WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.259 In our country, over 60 million abortions have happened since Roe v. Wade was passed in 1973. 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:08.000 ! 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:08.240 60 million. 00:00:09.560 --> 00:00:11.160 That's been 45 years ago now. 00:00:11.820 --> 00:00:21.300 Just some quick math, and that will show you that on average, 1.3 million babies have been legally killed by abortion each year in our country alone. 00:00:22.059 --> 00:00:23.339 Right here in the U.S. 00:00:24.240 --> 00:00:26.280 That's around 25,000 babies a week. 00:00:26.280 --> 00:00:31.720 3,700 babies a day or 152 babies an hour. 00:00:34.060 --> 00:00:36.299 Between two and three babies a minute. 00:00:37.620 --> 00:00:40.179 About one baby every 24 seconds. 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:43.840 This is in our country. 00:00:45.460 --> 00:00:46.219 This is legal. 00:00:46.380 --> 00:00:47.740 This is legalized murder. 00:00:48.820 --> 00:00:51.219 One life every 24 seconds. 00:00:51.219 --> 00:01:01.239 Three or four years ago, I think it was in 2014, Nathan preached a sermon on Sanctity of Life Sunday, in which he had, I think it was Reese Winkler. 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:06.219 He was sitting in the back, and every, I think it worked up to 30 seconds. 00:01:06.219 --> 00:01:19.780 Every 30 seconds, Reese would hold up his hand, and Nathan would throw a baby figurine into a trash can to symbolize those lives that are lost even as we speak. 00:01:22.019 --> 00:01:28.900 And as we are distracted by them hitting that trash can, just a reminder of the lives that are being lost. 00:01:28.900 --> 00:01:30.719 So many. 00:01:31.859 --> 00:01:36.420 Just to talk a little bit about reasons why. 00:01:36.740 --> 00:01:38.060 Why is this happening? 00:01:39.480 --> 00:01:44.460 Many people state that pro-life advocates are cold. 00:01:44.820 --> 00:01:51.020 They don't want to hear about circumstances or events that cause unwanted pregnancies. 00:01:51.820 --> 00:01:56.219 They may bring up rape or incestuous relationships. 00:01:56.219 --> 00:01:59.159 And those are hard situations. 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:03.640 There's no, no doubt about that in anyone's mind. 00:02:04.939 --> 00:02:13.500 But we must question, do any circumstances allow us to say that our life doesn't matter? 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:21.400 Do any circumstances give us the right to take something that was never ours to take? 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:32.819 In a survey I saw of 1,209 post-abortive women from nine different abortion clinics across the country. 00:02:33.379 --> 00:02:34.740 This was taken in 2004. 00:02:36.040 --> 00:02:39.319 957 provided a main reason for having an abortion. 00:02:40.700 --> 00:02:42.240 Let's think about these stats for a minute. 00:02:43.620 --> 00:02:45.580 I'm going to start with the lowest one. 00:02:46.219 --> 00:02:48.439 Half a percent a victim of rape. 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:51.939 Three percent fetal health problems. 00:02:52.840 --> 00:02:55.159 Four percent physical health problems. 00:02:56.379 --> 00:02:59.539 Four percent said it would interfere with their education or career. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:03.919 Seven percent said they were not mature enough to raise a child. 00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:08.240 Eight percent said they don't want to be a single mother. 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:12.680 Nineteen percent said they were done having children. 00:03:14.819 --> 00:03:17.159 Twenty-three percent said they couldn't afford a baby. 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:21.900 Twenty-five percent simply stated that they were not ready for a child. 00:03:23.699 --> 00:03:24.900 That's what we're dealing with. 00:03:25.460 --> 00:03:27.479 That's what the abortion issue looks like. 00:03:28.939 --> 00:03:38.199 So there's really, really hard, hard, hard situations of rape or incest are few and far between when we're looking at the big scale numbers. 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:45.879 And yes, looking at all these other situations, all these reasons they mentioned, those are undeniably hard situations, I'm sure, as well. 00:03:48.519 --> 00:03:56.060 But when people are feeling that way, when they think they're unable to raise a child, that is where the church should step in. 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:58.060 We are needed. 00:03:58.060 --> 00:03:58.060 00:03:58.060 --> 00:04:03.939 We are needed in all of those situations to care for the lives of the unwanted. 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:08.580 We'll talk about that quite a bit more in our study as we keep going. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:19.180 I could go on and on and on about statistics, but I think this crowd is very aware of this issue and very aware of where it stands in our country. 00:04:19.180 --> 00:04:23.939 So I don't think that's the biggest push our crew needs. 00:04:25.139 --> 00:04:28.340 So instead, here's how I'm going to organize it today. 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:29.840 So three main parts. 00:04:30.139 --> 00:04:30.740 Really simple. 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:32.860 So here they are. 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:35.860 First, the reason help is needed. 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:39.600 That was the reason help is needed. 00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:43.220 Secondly, a plea for help. 00:04:44.960 --> 00:04:46.120 A plea for help. 00:04:46.120 --> 00:04:48.920 And third, ways to help. 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:55.079 So the reason help is needed, a plea for help, and then ways to help. 00:04:55.319 --> 00:04:57.000 So that's how we'll tackle it this morning. 00:04:58.060 --> 00:05:04.879 So like I said, I think many of us are aware of how rampant this issue is in our country, in our state. 00:05:06.740 --> 00:05:15.180 And we realize, I think, that how devastating of an issue it is because these are helpless human lives that are being murdered illegally here. 00:05:15.180 --> 00:05:21.579 Now, praise the Lord, the numbers have gone drastically down, if you track it, since the 80s. 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:27.840 At some points, there was more than a half million being murdered a year, if you look back in the 80s. 00:05:27.860 --> 00:05:30.740 And now it's closer down to the 600,000 mark. 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:32.759 But that's 600,000 lives. 00:05:33.819 --> 00:05:34.639 Taken a year. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:44.819 Many pro-choice advocates state that they form their position because a fetus, a baby, cannot be considered a human life until it is born. 00:05:46.099 --> 00:05:49.379 Some even talk about the idea of fetal viability. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:55.000 The idea of thinking about whether or not a baby could survive outside the womb at a certain age 00:05:55.000 --> 00:06:01.759 and try to use this as their justification for supporting abortions occurring at certain spots during a pregnancy. 00:06:03.220 --> 00:06:07.959 Because apparently, if a baby could not survive outside the womb, it must not really be a human yet. 00:06:10.379 --> 00:06:15.920 Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, who served on the court who passed Roe v. Wade, 00:06:15.980 --> 00:06:18.019 which legalized abortions in the U.S. in 1973, 00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:23.500 often talked about the first trimester being a critical point in the pregnancy. 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:30.259 The court thought and decided that certainly before that trimester is over, abortion must be illegal. 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:38.399 Blackmun also stated in 1973 that the selection of the first trimester was pretty arbitrary. 