IDENTITY IN CHRIST: We Are Adopted
We are adopted by God. What does that even mean? Tune in to this episode to find out why God has decided to take us on as his own children and how this affects who we are as followers of Jesus living on this earth.
Join Anna Ware as she takes you and your family through a ten minute go-anywhere Bible study on what it means to be part of the family of God.
God adopts us - it's such a strange concept!
So are we orphans? Sort of… Sin separates us from God.
But when we have that sin taken away (justified) then God can adopt us back as his children again. We become members of his family.
What do you think?
I’d like you to think about your family. Do you have 2 parents or just 1 or none? Do you live with your grandparents? Do you have siblings or pets? A foster family maybe?
Imagine what life would be like if you had no siblings at all. Now imagine what it would be like with 4 big brothers. Imagine what life would be like for you if you had baby twin sisters.
What can you smell? What can you see? Mess? What can you hear? Does it sound something like this? Or this?
Now I want you to imagine that you are adopted. Your parents are not your real parents but they love you just the same. For some that might mean they love you more. It does feel strange though.
Families can be all different types.
Why do we need to be adopted by God?
Read Galatians to find out!
Bible Passage: Galatians 4:4-7
"But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law, 5 so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God’s children. 6 Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father. 7 You are no longer slaves. You are God’s children, and you will be given what he has promised."
We were slaves because we were sinners. We were not friends with God. Being justified means peace with God. It also means being God’s adopted children.
Story Time!
We celebrate Christmas Day with a big family lunch. Every year the grandparents come over, the cousins and aunties and uncles come and we have a big feast. We eat, we swim, we give presents and we enjoy one another’s company. This is a big family get together. Throwing wrapping paper. Eating really special, expensive food like turkey and ham off the bone, prawns.
Sometimes someone will invite someone else to our family lunch. We have had a mum and daughter come over. They didn’t have any family to celebrate with and so they came and took part in Christmas with us. They got presents, they were part of the family for the day. They loved it so much that the following December they asked if they could come again.
Bible Passage: Ephesians 1:5
“God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children.”
Do you go to dancing or soccer or gymnastics during the week? Do those adults who look after you love you as much as your parents? Do they love you at all? Do you feel safe with them? God is not like them. God loves us more than our parents.
If you want to listen to the previous episode on God's love, click here.
Do you see your extended family much? Church is our extended family in Christ. We have family gatherings like BBQs and picnics, and we have our Christian family gatherings at church. Each family looks different - some have lots of people, others only a few, just like church!. When we get to Heaven we will meet all the members of our Christian family - all the other people God has adopted as his children too. More about Heaven next week!
Discussion Questions
How do you feel when you think about being God’s child?
How do you feel when you think about being a member in God’s big family?
WANT MORE?
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