Roommates, Bad Dates, and Soul Mates

Roommates, Bad Dates, & Soulmates-Part 1

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, August 31, 2019
Program: 
Opening Music
Amazing Grace • Kenneth Logan
Choral Reflection
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart • Patrick Hawes
Songs of Praise
Better Is One Day • Your Name • Agnus Dei • In Christ Alone
Prayer
Rodlie Ortiz
Pioneer Life
GROW Groups
Children's Story
What a Friend We Have in Jesus • Robert Hobby & Kenneth Logan
Worship in Music
Hold On • Spiritual / John Tebay
Homily
"Roommates, Bad Dates & Soul Mates—1"
Dwight K. Nelson with Rebecca Puii Fanai, Alexander Hales, and William Dos Reis
Connect Card, Tithes & Offerings
Pioneer Operating Budget
Prayer of Commitment
The Lord's Prayer • Albert Hay Malotte
Benediction
Closing Music
Be My Vision • Traditional Irish

“Roommates, Bad Dates and Soul Mates”—1
www.newperceptions.tv

» Keep this in mind . . .

• Harry Nilsson—“One is the loneliest number . . .”

• Varun Soni, USC vice-provost: “What I have noticed in my work with students is that many of them face the same hidden root challenge: loneliness. . . . I never got the question in my first five years at USC that I now get almost daily from students: ‘How do I make friends?’” (www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-soni-campus-stufent-loneliness-20190...)

• US News & World Report—a study last year of 20,000 U.S. adults “found that nearly half felt lonely at least sometime. And only 53% said they had meaningful face-to-face interactions every day.”
(www.usnews.com/news/health-news/2019-03-11 ...)

• God: “‘It is not good for the man [Adam] to be alone; I will make a companion who can help him [Eve].’” (Genesis 2:18)

• Norway survey of 15,000 people discovered:

– For those 18-29—what matters in relationships is quantity (how many friends do I have?).

– But for those 30-64—what matters in relationships is quality (how deep are my friendships?). (www.greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_loneliness_changes_across_...)

• Stephen Johnson—ask these questions to find out if you have the relationships you need:

–  Do you have at least one person nearby whom you can call on in times of personal distress?

–  Do you have several people whom you can visit with little advance warning without apology?

–  Do you have several people with whom you can share recreational activities?

–  Do you have people who will lend you money if you need it, or those who will care for you in practical ways if the need arises? (In Friendship Factor 24)

» 4 Secrets to Growing Friendships

• Friendship Secret #1—Less of and more of . (Unselfishness)

– Jennifer Schwirzer: “We have all done it, and we have all suffered when others have done it. The monologuist fails to hold an actual conversation. They seem to thrive on the sound of their own voice.” (13 Weeks to Love 56)

• Alan McGuinnis: Ask yourself—

– Do we usually end up going to the restaurant or watch the movie I prefer?

– Do I enjoy correcting factual errors in other people’s conversations?

– Do I use humor to put down my friends?

– Do I have to know more about a topic than others to feel comfortable discussing it?(Friendship Factor 63)

– 1 Corinthians 13:5—“Love is not -seeking.”

• Friendship Secret #2—Let’s ! (Communication)

–  Les and Leslie Parrott (in their book), observe: “Consider this fact: Men say three times as many words in public as they do in private, while women say three times as many words in private as they do in public.” (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts 108)

–  Alan McGinnis: “There can be no intimacy without .” (Friendship Factor 105)

–  Luke 24:15—“[Cleopas and his friend] talked and discussed these things with .”

• Friendship Secret #3—Quit keeping . (Gift of a Good Forgetter)

–  Jacques Vaudre: “Keeping score belongs in competitive sports, not in a mutually supportive relationship. . . . The idea that love involves some sort of quid pro quo, is, at best, evidence of immaturity that needs to be outgrown. At worst, it is a distortion of love that turns two people into unhappy combatants vying for control.” (Six Dynamic Keys 120)

–  Matthew 6:12 NIV—“And forgive us our debts as we also [GK already forgiven our debtors.”

• Friendship Secret #4—I’m willing to so you can . (Self-sacrifice)

– The sacrificial love of a mother for her child

– John 15:13—“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s .”

 

Best Friends Forever

 

Offering for July 12, 2025

World Budget – Digital Strategy for Mission

We thank God for the growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church since Global Mission began some three decades ago. We’ve reached many new people groups and entered new countries. We’ve planted thousands of new churches. We’ve seen literally millions of people find hope and salvation in Jesus.

Of course, many mission challenges remain. But that’s nothing new! When the good news about Jesus spread from Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago, it happened because the disciples came together and prayed together. Then the Holy Spirit gave power to those gathered in the upper room and they responded to God by saying, “I will go.”

Today, the Adventist church is supporting hundreds of missionaries around the world, who face many obstacles to preach the gospel. How do we even begin to reach people who don’t believe in God and have never seen a Bible? How do you begin to reach people who are rich and increased with goods and feel they have need of nothing? Or preach to people who live in refugee camps in very poor conditions?

In the face of such huge mission challenges, some see walls, but we see opportunities. Many see a lack of funds, but we see the Source of all funds. Many see our weakness, but we see His strength. God is inviting you to participate with Him in His mission of salvation here on earth.

Who is willing to support our global outreach with your special offering? Better yet, who will say, “I will go?” 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

VBS at Niles Westside Church

Keepers of the Kingdom - Standing Strong in Today's Battle for Truth. July 14-18, from 9 - 11:45 AM at Niles Westside Adventist Church (1105 Grant St, Niles) for kids in Pre-K (age 4) - 6th grade. Please register early online at www.nileswestside.org. Email nileswestsidevbs@gmail.com or call 269-683-5998 with questions.