00:06:39.659 --> 00:06:40.519 Pretty arbitrary. 00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:43.659 But suggested that any other point would be as well. 00:06:44.459 --> 00:06:47.959 Now, why would any point be arbitrary? 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:54.620 Why couldn't we come up with a set point and say it's okay before this, it's not after that? 00:06:54.779 --> 00:06:57.099 And why'd they have to leave it up to the state? 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:00.199 Why not? 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:05.659 Because all of us, all of us know, we try to suppress it, 00:07:05.659 --> 00:07:10.659 all of us know that an abortion at any stage is the destruction of a human life. 00:07:12.459 --> 00:07:15.419 That's why people think it's so arbitrary to pick a point. 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:17.039 Because it's already a life. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:18.920 Life begins with conception. 00:07:20.580 --> 00:07:26.400 Now let's think about the argument they have a bit about the viability of life for just a minute. 00:07:27.220 --> 00:07:29.860 There are a lot, lot, lot of young kids at our church. 00:07:30.300 --> 00:07:33.840 Saw this floor full up here just a few minutes ago. 00:07:34.640 --> 00:07:36.560 Quite a few of them are just really young. 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:38.140 A lot under the age of four. 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:47.000 Now if we left any of these kids, even two days, without any assistance, no adults around, 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:49.459 could they fend for themselves? 00:07:50.719 --> 00:07:51.680 Could they make it? 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:52.519 Could they survive? 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:55.879 Maybe for a couple days, but not very long at all. 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:57.620 Absolutely not. 00:07:57.620 --> 00:08:01.500 So they don't seem able to survive on their own. 00:08:01.620 --> 00:08:07.519 So why do people not think about killing them off if they're unwanted? 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:12.079 The scary thing is, that's the logic people buy into. 00:08:13.359 --> 00:08:15.180 That is the logic that people buy into. 00:08:15.259 --> 00:08:16.579 That's where it falls apart. 00:08:17.979 --> 00:08:19.819 Any young human needs help surviving. 00:08:20.819 --> 00:08:26.639 Absolutely some more than others, but what gives us the right to say that just because we don't want one around, 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:28.479 that we can just kill them? 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:31.460 Nothing tells us that. 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:33.120 Nothing tells us that. 00:08:33.180 --> 00:08:33.680 We can't. 00:08:33.920 --> 00:08:34.980 Nothing gives us that, right? 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:38.399 Life begins with conception. 00:08:38.560 --> 00:08:40.980 All other points would be arbitrarily drawn. 00:08:41.580 --> 00:08:42.539 You don't make any sense. 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:45.379 So let's look at the scripture a little bit on this. 00:08:45.379 --> 00:08:49.000 Turn with me to where Tyler read this morning, Psalm 139. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:06.920 Now this is a very, very commonly cited passage when thinking about this issue. 00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:08.240 And for good reason. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:10.480 It speaks some really, really good truth into it. 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:15.279 What I want us to look at here is verses 13 through 16. 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:20.120 Picking up in verse 13, it says, 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:22.279 For you formed my inward parts. 00:09:22.899 --> 00:09:25.139 You knitted me together in my mother's womb. 00:09:25.139 --> 00:09:29.019 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 00:09:30.059 --> 00:09:31.419 Wonderful are your works. 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:33.319 My soul knows it very well. 00:09:33.939 --> 00:09:37.319 My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:40.199 intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 00:09:40.860 --> 00:09:42.960 Your eyes saw my unformed substance. 00:09:43.779 --> 00:09:45.980 In your book were written every one of them. 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:48.039 The days that were formed for me. 00:09:48.860 --> 00:09:51.799 Then as yet there was, when as yet there was none of them. 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:54.639 There's so much we can pull out of this passage. 00:09:55.139 --> 00:10:02.360 The first thing I want us to note is that we can see that God is hugely involved in the lives of the unborn. 00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:06.779 It says that he formed David as he was in his mother's womb. 00:10:07.819 --> 00:10:12.600 David praises the Lord for that, that he was already involved in his life as he's in the womb. 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:16.460 Praises the Lord that he was fearfully and wonderfully making him. 00:10:17.819 --> 00:10:20.700 Then looking down in verse 16, we see something incredible. 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:22.059 Something I think is so cool. 00:10:22.059 --> 00:10:26.779 David explains that even as the Lord is developing him in the womb, 00:10:27.439 --> 00:10:30.359 he already has all of his days planned for him. 00:10:30.779 --> 00:10:31.319 Look at that. 00:10:31.839 --> 00:10:35.419 In your book were written every one of them, the days that were formed for me. 00:10:36.419 --> 00:10:37.159 Every one of them. 00:10:37.199 --> 00:10:40.579 He had a plan for David while David was still in the womb. 00:10:40.580 --> 00:10:43.200 It's incredible. 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:49.500 The Lord is not waiting around for him to be born so that he can be considered a human life and then making a plan for him. 00:10:50.020 --> 00:10:51.200 He has those days planned. 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:52.379 Way back. 00:10:52.560 --> 00:10:52.920 Way back. 00:10:53.800 --> 00:10:54.000 Okay? 00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:59.320 So the second takeaway we can get from that is that because of the Lord's involvement, his plan there, 00:11:00.300 --> 00:11:02.379 the Lord considers that a human life. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:05.379 The Lord considers that life in the womb a human life. 00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:08.740 So if the Lord considers that, we should too. 00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:12.000 We can't draw some arbitrary line somewhere. 00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:16.559 One more place for you to turn on this one. 00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:17.320 Genesis 1. 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:21.600 Genesis 1. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:51.580 Genesis 1. 00:11:51.600 --> 00:12:06.080 So God created man in his own image. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:07.779 In the image of God, he created him. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:09.840 Male and female, he created them. 00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:15.899 There's a certain thing about us as humans that makes us different from anything else the Lord made. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:17.019 Anything else in all creation. 00:12:17.139 --> 00:12:17.639 We're special. 00:12:18.420 --> 00:12:19.040 We're different. 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:20.320 Anything else. 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:25.379 God values our lives much more than anything else in all creation. