Opening Prayer
Dear Lord, by Your grace, we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to You so that we may declare Your praises. You have called us out of darkness into Your wonderful light. Help us to be wise as we walk and talk with those who may be in darkness and without hope. Help us to make the most of every opportunity as ambassadors of His Revealed Light. In Jesus’ Strong Name we pray. Amen!
The Setting: Hopeless
Picture this situation:
You have a friend who has had three abortions, the first was at age 16. She had been date raped, and her parents insisted abortion was the only way out. The second happened at age 18 when she became pregnant by her boyfriend, the son of a prominent family in town. His parents insisted the matter be handled quietly and efficiently. The boyfriend then dropped her and went on to other interests in life. The third abortion happened at age 21, shortly after she was admitted to law school-a dream she had nourished for many years. Alone in the big city, with no one to turn to, abortion, once again, seemed to be the only answer.
Now ten years later, your friend has a hard time maintaining relationships that are more than superficial. Her sense of worth lessens. There seems to be a deep emptiness, a longing, and pain that cannot find a lasting peace and fulfillment. One evening over a couple of beers, some of her feelings began to surface. She sees no hope for her situation in life.
Your desire to love your friend and help her find a way to peace and a new life seems to find a focus as you look at your church’s vision statement:
Our Vision: “To be the Church where people want to bring their friends to meet Jesus.”
Knowing that your friend has not had a sexually pure life and has had an abortion three times, how would you feel inviting her to come to your church? Discuss in small groups for three to five minutes.
Knowing that your friend knows Jesus only as a moral teacher with high standards, how do you think she might feel about meeting Jesus? Discuss in small groups for three to five minutes.
A Glimmer of Hope through “The Light”
Having had your friend and her feelings about herself and her life weighing on your mind for several weeks now, you suddenly notice the banner hanging on the wall in church.
It says:
OUR MISSION:
To REACH THE LOST with the Gospel of Jesus Christ
To DISCIPLE THE SAVED with the Gospel of Jesus Christ
To LOVE ALL PEOPLE with the Heart of Jesus Christ
Not being on the Evangelism Board and not feeling very competent about witnessing your faith, you never paid much attention to your congregation’s Mission Statement before. Suddenly, it takes on new meaning for you. Why do you think this is? Discuss in small groups for three to five minutes.
Read Acts 17:26-28 and Isaiah 55:6-11.
Some thoughts on why we feel the way we do when we act contrary to God’s natural plan: When God causes a life to be created in a woman, her body suddenly moves into high gear in various ways so that this life may be nourished, cared for, and brought to the point of being able to live outside the womb. What kind of feelings does a woman have when her child dies in the womb or is stillborn?
If a pregnancy is forcibly ended by abortion, is this according to God’s natural plan? Does it make sense that there would be consequences for such action-that there might be some feelings which have to be dealt with?
Read Psalm 32:3-5; Psalm 1, especially verse 6.
Although Romans 1:18-32 is written in a different context, might it not also apply to how God speaks His judgment on the sin of abortion so that when a person begins to feel the consequences of their deeds, they might be made ready to find a way that leads to true peace?
Shining the Light of the Gospel So Hope May Be Restored
How do you think Jesus would feel about meeting your friend?
Read Matthew 9:35-36.
What kind of attitude would He want us to have as we speak to such a person? What else might He want you to do?
Read Matthew 9:37-38.
How does God deal with us when we act contrary to His plan? Does He immediately speak to the sin or to the symptom; immediately judge us or speak to us in the situation in which we find ourselves? Discuss Genesis 3:8 11a—then 11b; Genesis 4:9—then v. 10; John 4:7-15—then v. 16-17; John 8:1-11a-11b—then 13b; Luke 7:(36-39 context) 40-43—then 44-47—then 47-48; John 21:15-19.
God’s Light of Grace for Every Situation
All of us, because of the total corruption of our nature, are capable of falling into any sin and ought to say as we observe anyone in any sin, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” What is Jesus’ invitation to anyone burdened by any sin or situation?
Read Matthew 11:28-30.
What should our role be in this matter?
Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-20.
What is our message?
Read John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21 and 15. (Put this in personal terms or in the context of a personal life experience.)
In the United States there are about 3,500 abortions daily-about 1.3 million a year. This means that there are this many mothers who have to deal with the results of this action contrary to God’s plan for them. Can just any pro-life group offer them hope and the true healing they need? What do you suppose is the largest hidden mission field we have? What is our message?
Read Matthew 11:28 30; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:1 5; 2 Corinthians 5:14 & 15 21.
Philip Yancey, in his book What’s So Amazing About Grace?, says: “Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more. And grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us less.”
This grace, given in Jesus, the Light of the world, through His Cross, gives hope to all who receive Him and His grace in faith. Its power is revealed in the empty tomb, which together with the cross may be powerful signs for the mother who may mourn an aborted child.
Closing Prayer
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). Amen!!!