Abortion in America (Part 2) [Communion]

Last week we began this 2 weeks series about Abortion in America and How We Can Make a Difference. If you weren’t here or didn’t get to listen, go back and check it out on our website or facebook page.

It is likely that we will hear of the overturning of Roe vs. Wade sometime this month and today we will give more insight into what that means for our nation, for our state, and what we can do to help get a HEARTBEAT BILL on the 2024 ballot. Last week we noted that...

The Bible and biology are NOT in disagreement.

Biologists recognize that life begins at conception in the womb. - it IS a human being with half of the chromosomes from momma and half from daddy.

So, we first looked at what the Scriptures say about the unborn and life in the womb, where the baby in the womb was recognized like a baby outside the womb. (Gen 21:22-25, Psalm 139, Lk 1:41-44, 2:12,16) and we specifically noted where the same term used for the baby (bréphos) OUTSIDE the womb is the same term used for the baby INSIDE the womb).

The Greek term translated as baby (bréphos) is used for the child in the womb as well as infants or small children. [William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 183.]

Then we saw 3 slides of pictures AFTER an abortion to PROVE what kind of being this is - a HUMAN BEING.

Next, we saw what the Scriptures said about repentance and forgiveness for those who have disobeyed our Creator. If you have participated in an abortion, you need to know that this is a great evil, but you also need to know you can genuinely be FORGIVEN. Last week we gave biblical evidence of that God can forgive all sin - including abortion. Read Psalm 51.

Ultimately, our forgiveness is found through the Lord Jesus who gave His life to pay - not for our ‘mistakes’ or ‘poor decisions’, but for our SINS. You CAN be fully forgiven for your sin through Him!

Finally, we discussed some practical ways that WE can make a difference. And we will dig a little deeper on that, including discussing some ways that Christians and citizens of Florida can make a difference by defending the unborn.

First, let’s answer this question....

How did we get Here?

Roe v Wade was a case out of Texas where the Court was asked whether states can restrict a woman’s right to abortion. The Supreme Court said “NO”, when in 1973 the Court voted 7 to 2...

to allow for abortions up to the point of “viability” (when a child could live outside the womb). Sadly, they did NOT define when this was.

The Court further stipulated that the health of the mother must play a role in defining viability but did not define the “health of the mother” did and did not apply to. Consequently, the financial & psychological health of the mother could allow for abortion - up to birth.

The Supreme Court did not & could not site any specific part in the Constitution nor the Bill of Rights to affirm a ‘right’ to abortion - because that ‘right’ is NOT mentioned in either document. Instead, the Court focused on the right of privacy which is implied - but not specifically stated- but is in several amendments.

For example: The 4th Amendment protects the right of privacy against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government, while the 5th Amendment provides for the right against self-incrimination, which justifies the protection of private information.

So, a person’s ‘right to privacy’ was the determining factor in sidestepping state restrictions of abortion.

And since then...

63 million 459 thousand+ babies have been murdered in the womb. (nrlc.org/uploads/factsheets/FS01AbortionintheUS.pdf)

So, what can WE do to stop this wicked practice to protect the UNBORN

Last week we mentioned several ways...

How Can We Make a Difference to Defend the Unborn?

Last week we mentioned 5 ways including:

GIVE to A Woman’s Pregnancy Center to help provide for mothers who choose to keep their babies. You can do that through our church budget, giving directly to the Pregnancy Center, providing resources like diapers throughout the year, and participating in the annual dinner fundraiser.

SERVE people and SHOW them the love of Jesus through your actions.

You can ask Jenny Starling - A Woman’s Pregnancy Center director - how you can help.

Consider fostering or adopting. Jay & Jessica Johnson can give you insight on both foster and adoption (Also see Fosterflorida.org for how you can help.) - It is a joy to see little Ethan Johnson GROWING UP here - loved by Jason, Jessica, & family (that includes us!). Christians have a long tradition of adopting children that others don’t want.

VOTE to move representatives OUT of office who support abortion and move representatives IN who support LIFE from the womb to the tomb. Elections have consequences. We’ll talk about how we can impact the vote in a moment.

4. PRAY. Our nation is on the edge of minimizing the number of human babies ABORTED, and might eventually outlaw abortion all altogether! We need to ask God to convict those who support abortion and empower those who want to end the barbaric practice of abortion.

5. SPEAK. Speak up for the unborn and against abortion. We need to persuade others that abortion is WRONG. Let me give you a couple of ways to do that.

We need to ask JUST 1 QUESTION and keep the question front and center: “What is IT?”

SLED test - Size, Level of Development, Environment, Degree of Dependency

Cut through Smoke Screens. “Women will have back alley abortions.” - Well, let’s legalize murder since people will do it anyway. Otherwise there will be ‘back-alley’ murders.

Get prepared to engage others with truth, grace, and good reasoning.

Watch 180 film by Living Waters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y2KsU_dhwI

Destroying the 7 Most Popular Pro-Abortion Arguments | 7 Reasons Full Movie (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB1vV2EgS5A&t=967s)

Watch Apologia Church on YouTube talking about abortion on college campus: (https://youtu.be/lQV6r5rE3I0)

What Happens When Roe v Wade Gets Overturned?