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:30.220 And that difference is that we're made in God's image. 00:12:31.460 --> 00:12:34.500 And that difference gives us so much more value. 00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:41.539 I love the way that the biggest story, a children's book that we used to read in Aletha Way a lot, puts it. 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:48.059 They describe the image of God as we're like little mirrors meant to reflect God's glory to everything around us. 00:12:48.059 --> 00:12:51.379 That's a great way to explain that. 00:12:51.699 --> 00:12:54.059 That's exactly what being an image bearer means. 00:12:54.119 --> 00:12:57.199 We're to reflect God's glory to all in everything that we're doing. 00:12:58.099 --> 00:13:01.259 Just here in this text, the Lord mentions a way in which we do that. 00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:03.779 Having dominion over the earth. 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:05.579 That's a really, really big one. 00:13:05.580 --> 00:13:10.200 The Lord has created us to be sub-rulers governing his earth that he's put us on. 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:14.060 That's a huge way that we reflect his glory. 00:13:14.160 --> 00:13:14.940 Think about some other ways. 00:13:15.060 --> 00:13:16.080 We rule. 00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:16.980 We love. 00:13:17.180 --> 00:13:17.940 We have justice. 00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:20.160 And we are given a role in creating life. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:24.259 The Lord has told us to fill the earth and subdue it as part of our sub-governing. 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:30.459 Now, when a baby is killed, we're not only being unjust. 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:38.399 That baby is also missing that part of image bearing that was given the right to. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:42.399 The part of showing God's image to everything around it. 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:46.480 Major, major loss. 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:52.820 So, from both simple logic and the scripture, we can see that human life begins at conception. 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:56.360 And the Lord values that life so, so much. 00:13:57.180 --> 00:14:01.620 So, there's a great need, great need to be troubled. 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:05.820 There's hundreds of thousands of these lives are taken away each year by abortion. 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:11.460 Now, we as Christians have an obligation to help with this devastating issue. 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:13.980 And so, that brings us to our next section. 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:17.560 So, this section is a plea for help. 00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:19.899 A plea for help. 00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:21.720 Turn to Luke 10. 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:25.340 Spend a lot of time here. 00:14:25.420 --> 00:14:25.779 Luke 10. 00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:25.779 00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:49.000 Here in verses 25 through 37, we have what is commonly called the parable of the Good Samaritan. 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:55.399 This has been an incredibly convicting parable to me, especially in light of this issue. 00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:58.559 So, let's read it together and then talk through it. 00:15:00.179 --> 00:15:01.500 Pick it up in verse 25. 00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:02.220 It says, 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:05.800 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, 00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:08.620 Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:10.060 He said to him, 00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:11.040 What is written in the law? 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:11.759 How do you read it? 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.240 And he answered, 00:15:13.420 --> 00:15:21.100 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself. 00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:23.159 And he said to him, 00:15:23.340 --> 00:15:24.480 You've answered correctly. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.060 Do this and you will live. 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:29.860 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:31.320 And who is my neighbor? 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:32.759 Jesus replied, 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:40.840 A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:46.040 Now, by chance, a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:51.139 So likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:57.699 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 00:15:58.319 --> 00:16:02.579 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. 00:16:03.459 --> 00:16:07.779 Then he set him on his animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:12.179 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:15.919 Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I'll repay you when I come back. 00:16:16.939 --> 00:16:21.719 Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:23.959 He said, The one who showed him mercy. 00:16:24.719 --> 00:16:27.399 And Jesus said to him, You go and do likewise. 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:30.399 Let's talk through this passage a bit. 00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:38.000 So Jesus here, when he gives this parable, is in route toward Jerusalem, which we know would ultimately culminate in the cross. 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:41.699 And he's slowly making his way there to that culminating point. 00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:47.300 And as he's going, he's continuing his ministry of teaching, of healing, and of making disciples. 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:49.020 So he's on his way there. 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:52.520 And we get this insight about an event that happened. 00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:54.580 It was a lawyer who came up to Jesus. 00:16:54.700 --> 00:16:58.420 And it says here in the text he just wanted to justify himself. 00:16:59.300 --> 00:17:01.780 He wanted to declare his own righteousness. 00:17:02.020 --> 00:17:04.900 And he wanted to tell everybody how good of a person he had been. 00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:07.340 And so he asked Jesus a question. 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:10.440 Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 00:17:11.100 --> 00:17:15.320 I can imagine Jesus responding like, Well, what's the law say? 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.060 What do you think from that? 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:20.080 The man knew what the law said, right? 00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:27.100 He replied with, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:29.179 And Jesus is just like, Yep. 00:17:29.699 --> 00:17:29.919 Yep. 00:17:30.139 --> 00:17:30.639 You've got it. 00:17:30.699 --> 00:17:31.099 That's right. 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:33.000 Do this and you'll live. 00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:37.879 Now in his heart, this man knows that he's not truly done this. 00:17:38.459 --> 00:17:41.599 He knows that he's not fully loved God 100% of the time. 00:17:42.379 --> 00:17:47.279 And he knows that he definitely has done that with all of his soul, all of his strength, all of his mind. 