Sanctity of Life Sunday, January 21, 2024
You can listen to the sermon podcast on our sermon page or watch the service video.
Download PDF of resources here
Scripture References (ESV):
These are verses mentioned in the sermon with the Hebrew word “ani,” meaning poor or afflicted. This Hebrew word and its various forms are used 77 times in the Old Testament.
Exodus 22:25-27 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.”
Leviticus 19:10 “And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”
Job 19:12 “…because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him.”
Psalm 25:16 “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.”
Isaiah 3:14-15 “The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of his people…
‘What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?’ declares the Lord God of hosts.”
Exodus 22:25-27 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.”
Psalm 12:5 “‘Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,’ says the LORD; ‘I will place him in the safety for which he longs.’”
Isaiah 58:6-7 — HOSPITALITY “Is not this the fast that I choose… Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house…”
Proverbs 31:8-9 — ADVOCACY “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of those who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Articles:
These are listed in the order referenced in the sermon. Portions of these articles are quoted or influenced the content of the sermon.
Julie Wernau, “Support for Abortion Access Is Near Record, WSJ-NORC Poll Finds.” Nov. 20, 2023. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/support-for-abortion-access-is-near-record-wsj-norc-poll-finds-6021c712
Kate Zernike, “Why Democracy Hasn’t Settled the Abortion Question.” Dec. 17, 2023. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/17/us/where-will-abortion-rights-land.html
Louise Perry, “We Are Repaganizing.” October 2023. First Things. https://www.firstthings.com/article/2023/10/we-are-repaganizing
Ross Douthat, “The Case Against Abortion.” Nov. 30, 2021. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/30/opinion/abortion-dobbs-supreme-court.html
Erika Bachiochi, “What Makes a Fetus a Person?” July 1, 2022. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/01/opinion/fetal-personhood-constitution.html
Charles C. Camosy, “An Open Secret: White Privilege’s Targeting of Vulnerable Populations with Abortion.” Oct. 3, 2018. Church Life Journal, University of Notre Dame. https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/an-open-secret-white-privileges-targeting-of-vulnerable-populations-with-abortion/
Kirsten Sanders, “In the Shoes of the Woman Considering Abortion.” March 8, 2022. Plough. https://www.plough.com/en/topics/justice/culture-of-life/in-the-shoes-of-the-woman-considering-abortion
Jessica Keating, “Groundbreaking National Study Shows That Americans Struggle to Think Coherently About Abortion.” July 22, 2020. Church Life Journal, University of Notre Dame. https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/groundbreaking-national-study-shows-that-americans-struggle-to-think-coherently-about-abortion/
Carter Snead, “The Jurisprudence and Politics of Abortion.” Dec. 7, 2023. Commonweal Magazine. https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/abortion-politics-pro-life-snead-prusak-roe-ohio
Carter Snead, “The Anthropology of Expressive Individualism.” Dec. 1, 2020. Church Life Journal, University of Notre Dame. https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/the-anthropology-of-expressive-individualism/
Aaron Earls, “Men Play Significant Role in Decisions Surrounding Unplanned Pregnancies.” Jan. 21, 2022. Lifeway Research. https://research.lifeway.com/2022/01/21/men-play-significant-role-in-decisions-surrounding-unplanned-pregnancies/
Timothy Keller, “Justice in the Bible.” 2020. Life in the Gospel. https://quarterly.gospelinlife.com/justice-in-the-bible/
Stefani McDade “Should Christians Support Making Birth Free?” Jan. 25, 2023. Christianity Today. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/january-web-only/make-birth-free-pro-life-proposal-roe-anniversary-christian.html
Thomas Joseph White, Kevin L. Flannery, O. Carter Snead, Christopher Tollefsen, “Life at the Center: A Pro-Life Statement.” Nov. 2023. First Things. https://www.firstthings.com/article/2023/11/life-at-the-center-a-pro-life-statement
Daniel K. Williams, “Who Pays the Price for Crisis Pregnancies?” June 30, 2022. Christianity Today. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/june-web-only/abortion-roe-v-wade-dobbs-price-crisis-pregnancies.html
Daniel Bennett, “4 Post-Roe Policies Worth Pushing For.” June 28, 2022. Christianity Today. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/june-web-only/abortion-roe-v-wade-dobbs-policies-worth-pushing.html
