Visit Orphans in Their Affliction - James 1:27

This coming Lord's Day is Orphan Sunday. As part of the Challenges to Christianity sermon series, I'll be preaching on the church's challenge of caring for orphans. More specifically, I'll be focusing on unborn children who are orphans as a result of their parents do not wanting them. The sermon text will be James 1:27.

The outline for this sermon is:
1. Prevention
- The need for training in righteousness.
2. Intervention
- The love shown to those involved in an unwanted pregnancy
3. Redemption
- The hope of forgiveness and restoration in Christ

Here are some questions to assist you in preparing for this sermon.

1. What does it mean to "visit" orphans in their affliction? According to James 1:27, how important is this task?

2. God's prophets and apostles have always been open and discrete when proclaiming God's righteous standards of sexuality. For example, the book of Proverbs deals extensively with fornication and adultery (2:16-19; 5:3-15; 6:24-32; 7:5,27; etc.). Many of the epistles that were read aloud in the local churches dealt openly and discretely with sexuality (Rom 13:13; 1 Cor 5:1; 6:9,18; Heb 13:4; Col 3:5; Eph 5:3-5; 1 Pet 4:2-3 etc.). Has the American church been faithful in preaching and teaching on matters of sexuality? (1 Sam 3:13; 1 Pet 2:12) What are the likely consequences if the church neglects to address this area of life? (1 Thess 4:1-8)

3. What unique aspect of sexual sin separates it from all other forms of sin? (1 Cor 6:18) Why is this important to know?

4. In Matthew 25:34-46, Jesus describes how the people of this world either love Him or fail to love Him...