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:55.680 And I'm confident that this man is aware that he has not, in all circumstances, counted his neighbor as just as important, if not more important, than himself. 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:57.299 Confident of that. 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:59.920 But he's still trying to find a way out, right? 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:02.920 He's still trying to find a way to justify himself. 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:04.399 Still trying to test Jesus here. 00:18:05.399 --> 00:18:07.839 Still trying to find a way out of fully obeying. 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:10.660 So he asked the question, Who is my neighbor? 00:18:11.639 --> 00:18:15.279 Now let's think about why he would phrase that question this way. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:17.379 Because that's an interesting thing to ask. 00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:23.079 He might be expecting to get the response, Oh, of course, you can't help everyone. 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:25.759 You can only do so much. 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.779 You're so busy. 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:29.160 If you just help these few people. 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:30.740 Something like that. 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:32.339 That's something we hear all the time. 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:33.960 Right? 00:18:34.379 --> 00:18:36.700 But that's not what he gets at all. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:40.099 Instead, Jesus goes on to tell this story. 00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:41.200 And let's think about it a bit. 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:41.879 So there's this guy. 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:41.920 Right? 00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:43.680 He's heading down the road. 00:18:43.780 --> 00:18:45.660 And he ran into some really rough people. 00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:48.620 They proceeded to rob him and left him half dead. 00:18:49.260 --> 00:18:51.280 Later on, a few people come down this road. 00:18:52.120 --> 00:18:52.260 Okay? 00:18:52.320 --> 00:18:53.380 First off, we see a priest. 00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:57.680 Someone we think would be sure and stop and show compassion to this man. 00:18:58.860 --> 00:18:59.860 He didn't stop at all. 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:03.280 Instead, it says he just completely avoided the situation. 00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:05.480 He goes on over to the other side of the road. 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:08.120 Not even to have to pay attention to this man. 00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:11.019 Next person comes along, a Levite. 00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:12.899 Another person we'd expect, yes. 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:14.059 He's going to stop. 00:19:14.179 --> 00:19:14.739 Show compassion. 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:15.899 No. 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.059 Same thing. 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:17.919 Okay? 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:20.219 The next person came along, a Samaritan. 00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:23.500 Someone that the Jews did not get along very well with. 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:26.759 Someone we would not expect to show compassion. 00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:29.079 He sees the man. 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.659 And what does he do? 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:32.639 He has compassion. 00:19:32.959 --> 00:19:33.899 What we would not expect. 00:19:33.979 --> 00:19:35.000 He had a heart for this man. 00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:35.599 He cared. 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:39.519 He took some time out of his really important busy routine, I'm sure. 00:19:39.959 --> 00:19:42.299 And made time to help someone who needed it. 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:48.299 And didn't just give him a couple of bucks and mosey on his way towards Jerusalem. 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:52.079 It says he bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. 00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.899 Took him to a place to stay. 00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:59.219 Paid for his stay and was even willing to give some extra money should he need anything else. 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:03.399 Now, why would Jesus answer this man's question this way? 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:09.440 Why would he tell this story when, you know, he could have just made a quick one sentence answer? 00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.360 Why not? 00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:13.360 Let's look at the driving point. 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.480 Verse 36. 00:20:14.560 --> 00:20:15.360 Look at verse 36. 00:20:17.300 --> 00:20:17.820 It says, 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:24.220 Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:30.740 Which of these three do we think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:33.859 That is quite the statement. 00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:34.879 Quite the statement. 00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:38.819 Jesus completely turns this man's question around on him. 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:39.879 Completely. 00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:44.639 The man was looking for that response of, oh, you only have to help this many people. 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:46.240 You can only do so much. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:48.660 Jesus completely turns it on him. 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:54.120 Instead of explaining who his neighbors are, he goes and asks, what kind of person are you? 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:57.120 Are you going to be somebody that helps? 00:20:57.200 --> 00:21:00.180 Are you going to stand idly by and watch as people suffer? 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:03.559 What are you going to do about it? 00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:06.579 Quite the turn. 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:11.079 Now, why? 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:13.919 Why would he do that to you? 00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:18.779 Because what does this man's first question reveal? 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:23.339 The text tells us a couple things about it that we can be very clear on. 00:21:23.879 --> 00:21:28.059 We know that he was trying to test the Lord and we know that he was trying to justify himself. 00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:33.799 Now, in light of that, that tells us a few things. 00:21:33.879 --> 00:21:40.639 When he's trying to figure out who his neighbor is, who he needs to serve, he's just trying to justify himself. 00:21:40.899 --> 00:21:46.279 He's trying to check out all those good boxes that he's helped this many people and helped these groups. 00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:48.480 Trying to get enough good points. 00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:50.500 Get on that high school or leaderboard, right? 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:53.779 Get that eternal life that he's been wanting. 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:58.859 Now, what mindset can we see from that man? 