Life Thoughts in the Church Year
Life Thoughts in the Church Year are designed to help pastors and congregations see the church year through the lens of the sanctity of human life. Life Thoughts are based on the appointed readings from Lutheran Service Book using the Three-Year Lectionary.
Also available:
Life Thoughts in the Church Year – One-Year Lectionary 2025 (Word)
Life Thoughts in the Church Year – One-Year Lectionary 2025 (PDF)
Audio: LifeMoments from Lutherans For Life and KFUO Radio
Life Thoughts in the Church Year – Three-Year Lectionary:
November 3 – Pentecost XXIV (Proper 26B) – Almighty God has given us solemn privilege and responsibility to instruct children about their Heavenly Father (Deuteronomy 6:7). This absolutely includes recognizing Him alone as Lord over life-and-death decisions as well as receiving every neighbor as a blessing (Mark 12:29-31). They need to know the power and presence and compassion of Christ Jesus is sufficient (Hebrews 9:14), even in surprise pregnancy and terminal diagnosis.
November 10 – Pentecost XXV (Proper 27B) – The God who abides among us in both incarnate body and Holy Spirit knows our material needs. He remembers how we cannot provide for ourselves, much less for each other or anyone else. So, He who sends mouths also sends meat. Whether surprise pregnancy, terminal diagnosis, or any other circumstance, He will surround with jars that do not run empty and jugs we cannot exhaust (1 Kings 17:16).
November 17 – Pentecost XXVI (Proper 28B) – The heart broken by abortion may be sitting beside us in church. This one desperately longs for the relief and healing only God’s forgiveness affords (Hebrews 10:22). We have no right to refuse them this Word because we fear political controversy. Instead, we have the privilege to proclaim abortion as sin and explicitly identify it as atoned for in Christ.
November 24 – Pentecost XXVII (Proper 29B) – The Scriptural Ancient of Days has gray hair (Daniel 7:9). The Word of the Lord pictures Him as aged. And while the world idolizes youthfulness, the Bible speaks flatteringly of getting old. “Elder” is a compliment, long life is blessing, and advanced years embody wisdom and honor, even though they often also entail weaknesses. The Gospel of everlasting life in Christ leaves no room for physician-assisted suicide.
December 1 – Advent I – Abortion and assisted suicide arise out of panic. The Advent Gospel offers something better: promise and patient anticipation. During surprise pregnancy or terminal diagnosis, Jesus Christ means that better days are coming (Jeremiah 33:14), redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28), and none who wait upon the Lord shall be put to shame (Psalm 25:3). Sufferings will end, but blessings accumulate. Breathe, trust, hope, and rejoice.
December 8 – Advent II – The people of Christ do not sit still or stay silent. We shout, sing, praise, and bless (Psalm 66:1-2, 8). We get to testify after the fashion of the Baptist and loud like the Lord who has opened our lips. May we raise our Gospel-motivated voice For Life to encourage and advocate for those vulnerable to the deception of using death as a solution.
December 15 – Advent III – Gospel-motivated voices For Life bring reasonableness to the cultural conversation about life issues (Philippians 4:5). It means a message of joy and hope instead of just another angry and fearful demeanor. The sanctity of life proclaims good news to neighbors made poor (Luke 7:22) by pressures toward abortion and physician-assisted suicide. God remains mighty to save (Zephaniah 3:17), even in surprise pregnancy and terminal diagnosis.
December 22 – Advent IV – Whether the hamlet of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) or gestating babies (Luke 1:41-44), the God of Christmas loves to elevate what seems insignificant. Indeed, the heart of the Gospel consists in exalting those of humble estate (Luke 1:52). Rejoicing in the Lord who creates, redeems, and calls regardless of size, skills, or circumstances, the sanctity of life delights to declare nothing less!
December 29 – Christmas I – The Old Testament ritual of redeeming firstborns clearly declares that the Lord lends us our children, but they belong to Him (Exodus 13:11-12). Little ones are gifts and privileges, not property, preferences, accessories, or rights. The coming of Christ extends this designation to every neighbor, including those of advanced age (Luke 2:25-26, 36-38). Let us not neglect to teach and admonish one another about it (Colossians 3:16)!
January 5 – Christmas II – No human life—and no human pregnancy—ever goes unplanned or unwanted by Almighty God. Ephesians’ first chapter makes clear the Heavenly Father conceived each precious person “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). And the coming of Christ Jesus incorporates male and female, old or young, into heaven’s household by adoption. Children come as Gospel gifts!
