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Cherish the Children
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Life Sunday Materials
Dear Friends of Life,
In ancient times, children were not
necessarily presented as the picture of “angelic innocence” we
sometimes portray them as today. Children were seen as weak,
vulnerable, and unable to help themselves. That is precisely why
Jesus asks us to become like little children! (Matthew 18:1-10). He
asks us to recognize our sinfulness, our weakness, and our
helplessness. Then He declares we “are great”! Greatness is total
dependence on the Great One! He lifts us up in His arms. We receive
His forgiveness. We rely on His strength. We can now “cherish the
children” and protect, uplift, and help those who are weak and
vulnerable.
Our prayer is that this year’s Life
Sunday materials will help share this message and apply it to the
unborn, the pregnant teen, post-abortive women and men, and those
dealing with end-of-life concerns. Our
materials may be used to focus on God’s cherishing love of life any
time during the year—and will
assist you in connecting God’s Word of Life with the issues of life.
Here is a brief summary of the five sermons available:
Rev. Ed Engelbrecht summarizes his
sermon well in his concluding paragraph. “Matthew 18:10 is the
passage we think of when we leave baby in the crib. May it ever be
the passage we think of when we remember God’s most cherished gifts:
forgiveness, life, and salvation through Jesus Christ and the gift
of these little ones.”
Cherish the Children
(Matthew 18:1-14)
Rev. Dr. James Lamb’s main point is that
we do not cherish the children because they are precious. We cherish
the children because they are precious to God. Everything we do for
the children flows from this. (PowerPoint™ included.)
You Always Were His Favorite
(Luke 4:16-30)
For those wanting to preach on one of
the readings for January 21, Dr. Lamb offers this sermon based on
the Gospel reading. The sermon reaches out particularly to those who
have had an abortion. It reminds them and all of us that regardless
of what we have done, God’s favor rests upon us through the
forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.
Rev. Greg Schram presents a touching
story about a “triangle of love” between a woman in a crisis
pregnancy, a pregnancy care counselor, and an adoptive couple. He
applies this to the text and concludes that cherishing the children
can be fulfilled “only as we experience being cherished by the One
who sacrificed Himself so that we, His children, would not perish
but have everlasting life. Let Him cherish you, His child. Then
cherish the children as your loving heavenly Father has cherished
you.”
Our Life Sunday materials are designed
to compliment one another. We encourage you to use as many as
possible to help God’s people better understand what it means to Cherish the Children.
May the Lord bless your planning and
preparation!
Your servant For Life,
Jim Lamb, Executive Director
National Lutherans For Life |
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