Oct. 9th 2016
Pastor Phil Vance
You Are Mine
Highlights:
1. Adoption:
– Is Costly
– Is Intentional
– Changes your family name
– Changes your life
– Changes your future
– Causes you to belong
2. God reminds us that if we are His children then we are His heirs.
3. In God’s Family we get:
– An amazing father
– An amazing family
– An amazing fortune
– An amazing future
4. What does it mean to be joint heirs?
– What ever Christ recieves we recieve
– We have no inheritance apart from Christ. If adopted, you have everything. If not adopted, you have nothing.
– It is an honor to be associated with so great a King
5. Anything we suffer for the sake of Christ is a privilege, not a penalty.
Discussion Questions:
1. Discuss what it means to have been adopted as a child of God. Contrast this to life outside of the family of God.
2. Have you wondered why me? Why adopt me? What does God see in you that compels Him to adopt?
3. To walk as a devoted follower of Jesus, you will at some point suffer for your faith. Are you suffering for your faith? In what ways are you suffering and how does that suffering affirm your adoption as a child of God?
Key Scriptures:
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:14-18 ESV
Sons: a child mature enough to take on adult priveleges and responsibilities.
Adoption: the placing as a son, sonship.
Heir: a person who inherits or is entitled by law or by terms of a will to inherit the eatate of another.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
1 Peter 4:12-14 ESV