Starting to Plan Part 5
First a quick review in case you are a new Life Advocate or you just forgot! Our training sessions flow from Dr. David Adams’ booklet “Implementing a Pro-life Theology in a Lutheran Congregation.” The basic outline is to have congregations establish a Plan to Teach, a Plan to Care, and a Plan to Witness. We are still working under the first, a Plan to Teach. We shared ideas on teaching the young children in Part 1 and on teaching the older children in Part 2. Part 3 dealt with teaching the youth and Part 4 was teaching parents. These first four can be found on the RFL website. Just click “Life Advocate Training” in the navigation menu. Dr. David Adams’ booklet is available there as well.
If you are a new Life Advocate or if you have not watched the DVD on Practical Applications, I urge you do so. You can find this DVD under “Media Downloads.” This can be an outline for you as you plan to do more within your congregation to connect the Word of Life to the life issues.
As you enter into this planning process, please remember it is planning. No one expects you to DO everything at once! But you can start planning to do them this year, next year, in two years. Look ahead. Work with other educators, teachers, DCE’s, etc. and see how you might coordinate some of your ideas into the congregation’s educational ministry.
Plan to Teach Adults
Adults in general need education and help in understanding the life issues and how God’s Word speaks to them. Something to have in mind especially when it comes to adults is that we want to help raise their level of awareness of these issues. Our educational efforts should be aimed at raising these issues to a new level for our adult members. They are more than political issues. They are more than moral issues. These are biblical and spiritual issues. When you are dealing with life, you are also dealing with the Author, Redeemer, and Sanctifier of life!
Getting Ready
Bible Study Groups – As we have suggested with others, using adult groups already meeting is the most efficient approach to take. Give your first priority to Bible study groups that meet regularly on Sunday morning or other days during the week. Meet with your pastor and adult leaders to see how life-related studies could be incorporated into these. Be open to a variety of options. You may be able to provide a single study for these groups or a series that runs for several weeks.
While any time is a good time to study life, certain times during the year may be more “logical” than others. For example, using the Sanctity of Human Life Bible study from Lutherans For Life around Life Sunday in January or whenever your congregation observes Life Sunday, would be such a time. Use the study that Sunday morning in adult classes. If there are classes that meet during the week, suggest this study or other life studies be used there as well. Even better would be to have a series on the life issues during the month of January.
Life issue studies could also be need or event driven. For example, your pastor may notice that there seem to be a lot of end-of-life questions being asked or there may be several families in the congregation who are known to be facing difficult situations. A series of studies related to end-of-life issues may be welcomed. Your pastor may even want to address this in a sermon or sermon series.
Sometimes current events may drive a topical study. An example might be that your state is considering some life-related legislation like funding embryonic stem cell research. Bible studies on this may be helpful in answering people’s questions and giving them Word-based information on these issues.
A look ahead at the assigned readings for Sunday may provide an opportunity to study a particular topic. Using Life Thoughts in the Church Year would be a good way to check on this and suggest related studies.
Other Groups – While Bible study groups present good opportunities, you may also find opportunities in other groups. Women’s groups or men’s breakfasts or other adult organizations provide opportunities to offer a life-related presentation or opening devotion.
Special Seminars – Although it takes more work and planning, organizing a special seminar with a speaker or series of speakers, may be something you would want to consider. LFL’s speakers bureau offers a number of speakers who cover a wide range of topics. LFL state affiliates often organize such events and would be able to offer guidance and advice. Call us at the Life Center and we can put you in contact with an “advisor” near you.
Checking Resources
This is where you can make use of the RFL website to find studies and sermons on various topics. The best place to start might be Life Studies Volume 1 which contains studies on a variety of issues. These studies are reproducible and easy to use. The link to this study is http://www.cph.org/p-17600-life-studies-volume-one.aspx Take your time and get to know what else is available on the RFL site.
Brochures – Many of LFL’s brochures can be used as standalone studies. So be sure to check these as you are doing your research.
Videos – One particularly good video to use with adults would be Life Issues in the Pew which is a good overview of the life issues and is available under the Media Download section of the RFL site.