All Sermons

The Pugwash Factor:

How to Turn Mingle into Mission

Resources

Speaker

Dwight K. Nelson

Since 1983, Dwight Nelson has served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University. He preaches on the “New Perceptions” telecast, teaches at the theological seminary and has written some books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.

Offering

Saturday, September 05, 2015
Program: 
As We Begin
Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove • John Dykes
Praise
Indescribable • Awesome God • Hosanna
Prayer
Sabine Vatel
"By the Word of Their Testimony" Baptism
Dianne (POF), Chloey, Haley, and Dominic Cherry with Rodlie Ortiz
Children's Story
Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners • Dale Wood
Worship in Music
I Love to Tell the Story • Robert Reid
Sermon
“The Pugwash Factor: How to Turn Mingle into Mission” • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Cards, Tithes & Offerings
Hymn
Fill My Cup, Lord • 493
As We Depart
Come, God, Creator, Holy Spirit • Johann Sebastian Bach

More In This Series

10/03/2015
How to Respond to the Supreme Court's Same-Sex Marriage Decision
09/26/2015
How to Discern the Pope's Agenda for America
08/29/2015
How to Turn Mission into Possible
Learn 7 reasons why the mission in your life is to fulfill His mission of seeking to save the lost.
All Sermons
Print Download

“The Pugwash Factor: How to Turn Mingle into Mission”

www.pmchurch.tv

Matthew 9:9-13

“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” (Ministry of Healing 143)

  • Following in Jesus’ Five Strategic Steps:
    • #1—You  among people as one who wants the very best for them.
      • To mingle simply means to show up where already are.
      • Becky Pippert: “How can we be the salt of the earth if we never get out of the salt shaker?” (Out of the Salt Shaker 124)
      • Jim Cymbala: “Christians often hesitate to reach out to those who are different. They want God to clean the fish before they catch them. If someone’s gold ring is attached to an unusual body part, if the person doesn’t smell the best, or if the skin color is not the same, Christians tend to hesitate. But think for a moment about God reaching out to us. If ever there was a ‘reach,’ that was it: the holy, pure Deity extending himself to us who are soiled, evil-hearted, unholy. God could have said, ‘You’re so different from me, so distasteful, I would really rather not get too close to you.’ But he didn’t say that. It was our very differentness that drew his hand of love. Jesus didn’t just speak the healing word to lepers from a distance of thirty yards. He touched them.” (Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire  8)
      • Practice what the top Fortune 500 CEOs do—M By W  A.
      • Philip Samaan: “Taking the initiative to mingle with others naturally comes easier to some than to others. I always find it more comfortable to mingle with individuals I encounter in normal daily events. The people we rub shoulders with as we work, shop, bank, [study] and carry out other daily activities. . . . Because we have built bridges with such individuals, they (and we too) are much less likely to be apprehensive or fearful of each other.” (Christ’s Method Alone 53)
      • Sports events, school concerts, weddings, parties, service clubs, community volunteering, after-school tutoring, PTA meetings, neighborhood projects, et al
    • #2—You show your for them.
    • #3—You identify and minister to their .
    • #4—You win their .
      • Gregory Boyle: “There is no force in the world better able to alter anything from its course than love. Ruskin’s comment that you can get someone to remove his coat more surely with a warm, gentle sun than with a cold, blistering wind is particularly apt. Meeting the world with a loving heart will determine what we find there. . . . Sooner or later we all discover that kindness is the only strength there is.” (Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion 124)
    • #5—You then invite them to meet .
      • Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use .”
      • Desire of Ages: “As disciples of Christ we shall not mingle with the world from a mere love of pleasure, to unite with them in folly. Such associations can result only in harm. We should never give sanction to sin by our words or our deeds, our silence or our presence. Wherever we go, we are to carry Jesus with us, and to reveal to others the preciousness of our Saviour.” (152)
      • Ty Gibson invitation
      • Mary Oliver: “There are things you can’t reach, but you can reach out to them all day long.”

