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 2 of a 4 Part Series
Saturday, April 06, 2013

More In This Series

The Secret of the Seed: Unleashing the Divine Potential in You”—2

www.pmchurch.tv

□ One Verse

  • Ecclesiastes 11:1 NIV—“Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.”

□ Three Calls

  • #1—a call from God to international students
  • #2—a call from God to all
    •   “The home missionary work [work for Christ at home] will be farther advanced in every way when a more liberal, self-denying, self-sacrificing spirit is manifested for the prosperity of foreign missions [work for Christ across the sea]; for the prosperity of the home work depends largely, under God, upon the reflex influence of the evangelical work done in countries afar off.” (Christian Service 170)
    •   Sabbath School Missions: www.pmchurch.org (click on to “adventist giving”)
    •   Adventist Frontier Missions: www.afmonline.org
    •   REACH International: www.reach.org
    •   Quiet Hour: www.qhministries.org
    •   Student Missions: www.andrews.edu/cm/change/missions
  •   #3—a call from God to a select group

 Hudson Taylor:
“How are we going to treat the Lord Jesus Christ with reference to this command [Mark 16:15—‘Go to every creature’]? Shall we definitely drop the title Lord as applied to Him, and take the ground that we are quite willing to recognize Him as our Savior, so far as the penalty of sin is concerned, but are not prepared to own ourselves ‘bought with a price’ (1 Cor 6:20), or Him as having any claim to our unquestioning obedience? Shall we say that we are our own masters, willing to yield something as His due, who bought us with His blood, provided He does not ask too much ? Our lives, our loved ones, our possessions are our own, not His; we will give Him what we think fit, and obey any of His requirements that do not demand too great a sacrifice? To be taken to heaven by Jesus Christ we are more than willing, but we will not have this Man to reign over us [Luke 19:14]?

“The heart of every Christian will undoubtedly reject the proposition, so formulated ; but have not countless lives in each generation been lived as though it were proper ground to take? How few of the Lord's people have practically recognized the truth that Christ is either Lord of all, or is not Lord at all! If we can judge God's Word instead of being judged by that Word, if we can give to God as much or as little as we like, then we are lords and He is the indebted one, to be grateful for our dole and obliged by our compliance with His wishes. If, on the other hand, He is Lord, let us treat Him as such. `Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?’ (Luke 6:46).” (Spiritual Secret of Hudson Taylor 375-376)

 Will you go?

The Secret of the Seed:
The farther away the planting, the greater by far the reaping. 

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.

Offering for June 28, 2025

Michigan Advance Partners

Author Melvin Santos Speaking: For the longest time, in my early years, I quietly disagreed with this Bible passage in Acts 20, “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35, NKJV).

I wondered how people can say, “I receive a blessing when I give.” On the contrary, in my younger years, I always enjoyed receiving gifts. To pay for the gift and give it to someone wouldn’t bring me joy. That would cost me time and money.

When I fell in love, got married, and had children, I finally learned that when you’re in love, there is a greater joy in giving gifts to your wife and children. I would do anything for them because I love them.

Then I understood that this is the Spirit of Christ, who sacrificed all to share His love with us. When I participate in giving, or helping someone in need who cannot reciprocate the deed or pay me back, I’m sharing the love of Jesus. Now, that’s the heart of Jesus.

Just seeing the smiles on my family’s faces was enough for me to experience this passage, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Today, let’s share our gifts with a generous heart.

North American Division Stewardship Ministries