Abortion restrictions will be determined by the individual STATES. And that’s where YOU come in.

Sadly, abortion numbers have been rising in Florida.

43 abortions by people from our county occurred in 2021.

Thankfully, our Governor De Santis signed a 15-week abortion ban, however, that will go into effect on July 1, 2022.

Sadly, most abortions in Florida take place before that, within the 1st trimester (13 weeks).

That means, based on the number of abortions in Florida in 2021, that while close to 5000 babies could be saved, the majority of babies will NOT be. Anyone wanting to have an abortion in Florida will make sure it happens in the 1st 13 weeks.

Further, since states the surround us have more restrictive abortion laws,

Florida could become a ‘haven state’ that others travel to have abortions. If Roe v Wade is overturned by Supreme Court...

Alabama & Louisiana will move from limiting abortion after 20 weeks to ban abortions altogether, as was the case before Roe v Wade in 1973.

Texas will move from limiting abortion after 6 weeks to ban abortions.

Georgia & South Carolina will ban abortion after 6 weeks.

Unless Florida law changes, then many wanting abortions from these states would likely come here.

BUT…there’s something we can do about that.

Let’s Support the Human Life Protection Amendment

Here’s the ballot summary: “All HUMAN BEINGS HAVE A RIGHT TO LIFE REGARDLESS OF AGE, ILLNESS, OR DISABILITY WHEN THERE IS A DETECTABLE HEARTBEAT.”

WE NEED ALMOST 900,000 PETITIONS SIGNED BY FEB 1, 2024.

That’s a big number, but it’s only 8% of the votes cast by Floridians in the 2020 presidential election. We just need to get the word out!

Those helping lead the Human Life Protection Amendment have a goal set for PETITIONS in each county of Florida. hope is to have County Captains who help get the word out, bring like-minded people together, encourage others to sign this petition to get this heartbeat bill on the ballot.

Petitions can be gathered through churches, local events, pregnancy center events, and local elections.

Here at home, our task is really doable. We need to get the word out for about 1,100 voters to sign this petition in Madison County.

We can easily do this and then encourage others across the state to do the same.

In the coming days we will get you the PETITIONS as they become available. Until then, start telling others how they can help stop the abortion

May WE be the ones who...

Proverbs 24:11–12 (CSB)

Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter. If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,” won’t he who weighs hearts consider it? Won’t he who protects your life know? Won’t he repay a person according to his work?

Those taken off to death certainly applies to the unborn, but it also applies to the men and women who have participated or are considering participating in this wicked action - people who will carry the pain of what they have done the rest of their lives.

But there is hope! We can help protect the unborn and tell others about the good news of Jesus!

But…as Paul writes...

Romans 10:14–15 (NLT)

But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

What IS that Good News?

Romans 10:9-11, 13 (NLT)

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”...For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

If you need to talk more about your spiritual condition OR you have a need we can help with, please call...

OUR STAFF

OUR DEACONS (as they make their way up for Communion)

Communion

In just a moment we are going to participate in Communion - also called “The Lord’s Supper” in the New Testament, where we remember the price that Jesus paid for us.

Before we do, I want to make sure to remind you that while ALL ARE WELCOME HERE,

the Communion/Lord’s Supper IS ONLY for followers of Jesus who are walking in right relationship with Him.

If you claim to follow Jesus but are living in continual sin without confessing and turning from that…then today, you SHOULD NOT PARTAKE. It’s okay to let the bread and juice pass…no one will judge you or ask you for a reason. Hopefully, this will lead you to seek the Lord and place HIS DESIRES above yours.

Finally, if you don’t yet claim to be a follower of Jesus, then you can just relax and watch how we observe this ancient practice for a few minutes. It’s okay to let the bread and juice pass by you as well.

As the Deacons pass out the elements while the band plays, we invite you to examine your heart, sing to the Lord, or listen in quietness.

SONG

Matthew 26:26 (CSB)

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is My body.”

Matthew 26:27–29 (CSB)

Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Then the Scriptures say they sang a song and went to the Mount of Olives

Matthew 26:30 (CSB)

After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

...where Jesus would agonize in prayer and await those who came to arrest Him, so that He would become the Substitute Sacrifice for our sins.

Let’s Sing as we remember the price that has been paid for us, and go LIVE LIKE HE’S ALIVE and going to return, and share the GOOD NEWS with others!

discussionquestions

Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

What challenged/encouraged you most from today’s teaching? Explain why.

Why can asking “Just 1 Question: What is IT?” - help you get past many of the smokescreens from those who support abortion?

Discuss how the SLED Test can help counter those who argue that a pre-born human fetus is less human or less valuable than those who have already been born.

Read Proverbs 24:11–12. What is the warning for those who know about the impending death of others (e.g. unborn babies) who say and do nothing to protect their lives?

Consider watching one of the 3 videos mentioned today (see the QR code or digital link on visual notes) and discuss how the Christians engage others on the topic of abortion. What can we learn from this?

Take some time to PRAY for the Supreme Court and to pray for lost friends who need Jesus.