Adoption is the highest privilege that the gospel offers.‘Father’ is the Christian name for God., and our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption. All of us have been adopted into God’s family when we follow Jesus. Eric is back this week with Scott to talk about how adoption has become a part of each of their own family’s story.

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1. If you had to choose between listening to a story or reading a story, which would you choose? Why? 

2. What’s a pivotal choice you’ve made that you’ve never regretted? What led you to make this decision? 

3. Eric and Scott mentioned that adoption is a key theme throughout the pages of Scripture (see Exodus 2, 1 Samuel 1, the Gospels). In your own words, how would you describe what it means to be chosen? How has adoption directly or indirectly impacted you?  

4. Read Luke 4:28-29, John 6:63-67, and Luke 23:13-25. Arguably, the opposite of being chosen is being rejected. These verses highlight how Jesus experienced rejection. When have you dealt with rejection? How did you process this in the moment and the days that followed? Does it still affect you today? If so, how?  

5. Read Psalm 27:10, Psalm 68:5-6, James 1:27, and 1 John 3:1. Despite the rejection we might experience in this life from the world, there’s a greater narrative being written by God — we’ve been chosen by Him to be a part of His family. What resonates with you about these verses?

6. Read John 1:12-13, 2 Corinthians 6:18, Galatians 4:3-7, and Ephesians 1:4-6. When Jesus prays to God, he often refers to Him as “Father.” How should knowing that God is also a father change our relationship with Him? How have our earthly fathers helped or hindered this perspective?

7. Eric and Scott discussed some of the different dynamics and misconceptions that exist about adoption (E.g. open vs. closed, varsity vs. JV, the role and care of birth moms, etc.). What information surprised you? Why?  

8. Scott shared the following quote from J.I. Packer: “Adoption is the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher than justification. To be right with God the Judge is a great offering, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is even greater. ‘Father’ is the Christian name for God. Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption.” How has your perspective on adoption changed after listening to this episode? 

9. Listen to the song “Who You Say I Am” by Hillsong Worship. What lyrics resonate with you in light of the adoption narrative found in the Bible?

10. Carve out some intentional time and space this week to pray about what role God’s calling you to play in adoption. Is this something you and your spouse should consider? Or are you called to provide emotional support, financial support, or spiritual support to those who have been called to adopt?