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The Last Letter

Reading Between the Lines

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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, February 09, 2019
Program: 
Praise
Praise Him! Praise Him! • To You We Sing • It Is Well (Oh My Soul) • Came to My Rescue
Prayer
Nancy Kardos-Moldavan
Children's Offertory
Poem of Divine Love • Kenneth Logan
Kenneth Logan
Worship in Music
None Other Lamb • Kenneth Logan
Charles Reid, tenor
Sermon
"The Last Letter: Reading Between the Lines"
Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card, Tithes & Offerings
O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go • 76

More In This Series

03/23/2019
Game of Thrones, Crown of Thorns-2
03/16/2019
Game of Thrones, Crown of Thorns-1
03/02/2019
Home Alone 19
02/16/2019
"Happy Birthday Pioneer–Did You Get My Letter?"
01/26/2019
Wretched (Last Letter for America)
01/19/2019
Vomit (Last Letter for Adventists)
01/12/2019
Read It Again for the First Time
All Sermons
Print Download

"The Last Letter: Reading Between the Lines"
www.newperceptions.tv

  • Laodicea
    • Oswald Chambers: "We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves—it is the last conceit to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in spiritual life is ." (My Utmost for His Highest 12)
    • Ellen White: "God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude. . . . The is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven; while pride, selfishness, and covetousness too often go unrebuked. But these are sins that are  offensive to God; for they are contrary to the benevolence of His character, to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe. He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ; but  feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give." (Steps to Christ 30)
    • Sigve Tonstad: "The Laodicean community revels in a sense of wholeness, ensconced within an all-around edifice of accomplishment. The community has no sense of need. We should assume that the community is too sophisticated to say openly the things attributed to it, but it is capable of behaving in ways that convey the attitude described. The message to the community is the keenest statement of how difficult it is to see the discrepancy between self-representation and ."
    • Isaiah 55:1—"'Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no , come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without  and without cost.'"
  • Jesus and Laodicea
    • Three priceless gifts:
      • Gift #1—"I counsel you to buy from Me ."
        • 1 Peter 1:7—". . . that the genuineness of your , being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
        • Hebrews 2:13—"I will put my  in Him."
        • Revelation 14:12—"Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of ."
      • Gift #2—"I counsel you to buy from Me ."
        • Isaiah 61:10—"I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a  of righteousness."
        • Isaiah 64:6—"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags."
        • Desire of Ages: "Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. ‘With His stripes we are healed.'" (25)
      • Gift #3—"I counsel you to buy from Me .
        • Ephesians 1:18—"I pray that the eyes of your  may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you."
        • 2 Corinthians 4:6—"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers. . . . [But] God made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of ."
    • One persistent truth:
      • Jesus became all we Laodiceans are, so He could give us all we Laodiceans need.
      • And what do we need most of all?

We need Jesus

Offering for February 14, 2026

Adventist Television Ministries Evangelism

The Bible records different methods of spreading the gospel, and in today’s society, media plays a vital role in fulfilling that mission. For many years, the North American Division has partnered with life-changing ministries such as It Is Written, Voice of Prophecy, Breath of Life, Faith for Today, La Voz de la Esperanza, Jesus 101, and LifeTalk Radio. These ministries cast the net far and wide, reaching people who might never set foot in a church. Many of the souls they touch become interested leads for local churches to nurture and bring to Christ.

Jesus illustrated this principle in Matthew 13:47-48 (NIV), “The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore.” Adventist Television Ministries are modern-day fishers of men, casting the gospel net into cities, homes, and even the “concrete jungles” where traditional methods may not reach. Ellen White emphasized this work over a century ago, “Again and again I am instructed to present to our churches the work that should be done in our large cities. There is a great work to be done, not only where we have churches already established, but also in places where the truth has never been fully presented.” (Evangelism, p. 32). Brothers and sisters, we are all called to be fishers of men. Today, through our offerings, we can support Adventist Television Ministries as they continue to spread God’s message of salvation. Let’s give generously.  

—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. 

Andrews Symphony Fundraising Concert

Thursday February 19 at 7:30 PM, the AUSO will be giving a free performance of movie soundtracks and broadway tunes to raise funds for their music tour to California this coming March. This short performance is kid's friendly and promises to be an exceptional evening of great music. Bring your cellphone!

Academy Day March 3

All eighth-grade students are invited to attend Academy Day on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Come and see the exciting programs Andrews Academy offers and experience one day with us. While there, you will worship together, go to several classes, and participate in some games and activities. Lunch will be served, and T-shirts and prizes will be given. Registration begins in the gym at 7:30 AM, the full day of activities will begin at 8:00 am and will conclude by 3:15 PM. Call 269-471-3138 to RSVP or with any questions you may have. (Eighth graders in NAS, RMES, VAES, and Eau Claire SDA schools are already preregistered). Drop off/pick up is either in the circle drive or in the parking lot (8833 Garland Ave, Berrien Springs).

With This in Mind...

 At some point, we all worry about the future because we want answers and a sense of control. Yet the future is beyond our control, which can lead to anxiety and a loss of peace. Occasional anxiety is normal, but persistent fear of the unknown can disrupt daily life. Because anxiety develops through complex neuropsychological processes, patience and compassion are essential. If you find yourself being anxious, keep in mind this gentle invitation for the Omniscient One, “Be anxious for nothing…let your requests be made known to God…” (Phil. 4:6–7). He promises peace.

Ruth Murdoch Elementary School Visitor's Day

Students who will be in the first through eighth grades next school year are invited to visit Ruth Murdoch Elementary School on March 3. Make friends, meet teachers and have fun! Grades 1–6: 8:15–11:30 AM; Grades 7–8: 8:15 AM–3:30 PM. Parents, please call 269-471-3225 to register. (A special Kindergarten Visitors' Day is being planned for April 8).

Sunday Music Series with Carla Trynchuk & Elena Braslavsky

 Violinist Carla Trynchuk and pianist Elena Braslavsky will be performing a recital including works by Beethoven, Debussy, and the Jewish Ukrainian composer Meitus.  Trynchuk, faculty at Andrews University, has performed internationally as soloist and recitalist in more than 15 countries.  Braslavsky, formerly a faculty member at The Juilliard School and the Mannes School of Music, currently serves on the piano faculty of the Mozarteum University of Salzburg.  Trynchuk and Braslavsky were classmates together at The Juilliard School. This will be a FREE recital on February 22, at 4:00 PM.

Something in Common Sabbath School

Resolving Everyday Conflict by the Peacemakers Ministries.  

  • January 31– Facing the flames of conflict
  • February 7- A new way of thinking
  • February 14- Go to higher ground
  • February 21-Get real about yourself
  • February 28- Accepting responsibility: Making an effective apology
  • March 7- Gently engage others
  • March 14- Get together
  • March 21- Overcome evil will good

Everyone is welcome in the PMC Commons Rooms each Sabbath morning from 10:30-11:30. 

Love on the Move

 God's Hands 4 Kids, a PMC Grow Group outreach to our community serving foster, adoptive, kinship and guardianship families partnering with Berrien County Department Of Health and Human Services. As a gift to the families served by them and as a gift to the community of ministry leaders and professionals, we will be providing Hope for the Journey, a video conference on Trust Based Relational Intervention - trauma,  on Sunday afternoons in February here at PMC. It is produced by Show Hope. For more information and to register go to our website GH4K.org

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.