The Good News of the Gospel is Jesus.

(Flyer, TV, Google search, name of person who invited you, etc.)
Offering for April 20, 2024

Pioneer Operating Budget

Smells can bring a flood of memories to your brain.

A special family recipe can spark a whole host of thoughts and emotions as it passes through your home if someone is making a meal. There are recipes that my mother and my grandmother have made, that still bring me joy when we get together and they are cooked for the family. One thing I am still mastering is the art of making good bread. I love the smell of fresh-baked, homemade bread, and it is always something that I look forward to making.

What has brought even more joy is involving my children in the baking process, when it is possible. Baking and cooking are skills that can be taught and learned. Similarly, our church has a rich heritage of passing along the lessons we know in order to build up the next generation.

The Bible encourages teaching and sharing what we know! “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2, NIV).

Ministries such as Sabbath School classes help us connect and better know the “recipe” for a better life in Christ, and how to practically live out our Christianity outside of these church walls. Today’s offering is for our local church budget, which supports ministries such as Sabbath school. 

—North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Introduction to Trauma Aware Workshop

You are invited to a special free event to learn about how trauma may impact the individuals and communities you serve.

Pastoral Staff Transition at Pioneer

Please see the letter below regarding a Pastoral Staff transition at Pioneer.

Letter from Elder Jim Micheff

Hope and Fun with Jesus

The Pioneer Women Ministries invites you explore the topic of “Hope” with us on Sunday, April 28 form 3-5 PM in the Teen Loft. The program will include fellowship time with games and puzzles. Please bring snacks to share with your table: cut fruit, pretzels, cookies, munchies be creative! Drinks will be provided! Join us for this time of encouragement. To Register text “HOPE” at 269-281-2345

Free Bibles

The lost and found ministry at PMC has placed a table in the Main Lobby (Narthex) containing Bibles which have been in lost and found for more than a year and not been claimed. Some have names on them and some do not. You are welcome to take a Bible for yourself or a friend.  Please read and enjoy, For other lost and found item, there is a cupboard in the lower lobby welcome center where these items are kept. You can ask during the week for a secretary to help you check if your lost item is there.  After items have been in lost and found for more than three months they are sent to Neighbor to Neighbor so be sure and check on your items soon after you lose them.

Quiet Activity Bags for Kids in Church

Pioneer warmly welcomes young families! Quiet activity bags for children are available to borrow, enjoy, and return each Sabbath morning. Select a larger bag for 1 to 3 year-olds or a smaller one for 3 to 9 year-olds. Pick up a bag in the Narthex or the organ side front entrance lobby. Return as soon as finished so others can enjoy.

Oasis Public School Ministry

Oasis Public School Ministry provides a safe community for real talk, good food, fun activities, and building relationships between students, leaders, and God. This ministry is open to all public middle and high school students and meets Tuesdays 6:30-8:00 PM in the 5th grade Sabbath school room. Bring a friend and check it out! For more information, contact Diane at simplestirrings@yahoo.com.

Clear Reception

Join us for Bible study and reading "Mere Christianity" an adaption of BBC radio broadcasts by C.S. Lewis during WWII. We plan to build simple radio sets like the ones people listened to Mr. Lewis on. We will meet the first and third Tuesday of each month from 7:00-9:30, in the lobby of the Simulator Building at Andrews University Airpark. Register by clicking on the 'Grow Groups" link at the bottom of Pioneer Memorial Church's web page, then select the option of "Join a Community Group".

BELONG Ministries Adopt-a-Student

 Winter is coming and for many of our students these are the hardest months to get through without their families. You can help create a home away from home by joining our Belong Ministries Adopt-a-Student program. You'll build meaningful connections by hosting the student for a home cooked meal, surprising them with their favorite treats, and reminding them that they've been prayed for. The time commitment is at your discretion.

Sign up to Adopt-a-Student