We live in a world that needs to hear the truth of life. Many in our churches need to hear the truth of life. Where do we find such truth? "Your Word is truth," said Jesus. That Word needs to be spoken and applied to the life issues. It needs to be spoken in love. Thus our theme verse, "Speaking the truth in love …" (Ephesians 4:15a ESV).

Enclosed are some samples and information about how your congregation can Speak the Truth of Life on a Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. The "official" Life Sunday is January 17, 2010. However, our materials may be used at any time during the year. Here is a partial list of what is available.

The Mask of Virtue (Isaiah 5:29) – Rev. John Eidsmoe speaks the truth of life by showing how we live in a culture that tries to mask what is evil by calling it good. He comments, "There are no truth-in-packaging laws for evil and falsehood." He points out the "masking" we do with words—"choice," "right," "tissue," etc. But he also points to a Savior who became evil so that we might be declared good in Him!

Speak the Truth of Life (John 8:12) – Rev. Ken Klaus shares the truth of life by stressing the urgency of those of us who have been rescued by a living Savior to speak the message of rescue to others. His conclusion is his summary. "But there are still many, many all around us who continue to live as they always have, in darkness and with death. It is our job to speak the Lord’s truth in love, to let them know there is another life possible. It is our opportunity to let them know of Jesus Who is the Light of the world."

The Truth of Life (Ephesians 4:14-16) – This is my sermon on the theme. The truth about life needs to be spoken first and foremost within the Church. Christ’s people are exposed to so many untruths in society. They need to hear what the Truth of God says. It is a positive and powerful truth. It is a truth easy to speak in love! People motivated by and equipped with this truth can bring change to society.

Really Good News! (Isaiah 62:1-5) – This is my sermon on the OT reading for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany. Sometimes you just have to use an adverb. The Good News about the birth of our Savior is more than Good News. It’s really Good News! It’s really Good News because the Lord will restore His sinful people so completely in Christ that they will be a righteous light to the nations.

Living and Defending Life under the Cross (Romans 12:12) – Dr. Laurence White revives an old Life Sunday theme and connects it with this one. He writes, "The cross contradicts every attempt to define the value of human life in terms of size, or health, or age, or pleasure, or race." He calls to action in his conclusion, " As a redeemed child of the Lord of Life, stand boldly and confidently in defense of life in our culture of death."

LFL designed these materials to complement one another. We encourage using as many as possible to Speak the Truth of Life!

Your servant For Life,

Jim Lamb, Executive Director