Series: Invitation
January 16, 2022
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

John 8:12 (CSB) Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

MAIN IDEA: The Father wants our lives to bring light to a dark world.

Enlightened by Grace
God meets our pain and confusion with grace when we come in faith.
For the post-abortive
For the unmarried
For the questioning

Enlightened by Truth
A culture that doesn’t defend life is lost in darkness.

A Few Scriptures Supporting Life
Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Psalm 100:3 “Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”
Isaiah 44:24 “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: ‘I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.'”
Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
Psalm 127:3-5a “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!”
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in your mother’s body I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart to serve me. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

A Few Abortion Facts
Life begins at fertilization.
A child’s heart beats at 21 days. It is audible at 8-10 weeks gestation
Six weeks after fertilization, brain activity begins
Between five and seven and a half weeks, development of hands and feet occurs.
More than 60 million abortions have taken place since legalization in 1973
Based on available state-level data, approximately 887,000 abortions took place in the United States in 2019, up from approximately 872,000 abortions in 2018.
In 2019, approximately 19% of U.S. pregnancies (excluding spontaneous miscarriages) ended in abortion.
When weighing an abortion decision, women say they expected or experienced judgment (33 percent) or condemnation (26 percent) from a church far more than caring (16 percent) or helpfulness (14 percent).
1 in 4 women have had an abortion
More than four in 10 women who have had an abortion were churchgoers when they ended a pregnancy (attending monthly or more)
Only 1.5% of abortions are due to rape and/or incest

Enlightened for Action
The Father invites us to live the truth that every life matters!

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Embrace the truth that every life matters.

Support the truth that every life matters.

PRAY for laborers who will bring change until every life matters.

Discussion Questions:
In the sermon, Adam talked about the importance of grace and truth when discussion abortion. Why is it so important to extend and receive both?
In your experience, is this a topic that drives the priorities of most Christians? To what extent should it drive our priorities and practices? Why?
In your experience, does the church discuss the issues surrounding sanctity of human life too little, too much or the right amount? Why do you feel that way?
What do you think the church can and should do to stand for life in our culture?
What could your Community Group do?
What could your family do?