchers estimate that there are 10 quadrillion ants on earth. Ants live in colonies and are very industrious with various tasks. Everything they do is for the sake of the “queen” ant. It’s been noted that an ant is helpless without its colony, but when ants work as a team, they are practically unstoppable.

The verse in Psalm 8 humbles me, “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:4, NKJV)

Why is God the Creator so mindful of us human beings? Of all His creatures, God has uniquely lavished His love on us by sacrificing His Son to redeem us. On top of that, He invites us to join Him in the grand purpose of saving humankind.

If we insist on doing our own thing, we are no better than the anonymous ant, just struggling ineffectively to store enough food for the next winter. But when we make God’s interests our interest, His plans as our plans, and return our tithes and offerings, we honor Him and acknowledge Him as our Redeemer, and, like the many ants working together, we take our place in the eternal plan of salvation. 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

MORE than MORE+ Discipleship Experience
Pioneer Commons

What we experienced at the MORE+ Conference was a wonderful start. Reformation/Discipleship is the indispensable follow up to any such revival experience.
Come and fan the flames of revival.

On Wednesday, April 16 we begin a 7-Session Discipleship Journey using an interactive curriculum created with Pastor Don MacLafferty, participants will experience seven principles of discipleship in fresh ways.

Register by April 11

Pentecost 2025
Pioneer Memorial Church

We invite you to join us at Pioneer for an in-person evangelism training event from Friday, April 4, to Saturday, April 5. This is open to all Seventh-day Adventist churches in the North American Division. We encourage every member—pastors, teachers, young adults, and students—to participate. The event will feature keynote speaker Mark Finley. Additionally, there will be breakout sessions available in both English and Spanish. The King's Heralds will provide music during the Friday evening service, both Sabbath worship services, Sabbath afternoon, and the evening concert. Don’t miss this opportunity to be equipped and inspired for impactful evangelistic ministry as you prepare for Pentecost 2025!

Register

Lebanon Mission Vespers
Pioneer Youth Chapel

Our Pioneer Youth Missions team has just returned from Beirut, Lebanon. Come to the mission vespers at 6:00 PM on Sabbath, April 5, to hear the testimonies, see the pictures and be inspired by what God is doing in the Middle East.

Easter Devotionals

Pioneer Women's Ministries invites you to join us for 10 days of devotionals leading up to Easter (April 11-20). Together, we will consider what various individuals present at Christ's arrest, trial, and crucifixion might have thought and experienced. If you would like to receive daily text teasers and emails with the full devotional insights, please text the word "CROSS" to 269.281.2345.

Help Us Connect by Sharing Your Sabbath School Details

We are creating a master list of all Pioneer Sabbath schools. If you are a teacher/coordinator of a Sabbath School class that meets outside the sanctuary, please email your name, class location and meeting time to Melchizedek Ponniah at melponniah@gmail.com

Lamson Hall Upgrades with Maranatha

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/.

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