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Pro-Life Preaching and Teaching Ideas
Within a congregation, the pastor's preaching on life and abortion is always a challenge. However, it is a challenge that, by the grace of God and in the power of the Holy Spirit, must and can be met. Equip yourself and prepare your church to be a voice for the sanctity of human life. Find sermon outlines, downloadable posters and other free resources here at www.beavoice.net. Each week, Priests for Life provides an email service to clergy (subscribe at clergy@priestsforlife.org) containing three elements: General Intercessions, a one-paragraph bulletin insert, and suggestions for drawing pro-life themes out of the Sunday readings for the homily. The general intercessions for every Sunday of the year (in English and Spanish) can be found at www.priestsforlife.org/intercessions, more bulletin inserts can be found at www.priestsforlife.org/bulletin, and homily hints can be found at www.priestsforlife.org/preaching. To receive these resources in a weekly e-mail contact us at clergy@priestsforlife.org. Go to http://www.heartlink.org/directors/abortion/a000000317.cfm for REASONS WHY ADDRESS LIFE AND ABORTION and HOW TO ADDRESS LIFE AND ABORTION . Once the pastor declares, even briefly, historic Christianity's teaching, a theological-moral ethos on life and abortion will begin to emerge, develop, and mature in the congregation. Pastor Ernie Sander believes in being a Doer of the Word as in (James 1:22) and that good government and faith in God are inseparable. Check out his website at www.wrwl.org for his audio & video messages, list of important documents, thousands of inspirational websites of various denominations... And, listen to Pastor Sander report on the latest news on www.crusaderadio.com - news you won't find on commercial news broadcasts. More Resources Three Elements for a Pro-Life Sermon Sermon Notes from Union Center Christian Church Catholic Encyclopedia : abortion - gives the history of Christian opposition to abortion from the "Apology" of Athenagoras of 176 AD and the early fathers of Christianity. Also analyzes the moral philosophies and arguments that clearly condemn abortion. Evangelium Vitae - Pope John Paul II's encyclical letter on the value of human life, 1995 from Catholic Information Network "Fetus as a Patient" - Discourse to International Congress, Pope John Paul II, April 3, 2000 Mother Teresa's Views on Abortion - USA national prayer breakfast, 1994 Roman Catholic Catechism : Respect for Human Life - Covering abortion (statement 2270) and other life and death topics. From St Charles Borromeo Church website. Letter of Pope John Paul II to all the world's bishops - On combatting abortion and euthanasia, 19 May 1991 Buddhism and Medical Ethics - A Bibliographic Introduction, Published in the Journal of Buddhist Ethics, Volume Two, 1995, ISSN 1076-9005 Certainly, disagreements with the pastor's teaching on life and abortion are likely to occur. In these conversations, the pastor's task is not so much to win arguments as to continue to propose the truth of Christian teaching—and that includes the responsibility to listen to those who disagree and to respond thoughtfully. All involved should recall that these conversations take place within the strong bonds of fellowship, unity and Christian love. Again, the pastor's privilege and duty involve truthful witness, not the scoring of debate points. After the pastor has taken this first and most important step of clearly stating historic Christian teaching on life and abortion, other steps can and should follow. Future sermons, Bible studies, church school lessons and newsletter articles should contain occasional references to the Gospel of Life, to the forgiveness of God for those involved in abortion, to the protection of the unborn child and mother, to the clear biblical teaching for life and against abortion. So from you, the pastor, let the word on historic Christian teaching on life and abortion go forth. The Gospel will be more faithfully served. Your congregation will be transformed. Hearts and minds will be changed. Lives will be saved. Wounded lives will be healed. And all of this will not be by accident, but by the powerful grace of God. |