– The Me Series –
MY STORY . WHO AM I? . PERSPECTIVE . ADOPTED
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- Are you or anyone you know adopted?
- What would it be like to be adopted by parents who were extremely rich and powerful?
- How would your life be different?
*Many people don’t realize this, but if you’re a Christian, that means you’ve been adopted by the most rich and powerful person ever – God! Not only is he rich and powerful, but he is also generous, wise and good! God owns the whole world and he has chosen to adopt you!
WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT THIS?
*Let’s take a look at another adoption in the Bible. In the Old Testament book of Exodus we are introduced to Moses, an important person in the Bible who was adopted as a baby.
During the time of his birth in Egypt, Jewish people were kept as slaves by the Egyptians. The ruler of Egypt was fearful that there were too many Jews in his country and worried they might try to overthrow him and his armies.
In order to solve this problem, all the Jewish boys were to be killed at birth to cut down on the population. At that time Moses was born to a Jewish mother who hid him for as long as she could. One day when she could no longer hide him, she put him in a basket and had his sister float him in a river near where the Pharaoh’s daughter would see him. The daughter saw him, realized he was probably one of the Jewish babies and adopted him as her own. He became a member of the royal household and later went on to be an influential leader. (Read more in Exodus 2:1-10)
1. How did Moses’ life change when he became adopted?
2. What were some of the benefits Moses might have enjoyed in his new family?
*Moses had a unique adoption story. Let’s take a look at our own adoption stories. If you are a Christian, God has adopted you into his family so you have your own adoption story to tell! Let’s see what the Bible has to say about this.
3. Read Ephesians 1:4-5. When did God choose to adopt you?
4. Why did God adopt you?
5. How did God adopt you?
6. Read through the Ephesians passage again. What stands out to you as you read it?
HOW DO WE APPLY THIS TO OUR LIVES?
7. Below on the left are things we often think about ourselves when we don’t recognize that we have been adopted by God. Read the verses next to each phrase and write out or talk about what God says about you.
| Lies I might believe about myself | Verses | What God says about me |
| I believe that no one loves me and that God is against me. | 1 John 3:1 | |
| I believe I’m on my own and I have to take care of myself. | Matthew 6:31-33 | |
| I believe I’m all alone and don’t have much of a family. | Matthew 7:11 | |
List of the rights and privileges of being adopted by God.
- God is a good Father and he loves me very much. (1 John 3:1)
- God takes care of my needs. I can trust Him. (Matthew 6:31-33)
- We are members of one family with other Christians. (Matthew 12:50)
*8. Many of us feel the “Things I say about myself” in the verses above. Are there any that you’ve experienced personally?
9. Pick one of the lies. How would your life be different if you really believed what God says about you?
*10. Using an index card or note on your phone, write down a lie you sometimes believe and a verse that proves it wrong. Look at it each day this week and ask God to help you remember that you are adopted and loved by God.
What ideas do you have that could improve this study? Are there creative things you do to bring this topic home to your students? Please share with the community clicking the FEEDBACK button or leaving a comment below.
