You are invited to a special Nathan Greene Art Studio Christmas Open House. The studio is located at 8458 Painter School Road, Berrien Center, MI. All are welcome to attend!
December 4 & 11, 6:00 PM
SOLD OUT!
SOLD OUT! - Part 1
Speaker
Dwight K. NelsonSince 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, February 22, 2014
More In This Series
“SOLD OUT!”—1
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James Surowiecki’s The Wisdom of Crowds
- An experiment with college students
- Not surprisingly “70 percent of the subjects changed their real opinion at least once, and a third of the subjects went along with the group at least half the time.” (38)
- But when one of the control group joined the subject in selecting the correct answer, “that was enough to make a huge difference. Having even one other person in the group who felt as they did made the subjects happy to announce their thoughts, and the rate of conformity plummeted.” (39)
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Let’s call it “the power of .”
- All it takes is one other person to agree with you—and you will find courage to take the stand you believed was right all along.
- Or, all it takes is for one student, one person, to step out of the crowd and take a stand for what he or she believes is the right answer—and someone else, who would otherwise have probably gone along with the group, finds courage to also take the very same stand.
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Matthew 18:15-20
- v 15—“Just between the of you.” Like the old proverb says, “The best way to dispose of your enemies it to make with them.”
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v 16—“Take one or others along.”
- Deuteronomy 19:15
- Desire of Ages: “While we seek to correct the errors of a brother [or sister], the Spirit of Christ will lead us to shield [them], as far as possible, from the criticism of even [their own spiritual family], and how much more from the censure of the unbelieving world. We are erring, and need Christ’s pity and forgiveness, and just as we wish Him to deal with us, He bids us deal with one another.” (441)
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v 17—Who are the “pagans” and “tax collectors”? They are those who are the very of the church.
vv 12-14—the parable of the lost sheep
What are we doing to reconnect with the “lost sheep” of our own ? -
v 18—Jesus is describing an astounding between the church down here and Heaven up there.
Whichever one acts first, the other . -
Thus the point is inescapable: The church is a very big deal to .
- God is on the church!
- David Watson: “The existence of the Christian community of the church in its ideal form is the revelation of God that the world can at present see.” (I Believe in the Church 84)
- Ellen White: “Enfeebled and defective as it may appear, the church is the one object upon which God bestows in a special sense His regard” (Acts of the Apostles 12).
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No wonder the New Testament—building on Christ’s foundational teaching of the church here in Matthew—offers these stirring metaphors of the church:
- The B of Christ—with Christ as the Husband. (2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:25-27; Rev 21:2)
- The B of Christ—with Christ as the Head. (1 Cor 12:27; Eph 1:22-23)
- The B of Christ)—with Christ as the Cornerstone. (1 Cor 3:11, 16; Eph 2:19-22)
- The B of Christ—with Christ as the Captain. (Eph 6:13-17; Heb 2:10 NKJV)
- You can’t be close to the Head without being close to the .
- Zechariah 2:8—“This is what the LORD Almighty says: Whoever touches you [Zion] touches the of His eye.”
- You cannot be to Christ and from His church.
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vv 19-20—The Greek reads: “For where two or three are ‘’ in My name, there am I with them.”
- By his intentional use of the verb form of “synagogue,” Matthew is describing the formal, organized, institutional church of the New Testament that meets every with appointed and recognized to God, study His and carry out His on earth all week long.
- “The power of two”—the power of Christ and His church.
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That’s why like Jesus I too am . . .
“SOLD OUT on the Church”
Nathan Greene Christmas Art Studio
Fellowship Dinner
There will be fellowship dinner served in the Pioneer commons on the lower level following second service this Sabbath. Bring a dish to share and join the fellowship. Visitors are always welcome.
Offering for December 3, 2022
Pioneer Operating Budget
Special Provider
Psalms 145:15 “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.”
