Discussion Guide
For Father's Day, we looked at what it means to know God as our Heavenly Father. While our experiences with earthly fathers may vary, God is the perfect Father; He is faithful, loving, and always present. In Galatians 4 and Romans 8, Paul reminds us that through a relationship with Jesus we have been freed from slavery to sin and fear and adopted into God's family. Because of Christ, we are no longer defined by our past or our failures. We are God's children, secure in His love, empowered by His Spirit, and heirs to His promises. Understanding who our Father is helps us understand who we are in Him.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
1. Have you ever received something you didn't earn or weren't expecting? What made that gift meaningful to you?
2. Read Galatians 4:3-7. Why do you think God chose adoption, not just forgiveness, as the picture of our relationship with Him? How does our relationship with God change after we are redeemed through Christ?
3. Read Romans 8:15-17. As we read Paul contrast a spirit of slavery with the Spirit of adoption, what are some ways people can unknowingly live with a “slave mentality” in their relationship with God? How does knowing you are God’s child bring freedom, confidence, or security?
4. Read Romans 8:38-39. Paul lists many things that cannot separate us from God’s love. Why do you think believers sometimes struggle to live as though that is true? How could fully trusting God’s unchanging love affect the way we handle fear, failure, disappointment, or suffering?
Action Step: This week, spend a few minutes each day reminding yourself of who you are in Christ. Begin your prayer time by simply addressing God as "Father," and reflect on what it means to be His child. When fear, failure, shame, or insecurity arise, choose to run to God rather than away from Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of your identity and help you walk with the confidence of someone who is chosen, loved, adopted, and secure in God's family.
Optional - Deeper Dive: Read Luke 15:17-24. What does this story reveal about God’s heart toward His children? Why can it be so difficult for us to believe God welcomes us with that same grace when we fail?