September 23: True Heirs

I have a wonderful, precious great-niece (I'm too young to have a great niece!), who was adopted several years ago. To know what her life was like before adoption and to see her thriving and growing in her new family is such a blessing! While I haven't personally experienced earthly adoption, I have been adopted into God's family because I received Christ as my Savior. What an amazing gift God has given us! As Galatians 4:6-7 states, we believers are adopted into God's forever family, receiving all rites and privileges of being sons and heirs, and we can call God, "Father". This is what Paul describes in our Explore the Bible Study: True Heirs.

HELPS FOR GUIDING YOUR GROUP
Here are a few things you will find in the downloadable supplemental teaching plans. The image of the adoption certificate above is available as a document that is suggested to be used throughout the session.  CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ADOPTION CERTIFICATE

Video Options for the Introduction (LOOK UP):

Suggestions for Studying the Biblical Text (LOOK IN)

Galatians 3:24-26 - Contrast the difference between being in a guardianship (foster home) with being adopted.

Galatians 3:27-28 - Explain the following phrases Paul uses to describe our relationship with Christ.

• You have been clothed with Christ - Galatians 3:27
• You are all one in Christ - Galatians 3:28. CAUTION: See notes regarding the explanation of Paul's use of the phrase, male and female.

Galatians 3:29 and Galatians 4:1-7 - The fact that, because we are adopted, we can now call God, Abba, Father (Galatians 4:6-7), is such an incredible revelation. I have provided quite a bit of information to help drive home this great blessing from God. Here is just a sampling:

• John Piper states – "the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to change our slavish fears toward God into confident, happy, peaceful affection for God as our Father...We enjoy emotionally the Fatherhood of God by the testimony of the Spirit. 
• Spurgeon stated – "this sweet word Abba was chosen to show us that we are to be very natural with God, and not stilted and formal. We are to be very affectionate and come close to Him. Abba is but a babe’s lisping. Oh, how near we are to God when we can use such speech! How dear He is to us and dear we are to Him when we may address Him in this manner, saying, like the great Son Himself, “Abba, Father." 
• Spurgeon goes on to say, “Our first birth makes us sons of Adam, our second birth makes us sons of God. Born of the flesh, we inherit corruption; we must be born of the Spirit to inherit incorruption. We come into this world heirs of sorrow because we are sons of the fallen man: our new life comes into the new world an heir of glory, because it is descended from the second man, the Lord from heaven."

Suggestions for Applying the Study (LOOK OUT)

To celebrate our relationship with God as Father, consider reciting The LORD'S Prayer or playing the following video version:

DOWNLOAD THE SUPPLEMENTAL TEACHING IDEAS

Word Version

PDF Version