We worship God with our resources because He often makes provision for our needs even before they arise. In a dream, the Lord informed Pharoah about the 7 years of severe famines that would strike Egypt. However, before the beginning of the crisis, he provided 7 years of abundance. Under the inspired leadership of Joseph, they could save the surplus and adequately prepare for the crisis. God provided before the need. Joseph told his brothers about the God who acted in anticipation: “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance (Gen 45:7). Our needs and emergencies of today never take God by surprise or put Him off balance.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, a family had witnessed how God acted in anticipation of their needs. Because they were staying in a foreign country, the wife had to renew her employment authorization. The process took much longer than expected. After some few months of waiting, her current work authorization expired, and she was terminated from her job. The family budget was not balancing anymore. At first, they thought that the authorization would come in a few days. It was not so. Interestingly, exactly 7 months before she lost her job, the week that many companies were closing down and dismissing employees, causing a record high unemployment rate, she miraculously held onto her job. This allowed the family to consolidate their emergency fund not knowing the challenge they would soon face. Regularly, they would check the status of her application. The waiting time grew from 3 months to 4 months, 5 months, and finally up to 9 months. It was a testing time. During this extended time, their consolidated emergency fund kept them afloat. More accurately, it was the work of God who makes provision even before needs arise.
This week as we worship with our tithe and regular offerings let us show our gratitude to the Provider who already has solutions for our unforeseen crises.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Update#1 for Renovate 2.0
At the end of November, the Renovate 2.0 project and fundraising is as follows. The Project: The final guaranteed cost, as submitted by the general contractor, Weigand Construction, is $929,641.00. This amount includes a 3% contingency. The project begins on Tuesday, Dec. 27, and is to keep on-budget. The elevator is on order and should be here mid-May 2023. Fundraising: As of this week, there are $225,627.00 that have been given. This amount includes one portion of a $100,000 matching grant. Update #2 will be Dec. 3. Remember Renovate 2.0 in your year-end giving plans and pray for its success.
Christmas Banquet for Seniors
If you did not attend the last ASM potluck at the Village Fellowship Hall on November 13, you probably have not had a chance to RSVP for the Christmas Banquet to be held at the Village Fellowship Hall on Sunday, December 11, at 1:00 PM. Aside from the 55 people who already put their names on the Banquet list that day, here is how to RSVP now and be included: *Call PMC (269-471-3133 if you are a member at PMC). The deadline for calling these numbers is December 6, in order that the caterer can order and prepare enough food for all who are coming. This is a PMC-sponsored program and the food is paid for by PMC and Village churches. Thank you very much, and we look forward to fellowshipping together with PMC and Village pastors!
Flowers for This Sabbath (December 3)
Pastor Eric and Mrs. Ruth Webster wish to express gratitude to God for 72 years of happy marriage. They are contributing flowers for the church service this week.
Memorial Service for Sharon Dudgeon
The memorial service for Sharon Dudgeon will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, December 4, 2022 at Pioneer Memorial Church. The family will start receiving family and friends at PMC starting at 1:00 PM. All are invited to attend to celebrate the life of Sharon.
Volunteers for Weight-Loss Program
This January our Health and Wellness Ministry will launch a weight management program for the church and community called Best Weigh. It’s a proven system that combines spiritual principles with nutrition and weight management. It will be led by Dr Ken
Kelln. We’re looking for up to 20 volunteers who can serve as greeters, weigh-in helpers, a/v, parking help, and more. To get more information or to register as a volunteer, text the word HEALTH to 269-281-2345 or you can call 801-513-8809.
Soup for Students is back!
Can you believe that our last Soup for Students was three years ago? If you’re new, Soup for Students is a practical way for Pioneer to show love and care for our University students during final’s week by providing some fresh hot soup and salad. This is taking place on Tuesday, December 13th, at 6 PM in our PMC Commons. We need 30 volunteers who are willing to bring a pot of soup. You can also be involved by helping serve or clean up afterwards. For more information or to register text the word SOUP to 269-281-2345.
Bring a Toy, Spread Some Joy
On Sabbath December 10, during both services, we are bringing back the toy collection to give and share with the children in our community. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to share for ages newborn through 16. These will be given to the children in our
community.