All Sermons

The Morning Star Rises

The Morning Star Rises: Silent Night

Resources

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

Part 1 of a 3 Part Series
Saturday, December 01, 2012

More In This Series

12/08/2012
The Morning Star Rises: O Holy Night
Part 2 of a 3 Part Series
12/22/2012
The Morning Star Rises: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Part 3 of a 3 Part Series
All Sermons
Print Download

“The Morning Star Rises: Silent Night”

www.pmchurch.tv

  • □  A Five Piece Puzzle
    •   Piece #1—2 Peter 1:19—Peter associates the Morning Star with the bright light of that shines into the dark night just before the dawn breaks.
       Like a halogen light, prophecy is a divine gift designed to [1] help us see what lies

      ahead , and [2] help us ward off  in that darkness.

    •   Piece #2—Ezekiel 43:1, 2—Ezekiel describes the glory of God like a that floods the earth.
    •   Piece #3—Malachi 4:2—Malachi personifies the whose light brings healing to those who fear God.
    •   Piece #4—Revelation 18:1, 2, 4—John then takes the explosion of the glory of the Sun of God—described by Ezekiel and Malachi—and places that global event at the .
       We have no reason to fear the endgame—because the last word always belongs to God—and His last word will be an explosion of the of Christ Jesus throughout the earth!
    •   Piece #5—Revelation 22:16—Jesus is the .
  • □  Who’s the Star of your life, your religion?
    •   The quest of prophetic study, the purpose of apocalyptic investigation is so the Morning Star might rise in our hearts.
    •   Thus the Apocalypse opens with the stunning reminder: “The revelation of Jesus Christ [not the dragon, the beasts, the mark of the beast, or even Babylon]” (Revelation 1:1).
  • □  A Four Step Solution
    •   #1—B the Morning Star.
      •   I Corinthians 2:2—“I determined to know nothing among you except and Him crucified.”
      •   Philippians 3:10—“I want to know .”
      •   The most concentrated glory of the “bright and Morning Star” is in the , so read every new dawn.
    •   #2—B over the Morning Star.
      •   The Bible refers to this as .
      •   Psalm 119:148—“My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may on Your word.”
    •   #3—B before the Morning Star.

Steps to Christ: “Through sincere we are brought into connection with the mind of the Infinite. We may have no remarkable evidence at the time that the face of our Redeemer is bending over us in compassion and love, but this is even so. We may not feel His visible touch, but His hand is upon us in love and pitying tenderness.” (97)

 #4—B the Morning Star.

 Oswald Chambers: “. . . Christian experience in the New Testament is that of personal passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ.” (My Utmost for His Highest 334)

“Make the Morning Star your North Star” 

Offering for May 2, 2026

Pioneer Operating Budget

In 1987, Northwest Airlines Flight 225 tragically crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the loss of 155 lives. Miraculously, a four-year-old girl named Cecelia was the sole survivor. Investigations revealed that during the plane's descent, Cecelia's mother, Paula Chican, unbuckled her own seatbelt, knelt in front of her daughter, and wrapped her arms and body around Cecelia to shield her from the impact. This selfless act of maternal love protected Cecelia, demonstrating the profound lengths to which a parent's love can go.

Oh my, the love of a mother, this is what God is telling us today, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15,
NIV). The local church should be a place where people feel that kind of love.

John 13:35 says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

As we celebrate Mother’s Day next week, let’s return our tithes and offerings with grateful hearts knowing that Christ’s love is even greater than the love of a mother. Let’s worship God today, and may we love Christ
deeply as we appreciate our mothers.

—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. 

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.