Shift, Part 7 – Stranger to Family

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S.O.A.P. – “Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer”

How have you been tempted to end this sentence? “I believe in God, BUT…”

Scripture:

The Lord had said to Abram [later renamed “Abraham”], “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3 NLT

Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. Galatians 3:23-29 NLT

Sermon Insights:

To be adopted into God’s family means a glorious future.

Jesus has been showing us in detail how to shift from what culture says is normal…what everyone does…to how God created and intended for us to be and live, so that we can have a no regrets life and experience real joy and contentment!

Jesus helps us close the gap between what we say we believe and how we actually live!

Do you claim to be a Christ-follower but live as if God does not exist in any area of your life?

Do you pick and choose which parts of the Bible to obey? Be honest with yourself and God…

What is creating the gap between what you say you believe and how you live? Be honest with a friend…

Lord, thank you for dying to take my guilt so that I can be made into a new person through the forgiveness of my sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit living in me. Help me close the gap between what I believe and who I am!

What is your attitude towards debt?

Scripture:

Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came.

We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. Galatians 4:1-7 NLT

Sermon Insights:

To be adopted into God’s family means old debts are forgiven.

Adoption means being redeemed from our old life and saved to live a new life. Does your life right now look more like the old, sinful slavery or the new life full of purpose and freedom that Jesus gives you?

Do you believe God WANTS to forgive you?

Pastor Greg described how indebted fathers would sometimes be forced to sell their children into slavery to pay their unpayable debts. Imagine the fear… Now think about this: God’s fatherhood is secure, and when he adopts, it is final. Do you take security in this?

Lord, you are a Father I can trust completely. Like Peter, sometimes I get very fearful and distracted by the waves and forget that you know me completely, you have adopted me as your child, and no one and nothing can take me out of your hands.

Is your preference “all or nothing” or “I want it now even if it’s not perfect”?

Scripture: For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. Galatians 3:26-27 NLT

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.

So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. Romans 8:1-18 NLT

Sermon Insights: To be adopted into God’s family means a new security and a new identity.

What is the difference between “the power of the life-giving Spirit” and “the power of sin that leads to death”?

If you have given your life to Jesus, how will you embrace your “new security” and “new identity” today?

Lord, thank you for giving me the wisdom AND power to live a new life, security and identity!

At what point are you “free” to play the piano? When you own it? Practice it? Become proficient in it?

Scripture:

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. Galatians 4:4-5 NLT

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Galatians 5:13-17 NLT

Sermon Insights:

To be adopted into God’s family means new freedom.

What is real “freedom”?

When you feel truly free, how does that affect your attitude towards God and people?

How are you using your freedom? Is it making you more or less “free”?

Lord, thank you for not simply “turning me loose” to my own desires and appetites. Thank you for giving me the desire and the power to do your will.

What is something you purchased that you are really thankful for and proud of?

Scripture:

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For,

There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.
He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.

This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 1 Timothy 2:1-6 NLT

Sermon Insights:

To be adopted into God’s family means someone paid the price.

When we become aware that God paid the ultimate price to bring us to life and add us to his family, we need to become aware of our attitude. What is your attitude towards God…and what should it be?

God paid the ultimate price, and I know I’m not worth it. I should feel bad and not ask God for anything else.
God paid the ultimate price, and because he loves me, he has decided my life is worth transforming. I will embrace God’s adoption of me and continue to grow to become like my Father in his joy and generosity!

How did Paul describe the nature of the Christian life? What is one step you can take today?

Lord, teach me to take hold of the life for which you graciously took hold of me. Help me to become like you in your joy and generosity. Help me to put a smile on my face and enjoy being your fully-adopted child! Thank you for paying the price so I could be given a new future, forgiveness, security, identity and freedom!

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Shift, Part 7 – Stranger to Family

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