The scripture reading for this morning's sermon can be found in James, chapter 1,

verses 26 and 27.

Invite you to turn there in the Pugh Bible in front of you to page 1434.

James chapter 1 beginning in verse 26.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious and yet does not bridle his tongue but

deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.

This is pure and undefiled religion the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. Father, I ask for your help now in opening this word as it applies to abortion and its impact upon women and children and men and culture and the wider picture of orphans in the world and widowed

and the implications of this in many different directions. I am not unaware, Lord, that it will be heard through 900 various ears, Lord, I ask that the Holy Spirit would do that wonderful work that he's so good at in

mercifully tailoring the impact of the message upon the need of the heart.

And so govern my tongue and oversee the heart and mind of all the hearers and grant that there would be

a divine transaction here that would result in salvation for any who are lost and strengthening an encouragement for the

weak and discouraged for humbling for any who are proud or arrogant, for direction, for those who are confused, for healing,

for those whose wounds are still open, and for reconciliation, for those who are alienated from anyone.

And a thousand things that I could never think to pray but you could think to do in this moment. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

One way to understand this morning's message is that's an application of our series on Romans, which begins again next Sunday.

And if you've been around for a while, you'll know we've taken a little leave here from Romans.

But if you think back a few weeks we're in chapter two

and one of the things we saw in chapter two was that there is this hypocrite

at the beginning of chapter who's pointing his finger at these bad guys in chapter one

say well we don't do those things and yeah they're bad and Paul says that those who are

pointing their finger do in fact do the same kinds of things and therefore are in big trouble.

So he's concerned with hypocrisy and then he says in the bigger picture God's going to call everybody to account and there's going to be a judgment someday and he's going to call everybody to account, and there's going to be a judgment someday, and he's going to render to everyone according to his works.

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