How to Survive the Coming Economic Crisis

He Is Risen–Breaking the Chains of Financial Bondage

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 20, 2019
Program: 
Praise
Christ Is Risen • Because He Lives • Worthy Is the Lamb/Agnus Dei
Prayer
Rodlie Ortiz
Children’s Story
On an American Spiritual [WereYou There?] • David Holsinger
Worship in Music
Wondrous Love • Donald Grantham
Processional of Hope
Dwight & Karen Nelson
Hymn of Hope
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today • 166
Homily
"He Is Risen: Breaking the Chains of Financial Bondage"
Dwight K. Nelson
Commitment Card, Tithes & Offerings
He Lives • 251

More In This Series

"How to Survive the Coming Economic Crisis:
He Is Risen—Breaking the Chains of Financial Bondage"

www.newperceptions.tv

» The Story

• Luke 24:1-8

» The Stats

• At the end of last year million Americans had a credit card(s).

• The average credit-card debt per borrower is $—up about 7.5 percent from 2015.

• If you paid only the minimum payments on a $5000 credit card debt, you would be in debt for more than years and end up paying $ in interest based on national averages.

• According to a NerdWallet study, the average American household has more than $ in credit card debt.

• Millennials (18-34) carry around $ in debt (student loans, credit cards, mortgages).

• Total student debt now exceeds $ .

• Thus % of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck.

• More than have less than $1000 reserved for emergency purposes.

• According to USA Today some million Americans—or 16% of the adults—think they will miss at least one credit card due date in 2019.

www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/02/27/student-loan-debt-4-things-keep-...) (www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2019/03/12/national-debt-ri...) (www.investopedia.com/investing/early-warning-signs-next-financial-crisis/)

» The Scripture

• "'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of , be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" (Luke 24:8)

• Isaiah 53:6—"And the LORD has laid on Him the of us all."

• 2 Corinthians 5:21—"God made Him who had no sin to be for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

• He died a Debtor, so that we might live free.

• 2 Corinthians 8:9—"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was , yet for your sake He became , so that you through His poverty might become ."

» The Steps

• Jesus: "Seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

• #1—Perform what Dave Ramsey calls a " ."

www.thriventcu.com offers this practical counsel: (1) Do not use debt (credit cards) to buy short-term consumer goods, such as clothing, entertainment or electronics; (2) avoid debt over items with a short life span and little resale value; and (3) avoid debt which comes with a very high interest rate.

• Dave Ramsey: "There is NO positive side to credit card use. You will spend more if you use credit cards instead of cash. If you 'have to' use plastic, I suggest a debit card. I use them for travel and the occasional convenience of ordering something over the Internet or phone. Other than that, I use ." (www.daveramsey.com)

• #2—Always pay more than the .

• #3—Pay off your credit cards beginning with the lowest in order to experience success as soon as possible.

• #4—Reduce the rate.

• #5—Beware of debt settlement companies.

• #6— to somebody.

• James Scurlock: "Maybe it’s because of what Dave Ramsey calls the intense that everybody feels about debt—the false certainty that everyone else has got it together. Or maybe it's what Bob, the Debtors Anonymous member I interviewed, told me: debt is simply not a socially acceptable topic; one can talk about one's sex life or even one's drug addiction as though it were fashionable, but owning up to one's financial troubles means being ostracized from the world of polite conversation." (Maxed Out 123)

• National Foundation for Credit Counseling (800-388-2227)

• #7—When you make God . . . He will make it .

• Malachi 3:10-12

Make God First

(Flyer, TV, Google search, name of person who invited you, etc.)
Offering for January 4, 2025

Pioneer Operating Budget

The first Sabbath of the New Year is an opportunity to press the reset button of our lives, goals, and relationship with God.

If you keep a prayer journal, take it out sometime today and reflect on how God has led in your life and your family’s life. During this self-evaluation, ask God what changes you need to make for the coming year. Then pray for the Holy Spirit to give you strength to transform each area of your life that needs a fix. Jesus emphasized the great principle of life when He said, “But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33, NKJV).

The key word is FIRST. Many people seek the kingdom of God, but they allow the cares of this life to dominate and consume them so they don’t have anything left to give to God. Let’s put Christ and His kingdom first. Jesus didn’t say not to ask for other things such as happiness, security, success, or even money.

When God comes first, He will reorder our lives and show His power by blessing us in all ways according to His purpose. Sometimes He may even bless us through trials. Let’s ask God to empty us of self and fill us with the Holy Spirit each day of this year so we can do what He wants us to. North American Division Stewardship Ministries 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Pioneer 2024 Contribution Statements

Contribution Statements for 2024 will be emailed to you toward the end of January 2025. Please ensure that your email address is current. Should you have any questions regarding your email, please contact the church office. If you require a paper copy of your statement, please notify claudia.sowler@pmchurch.org.

AdventistGiving Online (AGO) Contributions

 Your faithfulness is very much appreciated. To ensure that your donations are properly credited to your account, when contributing through Adventist Giving, please log in under your name, instead of contributing as a "Guest."

Spanish Sabbath School Class

 Sabbath School is the perfect setting to rediscover the power of Bible study and prayer. In one of the most diverse campuses in the nation, we aspire to allow all our church members, students, and guests to study and learn in their language. To further this, we are establishing the Spanish Sabbath School Class so all our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters can join us in learning together in our weekly Sabbath School. With that, please grab your Spanish sabbath school lesson and join us starting Sabbath, January 4, 2025.

Something in Common Sabbath School

Something in Common Sabbath School presents "Marriage Oneness" by Tim Lundy and Robert Lewis

  • December 28 - Sexual Intimacy and Marriage Oneness
  • January 4 - Roles, Responsibilities and Marriage Oneness
  • January 11 - Family, Friends and Marriage Oneness

Everyone is welcome each Sabbath at 10:30-11:30 in Pioneer Room 141.

Care for Cuba

A group of students from Andrews University are preparing to embark on a life-changing mission in March of 2025. They will engage in evangelism, health care, and community outreach in Cuba. This mission trip has been going on for 11 years, and the impact has been tremendous, thanks to your help. Would you support this mission once again by donating right here in your church or give at www.careforcuba.org/donate? Thank you for your prayers as they prepare to send off students to serve and share Jesus!