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:01.539 He's trying to earn his salvation. 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:04.819 He's trying to earn his salvation. 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:06.259 He's not had a heart change. 00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:10.480 He's just all ready to work, work, work, work to earn those good points. 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:13.619 He didn't care about serving those around him. 00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:16.539 He just cared about making sure that he came out on top in the end. 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.759 Didn't care at all. 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:20.680 Now, Jesus saw this. 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:22.819 Jesus saw this and Jesus cut right his heart. 00:22:22.900 --> 00:22:25.400 That's why he flipped that question around on him. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:27.720 He saw that heart issue in that. 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:40.559 So, when he changes that question from who do I have to serve to how should we think about helping people? 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:45.119 Jesus changed it from an action question to a heart question. 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:52.659 At the end, he's really asking the question, which of these men had the right mindset in helping? 00:22:54.379 --> 00:22:56.279 Which of these men had the right heart? 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:59.559 Which of these men truly fulfilled the law? 00:23:00.159 --> 00:23:01.259 And that cut him. 00:23:01.659 --> 00:23:02.459 That got him. 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.679 That revealed his heart. 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:07.320 Now, why am I talking about this today? 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:15.720 How often do we think, oh, is it really my responsibility to help this time? 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:18.819 Or, I'm too busy to help with this. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:20.799 Or, oh, someone else can do that. 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.559 Or, that's their job. 00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:24.460 Not mine. 00:23:25.379 --> 00:23:28.539 Or, even, I'm already involved in so many other ministries. 00:23:29.899 --> 00:23:31.579 Or, no, I can't. 00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.240 I can't do that. 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:34.759 That I'm exhausted from all the other ways I've been helping the church. 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:41.039 And how often do we want to hear the response from others that, oh, you're doing enough already. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:42.120 Don't worry about it. 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:44.579 Or, oh, I'll get someone else to help with this. 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:45.980 Yeah. 00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:48.140 Somebody else has got it. 00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:50.440 Then we feel our conscience. 00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:52.720 We feel the Holy Spirit working in us. 00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:54.039 Longing. 00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:55.839 Our new nature wants to serve. 00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:56.400 Wants to help. 00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:58.319 Wants to do anything we possibly can. 00:23:59.339 --> 00:24:01.680 To help the body and to help the world around us. 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:03.880 We feel that, yeah, we can make that happen. 00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:04.960 Or, yeah, we'll be there. 00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:10.259 Now, am I saying in all of this that we need to work 24 hours a day. 00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:13.779 And be involved in every ministry. 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:18.240 And for college students to be involved in every campus ministry. 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:21.900 And, you know, try to go to three or four in one night. 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:25.519 And help every single person ever in need. 00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:29.160 Help in every opportunity placed in front of us. 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.640 Absolutely not. 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.160 Absolutely not. 00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:36.839 I've seen so many people try to go down that path and burn out. 00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:38.460 Burn out, burn out. 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:40.460 So what am I saying? 00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:46.339 I am saying, brothers and sisters, that if we don't want to help in any way we possibly can, 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:48.359 we need to be concerned with our hearts. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:52.759 If we don't have that longing to help, we need to be concerned with our hearts. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:56.240 If we have that mindset of, I already do enough and I don't want to help with that. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.579 Got too much already going on. 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.599 We should be concerned. 00:24:58.599 --> 00:25:04.779 Our Lord, the God of the universe, came to this earth. 00:25:04.939 --> 00:25:07.279 And when he came to this earth, he humbled himself to be a man. 00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:08.559 And what did he do when he got here? 00:25:09.399 --> 00:25:12.059 He sought to serve, not to be served. 00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:17.699 When we get into the mindset of, I'm already doing enough, we're in the wrong mindset entirely. 00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:20.120 We're called to follow the mindset of our Lord. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:24.480 When we get the mindset of, I'm doing enough, we need to check our hearts. 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:29.059 When our initial reaction to an opportunity to serve is, I already have too many things. 00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:32.160 Or another thing, we need to check our hearts. 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:38.200 Again, I want to stress this, that I'm not saying we need to be involved on every ministry team. 00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:40.800 Or take every opportunity to serve that we possibly can. 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:43.180 Or stop every time we see a homeless person. 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:46.960 Or that there is never a time to say no to something. 00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:48.820 That's not what I'm saying at all. 00:25:50.580 --> 00:25:54.420 There's very often, sometimes, where we need to say no. 00:25:54.420 --> 00:26:02.160 But I am saying that if our mindset becomes one of, we're already doing this, that's someone else's job, someone else will do it. 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:05.120 We're not thinking the right way towards serving. 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:10.779 It should hurt when we hear of a great opportunity to serve, but we're already completely booked and we can't do it. 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.240 That should hurt. 