January 12 – Epiphany I/Baptism of Our Lord – With the sacrament of Baptism, the Lord Jesus makes childbirth central to the Christian Gospel. The coming forth of new life always provides cause for celebration because the Savior has sanctified it. Human beings as helpless and dependent as gestating babies have His blessing: “You are my beloved child, and with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22).
January 19 – Epiphany II – Surprise pregnancies sometimes seem like tidal waves. Terminal diagnoses also often come like thunderstorms. But even among their sufferings, the Lord Jesus exercises ultimate authority and never fails to make wine for us out of water. The gifts He delivers through each neighbor differ, but the same Spirit works (1 Corinthians 12:4-6) the sanctity of life in them all.
January 26 – St. Titus, Pastor and Confessor – The Apostle Paul involved Gentile Titus in Christian ministry to embody how the Gospel doesn’t discriminate. So confinement to mother’s womb will not disqualify anyone from worth: Jesus is Lord there, too (Psalm 71:6). And advanced age cannot undermine it either: He employs “elder” as an expression of respect (Titus 1:5-9). We dare not close the kingdom doors Almighty God has opened!
February 2 – Purification of Mary and Presentation of Our Lord – Ever since sinfulness first afflicted creation, labor and delivery sheds a mother’s blood. The Law of the Lord laments that this echo and threat of death operates right where human life emerges from. So He intervenes with atonement to preserve that precious life. And Jesus embodies this opposition to abortion from the very beginning (Luke 2:22-24).
February 9 – Epiphany V – Both Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5) and Peter (Luke 5:8) believed their sinfulness unforgivable. Many mothers and fathers conclude the same about aborting their own children. Yet God’s mercy overflows the altar (Isaiah 6:6-7) and even the temple (Luke 5:3) until Jesus preaches it in public abundance. And in both cases He commissions agents to continue announcing. Let us also extend His grace to hearts broken by abortion.
February 16 – Epiphany VI – Only in 1 Corinthians 15:8 (“untimely born”) do the Scriptures use a technical term for “abortion.” Paul labeled himself like a miscarriage or one designated for intentional termination. But the Lord God intervened by reaching out with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Savior dying and rising makes abortion entirely unnecessary – and diametrically opposite to the Gospel message and community.
February 23 – Epiphany VII – Joseph’s brothers aborted him well after his birth because they thought him a threat. History eventually disclosed the Heavenly Father’s design: a life-giving mission they didn’t see (Genesis 45:7-8). The same holds true in the surprise pregnancies and terminal diagnoses we encounter. So Christians practice servanthood to apparently burdensome persons (Luke 6:29), because like mercy from God makes our lives possible.
March 2 – Transfiguration of Our Lord – Our Savior’s miraculous radiance reveals three sanctity of life truths. The timing and manner of our deaths—like those of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah—are God’s business and decision (Luke 9:30). Then, every human life receives a glory from Jesus that we cannot always immediately envision. Just because it’s hidden doesn’t mean it’s missing. And this message isn’t meant for keeping to ourselves!
March 9 – Lent I – Abortion and assisted suicide enact idolatry by assessing life apart from the Word of the Lord (Luke 4:4, 8). Saving faith, on the other hand, receives both child and trials as riches from the loving hand of God. He who makes hills give milk and honey will no doubt bring forth even better blessings from the humblest human life!
March 16 – Lent II – The heart of Christianity is proclaiming Gospel promises courageously. Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:8) follows the lead of Jesus Himself (Luke 13:31-32) in speaking of God’s truth and Christ’s love even when unpopular. They believe their lives—and everyone else’s—belong in the Heavenly Father’s hands above all. Gospel-motivated voices For Life, take note!
March 23 – Lent III – If Almighty God has “no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezekiel 33:11), how much more does death of innocents grieve Him? Why then should the people of God ever tolerate the killing of unborn sisters and brothers? And if the Lord of all only deals in death when human iniquity does not allow Him to avoid it, will not the same love move us to warn others against dealing in death?
March 30 – Lent IV – The prodigal’s father kept watching every day for his wayward son’s return. He had to have in order to spot him “while he was still a long way off” (Luke 15:20). Our Gracious God never gives up on a human life, no matter what size, skills, circumstances, or sins it involves. We need not let surprise pregnancies, chronic conditions, or terminal diagnoses steal our hope—or anyone else’s!