Isn’t it fascinating that words make up only about 7% of how we communicate? The way we say those words—our pitch, tone, volume, and pace—makes up 38%, and the biggest part, 55%, comes from what we don’t even say! Things like eye contact, posture, gestures, body language, and facial expressions do most of the talking for us. In fact, with 43 muscles in our faces, we can make over 10,000 different expressions (National Institutes of Health, 2023)! That’s one powerful face, wouldn’t you say? So next time you’re talking with someone, remember—they’ll remember most how you said what you said. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver" (Prov. 25:11).
How to be More Like Jesus
The Implausible Prayer
Speaker
Dwight K. NelsonDwight 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, January 18, 2014
More In This Series
“How To Be More Like Jesus: The Implausible Prayer”
-
□ The Prayer
- Ephesians 3:14-19
-
The Creator and King, who rules over a galaxies and a stars
across billion light years (and has all the stars—Psalm 147:4), wants
to in .
- The implausible prayer: “That Christ may in your by faith.”
-
“May your become His .”
John 14:23
Jesus: “We [the Father and I] will come to you and make Our with you.”
-
Desire of Ages: “The contemplation of the of God will stir the heart and arouse the
powers of the soul as nothing else can.” (478)
-
□ The Product
-
Frederick Buechner: “In my books, and sometimes even in real life, I have it in me at my best to
be a saint to other people, and by saint I mean life-giver, someone who is able to bear to others something of the Holy Spirit. . . . Sometimes, by the grace of God, I have it in me to be to other people. And so, of course, have we all—the life-giving, life-saving, and healing power to be saints, to be , maybe at rare moments even to ourselves.” (The Longing for Home 28)
- When Christ dwells within us, He spreads Himself us.
-
Stuart Devenish: “Every Christian generation has produced two kinds of Christians: the
common, ordinary garden variety, and those who have discovered the deeper life. . . . [a life that] reflects a deep experience of Christ-likeness” (quoted in Beyond Well-Being: Spirituality and Human Flourishing 58).
- The grand goal of the everlasting gospel!
- “Be like Jesus, this my song, in the home and in the throng . . .”
-
NB: This is a collective invitation.
- “That Christ may dwell in your hearts [plural] by faith.”
- The GROW Group experience: “. . . together with all the Lord’s holy people” (v 18)
-
F. F. Bruce: “. . . it is Paul who gives distinctive expression to the idea of all believers,
whatever their race or social status, united in a life as fellow-members of the body. . . . [T]he prime function of the indwelling Spirit in the believing community, as in the individual believer, is for Paul the reproduction of the Christ-likeness in his people, until the whole body corporate attains ‘the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ’ (Ephesians 4:13).” (Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free 210, 211)
- Join a GROW Group now @ http://www.pmchurch.org/article/563/grow-groups/signup
-
John Gilbert—“If Jesus Came to Your House”
I want to be more like Jesus
I’m following in His waysI’m trying to love as He did
In all that I do and sayAt times I am tempted to make a wrong choice
But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers:REFRAIN
“Love one another as Jesus loves youTry to show kindness in all that you do Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought
For these are the things Jesus taught.”
-
Frederick Buechner: “In my books, and sometimes even in real life, I have it in me at my best to
I’m trying to love my neighbor
I’m learning to serve my friends
I watch for the day of gladness When Jesus will come again
I try to remember the lessons He taught
Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts saying:
—adapted from Janice Kapp Perry
With This in Mind...
Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons
We will not be having fellowship dinner this Sabbath in the commons.
Katherine Smith Celebration of Life
We are saddened to share that Katherine Smith, 95, passed away on August 8, 2025, in Mesa, AZ, from complications of Alzheimer's. A former Associate Dean of Women and Pioneer Memorial Church co-Head Elder, she was a fixture in the Berrien Springs community for over 50 years. An informal Celebration of Life will be held at the Pioneer Memorial Church Commons on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 5-7 PM. Please join us as we share fond memories and fellowship together while enjoying a light supper. Share your favorite memory with Susie at livrefou@hotmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Neighbor to Neighbor at https://www.n2nhelps.com.
Pioneer Children's Activity Bags
We are grateful that so many families enjoy using the children's activity bags during services. To help maintain this ministry and manage costs, please return the bags and all items inside after each use. We also ask that the contents be handled with care so they remain in good condition for others to enjoy. Thank you for helping us keep this resource available and welcoming for all our children.
Locations for Men's and Women's Foot-washing (Ordnance of Humility)
Due to ongoing renovations to in the Children's Sabbath Schools under the sanctuary locations of the Men's and Women't Foot-washing has been changed.
The Women's Foot-washing will occur in the Youth Chapel. For the Youth Chapel, please exit the Sanctuary through the front piano-side doors.
The Men's Foot-washing will occur in the Earliteen Loft. For the Earliteen Loft, please exit the Sanctuary through the front organ-side doors; then proceed up the stairs or use the elevator to reach the Earliteen Loft.
The Family Foot-washing will occur in its normal location - the Commons Area. For the Commons Area, please exit through the front Sanctuary doors and proceed down the stairs to the lower level.
Offering for November 1, 2025
Pioneer Operating Budget
“Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years” (Deuteronomy 8:4, NIV). When the Israelites trusted in God for their needs and were faithful to Him, He always came through. Imagine clothes and sandals that did not wear out over 40 years of use! Now that is the miracle of God. That is a testimony of His love and care of His children.
In our family, my wife and I remind ourselves that everything we own belongs to God! The first microwave we purchased as a married couple became a living testimony of God’s faithfulness. This microwave, after ten years of usage, became a topic of discussion. My wife said, “Any time now, I want to replace this microwave when it stops working!” One morning, the microwave stopped working! My wife rejoiced at the thought of a replacement. I didn’t know anything about fixing appliances. Well, as I was visiting a church member that afternoon, he heard of our dilemma and offered to look at the appliance. In two minutes, he said, “Pastor, here’s the problem. I replaced the fuse and it is now working!” The cost of the fuse? Twelve cents. That microwave continued to work for a total of 21 years—to my wife’s dismay— until we finally donated it to a family member! Our God is always good! Let’s see how God will take care of our needs today.
—Melvin Santos, Kansas/Nebraska Conference in partnership with the North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Time Change
Clocks will "Fall Back" on Sunday morning at 2 AM so we all can get an extra hour of sleep this weekend.
Andrews Academy - Penny Arcade
Andrews Academy invites all seventh and eighth graders to Penny Arcade, Saturday night Nov. 8, 2025. This is a fun evening of games, activities & food; all for just pennies. Get to know Andrews Academy students better as you and your seventh & eighth grade friends enjoy Penny Arcade from 7 - 9 PM. Due to costs, we can only open this to 7th & 8th graders & Andrews Academy students, this is not open to siblings and families. Parents can drop your child off at 7:45 PM and pick them up at 9 pm. If you have any questions please contact the school at 269-471-3138.
Adopt-a-Student
Looking for a simple way to bless a student this semester? Consider adopting one! Whether you’re a family or an individual, you can offer warmth, encouragement, and a sense of home to a student who’s far from theirs. Together, we can help students thrive! Reach out to learn how you can adopt a student and make a real difference. Contact Mari Bowerman at belong@pmchurch.org
Something in Common Sabbath School
Starting Point video series with Andy Stanley: Everything has a beginning. Every person, every idea, every journey starts somewhere. Whether it's one small step in a new direction or a major event, from that point forward nothing is ever the same. It's not always comfortable. It's not always easy. But it's a start. This 8-part series ends December 6, 2025. Everyone is welcome. PMC Boardroom. 10:30-11:30 Sabbath mornings.