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:15.380 So often our hearts are like, this man's. 00:26:16.320 --> 00:26:21.259 And instead, we're feeling like, am I really required to help in this way? 00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:25.220 Or what do I have to do to be just good enough? 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:27.700 Do I really need to help this time? 00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:31.319 No, that should not be our mindset at all. 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:36.220 We follow our Lord who laid down everything, more than we could ever imagine, to serve us. 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:38.680 And we were called to serve in the same way that he has. 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:42.619 So often we try to justify ourselves and say we're doing enough. 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:45.059 That's not what our mindset should be. 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:48.279 We should want to serve in any possible way we can. 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:51.660 And we should not be looking for the bare minimum of what we're required to do. 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:56.059 We should be the leaders as Christians in service. 00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:59.839 We should be the people that prove to be those good, true neighbors to those around us. 00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:02.259 So why all of this today? 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:04.259 Why am I bringing this up now? 00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:06.200 What does this have to do with the issue of abortion? 00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:16.220 60 million human lives have been taken away by abortion in our country since 73. 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:21.600 That means that over a million babies on average are murdered legally each year. 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:25.420 Tens of thousands of these come from our very own state. 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:29.079 If there's an issue we need to be involved in, this is it. 00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:31.460 Another place for y'all to turn. 00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:32.960 Proverbs 24. 00:27:34.120 --> 00:27:35.000 Proverbs 24. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.059 Proverbs 24. 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:40.000 Proverbs 24. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.000 Proverbs 24. 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:43.000 Proverbs 24. 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:44.000 Proverbs 24. 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:45.000 Proverbs 24. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.000 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.000 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.000 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.000 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.000 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.000 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.000 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:47.220 Proverbs 24. 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:00.900 Proverbs 24. 00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:02.799 I'll look at verses 11 and 12 here. 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:06.180 Picking up in verse 11 it says, 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:09.200 Rescue those who are being taken away to death. 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:11.680 Hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:14.680 If you say, Behold, we did not know this. 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:17.519 Does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:20.480 Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it? 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:23.680 And will he not repay man according to his work? 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:32.700 There are tens of thousands in this very state, our state of Georgia, that are being exactly what this passage says. 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:34.220 Being taken away to death. 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:36.120 They're heading towards the slaughter. 00:28:37.360 --> 00:28:41.779 And we so often, so often do exactly what verse 12 says not to do. 00:28:43.380 --> 00:28:45.340 We say, We did not know this. 00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:45.980 We weren't aware. 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:48.460 We try to just ignore it. 00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:50.140 Pretend the issue doesn't exist. 00:28:51.620 --> 00:28:57.519 Pretend this isn't something that's happening right around us in Georgia and Atlanta and Gainesville. 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.180 Dahlonega. 00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:02.720 But we can't ignore it. 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:04.180 We know it does happen. 00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:05.299 And the Lord knows it. 00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:06.539 The Lord sees our hearts. 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:09.360 The Lord knows whether we are helping or not. 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:13.400 Think about James 1, verse 27. 00:29:14.060 --> 00:29:18.200 It says that religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this. 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:21.060 To visit orphans and widows in their affliction. 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:23.980 And to keep oneself unstained from the world. 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:30.160 Now, why does James, led by the Holy Spirit, decide to cite these two, widows and orphans? 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:34.500 Because they were considered to be in a really particularly helpless state. 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:41.079 He states that true religion, true faith shown through its outworking, 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:44.539 is to visit these orphans and their widows and to care for them. 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:49.839 Because they're in such a helpless spot, what about the unborn? 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:55.179 They're in the most vulnerable spot and helpless state that anyone possibly can be. 00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:58.619 We have such a great duty to protect those. 00:30:00.199 --> 00:30:01.199 So what can we do? 00:30:01.899 --> 00:30:04.179 This brings us to our third section. 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:06.299 Ways to help. 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:08.859 Ways to help. 00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:12.679 First way is to vote. 00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:15.199 To vote. 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:22.720 Abortion is an issue that should be considered as one of, if not, the most primary issue when we think about voting. 00:30:23.580 --> 00:30:25.860 Because we're losing this many lives every year. 00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:30.180 When we vote, we should do some actual research about where people are at with the issue. 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:33.039 And what they've actually done about it in the past. 00:30:33.160 --> 00:30:40.080 I believe it's many of our temptations to simply vote for a candidate because they're part of a certain party. 00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:41.720 And that's the party we always vote for. 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:44.680 That's not bad in all cases. 