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SERMON NOTES

Adopted: From Orphan-Slave to Child of God
Galatians 4:4-7
Taylor Mendoza, Pastor of Students & Young Adults

Overview: Adoption is a biblical word. It is a God word. In God’s family, there are no biological children, only adopted ones. These truths are reflected in the words of the late J. I. Packer when he believed he could sum up the entire New Testament teaching on God with the word “fatherhood,” and the heart of Christianity with “knowing God as Father.” He would later say, “If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.” Adoption is that gracious act of God whereby He makes us sons and daughters of His family. And therefore, He lavishes great privileges and benefits on His children.

Outline:

1. The Father planned our adoption.

2. The Son accomplished our adoption.

3. The Spirit applies our adoption.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY

1. What did you hear from the message that was applicable to your life?

2. What comes into your mind when you hear the word “adoption”? How might your familiarity with human adoption hinder or help your understanding of our adoption in Jesus Christ?

3. Take a moment to read Galatians 4:4-7. What does this passage say about our adoption in Christ? (Feel free to use any notes from last week’s sermon.)

4. Read Genesis 17:1-5. What does this passage reveal about our future adoption in Christ? See also Ephesians 1:4-5. What does this passage teach us about God’s plan of adoption?

5. If we know that God planned our adoption before time began, how might that apply to our identity and our understanding of who we are?

6. What do you think about this quote: “Adopted is a past-tense verb with ongoing and future realities, not an adjective?” Is this helpful for your understanding of our adoption in Christ? Why or why not?

7. What are the implications of the following statement for how we view the church and evangelism?
a. There are no biological kids in God’s family, only adopted ones.

8. Read Romans 8:23 and Galatians 4:7. What do these passages teach us about our inheritance?

Recommended Reading: Russell Moore, Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches, updated and expanded (Wheaton: Crossway, 2015).