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, December 03, 2016
Program: 
As We Begin
On This Day Earth Shall Sing • Gustav Holst / Smith
Praise
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing • st. 1 & 3 of 122 / O Come, All Ye Faithful • st. 1 & 2 of 132 / Silent Night • st. 1 & 4 of 143 / Joy to the World • all st. of 125 / I Will Exalt You
Prayer
José Bourget
"Go!"
Rodlie Ortiz
Tithes & Offerings
Joy to the World • Daniel Kallman
Children's Story
Michael Bryson
Bible Reading
2 Corinthians 1:18-20 NIV
Worship in Music
What Child Is This? • Alfred Reed
Sermon
#RxF4Now: “Jolly Old St Nicholas Goes to Bethlehem” • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card
What Child Is This? • 141
As We Depart
Symphonic Prelude on Adeste Fideles • Claude Smith

“Jolly Old St Nicholas Goes to Bethlehem”

www.newperceptions.tv

 

  • Proverbs’ One Prayer
    • Proverbs 30:8—“O Lord, give me neither nor ,  but give me only my .”
    • A Christmas prayer asking God to keep me in because (v 9):
      • The great danger in wealth is that it tends to make us feel of God. (Psalm 73:12; Job 21:13-15)
      • The great danger in poverty is that it tends to make us feel   by God. (Isaiah 8:21)
      • “O God—give me neither poverty nor riches—but give me only my daily bread.”
  • Joshua Becker, The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own” (Loc 199-213):
    • www.becomingminimalist.com
    • In the US we now consume as many material goods as we did 50 years ago.
    • Over the same period the size of the average American home has nearly tripled and today contains about items.
    • On average our homes contain more than people.
    • The US Department of Energy reports that due to clutter, % of people with two-car garages don’t have room to park cars inside, and another % have room for only one vehicle.
    • One out of 10 American households rents off-site —the fastest growing segment of the commercial real estate industry over the past four decades.
    • The average household’s credit card debt stands at over $, while the average mortgage debt is over $.  
    • Will Rogers: “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned to buy things they don’t want to impress people they don’t like.”
       
  • “My daily bread”:
    • Born in a village whose name meant “House of ”(Beth-lehem).
    • A fitting birthplace for Him who one day would teach us to pray: “Our Father who is in Heaven, give us this day our daily .” (Matthew 6:11)
    • A fitting prayer from Him who one day would declare: “I am the of Life—whoever comes to Me will never go hungry.” (John 6:35)
       
  • God’s One Promise
    • 2 Corinthians 1:20—YES! and AMEN!
      • Psalm 33:6, 9
      • Isaiah 55:11
      • John 6:63
    • Jesus: “Give and it will be given to you—pressed down, shaken together and running over!” (Luke 6:38)
      • AMEN!
      • Joshua Becker, The More of Less: “It’s true that the less we , the more we can . But what if the inverse is also true? What if the more we give away, the less we need? In other words, what if   leads to contentment?”
    • God: “Bring the whole tithe into My storehouse and test Me and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10)
      • AMEN!
      • Tweet: “The antidote 2 Black Friday is 4 words long. Memorize them—you’ll have no problem driving past a shopping mall 2day: “I don’t need it.” (@DwightKNelson)

 

“Give me Jesus”

 

 

Offering for April 26, 2025

Michigan Advance Partners

Author Melvin Santos Speaking: When I was little boy, I was asked to help collect the offerings with the adult deacons and deaconesses. I wondered how we would get the money to God. My young innocent mind was trying to process this dilemma. Is there a special place we deposit the money and God sends His angels to pick it up later? Then I learned that the church represents the body of Christ on earth. So, when we give to the church, we really give it to God by faith.

God doesn’t need our money to do His work on earth. He owns the universe and galaxies. But He allows us to partner with Him so He can bless us, make us the funnel to bless others, and grow His kingdom. God’s systematic giving plan enables us to develop His character. Our great opportunity is to join heavenly agencies in the great plan of redemption.

“We cannot enrich Him with our gifts. Says the Psalmist: ‘All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.’ Yet God permits us to show our appreciation of His mercies by self-sacrificing efforts to extend the same to others. This is the only way in which it’s possible for us to manifest our gratitude and love to God. He has provided no other.” (Counsels on Stewardship, p.18).

Today, let’s be the blessing that blesses others. North American Division Stewardship Ministries 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Music Camp at Pioneer!

The Institute of Young Musicians for Christ is excited to be having a music camp at Pioneer Memorial Church! At our music camps young people ages 6-17 are offered an immersive, week-long musical experience. Our quality musical training—combined with fun, friends, and faith-building encounters— provides a truly incredible opportunity. The camp offers tracks for children 6-12 with or without musical experience and a track for teenagers with significant musical experience. To learn more and register, visit iymcsda.org/michigan. We hope to see you there!

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/.