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:51.019 But we should challenge ourselves to research, to study, to see where candidates actually are with an issue. 00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:54.740 Before just choosing to vote for them out of tradition or allegiance to a party. 00:30:55.900 --> 00:31:00.299 I think there's another just as dangerous temptation for a lot of us too. 00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:07.840 And that temptation is to vote for a candidate because they have very subtly different views. 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:10.959 That truly do match up much closer to our own. 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:15.619 That's definitely not bad in all cases either. 00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:22.619 But again, we must challenge ourselves to see where they truly stand and see what they can actually do given their position. 00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:26.919 In short, we should vote in light of the issue of abortion. 00:31:27.179 --> 00:31:27.859 Simple as that. 00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:29.659 Second way. 00:31:29.659 --> 00:31:29.679 Second way. 00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:32.039 Physically serve. 00:31:33.159 --> 00:31:34.159 Physically serve. 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:48.219 Now here are two incredibly sometimes true and incredibly important to think about complaints that pro-choice supporters often have against us. 00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:55.299 First one is that they often say that we want the children to be born, but we give no assistance to helping them get to that point. 00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.339 Big one. 00:31:58.380 --> 00:32:06.380 Second one is they also often say that once the children are born to parents who can't raise them, there are no options, no help, no support. 00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:14.020 Now if these things are true, if they have legitimate complaints, and I think in a lot of cases they are, 00:32:15.300 --> 00:32:20.140 these are things that it is the church's responsibility to help with. 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:22.040 There's no getting around that. 00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:24.740 The church's responsibility to help with. 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:33.120 It's our job as a church to educate, to provide support and assistance to mothers in crisis pregnancy situations. 00:32:33.119 --> 00:32:36.500 And it's also our job as a church. 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:40.500 We just read the passage on orphans and widows. 00:32:40.639 --> 00:32:46.099 When a child cannot be taken care of, it is our job to care for them. 00:32:47.139 --> 00:32:48.459 It's our job to care for them. 00:32:48.739 --> 00:32:54.559 These are huge, huge, huge needs in our country, and even in our four-county area, Lumpkin Hall, Dawson, White. 00:32:55.239 --> 00:32:56.659 Huge, huge, huge needs. 00:32:56.660 --> 00:33:08.120 And I'm sure that many of you guys are aware, and I'm sure there's some of you that aren't, of how involved our church is in both of these efforts. 00:33:10.040 --> 00:33:15.040 First off, in giving assistance to expecting mothers right in town, there's the DeLonga Care Center, 00:33:15.700 --> 00:33:20.800 which offers free ultrasounds, counseling, and a lot of other services to mothers in crisis pregnancy situations. 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:26.079 We've had multiple people in our church involved there throughout the years and still do. 00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:33.299 If you're interested in helping in that way, which is a great thing to do, see Miranda Keough or see Sarah Stubbs. 00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:36.079 They're both very, very involved there. 00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:39.819 They can always use more people there and need help. 00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:46.240 Second way is helping the children whose parents are unable to raise them. 00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:53.519 I think all of us that have been here a couple of years have seen an explosion of the AVA initiative. 00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:57.339 So, so, so great to see. 00:33:58.160 --> 00:34:02.380 We've seen the church's efforts explode in helping with foster care. 00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:07.539 If you're not involved in some way of serving the AVA initiative, you should be. 00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:13.119 We have three families in our church that are currently fostering children, have a family that has adopted children. 00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:15.800 There are care teams that need help. 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:17.699 To support these families. 00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.679 And these needs are simple. 00:34:19.839 --> 00:34:21.239 They're not complicated. 00:34:21.459 --> 00:34:24.219 They're making a meal once a month. 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:25.759 Babysitting every now and then. 00:34:26.219 --> 00:34:27.179 Doing some yard work. 00:34:27.319 --> 00:34:28.199 Simple as that. 00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:31.939 Contact the Stubbs or the McSpaddens if you all are interested in that. 00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:39.639 It is our responsibility to help children when their parents are unable to help them. 00:34:40.919 --> 00:34:42.299 Get involved with the AVA initiative. 00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:44.659 Get a baby bottle on your way out. 00:34:44.819 --> 00:34:45.759 Make sure you do that. 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:54.159 So there are plenty, plenty, plenty of ways to physically serve and to help make those complaints untrue. 00:34:54.579 --> 00:34:57.519 We do not want those complaints to be true, and so often they are. 00:34:58.819 --> 00:35:02.059 So many ways we can help, and we have that responsibility to help. 00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:03.679 Third way. 00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:07.179 Third way to help is to speak. 00:35:07.179 --> 00:35:13.359 This is, in my opinion, the hardest way. 00:35:15.839 --> 00:35:24.679 Abortion is an issue that is shied away from so often in conversation, but it's an issue that should be talked about much, much more. 00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:31.799 Nathan, a couple years ago, in the sanctity of life sermon, summed up the way we should speak about it in three ways. 00:35:32.199 --> 00:35:33.960 I'm going to borrow those this morning. 00:35:34.899 --> 00:35:37.679 First way is we should speak about it with compassion. 00:35:38.739 --> 00:35:40.579 We should speak about it with compassion. 00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:51.380 So often when we as believers talk about abortion, we can come off as harsh or unloving or full of truth, but lacking any concept of grace. 00:35:51.380 --> 00:36:01.119 A couple years ago, I was talking about the issue of abortion with somebody that I'm really, really, really close to. 00:36:02.920 --> 00:36:10.240 Looking back, I was talking really harshly, showing incredible small amounts of grace. 00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:18.199 A couple minutes into the conversation, she was cheering up and getting really, really, really noticeably upset. 00:36:19.899 --> 00:36:23.359 And she just started saying, can I be forgiven? 00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:25.739 Is this sin forgivable? 00:36:26.439 --> 00:36:32.579 I had absolutely no idea that that tragedy was part of her past. 00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:33.959 No idea at all. 00:36:35.379 --> 00:36:36.859 I was dumbfounded. 00:36:36.959 --> 00:36:37.579 I was shocked. 00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:45.440 I was frustrated with myself for how I had been talking, especially to someone as close to me as she was. 00:36:46.319 --> 00:36:48.000 I had to clarify. 00:36:48.219 --> 00:36:50.119 I had to remind of the truth of the gospel. 00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:53.599 That when we were at our worst, Christ died for us. 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:57.739 He did not die for perfect, all cleaned up Christians. 00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:59.739 He died for us while we were yet in our sin. 00:37:00.239 --> 00:37:01.119 While we were still sinners. 00:37:01.199 --> 00:37:03.599 While we were filthy, dirty, capable of nothing good. 00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:05.360 That's when he died for us. 00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:10.660 We must speak about it with compassion because the Lord has shown us so much. 00:37:12.260 --> 00:37:13.019 So much. 00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:18.920 So for those that have had an abortion, they can be forgiven. 00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:20.000 They can be cleansed. 00:37:20.059 --> 00:37:21.880 They can be made free from that guilt. 00:37:23.640 --> 00:37:26.160 All through Jesus' blood shed on your behalf. 00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:30.500 Secondly, we should speak with clarity. 00:37:31.420 --> 00:37:33.119 We should speak with clarity. 00:37:35.699 --> 00:37:46.099 As I was just talking about, one of the last things that we want to do as believers is to make our own sin seem small and to make the sin of others seem large. 00:37:46.099 --> 00:37:53.860 We don't want to walk around thinking that we have a little speck in our eye and the log is in somebody else's exact opposite. 00:37:54.860 --> 00:37:58.759 There's a huge way in which we often just fail to be clear with this issue. 00:37:59.139 --> 00:38:02.000 We forget that this is a forgivable sin. 00:38:03.159 --> 00:38:07.360 We forget that even murder, even abortion can be forgiven. 00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:16.320 Third way, in light of as we're speaking with that clarity, we also need to speak with conviction. 00:38:17.380 --> 00:38:18.820 Speak with conviction. 00:38:18.820 --> 00:38:27.380 We must be clear that the Lord can forgive all sin, but that that is sin. 00:38:27.580 --> 00:38:29.080 That is murder. 00:38:29.200 --> 00:38:33.019 The killing of someone who is completely just defenseless. 00:38:34.840 --> 00:38:38.059 The act of taking away something that was never our right to take. 00:38:39.160 --> 00:38:40.200 It is truly murder. 00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:42.500 We must speak with that conviction. 00:38:42.500 --> 00:38:49.360 Fourth and last way to help for this morning is to pray. 00:38:51.079 --> 00:38:51.780 To pray. 00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:55.199 Pray for expecting mothers. 00:38:55.380 --> 00:38:57.760 Pray for moms to get wise counsel. 00:38:57.920 --> 00:39:01.780 Pray to be put in those moms' lives to speak truth into the value of their child's life. 00:39:02.920 --> 00:39:09.059 Pray for moms and dads to support their baby, to give it the chance to live life and be an image bearer for our Lord. 00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:11.380 Pray for our leaders. 00:39:12.500 --> 00:39:15.039 Pray for those that are in the government. 00:39:15.219 --> 00:39:20.860 Pray for their hearts that they would see the value of life and take steps needed to make our country a place that values it. 00:39:22.360 --> 00:39:23.320 Pray for the church. 00:39:23.639 --> 00:39:24.199 Pray for each other. 00:39:24.360 --> 00:39:25.679 Pray for the church to vote well. 00:39:26.099 --> 00:39:28.659 To think about the candidates they choose in light of this. 00:39:29.579 --> 00:39:32.079 Pray for us to be motivated to serve physically. 00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:35.780 To do anything that we possibly can to serve this issue. 00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:38.440 And pray for us to speak. 00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:42.360 Our silence on that issue is so often just pathetic. 00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:44.639 Pray against apathy. 00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:50.519 And pray for the diligence to speak with compassion, with clarity, and with conviction. 00:39:50.519 --> 00:39:58.739 Now, I've sat under quite a few sermons on Sanctity of Life Sunday. 00:39:58.739 --> 00:40:05.159 And even in the process of preparing for this sermon, listen to quite a few more. 00:40:05.979 --> 00:40:13.859 And it's very, very easy for me when dwelling on this issue and thinking about it for a long time to get down. 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:18.859 To get caught up in the frustrations when we see how far this world has to come. 00:40:18.860 --> 00:40:22.440 How far it's gone from the garden. 00:40:23.340 --> 00:40:27.220 And how sin so often just seems to be taking over. 00:40:28.420 --> 00:40:32.559 When I get frustrated, I start believing that the task is insurmountable. 00:40:32.640 --> 00:40:34.559 We can't do it. 00:40:34.559 --> 00:40:37.279 But that's a lie. 00:40:37.860 --> 00:40:39.719 That's a complete lie. 00:40:39.799 --> 00:40:42.940 Those are lies that the devil has designed to try to make us apathetic. 00:40:43.599 --> 00:40:44.960 He's trying to make us give up. 00:40:45.779 --> 00:40:48.799 But brothers and sisters, he is not the one that is ruling this earth. 00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:51.600 He is not the one ruling. 00:40:52.820 --> 00:40:56.080 Our God is in the heavens and he does as he wishes. 00:40:56.740 --> 00:40:58.620 Our Lord is in complete control. 00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:04.360 Let's remember that when facing issues like these that seem like we can't do it. 00:41:04.640 --> 00:41:05.480 As the song says, 00:41:05.580 --> 00:41:07.220 This is my father's world. 00:41:07.740 --> 00:41:12.440 Oh, let me never forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, 00:41:13.160 --> 00:41:14.860 God is the ruler yet. 00:41:16.019 --> 00:41:17.180 This is my father's world. 00:41:17.179 --> 00:41:18.699 Why should my heart be sad? 00:41:18.779 --> 00:41:19.759 The Lord is king. 00:41:20.239 --> 00:41:21.460 Let the heavens ring. 00:41:21.899 --> 00:41:24.039 God reigns and let the earth be glad. 00:41:25.779 --> 00:41:30.759 We can trust the Lord that he is bringing, ushering in that kingdom even now. 00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:33.960 And we are part of that. 00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:35.259 We are part of that. 00:41:35.319 --> 00:41:36.879 I think we so often just are like, 00:41:37.279 --> 00:41:38.719 Yes, Lord, come back. 00:41:38.759 --> 00:41:41.219 And we don't do anything to usher that in. 00:41:42.399 --> 00:41:43.759 We are part of that rule. 00:41:43.839 --> 00:41:45.059 We're part of that reign. 00:41:47.179 --> 00:41:49.539 We are to be serving by helping eradicate sin. 00:41:49.619 --> 00:41:51.739 We have no right to sit idly by. 00:41:52.559 --> 00:41:54.339 We must do something. 00:41:55.279 --> 00:41:58.480 I'm going to end with a William Wilberforce quote, 00:41:58.759 --> 00:42:03.819 the man who tirelessly worked almost his whole life to end the slave trade in England. 00:42:03.820 --> 00:42:06.559 And he says this. 00:42:08.039 --> 00:42:09.920 No man has a right to be idle. 00:42:11.440 --> 00:42:13.740 Where is it that in such a world as this, 00:42:14.220 --> 00:42:19.820 that health and leisure and affluence may not find some ignorance to instruct, 00:42:20.360 --> 00:42:21.740 some wrong to redress, 00:42:21.980 --> 00:42:23.240 some want to supply, 00:42:23.720 --> 00:42:25.140 some misery to alleviate. 00:42:25.680 --> 00:42:28.140 No man has a right to be idle. 00:42:28.139 --> 00:42:30.099 Let's pray. 00:42:30.099 --> 00:42:30.119 Let's pray.